German Transitions: Linking to the Current Topic with 'Apropos' and 'Übrigens'
Learn to shift subjects smoothly in German with apropos, übrigens, nebenbei and was ich noch sagen wollte, so new points connect to what was just said instead of starting fresh.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In real conversation you rarely announce a brand-new topic out of nowhere. You hook a new point onto what was just said: 'Speaking of which...' or 'By the way...'. German does this with a small set of transition words. This lesson teaches the most useful ones, where they sit in the sentence, and how they differ in register, so you can change direction without sounding abrupt.
By the end, you can…
- link a new remark to the topic that was just mentioned using apropos or übrigens.
- choose between informal and more formal transition words for the right situation.
- place a transition word correctly in a German sentence and keep verb-second word order.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Apropos Urlaub – warst du schon in Wien?
Speaking of holidays – have you been to Vienna yet?
ah-proh-POH OOR-lowp, varst doo shohn in VEEN
Apropos picks up a word just said and turns it into a new question. It comes first, then the topic, then the verb.
Übrigens, ich habe morgen keine Zeit.
By the way, I don't have time tomorrow.
EW-bri-gens, ikh HAH-buh MOR-gen KHY-nuh tsyt
Übrigens adds a side remark. It is neutral and works in both casual and polite conversation.
Was ich noch sagen wollte: Das Konzert ist ausverkauft.
What I also wanted to say: the concert is sold out.
vas ikh nokh ZAH-gen VOL-tuh, das kon-TSAIRT ist OWS-fer-kowft
A longer, softer way to add a point you nearly forgot. Common in friendly conversation.
Nebenbei bemerkt, das Essen war teuer.
Incidentally, the food was expensive.
NAY-ben-by buh-MAIRKT, das ES-sen var TOY-er
Nebenbei bemerkt sounds slightly more formal or written. In speech, übrigens is more natural.
Da fällt mir ein – hast du Paul eingeladen?
That reminds me – did you invite Paul?
dah felt meer ayn, hast doo powl AYN-guh-lah-den
Da fällt mir ein introduces something the current topic just reminded you of. Very common in speech.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
These words sit at the start of a sentence and do not change the basic word order: the verb stays in second position. Compare 'Ich habe morgen keine Zeit' and 'Übrigens, ich habe morgen keine Zeit' – the verb habe is still in second place. With apropos you often name the topic first: 'Apropos Arbeit, hast du den Bericht fertig?' The word links back to something already mentioned, so it only makes sense after that topic has come up.
When to use it
Use apropos when you want to pick up a specific word someone just said: 'Apropos Kaffee, ich brauche auch einen.' Use übrigens for a general side note that is not directly triggered by a word: 'Übrigens, das Meeting ist verschoben.' Use da fällt mir ein when the current topic reminds you of something: 'Da fällt mir ein, wir müssen noch Brot kaufen.' Nebenbei bemerkt is more formal and fits reports or careful speech better than quick chat.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Wir fahren im Sommer nach Italien.
We're going to Italy in the summer.veer FAH-ren im ZOM-mer nakh ee-TAH-lee-enApropos Italien – kennst du ein gutes Hotel in Rom?
Speaking of Italy – do you know a good hotel in Rome?ah-proh-POH ee-TAH-lee-en, kenst doo ayn GOO-tes ho-TEL in romJa, ich schicke dir später den Namen. Übrigens, hast du schon gebucht?
Yes, I'll send you the name later. By the way, have you booked yet?yah, ikh SHIK-uh deer SHPAA-ter dane NAH-men. EW-bri-gens, hast doo shohn guh-BOOKHTNoch nicht. Da fällt mir ein – die Preise steigen nächste Woche.
Not yet. That reminds me – prices go up next week.nokh nikht. dah felt meer ayn, dee PRY-zuh SHTY-gen NAYKS-tuh VO-khuhA little context goes a long way
Übrigens and apropos are everyday in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but frequency differs: in casual Austrian and Swiss speech you will also hear 'nebenbei' and regional particles. In formal writing, prefer 'übrigens' or 'nebenbei bemerkt' over 'apropos', which stays conversational.
One thing to watch for
Learners often say 'Übrigens, ich habe keine Zeit morgen' and put the time at the end, or treat übrigens like English 'by the way' and place it mid-sentence in English order.
Try this instead: Keep German word order: the verb stays second, and time expressions usually come before objects or at the start. Say 'Übrigens, ich habe morgen keine Zeit' or 'Ich habe übrigens morgen keine Zeit.' Both are correct; the second is very common in speech.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You want to add a side note that the train is late. Which word fits best at the start?
Show a sample answer
Übrigens, der Zug hat Verspätung.
Übrigens introduces a general side remark not triggered by a specific word. 'Apropos' would need a topic word just mentioned, e.g. 'Apropos Zug...'.
2Someone just said 'Wir waren in Berlin.' How do you link a question about a hotel there?
Show a sample answer
Apropos Berlin – kennst du ein gutes Hotel?
Apropos picks up the word Berlin and turns it into a related question. 'Übrigens' would also be possible but is less tightly linked.
3Correct this sentence: 'Da fällt mir ein, wir müssen kaufen Brot.'
Show a sample answer
Da fällt mir ein, wir müssen Brot kaufen.
In a main clause with a modal verb, the infinitive kaufen goes to the end. 'Brot' is the object and comes before it.
Use apropos to hook onto a word just said, übrigens for a general side note, and da fällt mir ein when the topic reminds you of something – and keep the verb in second position.
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