😞🚫📍

How to Say ‘But unfortunately I'm not there.’ in German

Aber leider bin ich nicht da.

AH-ber LY-der bin ikh nicht dah

[AH-ber LY-der bin ikh nicht dah]

💬 Usage Tip: When a sentence opens with leider, the verb jumps ahead of the subject: leider bin ich, not leider ich bin. Same with heute bin ich müde "today I'm tired".

Phrase Breakdown

Aber leider

AH-ber LY-der

But unfortunately

Stress the first syllable of both words: A-ber LEI-der. 'ei' sounds like 'eye'.

Example

Aber leider regnet es.

But unfortunately it's raining.

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.

leider

[LY-der]

unfortunately

Adverb used to express regret, often before bad news.

Example

Leider sind wir heute ausgebucht.

Unfortunately we are fully booked today.

bin ich nicht da.

bin ikh nicht dah

I'm not there.

The verb 'bin' comes before 'ich' because 'leider' takes the first position. 'da' means 'there'.

Example

Morgen bin ich nicht da.

Tomorrow I'm not there.

Words in this phrase

bin

[bin]

First-person singular form of 'sein' meaning 'to be.'

Example

Beim Kennenlernen sage ich: Ich bin neu hier.

When meeting people I say: I am new here.

ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

nicht

[nicht]

not

Used to negate a sentence.

Example

Dieses Angebot gibt's nicht mehr.

This offer no longer exists.

[dah]

there; in that

Refers to the point just made.

Example

Da bin ich anderer Meinung.

There I disagree.

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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