Yes in German · with audio

Yes in German: Ja, Doch, Genau, and the Other Ways to Agree

Yes

Yes in German is Ja, pronounced "yah". It is the same in formal and informal situations, and it is the answer to almost every question. But Germans agree in many other ways too, and one of them has no English equivalent: Doch, the yes you use when someone asks a negative question like "Are you not coming?".

The list below has Ja and the words Germans use instead of it, from Genau (exactly), which you will hear in every conversation, to Gerne (gladly), which is how you accept an offer. There is a full explanation of Doch, and a warning about the one word that sounds like an enthusiastic yes but can come across as military. Every phrase has audio.

Ways to say yes in German

Ja is always correct. The other words add a shade of meaning: agreement, certainty, willingness, or a yes to a negative question. Learn Doch, Genau, and Gerne first; they are the ones you will use most.

German	English	Note
Ja The standard word, formal and informal	Yes	The standard word, formal and informal
Doch The yes to a negative question. "Kommst du nicht?" "Doch!"	Yes, I do / Yes, it is	The yes to a negative question. "Kommst du nicht?" "Doch!"
Genau Agreeing with what someone said. Germans say it constantly	Exactly	Agreeing with what someone said. Germans say it constantly
Klar Informal, relaxed	Sure	Informal, relaxed
Natürlich	Of course
Sicher Also means "safe"	Certainly	Also means "safe"
Gerne The yes to an offer: "Noch Kaffee?" "Gerne."	Gladly, yes please	The yes to an offer: "Noch Kaffee?" "Gerne."
Ja, bitte Accepting something offered to you	Yes, please	Accepting something offered to you
Okay Same as in English	Okay	Same as in English
In Ordnung Agreeing to a plan or a request	All right	Agreeing to a plan or a request
Stimmt Confirming a fact	That is right	Confirming a fact
Auf jeden Fall Literally "in every case"	Definitely	Literally "in every case"
Jawohl Emphatic. Can sound military or old-fashioned, so use with care	Yes indeed	Emphatic. Can sound military or old-fashioned, so use with care

Questions you answer with Ja or Doch

The choice depends on the question. A normal question gets Ja or Nein. A question with nicht or kein in it gets Doch when the answer is positive.

German	English	Note
Kommst du mit? Answer: Ja or Nein	Are you coming along?	Answer: Ja or Nein
Kommst du nicht mit? Answer: Doch (yes, I am) or Nein (no, I am not)	Are you not coming along?	Answer: Doch (yes, I am) or Nein (no, I am not)
Hast du keine Zeit? Answer: Doch (yes, I do have time)	Do you have no time?	Answer: Doch (yes, I do have time)
Möchten Sie noch etwas? Answer: Ja, bitte or Nein, danke	Would you like anything else?	Answer: Ja, bitte or Nein, danke
Ist das richtig? Answer: Ja, genau or Stimmt	Is that right?	Answer: Ja, genau or Stimmt
Können wir morgen anfangen? Answer: Ja, klar or In Ordnung	Can we start tomorrow?	Answer: Ja, klar or In Ordnung

Example sentences

Ja, das stimmt.
Yes, that is right.
Sprichst du kein Deutsch? Doch, ein bisschen.
Do you not speak German? Yes, I do, a little.
Möchten Sie Milch im Kaffee? Ja, bitte.
Would you like milk in your coffee? Yes, please.
Das Treffen ist um drei. Genau.
The meeting is at three. Exactly.
Kannst du mir helfen? Klar, kein Problem.
Can you help me? Sure, no problem.
Kommst du zur Party? Auf jeden Fall!
Are you coming to the party? Definitely!

Good to know

Doch: the yes that English does not have

When a question contains nicht or kein, answering Ja is confusing. If someone asks Hast du keinen Hunger? (Are you not hungry?), Ja could mean "yes, I am not hungry" or "yes, I am hungry". Doch removes the doubt: it means "yes, I am hungry", the opposite of what the question suggested. Nein confirms the negative. Doch is also used to contradict a statement: Das geht nicht. Doch! (That will not work. Yes, it will!)

Ja in the middle of a sentence

Germans put ja inside sentences as a small word of emphasis, where it does not mean yes at all. Das ist ja toll! means "That is really great!", and Du weißt ja, wie er ist means "You know how he is, after all". Do not translate this ja; just notice it, and later you will start using it yourself.

Accept an offer with Ja, bitte, not Danke

When someone offers you something, Danke on its own is usually understood as a polite no. To say yes, use Ja, bitte or Gerne. Gerne is the most natural: Noch ein Stück Kuchen? Gerne! (Another piece of cake? Yes, please!)

Be careful with Jawohl

Jawohl means "yes indeed" and is grammatically fine, but it has a strong military and old-fashioned flavor. Soldiers say it to officers, and in films it appears in the worst possible context. Between friends it can work as a joke. In a normal conversation, say Ja or Ja, natürlich.

Pronunciation

Ja is "yah", with the German j sounding like the English y and a long open a. Doch ends with the soft ch sound from the back of the throat, as in the Scottish "loch". Genau is ge-NOW, with the stress on the second syllable. Press play above to hear each one.

Practice with flashcards

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say yes in German?

Ja, pronounced "yah". It works in every situation. Genau (exactly), Klar (sure), and Natürlich (of course) are common alternatives.

What does Doch mean in German?

Doch is the positive answer to a negative question or statement. If someone asks "Kommst du nicht?" (Are you not coming?), Doch means "Yes, I am coming". English has no single word for it.

What is the difference between Ja and Doch?

Ja answers a normal question. Doch answers a question or statement that contains a negative word like nicht or kein, and it contradicts that negative. "Ist das nicht teuer?" "Doch, sehr."

Is Jawohl rude?

Not rude, but it sounds military or old-fashioned, and it is often used as a joke. In everyday conversation, Ja or Ja, natürlich is better.

How do you say yes please in German?

Ja, bitte or Gerne. Both are used to accept something that is offered. Gerne is the more natural choice in shops and cafés.

Why do Germans say Genau so often?

Genau means exactly and is the standard way to show that you agree with or follow what someone is saying. It fills the same role as "right" or "yeah, exactly" in English conversation.

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