ja, natürlich
The German phrase for "yes, of course" is ja, natürlich.
ja, natürlich is used to give a strong or enthusiastic affirmative answer to a question.
What does it mean word for word?
The word natürlich literally means "naturally" or "of course".
Which one should you use?
While ja, natürlich implies that something is a natural or obvious consequence, the phrase ja, sicher focuses more on certainty or agreement.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In informal settings, you can use Klar for "Sure", Sicher for "Definitely" or Auf jeden Fall for "Definitely". Among friends, the more colloquial and casual Klar, na klar can be used for "sure, sure thing". In formal situations, you can use Selbstverständlich for "Certainly" or Gewiss for "For sure".
Did you know?
- While ja is 'yes', saying ja, ja twice in a row can actually signal impatience or a dismissive 'yeah, yeah' rather than a strong affirmative.
- Using Gewiss as a way to say 'of course' can sound strikingly poetic or old-fashioned, reminiscent of literature rather than modern street speech.
- The word ja shares the same ancient roots as the Yiddish word yo, making it a distant linguistic relative of this common affirmation.
Examples in context
- Natürlich, das kann ich gerne machen.Of course, I can do that.
- Selbstverständlich, das mache ich sofort.Certainly, I'll do it right away.
- Klar, das hört sich gut an.Sure, that sounds great.
- Sicher, kein Problem. Ich komme gerne vorbei.Definitely, no problem. I'll come over gladly.
- Ja, natürlich!Yes, of course!
- Ja, natürlich komme ich.Yes, of course I am coming.
Example conversation
Sarah is asking Felix if he wants to go to the cinema.
- SarahMöchtest du heute ins Kino gehen?Would you like to go to the cinema today?
- FelixJa, natürlich! Ich habe Lust.Yes, of course! I feel like it.
- SarahSuper, dann treffen wir uns um acht.Great, then we will meet at eight.
- FelixAlles klar, bis später, Sarah.All right, see you later, Sarah.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ja, natürlich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
