How do you say "I thought..." in German?

"I thought..." in German is "Ich dachte...". This phrase is commonly used in Germany.

What does "Ich dachte..." mean in English?

"Ich dachte..." means "I thought..." in English.

💭

How to Say ‘I thought...’ in German

Ich dachte...

ikh DAHKH-teh

[ikh DAHKH-teh]

🇩🇪 In Germany: [Ich dachte ...] is useful when correcting a misunderstanding without sounding too aggressive. It softens the complaint: you are saying what you understood, not directly accusing the driver.

Phrase Breakdown

Ich

[ikh]

"Ich" means "I" and is used when explaining your understanding or mistake.

Example

Ich dachte, Sie warten vorne.

I thought you were waiting in front.

dachte

[DAHKH-teh]

thought

"dachte" is the past tense of "denken" and means "thought."

Example

Ich dachte, der Treffpunkt ist am Haupteingang.

I thought the meeting point was at the main entrance.

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 speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

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

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager