🗣️👉

How to Say ‘Tell me’ in German

Sag mal

zahk mahl

[zahk mahl]

💬 Usage Tip: mal doesn't mean "time" here. It softens the request, like "just" or "by the way" in English. You'll hear it everywhere: Komm mal her "Come here a sec".

Phrase Breakdown

Sag

[zahk]

say / tell

Informal command form of 'sagen' (to say), used to start a question casually.

Example

Sag mir die Wahrheit.

Tell me the truth.

mal

[mahl]

go on / a bit

A common modal particle that makes the request sound casual and friendly.

Example

Erzähl mal, wie die Idee aussieht.

Go on, tell me what the idea looks like.

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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