New here? This is lesson 13 of a free 240-lesson German course.
Say what? I don't understand in German
Priya is at Bäckerei Krause again. Renate names a roll, Schrippe, and Priya hears something else.
Anton sits at the corner table with his Milchkaffee. He smiles and does not translate.
By the end, you'll say you do not understand, ask what a word means, and say you only understand a little.
Was heißt das? is the short ask. Was bedeutet ___? names the word. Was sagen Sie? asks what they are saying now.
By the end of this lesson
Say you did not understand, ask what a word means, and say how much of the language you have.
- Ich verstehe das nicht.I don't understand
- Was bedeutet ___?What does ___ mean?
- Was heißt das?What does that mean?
- Ich verstehe nur wenig.I only understand a little
- Was sagen Sie?What did you say?
- Ich komme nicht mit.I can't follow
Scene — a roll at the counter
Priya is back at Bäckerei Krause. Renate is at the counter, naming a roll from the shelf.
Anton sits at the corner table with two chairs. His Milchkaffee is still full. He smiles and does not help.
Learn — when a word is new
Six short lines cover I don't understand, what a word means, and I only understand a little.
You'll also get a polite way to ask staff what they are saying.
Ich verstehe das nicht.
I don't understand
When to use it: Say this when a word at the counter is not clear.
Learn it as one piece when you are lost.
Say it: Ich uses a light ch, unlike the ch in ach.
Was bedeutet ___?
What does ___ mean?
When to use it: Use this to ask what one new word means.
Learn it as one piece and name the word.
Was heißt das?
What does that mean?
When to use it: Ask this when you missed the whole sentence.
Learn it as one piece for a short what-was-that.
Ich verstehe nur wenig.
I only understand a little
When to use it: Say this when you follow only a little German.
Learn it as one piece to say how much you follow.
Say it: Wenig puts the stress on the first syllable.
Was sagen Sie?
What did you say?
When to use it: Ask this when you cannot catch what someone is saying.
Learn it as one piece with shop staff and strangers.
Ich komme nicht mit.
I can't follow
When to use it: Say this when you cannot follow the talk.
Learn it as one piece when the talk is too fast.
Story — Schrippe
Watch Priya miss a bakery word at the counter. Renate said Schrippe, and Priya does not follow.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- The coffee machine hisses. Renate lifts a pale roll from the shelf.
RenateEine Schrippe?A bread roll?
PriyaEntschuldigung.Excuse me.- Renate still holds the roll and waits.
- PriyaWas sagen Sie?What did you say?
- RenateSchrippe.A bread roll.
- PriyaIch verstehe das nicht.I don't understand.
- Anton smiles from the two chairs. His Milchkaffee is still full. He does not translate.
- PriyaWas bedeutet Schrippe?What does Schrippe mean?
- RenateEin Brötchen.A bread roll.
- PriyaWas heißt das?What does that mean?
- RenateEin kleines rundes Brot.A small round roll.
- PriyaIch verstehe nur wenig.I only understand a little.
- Renate explains the roll quickly. Priya cannot keep up.
- RenateDas ist ein kleines Brot, außen knusprig und innen weich.It's a small bread roll, crisp outside and soft inside.
- PriyaIch komme nicht mit.I can't follow.
Practice — a missed word
Eleven short drills wait here. You'll hear a line, fill a gap, match meanings, and build one from chips.
They stay small, so you can check each phrase.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
German
Ich verstehe das nicht.Drop the English hereIch verstehe nur wenig.Drop the English hereIch komme nicht mit.Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
Tell Renate you do not understand. Do not ask what a word means.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I only understand a little
Ich verstehe nur ____.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Entschuldigung.
Build the line
Build the line
I can't follow
.
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Ask what one unfamiliar word means, without naming the word.
Swap the word
Swap the word
The talk is too fast. Say you cannot follow.
Ich komme nicht ____.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Ask what that means, the short way, without naming a word.
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
True or false?
True or false?
Say this as a short pardon when you missed a word.
Say it — say you are lost
Now you're Priya at the counter when a word is new. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- RenateEine Schrippe?A bread roll?
- Priya (you)Ask her, in the polite way, what she is saying.
Ask her, in the polite way, what she is saying.
Was sagen Sie?
What did you say?
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| German | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Ich verstehe das nicht. | I don't understand | |
| Was bedeutet ___? | What does ___ mean? | |
| Was heißt das? | What does that mean? | |
| Ich verstehe nur wenig. | I only understand a little | |
| Was sagen Sie? | What did you say? | |
| Ich komme nicht mit. | I can't follow |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these phrases handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps I-don't-understand ready at the counter.
Open Yak Cards