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How to Say ‘Ah, I see.’ in German

Ah, verstehe.

ah fer-SHTAY-eh

[ah fer-SHTAY-eh]

💬 Usage Tip: This is a casual shortening of ich verstehe, with ich dropped. It's common in speech but not in writing.

Phrase Breakdown

[ah]

Interjection showing sudden understanding.

Example

Ah, so funktioniert das!

Ah, that's how it works!

verstehe

[fer-SHTAY-eh]

I understand / got it

First-person form of 'verstehen' (to understand), often used alone with the 'ich' dropped to confirm you understood something, e.g. a waiter's note about allergies.

Example

Verstehe, Sie möchten also einen Tisch ohne Nüsse im Essen.

I understand, so you would like a table with no nuts in the food.

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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