mir geht's super
To say "I am great" in German, use mir geht's super.
This phrase is a response used to say that you are doing very well when someone asks how you are.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "to me it goes super", where mir is the dative form of "I".
Which one should you use?
While English uses the subject "I" to say "I am great", German uses the dative mir to express how one is doing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase mir geht's super is informal and enthusiastic due to the use of super. For a polite expression, you can use Es geht mir sehr gut. In a casual setting, you might say Ich bin super drauf.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Switzerland, you may hear Mir goht's super, while in Germany, Mir geht es großartig. is used.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying ich bin super to mean "I am doing well". In German, ich bin super implies that you personally are a wonderful or superhuman person.
Did you know?
- While mir means 'me' in the phrase mir geht's super, in many German dialects and in Yiddish, the word mir actually means 'we'.
- In Swiss German, the way you express this feeling shifts from mir geht's super to the dialectal mir goht's super.
Examples in context
- Danke, mir geht's super!Thanks, I am doing great!
- Mir geht's super, danke der Nachfrage.I am doing great, thanks for asking.
- Ehrlich gesagt, mir geht's super.To be honest, I am doing great.
Example conversation
Two friends meet at a cafe.
- FelixHallo Sarah, wie geht es dir?Hello Sarah, how are you?
- SarahMir geht's super, danke!I am doing great, thanks!
- FelixDas freut mich zu hören.I am glad to hear that.
- SarahUnd wie geht es dir, Felix?And how are you, Felix?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mir, super, CC BY-SA 4.0.
