LEARNING GERMAN
Naja, we look at one of the most widely used German particles.
Published: 15 January 2020 13:38 CET
Updated: 27 January 2023 17:10 CET
Austrians have a habit of using a lot of particles – which again and again confuse non-native speakers. Oh well one of the other tricky ones.
Picture this: You are talking to someone in German. The conversation goes like this: Your conversation partner tells you a rather long story and ends it with “Well, and then I told her not to come back.” (“Well, and then I told her that she doesn’t have to bother coming back.”) In this case, your conversation partner used one of the most infamous German particles.
Naja, or na ja can be translated to “well” and is an interjection, which means it’s used to express a feeling. In the case of na ja, it’s used to express either agreement or doubt.
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Two examples for its use are the following:
To tell the person you’re talking to that you agree with their statement, but have something more to say: “Well, I agree with you, but…” (“Well, I agree with you, but…”)
To wrap up a long story with a final statement: “Well, that was a long story now, but all in all I think it’s stupid.” (“Well, this was a long story, but all in all it really upsets me.”)
On me consists of the words already and and, and meaning “yes” and already being a totally different case. So let me explain.
Na is a short particle that you will probably stumble across many, many times while in Austria. If you look it up, the dictionary Duden explains na like this:
“A particle preceding a [shortened] sentence and creating the emotional transition of something, which preceded the sentence as something spoken, occurred or thought, to a concluding statement, which may contain personal feelings, but especially the impatience, dissatisfaction, resignation, rejection, but also surprise, a request, encouragement or joy.”
What a mouthful. A shorter explanation is probably: Na is a particle that can be used in basically any context.
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Here are some examples to showcase this:
So … how are you? – “Hi, how are you?”
Well, that went really well. – “Well that went great.” (ironically)
Well so what! – “How strange!”
All right. – “Very well.”
Let’s go! – “Well then, let’s go!”
Well finally! – “Finally!”
Well, don’t make such a fuss. – “Now, stop making such a fuss about it.”
So, if you want to sound like you’ve been speaking German all your life, casually start using already or on me in your sentences. People will be impressed.