Jedenfalls, ___.
Anyway, ___.
Jedenfalls, wir sollten pünktlich losfahren.
Anyway, we should leave on time.
Jedenfalls, das ist meine Meinung dazu.
Anyway, that's my opinion on it.
German - Fillers and small talk
Lesson 85 of 158
Goal: Everyday fillers to keep conversation flowing
Free German lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.
Ready for another quick German boost? This lesson focuses on short filler phrases—small words that help your speech sound natural and friendly. Have fun practicing them in real lines and then try them out aloud.
Level A2: In this short lesson you'll practice four common German filler phrases: Jedenfalls, Ehrlich gesagt, Ich glaube, and Mal sehen. These are neutral, spoken frames you can use to return to the point, soften an opinion, show uncertainty, or buy a moment to think. Play with them in the mini-dialogue, then lock them in with quizzes and speaking practice.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
- Recognize and use four everyday German fillers in short conversations.
- Practice when to soften an opinion, pause to think, or return to the main point.
- Level A2: Build more natural, spoken German with these handy phrases.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
Ehrlich gesagt, ___.
To be honest, ___.
Ehrlich gesagt, mag ich das neue Büro nicht.
To be honest, I don't like the new office.
Ehrlich gesagt, habe ich heute keine Lust zu kochen.
To be honest, I don't feel like cooking today.
Ich glaube, ___.
I guess ___.
Ich glaube, es wird morgen regnen.
I think it will rain tomorrow.
Ich glaube, Anna kommt später.
I think Anna will come later.
Mal sehen, ___.
Let me see, ___
Mal sehen, ob wir noch Plätze bekommen.
Let me see if we can still get seats.
Mal sehen, wann der Zug ankommt.
Let me see when the train arrives.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna and David decide whether they'll make it on time.
What are Anna and David concerned about?
Anna
Mal sehen, ob wir den Bus noch erwischen.
Let me see if we can still catch the bus.
David
Ich glaube, er kommt gleich. Wir sollten rennen.
I think it's coming soon. We should run.
Anna
Ehrlich gesagt, ich bin etwas müde, aber okay.
To be honest, I'm a bit tired, but okay.
David
Jedenfalls, wir bleiben zusammen und schaffen das.
Anyway, we'll stick together and make it.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
You want to soften a guess about the weather. Which filler fits best?
After a long side-story, you want to return to the main point. Which filler do you choose?
You need a quick pause to check availability online. Which filler fits?
You want to admit a personal feeling gently. Which is the best phrase?
To be honest, I wrote the appointment down wrong.
____ habe ich den Termin falsch notiert.
The film starts soon. Anyway, we'll leave right away.
Der Film beginnt gleich. ___ gehen wir sofort los.
I think it's late; maybe we should go another time.
___ es ist spät; vielleicht sollten wir ein anderes Mal gehen.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
Say this phrase out loud:
Jedenfalls, ___.
Anyway, ___
Say this phrase out loud:
Ehrlich gesagt, ___.
To be honest, ___
Say this phrase out loud:
Ich glaube, ___.
I think / I guess ___
Say this phrase out loud:
Mal sehen, ___.
Let me see, ___