wie schade
/viː ˈʃaːdə/word by word
In German, "what a shame" is translated as wie schade.
The phrase wie schade is an informal expression used to express disappointment regarding a missed opportunity or an unfortunate event. You may also use the single word Schade! as an interjection to express disappointment, similar to saying "That's a pity!" in English.
Which one should you use?
While wie schade is the standard idiomatic way to express this feeling, you might encounter other forms depending on the level of seriousness and the desired tone.
How do you pronounce it?
/viː ˈʃaːdə/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using Was für ein Schade. This is a common mistake where English speakers attempt to translate the phrase literally from English, but it is grammatically incorrect in German.
Did you know?
- Unlike the English 'shame', which often implies guilt or disgrace, schade has no connection to feeling embarrassed or dishonored.
- In German, schade can be used to describe something that is 'too good' to be wasted. For example, a beautiful object might be zu schade to use for a mundane task.
- While wie schade expresses disappointment, it is rarely used for genuine tragedies. Using it for a death or a serious accident would seem inappropriately light or callous.
Examples in context
- Oh je. Wie schade.Oh dear. What a shame.This example shows how to use wie schade alongside an expression of sympathy.Tatoeba #8692557 by canan, translation #856088 by heffeque
- Wie schade!What a shame!This example demonstrates using wie schade as a standalone exclamation.Tatoeba #542291 by Manfredo, translation #42149 by CK
- Wie schade, dass du nicht kommen kannst.What a shame that you cannot come.
Example conversation
Hannah and Maximilian are talking about a cancelled outdoor concert.
- HannahDas Konzert findet heute leider nicht statt.Unfortunately, the concert is not taking place today.
- MaximilianWie schade, ich habe mich so gefreut!What a shame, I was looking forward to it so much!
- HannahVielleicht können wir nächsten Monat hingehen.Maybe we can go next month.
- MaximilianDas ist eine gute Idee, Hannah.That is a good idea, Hannah.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (wie, schade) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
