How to Say Yes in German is one of the first phrases you’ll need when starting conversations. The most common word is “ja,” but German also has several variations depending on context, tone, and formality.
By learning these, you’ll be able to agree naturally and respond confidently in everyday situations. Mastering different ways to say yes will also make your German sound more fluent and authentic.
Say Yes in German
✅ 15 Ways to Say Yes in German
| No. | German Phrase | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ja | Yes |
| 2 | Genau | Exactly / That’s right |
| 3 | Natürlich | Of course |
| 4 | Sicher | Sure |
| 5 | Richtig | Correct |
| 6 | Jawohl | Yes sir! (formal / military) |
| 7 | Klar | Of course / Clear |
| 8 | Eben | Exactly / Indeed |
| 9 | Bestimmt | Certainly |
| 10 | Auf jeden Fall | Definitely |
| 11 | Ja, gerne | Yes, gladly |
| 12 | Ja, bitte | Yes, please |
| 13 | Absolut | Absolutely |
| 14 | Stimmt | That’s right / True |
| 15 | Ja, natürlich | Yes, of course |
Here are 15 ways to say “yes” in German, each with a dialogue example and a little background on its usage or origin.
1. Ja – Yes
Origin:
The standard and most common German word for “yes,” used in almost every setting.
Example:
👤 User A: Kommst du heute Abend zur Party? (Are you coming to the party tonight?)
👤 User B: Ja, klar! (Yes, of course!)
Use: Universal; works in casual, formal, and professional situations.
2. Doch – Yes (to contradict a negative)
Origin:
Unique to German, “doch” is used to contradict a negative statement or assumption. There is no direct English equivalent.
Example:
👤 User A: Du magst keinen Kaffee, oder? (You don’t like coffee, right?)
👤 User B: Doch! Ich liebe Kaffee. (Yes, I do! I love coffee.)
Use: Correcting someone when they’re wrong about you.
3. Jawohl – Yes, sir!
Origin:
Used in the military or when showing strong obedience or respect. Comes from “ja” + “wohl” (well/indeed).
Example:
👤 User A: Haben Sie die Aufgabe erledigt? (Did you complete the task?)
👤 User B: Jawohl, Herr Schmidt! (Yes, sir, Mr. Schmidt!)
Use: Very formal, military tone, or humorous exaggeration.
4. Ja klar! – Yes, sure!
Origin:
Casual German phrase similar to “yeah, sure!” or “of course!”
Example:
👤 User A: Hilfst du mir mit den Hausaufgaben? (Will you help me with the homework?)
👤 User B: Ja klar! Kein Problem. (Sure! No problem.)
Use: Friendly, informal.
5. Natürlich – Naturally / Of course
Origin:
From the word “nature” – this phrase expresses something as obvious or expected.
Example:
👤 User A: Kannst du das Fenster öffnen? (Can you open the window?)
👤 User B: Natürlich. (Of course.)
Use: Slightly more formal than “ja klar.”
6. Na klar! – Sure! / Of course!
Origin:
Popular in spoken German, “na” adds emphasis, like saying “Yeah, obviously!”
Example:
👤 User A: Gehst du mit ins Kino? (Are you coming to the movies?)
👤 User B: Na klar! Ich freu mich schon. (Of course! I’m excited already.)
Use: Informal, enthusiastic.
7. Auf jeden Fall – Definitely / Absolutely
Origin:
Literally means “on every case” — used to express certainty or strong agreement.
Example:
👤 User A: Willst du mit uns reisen? (Do you want to travel with us?)
👤 User B: Auf jeden Fall! (Absolutely!)
Use: Strong agreement; often used with excitement.
8. Selbstverständlich – Naturally / As a matter of course
Origin:
From “selbst” (self) + “verständlich” (understandable); implies something is obvious.
Example:
👤 User A: Ist Trinkgeld inbegriffen? (Is tip included?)
👤 User B: Selbstverständlich. (Of course.)
Use: Formal or professional settings.
9. Stimmt – That’s right / True
Origin:
Comes from “stimmen” (to be correct or in tune), often used to agree with a statement.
Example:
👤 User A: Dieses Buch ist wirklich spannend. (This book is really exciting.)
👤 User B: Stimmt. Ich konnte nicht aufhören zu lesen. (That’s true. I couldn’t stop reading.)
Use: Conversational agreement.
10. Genau – Exactly / Yes, exactly
Origin:
Literally means “exactly” — used to show precise agreement.
Example:
👤 User A: Also treffen wir uns um acht? (So we meet at eight?)
👤 User B: Genau. (Exactly.)
Use: Friendly and natural; common in speech.
11. Ja bitte – Yes, please
Origin:
Combines “yes” and “please,” especially used when accepting offers politely.
Example:
👤 User A: Möchten Sie noch einen Kaffee? (Would you like another coffee?)
👤 User B: Ja bitte. (Yes, please.)
Use: Polite acceptance, often in restaurants or formal situations.
12. Eben – Exactly / That’s what I meant
Origin:
Used in southern Germany and Austria. Similar to “genau,” but can carry a tone of “see, I told you!”
Example:
👤 User A: Es ist zu spät, um zu gehen. (It’s too late to go.)
👤 User B: Eben. (Exactly.)
Use: Affirmative agreement with slight emphasis.
13. Freilich – Certainly / Of course (Austrian/Bavarian)
Origin:
Regional dialect word from Bavaria and Austria; sounds old-fashioned in standard German.
Example:
👤 User A: Kommst du mit nach Wien? (Are you coming to Vienna?)
👤 User B: Freilich! (Of course!)
Use: Regional, warm and friendly tone.
14. Jupp / Jau – Yep / Yeah
Origin:
Slang versions of “ja” in Northern and Western Germany.
Example:
👤 User A: Hast du das gesehen? (Did you see that?)
👤 User B: Jupp, war echt cool! (Yep, it was really cool!)
Use: Very informal, spoken German.
15. Sicher – Sure / Certainly
Origin:
From “sicher” (safe, certain), used to show confidence or assurance.
Example:
👤 User A: Kann ich dich später anrufen? (Can I call you later?)
👤 User B: Sicher! (Sure!)
Use: Friendly and confident tone.
FAQs
1. What is the most common way to say “Yes” in German?
The most common word is “Ja” (pronounced yah).
2. How do I say “Yes, please” in German?
Say “Ja, bitte.”
3. How do I say “Yes” in a polite or formal way?
You can use “Ja, natürlich.” (Yes, of course) — it sounds polite and respectful.
4. How do I say “Yes” casually or in a relaxed tone?
You can say “Jep” which is similar to yep in English.
5. How do I say “Yes” excitedly or with enthusiasm?
Say “Ja! Natürlich!” (Yes! Of course!) or “Auf jeden Fall!” (Definitely!).
6. How do I say “Yes” to agree with someone’s opinion?
Use “Genau.”
It means Exactly and is very common in daily conversation.
7. How do I say “Yes” in text messaging or chat in German?
People often use “Ja”, “Jaa” (to show excitement), or “Jo.”
8. Is “Jawohl” the same as “Ja”?
Not exactly.
“Jawohl” is a strong, formal “Yes” often used in the military or very serious situations.
9. How do I say “Yes, I agree” in German?
Say “Ja, ich stimme zu.”
10. How do I say “Yes, I understand” in German?
Say “Ja, ich verstehe.”
Conclusion:
Learning how to say yes in German goes beyond the simple “ja.” With different variations, you can show excitement, formality, or casual agreement depending on the situation. By practicing these phrases, you’ll be able to connect better with native speakers and sound more natural in conversations
