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How to Say ‘But look me in the eyes while you do it.’ in German

Aber schau mir dabei in die Augen.

AH-ber show meer dah-BYE in dee OW-gen

[AH-ber show meer dah-BYE in dee OW-gen]

🇩🇪 In Germany: Germans expect eye contact with each person while clinking glasses. Looking away or at the glass is noticed and often teased.

Phrase Breakdown

Aber schau mir dabei

AH-ber show meer dah-BYE

But look at me while doing it

'Aber' means 'but'. 'Dabei' means 'while doing so'. Stress the second syllable: 'da-BEI'.

Example

Lächle dabei!

Smile while doing it!

Words in this phrase

Aber

[AH-ber]

but

Connects contrasting ideas.

Example

Ich will, aber ich kann nicht.

I want to, but I can't.

schau

[show]

look, check

Colloquial form of 'schaue', from 'schauen'; with 'nach' means check.

Example

Ich schau kurz im Kalender.

I'll look in the calendar quickly.

mir

[meer]

to me

Dative pronoun used to show that something matters or happens to the speaker.

Example

Mir ist eine offene Kommunikation besonders wichtig.

Open communication is especially important to me.

dabei

[dah-BYE]

while doing it, at the same time

Refers to an action happening simultaneously with another.

Example

Er singt und tanzt dabei.

He sings and dances at the same time.

in die Augen.

in dee OW-gen

in the eyes.

This is the fixed phrase for eye contact. Link the words smoothly: 'in-di-AU-gen'.

Example

Schau mir in die Augen.

Look me in the eyes.

Words in this phrase

[in]

into / to

With accusative, 'in' shows movement into a region or place.

Example

Wir fahren in die Berge.

We are going to the mountains.

die

[dee]

the

Definite article used to specify something already known.

Example

Die Katze ist süß.

The cat is cute.

Augen

[OW-gen]

eyes

Plural of 'das Auge' (eye).

Example

Sie hat grüne Augen.

She has green eyes.

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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