What does it mean word for word?
The phrase du hast schöne Augen is composed of du (you), hast (have), schöne (beautiful) and Augen (eyes).
Which one should you use?
Du hast schöne Augen is the informal version used for friends, family or people you know well. In contrast, for strangers or in formal settings, you would use the formal version Sie haben schöne Augen. Additionally, while the primary phrase means 'you have beautiful eyes', you can also say 'your eyes are beautiful' using Deine Augen sind wunderschön informally or Ihre Augen sind wunderschön formally.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Bavaria, you might hear Dei Augn san wunderschee. to mean 'Your eyes are beautiful'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective schön takes the -e ending in schöne Augen because Augen is a plural noun in the accusative case. When switching to the formal 'you', the phrase changes from du hast schöne Augen to Sie haben schöne Augen.
Did you know?
- The word schön can be used as a filler word in casual speech to express irony or sarcasm, which is entirely different from its meaning in a compliment.
- In German, the word Augenblick literally means 'blink of an eye' and is used as the standard word for 'a moment'.
- In Germany, giving a compliment about someone's physical features like 'schöne Augen' can sometimes feel more intense or intimate than in English. It is often perceived as a more direct romantic overture rather than a casual remark.
Examples in context
- Du hast schöne Augen.You have beautiful eyes.This is a direct statement of the compliment using du hast schöne Augen.Tatoeba #1708112 by Hans07, translation #2045766 by CK
- Ich weiß nicht, ob ich dir das schon mal gesagt habe, aber du hast schöne Augen.I don't know if I've ever told you, but you have beautiful eyes.This sentence shows how to use du hast schöne Augen when expressing that you might not have said it before.Tatoeba #3395802 by Zaghawa, translation #2318239 by CK
- Du hast schöne Augen, weißt du.You know, you have beautiful eyes.This sentence provides an example of using du hast schöne Augen in a slightly more casual conversational tone.Tatoeba #440149 by MUIRIEL, translation #440890 by Clavain
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah are sitting in a cafe together.
- FelixDu hast schöne Augen, Hannah.You have beautiful eyes, Hannah.
- HannahOh, danke, Felix! Das ist sehr lieb.Oh, thank you, Felix! That is very sweet.
- FelixIch meine es wirklich.I really mean it.
- HannahDu machst mich sehr glücklich.You make me very happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “you have beautiful eyes” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
