A quick, friendly lesson to help you sound natural when you hesitate in German. These little phrases are social glue — they give you time and keep conversations smooth.
Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice common hesitation phrases for pausing, searching for words, and giving tentative opinions. We'll listen to short examples, try a mini conversation, and do quick quizzes to build confidence (CEFR-aligned).
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Recognize and use common hesitation phrases in spoken German.
Ask for short pauses and search for words politely.
Give tentative opinions and soft disagreements using simple frames.
Practice A2-level phrases in short role-play and speaking tasks.
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.
Ähm, lass mich kurz überlegen.
Um, let me think.
Meaning: Um, let me think.
When to use: Short informal pause when you need a moment to plan an answer (with du).
Tip: Avoid using this exact form with strangers; use the formal alternative instead.
Ähm, lass mich kurz überlegen. Soll ich morgen kommen?
Um, let me think. Should I come tomorrow?
Ähm, lass mich kurz überlegen — das Datum war doch nächste Woche?
Um, let me think — the date was next week, right?
Na ja, ich bin mir nicht sicher.
Well, I'm not sure.
Meaning: Well, I’m not sure.
When to use: Signal cautious uncertainty before giving an answer or opinion.
Na ja, ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob das die beste Idee ist.
Well, I'm not sure if that's the best idea.
Na ja, ich bin mir nicht sicher — vielleicht sollten wir warten.
Well, I'm not sure — maybe we should wait.
Einen Moment.
Just a second.
Meaning: Just a second.
When to use: Ask for a very short pause to think or act; neutral and brief.
Einen Moment, ich schaue kurz im Kalender nach.
Just a second, I'll quickly check the calendar.
Einen Moment bitte, ich finde die Datei gleich.
Just a second please, I'll find the file soon.
Gib mir bitte einen Moment.
Give me a moment.
Meaning: Give me a moment.
When to use: Informal polite way to ask for time to think (with du).
Tip: Don't use this with someone you must address formally; use the formal form instead.
Gib mir bitte einen Moment, ich muss kurz überlegen.
Give me a moment please, I need to think briefly.
Gib mir bitte einen Moment, ich schreibe die Adresse auf.
Give me a moment please, I'll write down the address.
Wie heißt das noch?
What's the word?
Meaning: What's the word?
When to use: When you are searching for a word or name you can't recall.
Wie heißt das noch? Du weißt schon, das kleine Gerät für Kaffee.
What's the word? You know, the small device for coffee.
Wie heißt das noch? Es ist so ein rundes Brett.
What's the word? It's a round board.
Es ist irgendwie ___.
It's kind of ___.
Meaning: It’s kind of ___.
When to use: Use to give an approximate description when you can't think of the exact word.
Es ist irgendwie altmodisch, aber trotzdem schön.
It's kind of old-fashioned, but still nice.
Das neue Restaurant ist irgendwie teuer, aber das Essen ist gut.
The new restaurant is kind of expensive, but the food is good.
Ich glaube, vielleicht ___.
I think maybe ___.
Meaning: I think maybe ___.
When to use: Offer a tentative idea without sounding too direct.
Ich glaube, vielleicht sollten wir später anrufen.
I think maybe we should call later.
Ich glaube, vielleicht ist das Wetter besser morgen.
I think maybe the weather will be better tomorrow.
Vielleicht ___, aber ___.
Maybe ___, but ___.
Meaning: Maybe ___, but ___.
When to use: Use to introduce a hesitant contrast or polite disagreement.
Vielleicht ist es billiger, aber die Qualität ist schlechter.
Maybe it's cheaper, but the quality is worse.
Vielleicht klappt es morgen, aber ich kann nichts versprechen.
Maybe it will work tomorrow, but I can't promise anything.
Mal sehen.
Let me see.
Meaning: Let me see.
When to use: Common spoken pause while thinking; neutral.
Mal sehen — wie war noch mal sein Name?
Let me see — what was his name again?
Mal sehen, ob ich alle Unterlagen habe.
Let me see if I have all the documents.
Wie soll ich's sagen?
How can I say it?
Meaning: How can I say it?
When to use: Signal that you are searching for the right way to express an idea.
Wie soll ich's sagen? Es war nicht ganz richtig.
How can I say it? It wasn't quite right.
Wie soll ich's sagen — es ist schwierig zu beschreiben.
How can I say it — it's hard to describe.
Ich versuche, mich zu erinnern.
I'm trying to remember.
Meaning: I'm trying to remember.
When to use: Say this when you are actively trying to recall information.
Ich versuche, mich zu erinnern, wo wir das letzte Mal waren.
I'm trying to remember where we were last time.
Ich versuche, mich zu erinnern — war das 2018?
I'm trying to remember — was that 2018?
Das ist schwer zu erklären.
It's hard to explain.
Meaning: It's hard to explain.
When to use: Use when an idea or detail is difficult to put into words.
Das ist schwer zu erklären, aber man fühlt es sofort.
It's hard to explain, but you feel it immediately.
Das ist schwer zu erklären — es ist irgendwie kompliziert.
It's hard to explain — it's kind of complicated.
Ich weiß es nicht mehr genau.
I can't remember exactly.
Meaning: I can't remember exactly.
When to use: Hedge when you cannot recall details with confidence.
Ich weiß es nicht mehr genau, aber es war im Frühjahr.
I can't remember exactly, but it was in spring.
Ich weiß es nicht mehr genau — die Zahl war ungefähr zehn.
I can't remember exactly — the number was about ten.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Two friends trying to remember a word and deciding how to describe it.
What are Anna and David doing in this conversation?
Anna
Ähm, lass mich kurz überlegen.
Um, let me think.
David
Mal sehen — wie heißt das noch?
Let me see — what's the word again?
Anna
Wie heißt das noch? Es ist irgendwie süß, aber auch komisch.
What's the word? It's kind of cute, but also strange.
David
Na ja, ich bin mir nicht sicher. Ich versuche, mich zu erinnern.
Well, I'm not sure. I'm trying to remember.
Anna
Gib mir bitte einen Moment.
Give me a moment please.
David
Vielleicht ist es 'kitschig', aber ich weiß es nicht mehr genau.
Maybe it's 'kitsch', but I can't remember exactly.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which phrase politely asks for a very short pause?
Which phrase means 'I'm trying to remember'?
Which phrase introduces a hesitant contrast like 'Maybe X, but Y'?
Which phrase is informal and uses 'du' to ask for a moment?
When I don't know a word, I ask: 'What's the word?'
Wenn ich ein Wort nicht weiß, frage ich: ___.
Before answering, I often say: 'Um, let me think.'
Bevor ich antworte, sage ich oft: ___.
Can you wait a bit? — 'Give me a moment please.'
Kannst du kurz warten? — ___
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.
