German is full of tiny phrases that have a huge range of meanings. In this post, we will look in more depth at the phrase ‘Passt schon’. This literally translates to ‘Fits already’, ‘Fits yet’ or ‘Does fit’. But what this little phrase actually means is ‘it’s OK’, ‘no worries’, ‘it’s all good’, ‘never mind’ – and so on – all depending on the context it’s used in.

There are a number of ways you can use the handy phrase Passt schon (note that, when pronounced, the emphasis is on the word passt rather than the word schon).

Example one

You could say it when paying your bill in a restaurant, to signal to the waiter that they can keep the change. When you give them the money, or as they’re about to give you the change, simply say the magic phrase Passt schon.

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Example two

You could say it when starting a sentence and then cutting it off once you realise what you were about to say is irrelevant.

‘Können wir es vielleicht… Nein, passt schon.’
‘Could we perhaps… No, actually it’s fine.’

Example three

You could say it when someone apologises to you, as a way of signalling that there’s no need for them to worry about it.

‘Ich habe es vergessen. Tut mir echt Leid!’
‘Passt schon.’

‘I forgot it. I’m so sorry!’
‘No worries.’

Example four

You could say it when someone asks if you’re ill, and you want to let them know you’re alright – that it’s not a big deal.

‘Bist du krank? Vielleicht sollten wir es heute nicht tun…’
‘Nein – passt schon.’

‘Are you ill? Perhaps we shouldn’t do it today…’
‘No – it’s nothing.’

Example five

Or simply, it can be a way of responding to the question How are you?

‘Wie geht’s?’
‘Ehhh, passt schon’.

‘How are you?’
‘Ehhh, OK I guess’.

So when things are ‘all good’, remember this little phrase ‘passt schon’! 🙂

Some other things to consider:

• You may also hear people leave out the second word, schon, and just say passt.
• In Bavaria and Austria you may hear it pronounced more like ‘Basst scho’.
• Be aware, too, that the word schon is totally different to the word schön. Schön means beautiful.

If you found this helpful, here are some related posts you might be interested in reading:

The German Phrase ‘Es Passt’
German: It Suits You! (‘Es steht dir’)

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