na und?
/na(ː) ʊnt/word by word
In German, "so what" can be expressed as na und? or ja und?
Meaning: reply of indifference (intj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| na und? | /na(ː) ʊnt/ (word by word) |
| ja und? |
These phrases function as rhetorical retorts used to indicate that a piece of information is irrelevant or has no consequences. They serve as a reply of indifference.
Which one should you use?
While both express indifference, ja und? is slightly more assertive or defensive than na und? and is often used when someone is justifying an action.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both na und? and ja und? are informal. Depending on your tone of voice, they can sound dismissive or rude.
How do you pronounce it?
/na(ː) ʊnt/
Did you know?
- The particle na is often used in German to start a conversation, such as Na?, which can mean 'Well?' or 'How is it going?' depending on the tone.
- The word na is a linguistic cousin to the Russian ну and the Swedish nå, acting as a conversational filler across several northern European languages.
- While ja und? translates to 'yes and?', it is frequently used as a defensive shield in arguments to force the other person to explain why their point is relevant.
Examples in context
- Na und? Mir ist das egal.So what? It doesn't matter to me.The use of na und? shows how to express that something does not matter to you.Tatoeba #1964977 by Tamy, translation #41069 by Swift
- Ja, ich habe ihn geküsst. Na und?Yes, I kissed him. So what?This example shows how to use na und? after admitting to an action.Tatoeba #4303383 by al_ex_an_der, translation #2260412 by Hybrid
- Ja und?So what?This sentence demonstrates the use of ja und?Tatoeba #615214 by virgil, translation #1340 by Sbgodin
- Ich kann heute nicht am Meeting teilnehmen. – Was macht das schon aus? Du wirst im nächsten Meeting dabei sein können.I can't attend the meeting today. – What does it matter? You'll be able to join the next meeting.
- Ich kann heute nicht zum Konzert gehen. – Na und? Es gibt noch viele andere Konzerte.I can't go to the concert today. – So what? There are many other concerts.
- Mein Auto ist kaputt. – Und was soll's? Du kannst mit dem Fahrrad fahren.My car is broken. – And what of it? You can ride a bike.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Sarah are arguing about a small mistake.
- SarahDu hast mein Buch vergessen.You forgot my book.
- LukasNa und?So what?
- SarahDas ist sehr unhöflich, Lukas.That is very rude, Lukas.
- LukasEs ist doch nur ein Buch.It is only a book, after all.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “so what” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (na, und) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ja, na, und, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
