German course

Lesson 191 of 240

New here? This is lesson 191 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Thinking out loud in German

Anton starts a sentence about the key in the Fundkiste, then stalls. Priya waits at the corner table, and his Milchkaffee stays full.

You will buy a little time while you think: hang on, one second, and how to put it.

Then you can restart with I mean, call it a good question, and land on the point.

These fillers keep the turn without rushing the answer.

By the end of this lesson

Buy time while you think, then land on I mean or the point.

  • Moment, ich überlege kurz.Hang on, let me think.
  • Eine Sekunde.One second.
  • Wie sage ich das am besten?How do I best put this?
  • Ich meine, ___.I mean, ___
  • Gute Frage.That's a good question.
  • Der Punkt ist, ___.The point is, ___

Scene — the corner table

A quiet stretch at Bäckerei Krause. Priya sits with Anton at the corner table. He uses two chairs. His Milchkaffee is still full.

Renate wipes the counter and leaves them to it. Anton starts to talk about the key in the Fundkiste, then loses the thread.

A quiet bakery corner with Priya and Anton at a table while Renate wipes the counter.

Learn — thinking out loud

Six lines give you thinking-aloud glue: hang on, one second, and how to put it.

You also get I mean, that's a good question, and the point is.

  1. Anton pauses to think, looking from the lost-property box to his still-full coffee.

    Moment, ich überlege kurz.

    Hang on, let me think.

    When to use it: Say this when you need a short pause to think before you answer.

    After Moment, the verb still comes second in the clause.

    Say it: The ü in überlege is a rounded front vowel.

  2. Anton briefly raises one hand as he asks for a moment to think.

    Eine Sekunde.

    One second.

    When to use it: Say this when you need one second more before you speak.

    Eine goes with Sekunde, so keep the pair together as a stall.

  3. Priya waits as Anton searches for the best way to explain.

    Wie sage ich das am besten?

    How do I best put this?

    When to use it: Say this when you are searching for the right wording.

    The verb sage stays in second place after Wie.

    Say it: The ch in ich is the front sound, not the ach sound.

  4. Anton begins explaining that the key has been there a long time as Priya listens.

    Ich meine, ___.

    I mean, ___

    When to use it: Start with this when you restate a thought after a pause.

    Fill the blank with your thought, or leave a short beat.

  5. Anton gives Priya a small acknowledging nod after her question.

    Gute Frage.

    That's a good question.

    When to use it: Say this when you want to acknowledge a good question while you think.

    It acknowledges the question and can give you a moment to think.

    Say it: Frage puts the stress on the first syllable.

  6. Anton leans forward to make his point, still needing time to think.

    Der Punkt ist, ___.

    The point is, ___

    When to use it: Use this when you are ready to land on the main point.

    Fill the blank with the point you want them to hear.

Story — he fills the pause

Anton tries to talk about the key, then fills the pause. Priya waits. The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The bakery is quiet after the lunch rush. Anton sits on two chairs. His Milchkaffee is still full.
  2. PriyaAnton, was ist mit dem Schlüssel in der Fundkiste?Anton, what's the story with the key in the lost-property box?
  3. AntonAlso, der Schlüssel in der Fundkiste ist ...Well, the key in the lost-property box is ...
  4. AntonMoment, ich überlege kurz.Hang on, let me think.
  5. He looks at the wooden box, then at the cup. He does not drink.
  6. PriyaLass dir Zeit.Take your time.
  7. AntonEine Sekunde.One second.
  8. PriyaKeine Eile.No rush.
  9. AntonWie sage ich das am besten?How do I best put this?
  10. PriyaSag es einfach. Ich warte.Just say it. I'll wait.
  11. AntonIch meine, der Schlüssel liegt da schon sehr lange.I mean, the key has been lying there for a very long time.
  12. PriyaUnd niemand holt ihn ab, oder?And nobody is picking it up, right?
  13. AntonGute Frage.That's a good question.
  14. PriyaWofür ist er denn?What's it even for?
  15. AntonDer Punkt ist, dass ich noch nachdenken muss.The point is, I still need to think.
  16. Renate glances over from the counter. She does not come closer.
  17. RenateQuatsch mit dem Schlüssel, wa?Nonsense about the key, right?
  18. PriyaWir denken nur nach.We're just thinking.
  19. AntonGenau.Exactly.

Practice — buy a second

Ten short tasks mix listening, picking, building, and a swap.

You will hear a stall, fill a gap, and choose the line that buys time.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Moment, ich überlege kurz.Drop the English here
    Eine Sekunde.Drop the English here
    Gute Frage.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 to ask how to phrase a sentence.

  4. Fill the gap

    Hang on, let me think.

    Moment, ____ überlege kurz.

  5. What do you say?

    You need one second more before you speak.

  6. What does it mean?

    Gute Frage.

  7. Swap the word

    You are ready to give the main point after a pause.

    Der Punkt ____, ___.

  8. Fill the gap

    Take your time.

    Lass dir ____.

  9. Build the line

    How do I best put this?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  10. True or false?

    You say this to tell someone there is no rush.

  11. What do you say?

    You are restarting your thought after a pause with the words I mean.

Say it — say it while you think

Now you are Priya at the corner table. Anton asks about the key, and you think out loud.

When it is your turn, tap the microphone and speak.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. AntonWas weißt du über den Schlüssel?What do you know about the key?
  2. Priya (you)Ask him to hang on while you think.

    Moment, ich überlege kurz.

    Hang on, let me think.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Moment, ich überlege kurz.Hang on, let me think.
Eine Sekunde.One second.
Wie sage ich das am besten?How do I best put this?
Ich meine, ___.I mean, ___
Gute Frage.That's a good question.
Der Punkt ist, ___.The point is, ___
Next: lesson 192Change the subject

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps these thinking-aloud lines ready.

Open Yak Cards