"Modalpartikeln": How to sound more German!

Compare Das ist spannend with Das ist ja spannend, Das ist aber spannend and Das ist wohl spannend: one small word changes the whole feeling of the sentence. These small words are called Modalpartikeln (modal particles). You have definitely seen them, and heard them even more. There are about 20 in total, and this lesson explains the 10 most important and most commonly used ones, with the meaning, a typical situation and example sentences.

The Same Sentence with Four Different Feelings

What Are Modalpartikeln and Why Do They Matter?

• Most other languages do not have them, so they are hard to translate and sometimes impossible to translate.
• Most of them have more than one meaning.
• They are used mainly in spoken German, so you hear them all the time. If you want to sound a bit more German, they make a difference.
• They are often used in the imperative. We use the imperative a lot with friends because it is short, and we like it short. The particles make it sound friendlier.
• They express feelings, emphasize intentions, show approval or disapproval, show astonishment, and reinforce or weaken statements.

The Top 10 Modalpartikeln

1. aber: surprise or astonishment

It stands before an adjective. It is a synonym of sehr or wirklich and can be positive or negative.

• Das schmeckt aber gut. This tastes really good. A friend cooked for you and you are surprised that he or she can cook so well.
• Das ist aber nett von dir. That is very kind of you.
• Diese Jacke ist aber teuer. This jacket is expensive, though. You are surprised how expensive it is.
• Dieser Flug dauert aber lange. This flight takes a very long time.

2. bloß: a warning

It is mostly used in the imperative and can be replaced with nur.

• Komm bloß nicht zu spät. Just don't be late. Your friend has an important interview tomorrow morning.
• Geh bloß nicht dahin. Just don't go there. A friend asks about a restaurant, and you know the food is terrible.
• Sei bloß vorsichtig. Just be careful. Without bloß it is the neutral Sei vorsichtig.

3. denn: interest or surprise in questions

It is only used in questions. It shows interest or surprise and makes the question sound friendlier.

• Was hast du denn gekauft? What did you buy? Without denn, Was hast du gekauft? is the neutral question.
• Was ist das denn? What is that?

4. wohl: uncertainty and assumptions

It is a synonym of wahrscheinlich (probably). It tells your listener that you are not sure.

• Max ist wohl nach Hause gegangen. Max has probably gone home already.
• Ob er wohl morgen auch kommt? I wonder if he is coming tomorrow as well.
• Es wird wohl bald regnen. It is probably going to rain soon.

5. eigentlich: actually, by the way

In questions it has the same meaning as denn. It can also show what reality actually looks like, or change the subject.

• Was macht sie eigentlich beruflich? What does she actually do for a living? You could replace it with denn: Was macht sie denn beruflich?
• Die Tasche ist eigentlich zu teuer. The bag is actually too expensive. In reality it is too expensive for me, so I cannot buy it.
• Wie spät ist es eigentlich? What time is it, by the way? Use this kind of question when a discussion with a friend goes nowhere or gets awkward and you want to change the subject.
• Was machst du morgen eigentlich? What are you doing tomorrow, by the way?

6. ja: common knowledge, surprise or warning

Ja refers to common knowledge. It can show positive or negative surprise, and it can express a warning, exactly like bloß.

• Du weißt ja, er kommt oft zu spät. As you know, he is often late. A very common sentence beginning: I know that you know. You can also drop the first part: Er kommt ja oft zu spät.
• Das ist ja super. That is really great. (positive surprise)
• Das ist ja schade. Oh, what a shame. (negative)
• Komm ja nicht zu spät. Just don't be late. (warning, same as Komm bloß nicht zu spät)

7. doch: friendlier suggestions, reproach, unexpected outcome

• Komm doch auch mit. Why don't you come along too? Without doch, Komm auch mit is more like an order.
• Das habe ich dir doch schon erzählt. I have already told you that. Here doch shows that you are a little bit annoyed, because you already told the person.
• Das war doch nicht so schwer. That was not so difficult after all. This is the unexpected outcome.

