Phrases

Question 1

I knew it / I thought so after all

Answer 1

Dachte ich es mir doch

The phrase “Dachte ich es mir doch” is a colloquial and somewhat playful expression in German. Let’s break it down:

1. Dachte - This is the past tense of “denken,” which means “to think.” Here, it’s used in the first person singular past tense, so “dachte” translates to “I thought.”
2. ich es mir - This is a reflexive construction. “Mir” is the reflexive pronoun for “myself.” So, “ich es mir” can be translated as “I thought to myself.”
3. doch - This word is often used to express that something turns out as expected or to affirm something that was suspected. In this context, “doch” can be translated as “after all” or “indeed.”

So, “Dachte ich es mir doch” can be translated as “I thought so after all” or “I knew it .” It’s a way of playfully saying that something confirmed a suspicion or expectation the speaker had. This phrase is often used in informal, friendly conversations.

Question 2

I‘ll probably be back home by then

Answer 2

Ich bin wahrscheinlich bis dahin schon wieder zu Hause.

This sentence is more colloquial and fluid. “Ich bin” means “I am,” “wahrscheinlich” translates to “probably,” “bis dahin” means “by then,” “schon wieder” conveys “already back,” and “zu Hause” is “at home.”

Question 3

By then

Answer 3

Bis dahin

Question 4

Already back

Answer 4

Schon wieder

Question 5

According to plan

Answer 5

Nach plan

Question 6

Not until

Answer 6

Erst

Question 7

At first

Answer 7

Zuerst / Erst

Question 8

As recently as

Answer 8

Erst

Question 9

According to the schedule, I’ll only arrive at the main station at 20:45 anyway.

Answer 9

Ich komme nach Plan eh erst um 20:45 Uhr am Hauptbahnhof an”

1. Ich komme - “I come” or “I am coming.” This is the subject and verb of the sentence, indicating the action and the person performing it.
2. nach Plan - “according to the schedule.” This phrase specifies that the action of arriving is happening as per a predetermined schedule.
3. eh - This is a colloquial German word often used to add emphasis, similar to “anyway” in English.
4. erst - “only” or “not until.” It indicates that the action (in this case, arriving) is happening later than might be expected or is the first action in a sequence.
5. um 20:45 Uhr - “at 20:45” or “at 8:45 PM.” This specifies the time of the action.
6. am Hauptbahnhof - “at the main station” or “at the central station.” “Hbf” is an abbreviation for “Hauptbahnhof,” which means main or central train station in German.
7. an - “arrive.” This verb is placed at the end of the sentence due to the sentence structure in German.

Question 10

But

Answer 10

Doch

Question 11

Never the less

Answer 11

Doch

Question 12

Though

Answer 12

Doch

Question 13

After all

Answer 13

Doch

Question 14

All the same

Answer 14

Doch

Question 15

Yet

Answer 15

Doch / dennoch / trotzdem

Question 16

Anyway

Answer 16

Doch

Question 17

However

Answer 17

Doch / aber / jedoch /

Question 18

But still

Answer 18

Doch

Question 19

Except

Answer 19

Doch