Exclamations
Exclamations capture strong reactions and add color to speech. This guide goes over common formats and key particles.
Basic Exclamations
Basic exclamations often use wie for manner and was for things, and they appear in short, punchy sentences. They immediately convey surprise or emphasis.
Examples
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☀️ Wie schön hier ist! | How beautiful it is here! |
| 🌧️ Wie schlimm der Sturm ist! | How terrible the storm is! |
| 🍰 Wie lecker der Kuchen schmeckt! | How delicious the cake tastes! |
| 🔥 Wie heiß das Lagerfeuer brennt! | How hot the campfire burns! |
| 🌲 Wie hoch die Bäume sind! | How tall the trees are! |
wie Exclamations
Use wie to highlight manner, appearance, or intensity. The noun or adjective usually follows and the sentence can be short or added detail.
was Exclamations
Use was to emphasize an unexpected thing or amount. It often precedes a noun phrase and can be combined with adjectives or quantifiers.
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Intensifying Particles
Particles like doch, ja, and selbst add nuance by reinforcing the speaker’s attitude or confirming what’s surprising. They tweak the force of an exclamation.
doch
doch signals that the outcome was surprising against expectations, or it reinforces a point with emphasis. It fits well in short exclamations.
ja
ja highlights something obvious or known to both speaker and listener, adding a sense of shared recognition to the exclamation.
selbst
selbst intensifies by stressing that even an unlikely person or thing did something, underscoring the surprising nature.
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Word Order
Exclamatory sentences generally follow normal German word order, but fronting the exclamative word (wie, was) gives emphasis. The verb usually stays in second position.
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Short Exclamatory Phrases
Short phrases and interjections deliver quick reactions in speech. They rely on tone and sometimes particles for force, and they’re common in everyday conversation.
Examples
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌟 Toll! | Great! |
| ⚡ Super! | Awesome! |
| 😮 Wow! | Wow! |
| 👍 Klasse! | Fantastic! |
| 😍 Herrlich! | Delightful! |
Summary
Exclamations use wie and was to highlight manner or surprising things, particles like doch and ja to add emphasis, and word order to signal force. Short phrases pack quick reactions.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025