👨🤔

How to Say ‘Man, who would have thought?’ in German

Mann, wer hätte das gedacht?

man vair HET-uh dahs guh-DAHKHT

[man vair HET-uh dahs guh-DAHKHT]

💬 Usage Tip: hätte gedacht is a common way to say would have thought. German often uses this pattern for reactions like Das hätte ich nie gedacht.

Phrase Breakdown

Mann,

man

Words in this phrase

Mann

[man]

man

An adult human male, often used informally to express surprise.

Example

Mann, das hätte ich nicht gedacht.

Man, I wouldn't have thought that.

Wer hätte das gedacht?

vair HET-uh dahs guh-DAHKHT

Words in this phrase

wer

[vair]

who

Used to introduce a question about someone.

Example

Wer hätte gedacht, dass er gewinnt?

Who would have thought he would win?

hätte

[HET-uh]

would have

A conditional phrase indicating possibility.

Example

Ich hätte gewinnen können.

I could have won.

das

[dahs]

that

Used to indicate something known or assumed.

Example

Dass das Wetter so schlecht wird.

That the weather would become so bad.

gedacht

[guh-DAHKHT]

thought

Past form of think; considered or regarded.

Example

Er hätte nicht gedacht, dass es geht.

He wouldn't have thought it was possible.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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