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How to Say ‘Actually, I wanted to sit down.’ in German

Eigentlich wollte ich mich hinsetzen.

EYE-gent-likh VOL-tuh ikh mikh HIN-zet-sen

[EYE-gent-likh VOL-tuh ikh mikh HIN-zet-sen]

💬 Usage Tip: Starting with Eigentlich pushes the verb wollte into second place, ahead of ich. Any opening word does this: Heute wollte ich... "Today I wanted...".

Phrase Breakdown

Eigentlich wollte ich

EYE-gent-likh VOL-tuh ikh

Actually, I wanted

'Eigentlich' (actually) is stressed on the first syllable: EI-gent-lich. Because it opens the sentence, the verb comes next and 'ich' moves after it.

Example

Eigentlich wollte ich schlafen.

Actually, I wanted to sleep.

Words in this phrase

Eigentlich

[EYE-gent-likh]

actually

Adverb meaning 'in fact' or 'really', often softening a statement.

Example

Eigentlich habe ich keine Zeit.

Actually, I don't have time.

wollte

[VOL-tuh]

wanted to

Past tense form used politely in 'I wanted to...' expressions.

Example

Ich wollte sagen, dass seit gestern Abend nur kaltes Wasser da ist.

I wanted to say that since yesterday evening there has only been cold water.

ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

mich hinsetzen.

mikh HIN-zet-sen

to sit down

'mich' is the reflexive pronoun and 'hinsetzen' is the verb at the end. Stress 'HIN'.

Example

Darf ich mich hinsetzen?

May I sit down?

Words in this phrase

mich

[mikh]

myself

A reflexive pronoun used with certain verbs like 'sich bedanken.'

Example

Ich wollte mich für Ihre Zeit bedanken.

I wanted to thank you for your time.

hinsetzen

[HIN-zet-sen]

to sit down

Separable verb: to take a seat somewhere; used with a reflexive pronoun.

Example

Ich möchte mich hinsetzen.

I'd like to sit down.

Guides for German learners

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