gute Idee
The German phrase for "good idea" is gute Idee.
You use this expression to show that you think a suggestion or a plan is clever or useful.
Which one should you use?
While gute Idee is a noun phrase, if you want to praise the logic behind a suggestion, you might use the adverbial expression gut gedacht, which means "well thought".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the feminine singular form of the adjective gut to match the feminine noun Idee.
Did you know?
- While gute Idee is standard, Germans often use the word Geistesblitz to describe a 'stroke of genius', which literally translates to 'lightning of the mind'.
- Unlike English, where 'idea' is used in phrases like 'I have no idea' to mean 'I don't know', Germans would not use Idee in this way and would instead say Ich habe keine Ahnung.
- The word Idee shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'eye', because both trace back to the Greek verb eídō, meaning 'to see'.
Examples in context
- Es war eine gute Idee.It was a good idea.This sentence shows how to use gute Idee in the past tense.Tatoeba #3525833 by al_ex_an_der, translation #3393258 by CK
- Ihm kam eine gute Idee.He has hit upon a good idea.Tatoeba #6466989 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #304751 by CK
- Tom hat eine gute Idee.Tom has a good idea.This sentence shows a simple way to state that someone has gute Idee.Tatoeba #10095031 by wolfgangth, translation #4667093 by CK
- Haben Sie eine gute Idee, wie wir das Problem lösen können?Do you have a good idea how we can solve the problem?
- Ja, ich denke, eine Zusammenarbeit mit einer externen Firma wäre eine gute Idee.Yes, I think a cooperation with an external company would be a good idea.
- Ja, das ist eine ausgezeichnete Idee! Wir könnten uns auf soziale Medien konzentrieren.Yes, that is an excellent idea! We could concentrate on social media.
- Ich glaube, eine fundierte Marktforschung wäre eine hervorragende Idee.I believe a sound market research would be an outstanding idea.
- Ja, coole Idee! Das Wetter soll perfekt sein.Yes, cool idea! The weather is supposed to be perfect.
- Super Idee! Das Wetter ist so schön.Super idea! The weather is so beautiful.
- 175 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Hannah are planning their weekend.
- LukasWollen wir am Samstag wandern gehen?Do you want to go hiking on Saturday?
- HannahDas ist eine gute Idee!That is a good idea!
- LukasSoll ich das Picknick vorbereiten?Should I prepare the picnic?
- HannahJa, das wäre super.Yes, that would be great.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Idee, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
