ach nee
/ax neː/word by word
The English phrase "duh" can be translated into German using ach nee. Wiktionary also lists ach was and na sowas.
Meaning: disdainful indication that something is obvious (intj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| ach nee | /ax neː/ (word by word) |
| ach was | /ax ˈvas/ |
| na sowas |
These expressions are used as a disdainful indication that something is obvious.
Which one should you use?
ach nee is used sarcastically to imply that what someone just said is incredibly obvious, similar to saying "no kidding." In contrast, na sowas is a sarcastic way to express mock surprise at something obvious. ach was is used to dismiss a statement or to express disbelief, often functioning as a more casual way to say "no way" or "don't be silly."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form ach was is marked as informal.
How do you pronounce it?
/ax neː/
Did you know?
- The word na is a linguistic traveler, appearing in similar roles in Swedish as nå, Russian as ну and Finnish as no.
- The word nee is a regionalism that reveals where a speaker might be from. While standard German uses nein, using nee instead suggests the speaker has roots in Central or Low German dialects.
- While ach was can mean 'duh', it can also be used to genuinely tell someone 'don't be silly' to reassure them.
Example sentences for German are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Laura and Lukas are talking about a movie plot.
- LauraIch glaube, er ist der Mörder.I think he is the murderer.
- LukasAch nee, das war doch völlig offensichtlich!Duh, that was completely obvious!
- LauraIch wollte nur sicher gehen, Lukas.I just wanted to be sure, Lukas.
- LukasMan sieht es an seinem Gesicht.You can tell by his face.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “duh” translations and entries ach was, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ach, nee) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ach, ach was, na, nee, sowas, was, CC BY-SA 4.0.
