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How to Say ‘That could be done’ in German

Das ließe sich machen

dahs LEE-seh zikh MAH-khen

[dahs LEE-seh zikh MAH-khen]

🇩🇪 In Germany: Despite the cautious wording, this is a real yes. Germans often agree in this understated way, especially in service settings.

Phrase Breakdown

Das ließe sich

dahs LEE-seh zikh

That could be

'Ließe sich' is the subjunctive of 'sich lassen', meaning 'could be done'. 'Ie' is a long 'ee' and 'ß' is a sharp 's'.

Example

Das ließe sich ändern.

That could be changed.

Words in this phrase

Das

[dahs]

that / it

'Das' can mean 'that' or 'it', depending on context.

Example

Das macht Spaß beim WM-Schauen.

That is fun when watching the World Cup.

ließe

[LEE-seh]

could be (done)

Subjunctive of 'lassen'; with 'sich' it means something would be possible.

Example

Das ließe sich ändern.

That could be changed.

sich

[zikh]

itself (reflexive)

Reflexive pronoun; with 'lassen' it expresses that something can be done or is possible.

Example

Das lässt sich leicht ändern.

That can easily be changed.

machen

[MAH-khen]

do / make

Verb 'machen' means 'to do' or 'to make'.

Example

Was machen wir zuerst beim Aufbau?

What do we do first during setup?

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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