🤔🧠

How to Say ‘Thought they were clever people’ in German

Hielten sich für schlaue Leute

HEE-lten zikh fuhr SHLOW-uh LOY-tuh

[HEE-lten zikh fuhr SHLOW-uh LOY-tuh]

💬 Usage Tip: sich für etw./jdn. halten means to think of yourself as something or someone. You can swap in other nouns or adjectives: Sie hält sich für besser als wir.

Phrase Breakdown

Hielten sich

HEE-lten zikh

Words in this phrase

Hielten

[HEE-lten]

held

To have a position or view.

Example

Sie hielten sich für Experten.

They considered themselves experts.

sich

[zikh]

themselves

Used to refer reflexively to a group of two or more people.

Example

Sie hielten sich angespannt.

They held themselves tense.

für

[fuhr]

for

Indicates the object or recipient of a perception or view.

Example

Er hielt sich für stark.

He considered himself strong.

Schlaue Leute

SHLOW-uh LOY-tuh

Words in this phrase

schlaue

[SHLOW-uh]

clever

Displaying mental acuity; smart or ingenious.

Example

Sie hielten sich für schlaue Leute.

They considered themselves clever people.

Leute

[LOY-tuh]

people

Human beings making up a group or community.

Example

Sie hielten sich für schlaue Leute.

They considered themselves clever people.

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.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Berlin bureaucracy requires real German. This app got me from zero to handling my Anmeldung appointment in three weeks. My coworkers couldn’t believe it.”

Emma L., 27, UX Researcher

“Relocated to Munich with my family. The everyday scenarios — grocery shopping, doctor visits, school meetings — are exactly what we needed to settle in.”

Marcus J., 40, Engineer

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer