Lyla Lindsey
German is the language spoken in Austria, and yes in German is ja (pronounced ya). However, there are many more ways to express agreement in Austrian German. For example, if you want to express enthusiasm for a plan or idea, you can say das klingt gut, meaning that sounds good. Austrians also have their own German phrases and slang for a wide range of situations, and the way they use the language differs fundamentally from the way it is used in Germany.
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What You'll Learn
<'Ja' is 'yes' in German
German is the language spoken in Austria. The German word for "yes" is "ja", pronounced "ya". While Austrians have their own German phrases and slang, knowing the basics of German will be very helpful for understanding Austrian German.
There are many ways to express agreement in German, each with its own meaning and particular uses. For example, "na klar" means "sure" or "of course". You might also hear "na" or "klar" on their own, or even "nu" in Saxony. If you want to express very strong agreement, you can say "selbstverständlich", which means "of course", "absolutely", or "obviously".
If you want to express that you are fairly certain about something but not entirely sure, you can say "bestimmt", meaning "sure". You can also use "bestimmt" to express a guess or a theory that you are almost certain of. "Auf jeden Fall", meaning "in any case", is used when you wholeheartedly agree with something. In German slang, it is sometimes shortened to "auf jeden".
Germans will usually only say "jawohl" ironically, as in "yes sir". "Genau" is also a commonly used adjective, but it can also mean "indeed" or "exactly". When Germans want to express that something works for them, they will use the informal "passt" or "das passt", translating to "(that) fits".
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Austrians speak German with some dialect differences
Austrians speak German, but there are some dialect differences. Austrian German is mutually intelligible with Standard German, meaning speakers of both languages can understand each other. However, there are differences in accent, vocabulary, and grammar.
For example, in Austrian German, the perfect tense sometimes uses "sein" ("to be"), instead of "haben" ("to have") in Standard German. Austrian German is also generally much softer and more melodic. The diminutive form is different, with Austrians adding -el and -erl to the end of words instead of -chen or -lein.
There are also many official terms that differ in Austrian German from their usage in most parts of Germany. For example, "Jänner" is used for "January" instead of "Januar", "heuer" for "this year" instead of "dieses Jahr", and "Stiege" for "stairs" instead of "Treppen".
The various dialects of Austrian German also differ from each other. The Viennese dialect, for instance, is more difficult for German speakers to understand. People from Vienna may struggle to understand Tyroleans, who live on the other side of the country. Most Austrians speak a Bavarian dialect, which tends to soften, drop, or swallow final consonants.
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'Na klar' is Austrian slang for 'sure' or 'of course'
The language spoken in Austria is German, and "yes" in German is "ja" (pronounced "ya"). However, there are many Austrian German phrases and slang terms that are unique to Austria or used differently in Austria than in Germany. One example of this is "Na klar," which is Austrian slang for "sure" or "of course."
"Na klar" is a combination of two common terms. "Na" is often used to mean "well?"—for example, if one person is waiting for the other to respond. It's also used as a typical greeting; "Na du" ("Hey you") is something one good friend might say to another when they meet up. "Klar" simply means "clear," "transparent," or "obvious." By itself, "klar" can mean "sure," or it can be used in phrases like "Der Himmel ist klar" ("The sky is clear"). But when combined with "na," it carries extra emphasis and means "for sure" or "of course."
While technically considered slang, "Na klar" is used by all age groups and classes, not just teenagers. It is often used as an agreement to a question. For example, "Kommst du zu meinem Brunch am Samstag?" ("Are you coming to my brunch on Saturday?") "Na klar!" ("Of course!")
Austria and Germany share the same language, but there are fundamental differences in the way they use it. For example, Austrian German is a bit more ironic, which occasionally leads to small misunderstandings. Germans sometimes accuse Austrians of being inappropriate, and Austrians criticize their neighbors' lack of humor.
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'Jawohl' is used ironically, like 'yes sir'
The language spoken in Austria is German, and "yes" in German is "ja" (pronounced "ya"). However, another word for "yes" in German is "jawohl", which is a combination of "ja" and "wohl" ("well" in English). "Jawohl" is considered more formal than "ja", which is used among friends and acquaintances. It is also stronger than "ja" and is usually used in a military context as an affirmative answer to an order. For example, "Jawohl, mein Kommandant" ("Yes, my commander") or "Jawohl, Herr Stabsfeldwebel" ("Yes, Sergeant-Major").
"Jawohl" has been used historically in the military, including the Wehrmacht, and its usage peaked during World War I and World War II. Due to this association, it may carry connotations with Nazi Germany, and some people may find its use in jest to be in poor taste. However, it is sometimes used ironically or tongue-in-cheek, as in the example, "Kid: 'Ich will ein Eis!' Dad: 'Jawohl! Kommt sofort.'". In this case, "jawohl" is used to emphasise the speaker's enthusiasm or agreement, similar to saying "very well" in English.
In Austrian German, irony is used more frequently than in standard German, and Austrians have their own phrases and slang that differ from the German used in Germany. For example, Austrians say "Grüss Gott" ("greet God") throughout the day as a greeting, whereas Germans typically use Guten Tag and Guten Abend.
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'Selbstverständlich' means 'of course', 'absolutely' or 'obviously'
The language spoken in Austria is German. So, the most common way to say "yes" in Austrian is "ja", which is pronounced "ya". However, there are other ways to express agreement in Austrian German, such as "selbstverständlich", which means "of course", "absolutely", or "obviously".
"Selbstverständlich" is a word that conveys a sense of strong agreement or acknowledgement of something obvious. For example, if someone asks you, "Is the sky blue?" you might respond with "Selbstverständlich!" ("Of course!") to indicate that the answer is obvious.
Using "selbstverständlich" in this context is similar to using "of course" or "absolutely" in English. For instance, if someone asks you, "Are you coming to the party?" you could reply, "Selbstverständlich!" ("Of course!") to indicate that you will definitely be there.
It's worth noting that Austrian German has some unique phrases and slang that differ from standard German. While you can generally get by in Austria with basic German words, Austrians appreciate it when foreigners make an effort to understand their local language and culture. So, feel free to use "selbstverständlich" to express enthusiastic agreement or acknowledge something that is obvious!
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Frequently asked questions
The language spoken in Austria is German, so 'yes' in Austrian German is ja (pronounced 'ya').
Yes, there are many more nuanced ways to agree with someone in German. For example, na klar means 'sure' or 'of course'. You might also hear 'na' or 'klar' on their own, or nu in Saxony.
If you want to express strong agreement, you can say 'das klingt gut', meaning 'that sounds good'. 'Passt' or 'das passt' is also used informally to mean 'that fits'.
Austrians might use jawohl ironically to mean 'yes', in the same way you might say 'yes sir'. 'Jup', 'jep', and 'jop' are also colloquial ways of saying 'ja'.