8. mal: a friendly request, casual and non-binding

It makes a request nicer and a statement more casual. A very often used combination is mal kurz.

• Mach mal die Musik leiser. Turn down the music. Without mal, Mach die Musik leiser is an order and quite strong.
• Ich rufe dich morgen mal an. I will call you tomorrow. We know it is tomorrow but not when exactly. That is the non-binding element.
• Ich gehe mal kurz einkaufen. I will quickly go grocery shopping.
• Ich rufe dich morgen mal kurz an. Mal kurz emphasizes that it only takes a short time.

9. vielleicht: reinforces your opinion

It can be positive or negative and usually stands before an adjective or a noun. Here it does not mean "maybe". It is similar to wirklich.

• Das war vielleicht ein toller Film. What a great movie that was!
• Ich bin vielleicht ein Idiot. I am such an idiot.
• Hier ist es vielleicht schön. Wow, it is really nice here. You are surprised how nice this area is.

10. schon: motivation, impatience or doubt

You use it to motivate your counterpart, to express impatience, or when you are not really convinced.

• Du schaffst das schon. You can do it. (motivation)
• Nun mach schon, beeil dich. Now get going, hurry up. A very common one. (impatience)
• Gefällt dir das Auto? Ja, schon, aber es ist ein bisschen zu teuer. You like the car? Yeah, kind of, but it is a bit too expensive. With schon you politely tell the other person that you are not so happy. A aber sentence usually follows.

Bonus Tip: Combinations with doch

• doch mal: Besuch mich doch mal. Why don't you visit me? Without the particles, Besuch mich is more like an order. Besuch mich doch is already friendlier, and doch mal sounds even nicer.
• doch bloß / doch nur: Könnte ich doch bloß besser kochen. I wish I could cook better. It is very common for a wish with the Konjunktiv II. Könnte ich doch bloß besser Tennis spielen. Könnte ich doch bloß besser Deutsch sprechen.
• doch wohl: Das kann doch wohl nicht wahr sein. That cannot be true. It is stronger than just Das kann nicht wahr sein.

Where Do Modalpartikeln Go and How Do You Say Them?

• Position: they are usually somewhere in the middle of the sentence and cannot stand in position 1. In statements they usually stand in position 3, right after the conjugated verb. If there is a pronoun, they stand after the pronoun.
• Pronunciation: they are not stressed. Do not say Sei DOCH bitte pünktlich, that sounds like Shakespeare theater. Just say Sei doch bitte pünktlich or Das war doch wirklich ein schöner Film.

What to Learn Next

The particle doch has another use as an answer. Read Doch! How to use this important German word. Since particles are often used in orders, review Imperativ Deutsch, and for wishes like Könnte ich doch bloß see Konjunktiv II: würden, hätten, wären for wishes. To sound even more German, go to 10 Important German Word-Combinations, Word Combinations with SEIN and 10 German UND Expressions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Modalpartikeln in German?

They are small words like aber, doch, ja, mal, denn and wohl that express feelings, intentions, approval, surprise or doubt. They change the feeling of a sentence a little bit.

Why are Modalpartikeln hard to translate?

Most other languages do not have them, which makes them hard or sometimes impossible to translate. Most of them also have more than one meaning.

What is the difference between Komm mit and Komm doch mit?

Komm mit is more like an order. Komm doch mit is friendlier and means "Why don't you come along?"

Where do Modalpartikeln stand in a sentence?

In the middle of the sentence, never in position 1. In statements they usually stand in position 3, right after the conjugated verb, or after a pronoun.

Do you stress Modalpartikeln when speaking?

No. They are not stressed. You say them quickly and lightly, for example Sei doch bitte pünktlich.

Understanding spoken German takes structure, which is exactly what our B1 German online course offers, with clear video lessons, one topic at a time.