ach, komm schon!
The English phrase "oh, come on!" is translated into German as ach, komm schon!
The phrase ach, komm schon! is used to express disbelief, impatience or to urge someone to do something, mirroring how the English phrase is used. If you want to tell someone that what they are saying is nonsense in a playful way, you can say Ach, Quatsch! If someone is being unreasonable or annoying and you want them to stop, you can use Jetzt hör aber auf!
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the interjection ach (oh), the imperative komm (come) and the particle schon (already/now).
Did you know?
- The shift in meaning from 'beautiful' to 'already' or 'surely' in schon mirrors the way the English word 'pretty' changed from meaning 'attractive' to acting as an intensifier.
- In some regions of Germany, the phrase komm schon! can be accompanied by a specific hand gesture, such as a waving motion of the hand toward the speaker to physically urge them forward.
- The word ach is one of the oldest recorded interjections in the language, appearing in Old High German as ah to express a wide range of human emotions.
Examples in context
- Die Prüfung war so einfach, ich habe nur fünf Minuten gebraucht. Person B: Ach, Quatsch! Das glaube ich dir nicht.The exam was so easy, I only took five minutes. Person B: Oh, nonsense! I don't believe you.
- Ach, komm schon! Das ist doch wahr.Oh, come on! That is true.
- Ach, komm schon! Sei nicht so traurig.Oh, come on! Don't be so sad.
- Ach, komm schon! Wir haben noch Zeit.Oh, come on! We still have time.
Example conversation
Sarah is refusing to try a spicy dish at a restaurant.
- JulianProbier doch nur einen kleinen Bissen.Just try one little bite.
- SarahNein, das ist viel zu scharf.No, that is much too spicy.
- JulianAch, komm schon! Es schmeckt wirklich gut.Oh, come on! It really tastes good.
- SarahIch glaube nicht, Julian.I don't believe it, Julian.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ach, schon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
