du siehst gut aus
To say "you look handsome" in German, you use du siehst gut aus.
This phrase is a compliment used to tell a man that he is physically attractive. While it is the standard way to express that someone looks handsome, it literally translates to "you look good" and is slightly less intense than using more specific adjectives for beauty.
Which one should you use?
The phrase du siehst gut aus is a common way to express that someone looks handsome, but it carries the literal meaning of "you look good."
Did you know?
- If you were speaking to a stranger or in a formal setting, you must replace du with Sie and change the verb to sehen. The phrase becomes Sie sehen gut aus.
- While du siehst gut aus is a safe compliment, using the word hübsch for a man can sometimes be perceived as calling him 'pretty' or 'cute' rather than 'handsome'.
- The word du is a direct relative of the archaic English word 'thou'. Both descend from the same Proto-Germanic root used for the second person singular.
Examples in context
- Du siehst gut aus.You look handsome.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase du siehst gut aus.Tatoeba #4420073 by Dokuyaku, translation #2045753 by CK
Example conversation
Laura compliments Julian before they go to a party.
- JulianBin ich fertig?Am I ready?
- LauraJa, du siehst gut aus, Julian!Yes, you look handsome, Julian!
- JulianDanke, Laura. Du auch!Thanks, Laura. You too!
- LauraLass uns jetzt gehen.Let's go now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aus, du, gut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
