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How to Say ‘Better not, Anna's waiting at home.’ in German

Lieber nicht, Anna wartet zu Hause.

LEE-ber nicht AH-nah VAR-tet tsoo hou-zuh

[LEE-ber nicht AH-nah VAR-tet tsoo hou-zuh]

Phrase Breakdown

Lieber nicht,

LEE-ber nicht

Better not,

This is a polite way to decline. 'Lieber' means 'rather' and sounds like 'LEE-ber'. 'Nicht' has a soft 'ch'.

Example

Noch ein Stück Kuchen? Lieber nicht.

Another piece of cake? Better not.

Words in this phrase

Lieber

[LEE-ber]

preferably

Shows preference between options.

Example

In Möchten Sie lieber drinnen sitzen? fragt lieber nach Ihrer Vorliebe.

In Would you prefer to sit inside?, preferably asks about your preference.

nicht

[nicht]

not

Used to negate a sentence.

Example

Dieses Angebot gibt's nicht mehr.

This offer no longer exists.

Anna wartet zu Hause.

AH-nah VAR-tet tsoo hou-zuh

Anna is waiting at home.

This gives the reason for declining. Say 'VAR-tet tsoo HOW-zeh'.

Example

Ich muss gehen, Anna wartet zu Hause.

I have to go, Anna is waiting at home.

Words in this phrase

Anna

[AH-nah]

Anna

A common female first name.

Example

Anna arbeitet in Berlin.

Anna works in Berlin.

wartet

[VAR-tet]

waits / is waiting

Form of 'warten' (to wait) for he/she/it.

Example

Meine Mutter wartet auf uns.

My mother is waiting for us.

[tsoo]

Used to indicate direction or purpose.

Example

Ich habe es zu tun.

I have to do it.

Hause

[hou-zuh]

home

The place where one lives permanently.

Example

Ich bin zu Hause.

I am at home.

Guides for German learners

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