Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| natürlich | /naˈtyːʁlɪç/ |
| na klar | /na klaːɐ̯/ |
| klaro | /ˈklaʁo/ |
These terms are used to indicate enthusiastic agreement. While natürlich is a versatile term, it can be used both as a standalone response to a question and as an adverb within a sentence to modify a verb or clause. Other options include na klar for a more casual tone or klaro for slang.
What does it mean word for word?
The word natürlich is the adverbial form of the adjective natürlich (natural), meaning "naturally".
Which one should you use?
selbstverständlich is more formal and emphasizes that something is a matter of course or a given. For casual conversation, na klar is more conversational than natürlich and klaro is a very informal, slangy version of na klar often used among younger people. Additionally, the single word klar can be used informally to mean "of course".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, you might use selbstverständlich to mean "self-evidently" or sicherlich to mean "certainly" or "surely". In casual or colloquial settings, na klar is a common choice, while klaro is considered slang.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Austria or parts of Switzerland, some speakers may use Aber sicher to mean "of course".
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/naˈtyːʁlɪç/
When do people say it?
To add extra emphasis to your agreement, you can use the phrases Ja, natürlich! (Yes, of course!) or Ja, sicher! (Yes, certainly!).
Did you know?
- In some contexts, the 'na' in 'na klar' is thought to be a variant of the word 'nein', much like the English 'nah'.
- The formal term selbstverständlich literally translates to 'self-understandable'.
Examples in context
- Ja, ja, na klar.Yes, yes, of course.This example shows how to use na klar as an enthusiastic response.Tatoeba #6813945 by moskytoo, translation #1644796 by fengli
- Natürlich weiß er es.Of course he knows.This sentence demonstrates how natürlich functions as an adverb within a clause.Tatoeba #8468925 by brauchinet, translation #8469711 by shekitten
- Natürlich mag ich Sie.Of course I like you.This sentence illustrates the use of natürlich to express liking someone.Tatoeba #13320345 by Waldelfe, translation #8014053 by OsoHombre
- Darf ich Ihnen behilflich sein? – Natürlich!May I assist you? – Of course!
- Können Sie mir bitte diese Informationen geben? – Selbstverständlich!Could you please provide me with this information? – Of course!
- Kommst du heute zur Party? – Klar!Are you coming to the party today? – Of course!
- Hast du Zeit für einen Kaffee? – Logo!Do you have time for a coffee? – Of course!
- Darf ich das Fenster öffnen? – Natürlich, hier ist es warm!May I open the window? – Of course, it's warm in here!
- Können wir die Rechnung getrennt bezahlen? – Klar, kein Problem!Can we pay the bill separately? – Of course, no problem!
- 319 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Hannah are planning a trip to the cinema.
- LukasKommst du heute Abend mit ins Kino?Are you coming to the cinema with us tonight?
- HannahNatürlich komme ich mit!Of course I'm coming along!
- LukasDas freut mich sehr, Hannah.I am very happy to hear that, Hannah.
- HannahIch habe auch schon Lust auf Popcorn.I am already looking forward to popcorn.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “of course” translations and entries natürlich, na klar, klaro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries klar, klaro, na, natürlich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
