A simple way to agree in everyday conversation is „Ja, genau.“ (Yes, exactly.) or, for a slightly stronger affirmation, „Ganz genau.“ (Precisely.) This confirms what the other person said without adding much. If someone says, „Morgen wird es bestimmt regnen.“ (It will definitely rain tomorrow.), a fitting reply is „Ja, genau.“ The phrase is direct and neutral, commonly used in both spoken and written German. If a friend says, „Dieser Film ist einfach großartig.“ (This movie is simply great.), responding with „Ganz genau!“ (Exactly!) reinforces agreement with enthusiasm.
In a more formal setting, „Da stimme ich Ihnen zu.“ (I agree with you.) is appropriate. If a colleague in a meeting states, „Wir sollten mehr in Nachhaltigkeit investieren.“ (We should invest more in sustainability.), a professional response would be „Da stimme ich Ihnen zu.“ The structure emphasizes alignment with the other person’s view, making it suitable for business or academic discussions.
When partially agreeing while adding a different perspective, „Das stimmt, aber…“ (That’s true, but…) allows for nuance. If someone says, „Online-Shopping ist einfach praktischer als normale Läden.“ (Online shopping is simply more convenient than physical stores.), replying with „Das stimmt, aber es geht viel an Beratung verloren.“ (That’s true, but a lot of personal advice is lost.) acknowledges the point while introducing a counterargument.
To disagree politely, „Das sehe ich anders.“ (I see that differently.) provides an alternative view without being confrontational. If a colleague says, „Wir sollten das Budget für Werbung kürzen.“ (We should cut the advertising budget.), a tactful disagreement could be „Das sehe ich anders. Werbung ist für unser Wachstum wichtig.“ (I see that differently. Advertising is important for our growth.) This phrase suggests a differing opinion while maintaining a respectful tone.
A more direct way to disagree is „Das stimmt nicht.“ (That’s not true.) If someone claims, „Deutsch ist eine einfache Sprache.“ (German is an easy language.), a straightforward response could be „Das stimmt nicht.“ This phrase is firm but not aggressive, commonly used when correcting misinformation.
In casual speech, „Quatsch!“ (Nonsense!) dismisses a statement informally. If a friend says, „Du kannst in einer Woche fließend Deutsch lernen.“ (You can learn German fluently in a week.), replying with „Quatsch! Das ist unmöglich.“ (Nonsense! That’s impossible.) conveys disagreement in a lighthearted or amused manner.
For irony or sarcasm, „Na klar.“ (Yeah, sure.) can be used in a dismissive way. If someone insists, „Ich habe gestern nur einen Kuchen gegessen.“ (I only ate one cake yesterday.), an ironic response could be „Na klar, und ich bin der König von Deutschland.“ (Yeah, sure, and I’m the King of Germany.) The phrase depends on tone and context, making it clear that the speaker does not believe the statement.
If someone wants to soften disagreement in a diplomatic way, „Ich bin mir da nicht so sicher.“ (I’m not so sure about that.) is a cautious alternative. If a colleague suggests, „Wir sollten unser Büro verkleinern.“ (We should downsize our office.), a careful response could be „Ich bin mir da nicht so sicher. Vielleicht brauchen wir bald mehr Platz.“ (I’m not so sure about that. Maybe we’ll need more space soon.) This phrase expresses doubt without rejecting the idea outright.
German speakers also use understatement to disagree subtly. „Nicht unbedingt.“ (Not necessarily.) suggests that a statement might not be entirely correct. If someone says, „Wenn man gut Deutsch spricht, versteht man automatisch Schweizerdeutsch.“ (If you speak good German, you automatically understand Swiss German.), answering with „Nicht unbedingt. Der Dialekt kann ziemlich schwer sein.“ (Not necessarily. The dialect can be quite difficult.) acknowledges some truth but refines the argument.