okay
/oˈkeː/
The English phrase 'okay' is translated into German as okay.
Meaning: OK (intj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
okay is an informal way to say okay in German. For more formal situations, you can use In Ordnung, which means 'in order' or Einverstanden, which means 'agreed'. In informal settings, you might also hear Klar (meaning 'clear' or 'sure') or Genau (meaning 'exactly', 'that's right' or 'sure'). Additionally, the colloquial phrase alles klar is a very common alternative used to express that everything is understood or fine.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Berlin and some other regions of Northern Germany, you may hear the informal expression Allet jut! to mean 'okay'.
How do you pronounce it?
/oˈkeː/
Did you know?
- The expression alles klar can function as a complete greeting, a question about someone's wellbeing, and a confirmation of a plan, all depending on the intonation.
- While okay is used for agreement, Germans often use genau as a conversational filler to show they are following along, which can sound like they are constantly agreeing with everything you say.
- Using the word okay in a very formal professional setting in Germany can sometimes be perceived as too casual or Americanized, making Einverstanden the safer choice for contracts or official agreements.
Examples in context
- Okay. Tut mir leid.Okay. Sorry.This sentence shows how to use okay as a standalone interjection.Tatoeba #3925157 by pne, translation #28610 by engberg
- Es ist okay zu gehen.It's okay to go.This sentence demonstrates using okay to indicate that an action is acceptable.Tatoeba #6626101 by Felixjp, translation #518554 by CK
- Wir werden dir helfen, okay?We'll help you, okay?This sentence shows how to use okay as a tag question to seek confirmation.Tatoeba #12425507 by mayabe, translation #265942 by CM
- Vielen Dank für Ihre Arbeit. Alles in Ordnung.Thank you for your work. Everything is in order.
- Die Präsentation ist morgen fertig? In Ordnung.The presentation will be ready tomorrow? Okay.
- Können wir uns morgen treffen? Einverstanden.Can we meet tomorrow? Agreed.
- Wollen wir ins Kino gehen? Okay, warum nicht?Do we want to go to the movies? Okay, why not?
- Können wir heute Abend zusammen essen gehen? Klar, gerne!Can we go out to eat together tonight? Sure, I'd love to!
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Hannah are discussing whether a restaurant choice is fine.
- MaximilianIst das Restaurant okay für dich?Is that restaurant okay for you?
- HannahJa, das ist okay.Yes, that is okay.
- MaximilianSollen wir dann dort hingehen?Should we go there then?
- HannahJa, gerne.Yes, gladly.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry okay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
