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How to Say ‘Saturday doesn't work, unfortunately.’ in German

Samstag geht leider nicht.

ZAMS-tahk gayt LY-der nicht

[ZAMS-tahk gayt LY-der nicht]

🇩🇪 In Germany: Saying no to a day without explaining why is perfectly polite in Germany. Just offer another day so it doesn't read as a brush-off.

Phrase Breakdown

Samstag

[ZAMS-tahk]

Saturday

The sixth day of the week.

Example

Am Samstag gehen wir essen.

On Saturday we're going out to eat.

geht leider nicht.

gayt LY-der nicht

unfortunately doesn't work

The fixed phrase for declining. Keep it flowing: 'gayt LYE-der nisht', with a slight drop in pitch at the end.

Example

Heute geht leider nicht.

Today unfortunately doesn't work.

Words in this phrase

geht

[gayt]

works / is possible

Form of 'gehen'; with 'es' it asks whether something is possible or convenient.

Example

Geht es am Samstag?

Does Saturday work?

leider

[LY-der]

unfortunately

Adverb used to express regret, often before bad news.

Example

Leider sind wir heute ausgebucht.

Unfortunately we are fully booked today.

nicht

[nicht]

not

Used to negate a sentence.

Example

Dieses Angebot gibt's nicht mehr.

This offer no longer exists.

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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