Common German sayings with a modal verb + main verb
modal verbmain 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: lit. 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: lit. He wants to have been sick.
Das will ich aber hoffen!
Translation: This had better happen!
Literally: lit. 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: lit. You can take poison on that.
Gegen die können wir einpacken.
Translation: There's no way we can win against them.
Literally: lit. 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: lit. I can't smell him.
Damit kann ich nichts anfangen.
Translation: This has no meaning to me. / That makes no sense to me.
Literally: lit. 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: lit. You can't really participate in the discussion.
Das kannste dir schenken.
Translation: That's a useless thing to do.
Literally: lit. You can gift that to yourself.
Ich könnte mir in den Hintern beißen.
Translation: I am so annoyed at myself!
Literally: lit. I could bite my own behind!
Davon kann ich ein Lied singen!
Translation: I totally get it! / I can totally commiserate.
Literally: lit. I can sing a song about that!
Der Kuchen muss jetzt dran glauben.
Translation: That cake is going to be demolished.
Literally: lit. 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: lit. 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: lit. 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: lit. 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
modal verb
Wer's mag!
Translation: To each their own.
Literally: lit. 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: lit. 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: lit. 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: lit. If you can (do) something, then you are something.
Das will mir nicht mehr aus dem Kopf.
Translation: I cannot forget that.
Literally: lit. 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: lit. I had to come like that.
Dann wollen wir mal.
Translation: Let's get to it.
Literally: lit. 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: lit. 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: lit. I can't anything for it.
Ich kann gut mit ihr.
Translation: She and I get along well.
Literally: lit. I can well with her.
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