What does it mean word for word?
Literally, Du schaffst das! means "You manage that!" or "You'll make it!" It uses the verb schaffen, which means to manage, accomplish or create.
Which one should you use?
While Du kannst das! is a grammatically correct way to say "You can do that!", the phrase Du schaffst das! is the much more common and idiomatic way to express encouragement for a specific task or challenge.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are different ways to express this depending on the level of formality. The informal forms include Du schaffst das! and Ja, das packst du!, as well as the idiomatic Zeig, was in dir steckt! (Show what you're made of!). For formal situations, you should use Sie können das schaffen!, Sie schaffen das! or the variation Trauen Sie sich! to mean "Believe in yourself!" or "Have confidence in yourself!"
Did you know?
- If you want to sound more energetic and informal, you can say Das packst du!, where packen literally means 'to pack' or 'to grab', implying you can grab hold of the task.
- While Du schaffst das! is encouraging, Germans often use the phrase Halt durch! to tell someone to 'hang in there' during the actual struggle.
- In highly formal settings, using Sie instead of du is not just a grammar choice but a social boundary that can be very strict in professional environments.
Examples in context
- Sie können das schaffen! Ich glaube an Sie.You can do it! I believe in you.
- Du schaffst das! Hau rein!You can do it! Go for it!
- Keine Angst, du schaffst das!Don't worry, you can do it!
- Nur noch eine Runde, du schaffst das!Just one more round, you can do it!
Example conversation
Julia is nervous before her first big presentation.
- JulianBist du nervös wegen der Präsentation?Are you nervous about the presentation?
- JuliaJa, ich habe ein bisschen Angst.Yes, I am a little afraid.
- JulianKeine Sorge, Julia, du schaffst das!Don't worry, Julia, you can do it!
- JuliaDanke, Julian, das motiviert mich.Thanks, Julian, that motivates me.
