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Learn to Speak German Online:
German Grammar Guidebook

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Particles

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In conversations, the tone of voice often reveals as much as the words themselves. Germans use the tone of voice as much as English speakers, but they also use a series of words, similar in effect to the tone of voice, called particles or flavoring particles, which convey the attitude of the speaker to the listener and to what is being said. The flavoring particles often defy precise definition. As with contrast intonation, these particles are presented to help you become fluent listeners of German. Here is a summary of the flavoring particles used in the program, their meanings and the chapter where they appear. As you converse with Germans, make a mental catalog of the uses of flavoring particles so that you can begin to use them appropriately. Germans find sentences with appropriate particles more natural and idiomatic than the same sentences spoken without particles. Here are examples drawn from the dialogs in this course.

ABER
 

Du bist aber groß geworden.
"my, my" (surprise) (20)

DENN
 

Wieviel habe ich denn auf dem Konto?
"well then" (special interest) (16)
Was spielt denn?
"well then" (special interest) (21)

DOCH
 

Das zahlt Ihnen doch die Krankenkasse.
"but don’t you know?" (contradiction) (13)
Das wäre doch was für Susanne Hübner.
"certainly" (tentativeness, expectation of contradiction) (19)
So ein Wollschal ist doch elegant, nicht?
"certainly" (tentativeness, expectation of contradiction) (19)
Das kann doch jedem passieren.
"after all" (the other person should concede the point) (25)
Kommen Sie doch herein.
"DO" (emphasis of cordiality, sincerity of invitation) (28)
Nehmen Sie doch Platz.
"DO" (emphasis of cordiality, sincerity of invitation) (28)
Dann hat es sich also doch gelohnt.
"after all" (strongly stressed, unexpectedness) (29)

EBEN
 

Eben, und teuer waren sie auch.
"that’s what I said" (seizing another’s arguments as one’s own) (29)

JA
 

Das ist ja großartig, daß auch du Zeit hast.
(shared feelings between speaker and listener) (17)
Sie waren ja oft geschäftlich verreist.
"as you know" (shared knowledge between speakers) (28)

MAL
 

Dürfte ich bitte mal Ihren Ausweis sehen?
"a second" (brief time or little inconvenience) (16)
Guck mal, Karla.
"a second" (brief time or little inconvenience) (19)
Sag mal, könnten wir nicht essen gehen?
"a second" (brief time or little inconvenience) (21)
Würden Sie mal unter die Haube gucken?
"a second" (brief time or little inconvenience) (25)

SCHON
 

Ich denke schon.
"I believe so" (reassurance) (17)
Es wird sich schon was finden lassen.
"don’t worry" (reassurance) (17)
Wir bekommen schon gute Karten.
"don’t worry" (reassurance) (21)


Examples of Particles

  • Ja. Wie möchten Sie es denn haben?
  • Das zahlt Ihnen doch die Krankenkasse!