Exclamations pack emotion into speech and writing, so mastering their forms helps you convey surprise, joy, anger, and more with force and flavor.

Basic Syntax

German exclamations often invert the typical word order by placing the verb first, and they can begin with wie, was, or an interjection to heighten impact. This inversion signals emphasis to the listener.

Wie Exclamations

Use wie + adjective or adverb to spotlight the quality or intensity of something, and follow the natural order that would appear in a comparative sentence. This pattern makes the feeling vivid and immediate.

Was Exclamations

Use was + noun phrase, sometimes with an article or adjective, to highlight an astounding thing or amount; the verb usually follows the exclamation and normal word order resumes. This form works well for dramatic emphasis on an object or event.

Short Exclamations

Short exclamations like toll!, krass!, wow! and interjections such as ach! or pfui! deliver quick reactions and are common in speech for immediate emotional feedback. They function like sparks of feeling.

Intensifiers

Adverbs like so, total, wirklich and modifiers such as gar nicht or ziemlich can amplify or nuance an exclamation when placed before the adjective or adverb. These intensifiers let you fine-tune the strength of your reaction.

Exclamations with dass

Sentences with dass can express strong feelings when introduced by an evaluative phrase or when intonation highlights the emotion; they are more suited to speech or emphatic writing. This structure allows you to state an appraisal or consequence forcefully.

Summary

Exclamations in German turn attention to striking qualities or amounts through inversion and particles like wie and was, while short interjections deliver swift feeling; intensifiers shape force, and dass-clauses can pack evaluative weight. Getting these patterns instinctive makes your reactions sound natural and vivid.

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Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025