German course

Lesson 12 of 240

New here? This is lesson 12 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Is it or isn't it in German

Priya sits down at Bäckerei Krause. Renate asks whether she does not want coffee, and Priya answers Ja.

Renate corrects her with Doch: Priya does want coffee. Anton looks at his untouched Milchkaffee and murmurs Oder?

By the end, you will offer yes or no, check a fact, and use Doch after a negative question.

By the end of this lesson

Offer yes or no, check a fact, and say Doch after a negative question.

  • Ja oder nein?Yes or no?
  • Das stimmt, oder?That's right, isn't it?
  • Oder nicht?Or not?
  • Stimmt's?Is that right?
  • Doch.Yes, when answering a question asked with not
  • Richtig?Right?

Scene — the coffee cup

It is morning on Fliederstraße. Priya pushes into Bäckerei Krause, where Renate is at the counter holding a cup.

Anton sits at the corner table on two chairs. His Milchkaffee is full and untouched, as usual, while the coffee machine hisses nearby.

Priya enters the bakery while Renate waits at the counter and Anton sits beside his untouched coffee.

Learn — yes, no, or doch

Six short lines cover a yes-or-no offer, three ways to check a fact, and Doch when a question uses not.

Learn each as a whole piece, then try them at the counter.

  1. Renate holds her cup and asks Priya whether she wants coffee.

    Ja oder nein?

    Yes or no?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want a clear yes or no.

    Learn it as one piece when you want a clear answer.

  2. Priya remains by the doorway and confirms that she does want coffee.

    Das stimmt, oder?

    That's right, isn't it?

    When to use it: Use this to check that something is right.

    Learn it as one piece to check a fact.

    Say it: In stimmt, initial st has the German sound heard at the start of Straße.

  3. Renate turns to Priya with an open palm after Anton questions his untouched coffee.

    Oder nicht?

    Or not?

    When to use it: Use this to offer the no side of a check.

    Learn it as one piece at the end of a check.

    Say it: The ch in nicht uses the soft ich sound.

  4. Priya turns toward Anton at the corner table as he checks whether her answer is right.

    Stimmt's?

    Is that right?

    When to use it: Ask this to check a fact in a short way.

    Learn it as one piece for a short check.

  5. Anton gives Priya a small questioning nod beside his untouched coffee.

    Doch.

    Yes, when answering a question asked with not

    When to use it: Say this for yes when the question used not.

    Learn it as one piece when you mean yes after not.

    Say it: Doch uses the ach sound, not the soft ich sound.

  6. Priya answers Anton from the counter area while he checks her response from the corner table.

    Richtig?

    Right?

    When to use it: Ask this to check that you have it right.

    Learn it as one piece for a one-word check.

Story — coffee or not

Renate asks if Priya does not want coffee. Priya answers Ja, and Renate corrects her with Doch. Anton murmurs Oder? at his untouched Milchkaffee.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Priya steps inside. Renate has a cup ready at the counter.
  2. RenateGuten Morgen.Good morning.
  3. RenateSetzen Sie sich.Please sit down.
  4. RenateSie möchten keinen Kaffee?You don't want coffee?
  5. PriyaJa.Yes.
  6. RenateDoch.Yes, you do.
  7. Anton studies his still-full Milchkaffee and murmurs to the cup.
  8. AntonOder? Oder nicht?Or? Or not?
  9. RenateJa oder nein?Yes or no?
  10. PriyaJa.Yes.
  11. AntonDas stimmt, oder?That's right, isn't it?
  12. RenateJa.Yes.
  13. AntonStimmt's? Richtig?Is that right? Right?
  14. RenateJa.Yes.

Practice — check the answer

Ten quick exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, match, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.

Each round is short, so you can focus on the meaning.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Ja oder nein?Drop the English here
    Doch.Drop the English here
    Guten Morgen.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You want a one-word check that something is right.

  4. Fill the gap

    Yes or no?

    Ja oder ____?

  5. What does it mean?

    Guten Morgen.

  6. Build the line

    Or not?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Renate says:

    Sie möchten keinen Kaffee?

    You don't want coffee?

    And you reply with:

  8. What did you hear?

  9. What do you say?

    A guest you have just met is standing. Ask them to sit, politely.

  10. True or false?

    This is a short way to check that a fact is right.

  11. What did you hear?

Say it — say it back

Now you are Priya at the bakery counter. Hear the question or comment, then say the line that fits.

Tap the microphone when it is your turn. You can play a line first, and your recording stays on your device.

  1. AntonNoch ein Kaffee? Hm.Another coffee? Hmm.
  2. Priya (you)Ask Anton for a clear yes or no.

    Ja oder nein?

    Yes or no?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ja oder nein?Yes or no?
Das stimmt, oder?That's right, isn't it?
Oder nicht?Or not?
Stimmt's?Is that right?
Doch.Yes, when answering a question asked with not
Richtig?Right?
Next: lesson 13Say what? I don't understand

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these checks handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps Doch ready at the counter.

Open Yak Cards