What does 'genau' mean in colloquial language?
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There are a few young German students at my university and when they speak in German I noticed they often say 'genau' or 'ja, genau' in response to a statement made by someone else. Is this something like 'Exactly' in response to a statement or 'Yeah, right'.
phrases
asked 3 hours ago
Tom
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up vote
2
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favorite
There are a few young German students at my university and when they speak in German I noticed they often say 'genau' or 'ja, genau' in response to a statement made by someone else. Is this something like 'Exactly' in response to a statement or 'Yeah, right'.
phrases
asked 3 hours ago
Tom
1414
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
There are a few young German students at my university and when they speak in German I noticed they often say 'genau' or 'ja, genau' in response to a statement made by someone else. Is this something like 'Exactly' in response to a statement or 'Yeah, right'.
phrases
asked 3 hours ago
Tom
1414
There are a few young German students at my university and when they speak in German I noticed they often say 'genau' or 'ja, genau' in response to a statement made by someone else. Is this something like 'Exactly' in response to a statement or 'Yeah, right'.
phrases
phrases
asked 3 hours ago
Tom
1414
asked 3 hours ago
Tom
1414
asked 3 hours ago
Tom
1414
asked 3 hours ago
Tom
1414
asked 3 hours ago
Tom
1414
1414
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
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Yes, Genau! is just an affirmative response, which literally translates to exactly, meaning It is exactly as you said and could well be translated into Right!, Correct!.
answered 2 hours ago
jonathan.scholbach
4,047827
This is interesting, thanks, it makes me want to learn German but I feel like I am just too busy.
– Tom
1 hour ago
add a comment |
up vote
2
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That pretty much depends on tone of voice.
Genau, used in normal voice means "exactly". Almost just a filler with confirmatory intent. Factual agreement. That is probably the most often heard case.
So, I gather from this observation that the sun is at the center of our solar system? – Genau.
But genau used in a sarcastic/ironic/sardonic voice has to be translated differently. Often the last syllable is signalling hysterical content by being raised, more melodic than usual and/or somewhat stretched.
In that case it is more or of the "Yeah, right" or "can't be serious", or even "you're pulling my leg!", "nonsense".
So, I know since childhood that the moon is what we call the sun at night. – 'Ge-nau'
answered 1 hour ago
LangLangC
4,28011036
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
Yes, Genau! is just an affirmative response, which literally translates to exactly, meaning It is exactly as you said and could well be translated into Right!, Correct!.
answered 2 hours ago
jonathan.scholbach
4,047827
This is interesting, thanks, it makes me want to learn German but I feel like I am just too busy.
– Tom
1 hour ago
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Yes, Genau! is just an affirmative response, which literally translates to exactly, meaning It is exactly as you said and could well be translated into Right!, Correct!.
answered 2 hours ago
jonathan.scholbach
4,047827
This is interesting, thanks, it makes me want to learn German but I feel like I am just too busy.
– Tom
1 hour ago
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Yes, Genau! is just an affirmative response, which literally translates to exactly, meaning It is exactly as you said and could well be translated into Right!, Correct!.
answered 2 hours ago
jonathan.scholbach
4,047827
Yes, Genau! is just an affirmative response, which literally translates to exactly, meaning It is exactly as you said and could well be translated into Right!, Correct!.
answered 2 hours ago
jonathan.scholbach
4,047827
answered 2 hours ago
jonathan.scholbach
4,047827
answered 2 hours ago
jonathan.scholbach
4,047827
answered 2 hours ago
jonathan.scholbach
4,047827
4,047827
This is interesting, thanks, it makes me want to learn German but I feel like I am just too busy.
– Tom
1 hour ago
add a comment |
This is interesting, thanks, it makes me want to learn German but I feel like I am just too busy.
– Tom
1 hour ago
This is interesting, thanks, it makes me want to learn German but I feel like I am just too busy.
– Tom
1 hour ago
This is interesting, thanks, it makes me want to learn German but I feel like I am just too busy.
– Tom
1 hour ago
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
That pretty much depends on tone of voice.
Genau, used in normal voice means "exactly". Almost just a filler with confirmatory intent. Factual agreement. That is probably the most often heard case.
So, I gather from this observation that the sun is at the center of our solar system? – Genau.
But genau used in a sarcastic/ironic/sardonic voice has to be translated differently. Often the last syllable is signalling hysterical content by being raised, more melodic than usual and/or somewhat stretched.
In that case it is more or of the "Yeah, right" or "can't be serious", or even "you're pulling my leg!", "nonsense".
So, I know since childhood that the moon is what we call the sun at night. – 'Ge-nau'
answered 1 hour ago
LangLangC
4,28011036
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
That pretty much depends on tone of voice.
Genau, used in normal voice means "exactly". Almost just a filler with confirmatory intent. Factual agreement. That is probably the most often heard case.
So, I gather from this observation that the sun is at the center of our solar system? – Genau.
But genau used in a sarcastic/ironic/sardonic voice has to be translated differently. Often the last syllable is signalling hysterical content by being raised, more melodic than usual and/or somewhat stretched.
In that case it is more or of the "Yeah, right" or "can't be serious", or even "you're pulling my leg!", "nonsense".
So, I know since childhood that the moon is what we call the sun at night. – 'Ge-nau'
answered 1 hour ago
LangLangC
4,28011036
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
That pretty much depends on tone of voice.
Genau, used in normal voice means "exactly". Almost just a filler with confirmatory intent. Factual agreement. That is probably the most often heard case.
So, I gather from this observation that the sun is at the center of our solar system? – Genau.
But genau used in a sarcastic/ironic/sardonic voice has to be translated differently. Often the last syllable is signalling hysterical content by being raised, more melodic than usual and/or somewhat stretched.
In that case it is more or of the "Yeah, right" or "can't be serious", or even "you're pulling my leg!", "nonsense".
So, I know since childhood that the moon is what we call the sun at night. – 'Ge-nau'
answered 1 hour ago
LangLangC
4,28011036
That pretty much depends on tone of voice.
Genau, used in normal voice means "exactly". Almost just a filler with confirmatory intent. Factual agreement. That is probably the most often heard case.
So, I gather from this observation that the sun is at the center of our solar system? – Genau.
But genau used in a sarcastic/ironic/sardonic voice has to be translated differently. Often the last syllable is signalling hysterical content by being raised, more melodic than usual and/or somewhat stretched.
In that case it is more or of the "Yeah, right" or "can't be serious", or even "you're pulling my leg!", "nonsense".
So, I know since childhood that the moon is what we call the sun at night. – 'Ge-nau'
answered 1 hour ago
LangLangC
4,28011036
edited 1 hour ago
answered 1 hour ago
LangLangC
4,28011036
answered 1 hour ago
LangLangC
4,28011036
answered 1 hour ago
LangLangC
4,28011036
4,28011036
add a comment |
add a comment |
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