in der Tat
/ɪn deːɐ̯ taːt/
The English word 'indeed' can be translated into German as in der Tat.
in der Tat is used as an interjection to indicate agreement or as a modal adverb to mean truly, in fact or actually.
Meaning: indication of agreement (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase in der Tat literally translates to 'in the deed' or 'in the act'.
Which one should you use?
While in der Tat provides formal emphasis, the word wirklich is a more common, everyday way to express 'really' or 'indeed'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
in der Tat is a formal way to express agreement or emphasis, often used in written German or sophisticated speech. Another formal synonym is Tatsächlich. For informal situations, you can use Ja, genau.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ɪn deːɐ̯ taːt/
Did you know?
- Because in der Tat sounds very sophisticated, using it in a casual setting like a bar might make a speaker sound like they are jokingly pretending to be an aristocrat.
- The word Tat is part of a family of words that can be traced all the way back to the Ancient Greek word θέσις, meaning 'arrangement'.
Examples in context
- Sie hat in der Tat recht.Indeed, she's right.This sentence is useful for showing how to use in der Tat to confirm someone is right.Tatoeba #10099405 by Yorwba, translation #10816719 by sundown
- Tom ist in der Tat beinahe dreißig.Tom is indeed almost thirty.This sentence shows how in der Tat can be used to emphasize a fact about someone's age.Tatoeba #3074211 by freddy1, translation #11194769 by SunnyMoon
- Ich freue mich in der Tat, Sie kennenzulernen!I am indeed happy to meet you.This sentence demonstrates using in der Tat to express genuine pleasure during a formal introduction.Tatoeba #5342162 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5342160 by Sethamajig
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah are discussing the weather.
- JulianEs ist heute in der Tat sehr kalt.It is indeed very cold today.
- HannahDas stimmt, ich friere auch.That's true, I'm freezing too.
- JulianWir sollten lieber drinnen bleiben.We should rather stay indoors.
- HannahJa, das ist eine gute Idee.Yes, that is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “indeed” translations and entries in der Tat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Tat, der, in, in der Tat, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
