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How to Say ‘Oh, it's not that bad.’ in German

Ach, halb so wild.

ahkh halp zo vilt

[ahkh halp zo vilt]

💬 Usage Tip: Literally this is "half as wild". It's a fixed phrase for brushing off worry, and it works for problems as well as for health.

Phrase Breakdown

Ach, halb

ahkh halp

Oh, half

'Ach' is a casual interjection with the throaty 'ch' sound, as in Scottish 'loch'. It begins the idiom 'halb so wild'.

Example

Ach, halb so schlimm.

Oh, not that bad.

Words in this phrase

Ach

[ahkh]

Interjection expressing mild surprise or dismissal.

Example

Ach, das macht nichts.

Oh, that doesn't matter.

halb

[halp]

half

Used in times: 'halb' plus an hour means thirty minutes before that hour.

Example

Wir treffen uns um halb zwei.

We meet at half past one.

so wild.

zo vilt

as bad (it's not that bad)

Completes the idiom 'halb so wild', meaning 'not a big deal'. 'wild' is pronounced 'vilt', with a German w sounding like v.

Example

Der Test war halb so wild.

The test wasn't that bad.

Words in this phrase

[zo]

Used to refer to something just mentioned; like that.

Example

Ich fühle mich so müde.

I feel so tired.

wild

[vilt]

wild; bad

In the idiom 'halb so wild' it means 'not that bad'.

Example

Das ist nicht so wild.

That's not so bad.

Guides for German learners

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