There are three words in German that are frequently used as filler words in speech. That is to say, they are inserted in a sentence without changing the meaning of the sentence but only the tone of voice, so to speak. These words are: \u201cmal\u201d, \u201cja\u201d, and \u201cdoch\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You can hear very often that Germans insert the word \u201cmal\u201d in their utterances, like:<\/p>\n
Gib mir mal<\/strong> den Stift. \u2013 Give me the pen.<\/p>\n Geh mal<\/strong> zur Seite. \u2013 Step aside.<\/p>\n Steh mal<\/strong> auf. \u2013 Stand up.<\/p>\n In the examples above, \u201cmal\u201d is the colloquial form of \u201ceinmal\u201d (once). Germans insert this word, for example, to make a command sound more polite. Such constructions are more time-saving and less complex than politer forms like \u201cW\u00fcrdest du mir den Stift geben?\u201d (Would you hand me the pen?), \u201cK\u00f6nntest du mir den Stift geben?\u201d (Could you hand me the pen?), and \u201cKannst du mir den Stift geben.\u201d (Can you hand me the pen.). Additionally, the word \u201cmal\u201d does also modify the speech flow and the intonation of the utterance, which causes to make it sound friendlier and not too harsh and commanding.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The German word \u201cja\u201d means, first of all, \u201cyes\u201d in English and it is also frequently used as a filler word in German random speech.<\/p>\n a) Das ist ja<\/strong> mein Buch. \u2013 This is my book.<\/p>\n b) Da hast du ja<\/strong> Gl\u00fcck gehabt. \u2013 You were in luck.<\/p>\n c) Das kannst du ja<\/strong> nicht wissen. \u2013 You cannot know that.<\/p>\n Here, the meaning of \u201cja\u201d can be compared to the meaning of \u201cindeed\u201d. By inserting \u201cja\u201d you emphasize your own personal conviction that something is true, so to say. This is especially applicable to sentences b) and c). In sentence a) the word \u201cja\u201d expresses rather surprise. For example, let\u2019s say, I am missing one of my books. One day I am at my friend\u2019s place and I spot it there, then I would say \u201cDas ist ja mein Buch!\u201d (Hey, this is my book!).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The word \u201cdoch\u201d has many translations in English. It can mean \u201chowever\u201d, \u201cyet\u201d, \u201cstill\u201d, \u201cnevertheless\u201d, \u201cbut\u201d, \u201cafter all\u201d, and \u201con the contrary\u201d. But when it is inserted in a sentence like from the above types, then it has the function of contradicting a negative question, statement or behavior.<\/p>\n Gib mir doch<\/strong> den Stift. (You haven\u2019t given me the pen yet. So, do it now!)<\/p>\n Geh doch<\/strong> zur Seite. (You haven\u2019t stepped aside yet. So, do it now!)<\/p>\n Steh doch<\/strong> auf. (You haven\u2019t stood up yet. So, do it now!)<\/p>\n Das ist doch<\/strong> meine Buch. (This is not your book because it is mine!)<\/p>\n Da hast du doch<\/strong> Gl\u00fcck gehabt. (You didn\u2019t have bad luck! You were lucky!)<\/p>\n Das kannst du doch<\/strong> nicht wissen. (You know a lot but this time you cannot know it!)<\/p>\n Last but not least, so when you will ever come across similar utterances, don\u2019t be falsely alarmed that you have discovered new aspect of grammar. None of these three words will ever modify the meaning of a sentence in a way that it is impossible for you understand it not at all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are three words in German that are frequently used as filler words in speech. That is to say, they are inserted in a sentence without changing the meaning of the sentence but only the tone of voice, so to speak. These words are: \u201cmal\u201d, \u201cja\u201d, and \u201cdoch\u201d. 1. \u201c mal\u201d You can hear…<\/p>\n2. \u201cja\u201d<\/h3>\n
3. \u201cdoch\u201d<\/h3>\n