By Ryan Dennis Last updated:
Being able to compliment someone in German is useful for all sorts of situations and occasions.
It can help you strike up a casual conversation and make new friends.
It can also come in handy at work or in personal relationships when you want to win someone over through flattery.
In this post, you’ll find 16 German phrases you can use to compliment someone in any situation.
Use the audio to perfect your pronunciation and then practice these compliments on anyone who could use some joy!
Contents
- 16 Compliments in German
- Getting Practice with German Compliments
- And One More Thing...
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
16 Compliments in German
1. Du siehst heute toll aus.
(You look great today.)
This unisex phrase doesn’t carry romantic undertones, so you can use it in any situation.
2. Du bist sehr schön.
(You are very beautiful.)
3. Du siehst umwerfend aus!
(You look stunning!)
Translated more literally as “You look staggering,” this compliment is for those for whom the word “beautiful” is simply not enough.
4. Diese Farbe steht dir.
(That color suits you.)
One way to say that something fits a person particularly well is to suggest that it “stands to them” (stehen+ reflexive pronoun [Dative]).
5. Deine Frisur gefällt mir.
(I like your hairstyle.)
6. Das ist eines der Dinge, die ich an dir mag.
(That’s one of the things I like about you.)
7. Ich liebe dein Lächeln.
(I love your smile.)
8. Ich mag deine Schuhe.
(I like your shoes.)
9. Mit dir kann ich am besten lachen.
(I can laugh so well with you.)
10. Was würde ich ohne dich tun?
(What would I do without you?)
11. Was für ein schöner Hund!
(What a lovely dog!)
12. Ihre Kinder sind so schön.
(Your children are so nice.)
13. Das schmeckt wirklich gut!
(That tastes really good!)
14. Das Essen riecht gut.
(The food smells good.)
15. Es war köstlich!
(It was delicious!)
16. Deine Stimme klingt himmlisch.
(Your voice sounds heavenly.)
Getting Practice with German Compliments
Any German learner can benefit from watching or listening to compliments being used in action. It can help you can understand how people use them in German culture and what kind of situations are appropriate for complimenting someone.
Compared to Americans, Germans are more reserved—they typically don’t give out (or expect) compliments very often. If you don’t have a German friend or two who you can chat with and listen to, you can always turn to media like TV shows, movies and even vloggers on YouTube.
You can also use a language-learning program like FluentU to hear native German speakers use compliments in many different contexts.
The next time you need to break the ice, try using one of these German compliments!
Just don’t be disheartened if you don’t hear any flattery back while in Germany. According to some, it’s simply a cultural thing.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
And One More Thing...
Want to know the key to learning German effectively?
It's using the right content and tools, like FluentU has to offer! Browse hundreds of videos, take endless quizzes and master the German language faster than you've ever imagine!
Watching a fun video, but having trouble understanding it? FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive subtitles.
You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don't know, you can add it to a vocabulary list.
And FluentU isn't just for watching videos. It's a complete platform for learning. It's designed to effectively teach you all the vocabulary from any video. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you're on.
The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you're learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.
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