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Study Resource: Common German sayings with modal verbs

By: Ulrike Carlson

Common German sayings with a modal verb + main verb

  • Das darf doch nicht wahr sein!
    Translation: That can't be true!
  • Ich möchte dich mal sehen!
    Translation: I'd like to see what you'd do if you were in my shoes.
    Literally: I’d like to see for once…!
  • Das mag stimmen!
    Translation: That may be true!
  • Er will krank gewesen sein.
    Translation: He maintains that he was sick.
    Literally: He wants to have been sick.
  • Das will ich aber hoffen!
    Translation: This had better happen!
    Literally: But I really want to hope that.
  • Mag kommen, was da will.
    Translation: Come what may.
  • Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen!
    Translation: You can be dead sure of that!
    Literally: You can take poison on that.
  • Gegen die können wir einpacken.
    Translation: There's no way we can win against them.
    Literally: Against them, we can pack up.
  • Das kann ich nicht haben.
    Translation: I can't stand that.
  • Ich kann ihn nicht riechen.
    Translation: I really dislike him.
    Literally: I can't smell him.
  • Damit kann ich nichts anfangen.
    Translation: This has no meaning to me. / That makes no sense to me.
    Literally: I can't start anything with this.
  • Da kannstdu doch gar nicht mitreden.
    Translation: You really don't have a stake in this. / This topic is too advanced for you.
    Literally: You can't really participate in the discussion.
  • Das kannste dir schenken.
    Translation: That's a useless thing to do.
    Literally: You can gift that to yourself.
  • Ich könnte mir in den Hintern beißen.
    Translation: I am so annoyed at myself!
    Literally: I could bite my own behind!
  • Davon kann ich ein Lied singen!
    Translation: I totally get it! / I can totally commiserate.
    Literally: I can sing a song about that!
  • Der Kuchen muss jetzt dran glauben.
    Translation: That cake is going to be demolished.
    Literally: The cake has to believe in it, now.
  • Eins muss man ihm lassen ...
    Translation: You gotta give him one thing...
  • Ich muss das jetzt ausbaden.
    Translation: I have to take the rap for it.
    Literally: I have to sit in the bath now.
  • Warum muss ich immer für alles herhalten?
    Translation: Why is it always me (that has to do the unpleasant stuff)?
  • Da muss ich passen.
    Translation: I have to pass there.
  • Da kannst/musst du dich aber warm anziehen!
    Translation: You better be ready for something difficult.
    Literally: For that you had better dress warmly.
  • Darf ich (Sie zum Tanz / um diesen Tanz) bitten?
    Translation: May I ask (for this dance)?
  • Wir dürfen keine Zeit verlieren!
    Translation: We can't lose time!
  • Mag sein.
    Translation: That may well be.
  • Was soll das heißen?
    Translation: What's that supposed to mean?
  • Da soll noch einer sagen, ...
    Translation: No one shall ever say that...
  • Es hat einfach nicht sein sollen.
    Translation: It wasn't meant to be.
  • Na gut, (es) soll mir recht sein.
    Translation: Oh fine, I give in. / Well, I guess I am alright with it.
  • Reisende soll man nicht aufhalten.
    Translation: Don't keep a cat from catching mice. / Don't stand in nature's way.
    Literally: One shouldn't stop travelers.
  • Soll das ein Witz sein!?
    Translation: Is that supposed to be a joke?
  • Was soll man dazu sagen?
    Translation: Well, what do you want me to say to that?
  • Möge er in Frieden ruhen.
    Translation: May he rest in peace.
  • Möge die Macht mir dir sein.
    Translation: May the force be with you.

Common German sayings with a bare modal verb

  • Wer's mag!
    Translation: To each their own.
    Literally: Whoever likes it!
  • Ich muss ins Bett.
    Translation: I need to go to bed.
  • Ich muss los.
    Translation: I gotta leave.
  • Ich muss mal.
    Translation: I really have to use the restroom.
    Literally: I gotta go!
  • Wer nicht will, der muss nicht.
    Translation: If you don't want to, you don't have to.
  • Du sollst das nicht!
    Translation: Don't do that.
  • Das muss so (sein).
    Translation: It has to be like that.
  • Das Runde muss ins Eckige.
    Translation: The round thing must go into the angular thing.
    Famous saying by legendary German soccer player and coach Sepp Herberger
  • Wer nicht will, der hat schon.
    Translation: Suit yourself.
    Literally: Whoever doesn't want, must have (something) already.
  • Willste mit?
    Translation: Wanna come? (colloquial)
  • Kannste was, dann biste was.
    Translation: Learning a skill allows you to climb a rung on the social ladder.
    Literally: If you can (do) something, then you are something.
  • Das will mir nicht mehr aus dem Kopf.
    Translation: I cannot forget that.
    Literally: That really doesn't want to leave my head.
  • Das will mir einfach nicht in den Kopf.
    Translation: I can't seem to get it. (That really doesn't want to get in my head.)
  • Das hat so kommen müssen.
    Translation: It's was unavoidable that it happened.
    Literally: I had to come like that.
  • Dann wollen wir mal.
    Translation: Let's get to it.
    Literally: The let's want it.
  • Was soll das (denn)!?
    Translation: What are you doing? / What's that supposed to mean?
  • Er kann einfach nicht aus seiner Haut.
    Translation: A leopard can't change its spots.
    Literally: He simply can't get out of his skin.
  • Was soll's!
    Translation: Oh well.
  • Ich kann nichts dafür.
    Translation: It's not my fault.
    Literally: I can't anything for it.
  • Ich kann gut mit ihr.
    Translation: She and I get along well.
    Literally: I can well with her.