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How to Say ‘There's a sign on it.’ in German

Da steht so ein Schild drauf.

dah shtayt zoh ine shilt drowf

[dah shtayt zoh ine shilt drowf]

💬 Usage Tip: drauf is short for darauf "on it". German says a sign "stands" there: da steht is also how you say something is written somewhere.

Phrase Breakdown

Da steht

dah shtayt

There stands / on it there is

'steht' is pronounced 'shteht', because 'st' at the start of a word sounds like 'sht'. It is used for written things: 'it says'.

Example

Da steht dein Name.

Your name is written there.

Words in this phrase

[dah]

there

In, at, or to that place or position.

Example

Da ist etwas.

There is something.

steht

[shtayt]

stands / is placed

From 'stehen'; here an object is standing on something.

Example

Die Vase steht auf dem Tisch.

The vase is on the table.

so ein Schild drauf.

zoh ine shilt drowf

one of those signs on it.

'drauf' is short for 'darauf' (on it) and rhymes with 'auf'. Say the whole part smoothly as one unit.

Example

Da ist ein Deckel drauf.

There's a lid on it.

Words in this phrase

[zoh]

such

Of the same kind.

Example

So ein schönes Auto!

Such a beautiful car!

ein

[ine]

The indefinite article 'ein'.

Example

Ich brauche ein Auto.

I need a car.

Schild

[shilt]

sign

Neuter noun for a sign or label.

Example

Das Schild sagt 'Ausgang'.

The sign says 'Exit'.

drauf

[drowf]

on it

Literally on it; together with Scheiß it forms the idiom Scheiß drauf! meaning screw it.

Example

Ach, scheiß drauf, wir gehen trotzdem raus.

Ah, screw it, we're going out anyway.

Guides for German learners

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