German: Expressing Sufficiency with genug and zu
Learn to say something is enough or not enough in German using 'genug' and 'zu', with examples and practice.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In German, expressing whether something is sufficient or excessive is essential for everyday communication. This lesson focuses on two key words: 'genug' (enough) and 'zu' (too). You'll learn how to construct sentences like 'We don't have enough time' and 'The coffee is too hot.' We'll also cover common pitfalls and regional variations. By the end, you'll be able to talk about sufficiency and excess accurately.
By the end, you can…
- say that something is enough or not enough using 'genug'.
- say that something is too much or too little using 'zu' and 'nicht genug'.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Wir haben nicht genug Zeit.
We don't have enough time.
veer HAH-ben nikht ge-NOOK tsyt
'genug' normally precedes the noun it modifies: 'nicht genug Zeit'.
Das ist genug.
That is enough.
dahs ist ge-NOOK
Standalone use of 'genug' to indicate sufficiency.
Der Kaffee ist zu heiß.
The coffee is too hot.
dair KAH-fee ist tsoo hys
'zu' + adjective expresses excess; it is invariable.
Ich habe zu wenig Geld.
I have too little money.
ikh HAH-be tsoo VAY-nikh gelt
'zu wenig' means 'too little' or 'not enough'.
Es ist genug Essen da.
There is enough food (available).
es ist ge-NOOK ES-sen dah
'genug' precedes the noun 'Essen'; 'da' emphasizes that it is available.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is: subject + verb + (nicht) genug + noun, or subject + verb + zu + adjective. For example, 'Wir haben genug Zeit' (We have enough time) and 'Das ist zu teuer' (That is too expensive). Note that 'genug' can also follow adjectives: 'gut genug' (good enough). 'Zu' is always placed directly before the adjective it modifies.
When to use it
Use 'genug' to indicate sufficiency, often with 'haben', 'sein', or 'es gibt'. Use 'zu' to indicate excess, and 'nicht genug' or 'zu wenig' for insufficiency. For example, 'Ich habe nicht genug geschlafen' (I didn't sleep enough) vs. 'Ich habe zu viel gegessen' (I ate too much). In negative contexts, 'nicht genug' is more common than 'zu wenig' when referring to quantity, but both are correct.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Hast du genug Zeit für das Projekt?
Do you have enough time for the project?hahst doo ge-NOOK tsyt fewr dahs pro-YEKTNein, ich habe nicht genug Zeit. Ich habe zu viel zu tun.
No, I don't have enough time. I have too much to do.nyn, ikh HAH-be nikht ge-NOOK tsyt. ikh HAH-be tsoo feel tsoo toonDann müssen wir mehr Leute einstellen.
Then we need to hire more people.dahn MUE-sen veer mair LOY-te AYN-shtel-lenJa, aber das Budget ist zu klein.
Yes, but the budget is too small.yah, AH-ber dahs bud-JET ist tsoo klynA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, directness is valued, so using 'zu' and 'genug' is common in everyday speech. However, when criticizing, consider softening with 'ein bisschen' (a bit) or 'etwas' (somewhat). For instance, 'Das ist ein bisschen zu teuer' sounds less harsh. In Austria and Switzerland, 'genug' is used similarly, but colloquially 'gnueg' (Swiss German) may appear.
One thing to watch for
Placing 'genug' after the noun, e.g., 'Ich habe Zeit genug' instead of the standard 'Ich habe genug Zeit'.
Try this instead: In standard modern German, 'genug' typically precedes the noun when used with 'haben' and 'sein': 'Ich habe genug Zeit.' However, when 'genug' is used as an adverb modifying an adjective, it follows: 'Das ist gut genug.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: 'We have enough money.'
Show a sample answer
Wir haben genug Geld.
'genug' precedes the noun 'Geld'. Alternative: 'Wir haben Geld genug' is poetic and not used in standard speech.
2Translate: 'The soup is too salty.'
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Die Suppe ist zu salzig.
'zu' + adjective 'salzig'. No alternative with 'genug' here.
3Translate: 'I don't have enough sleep.'
Show a sample answer
Ich habe nicht genug Schlaf.
Alternatively, 'Ich habe zu wenig Schlaf.' Both are correct; 'nicht genug' is more common.
Use 'genug' for sufficiency and 'zu' for excess. Remember word order: 'genug' before nouns, 'zu' before adjectives. Practice with everyday situations to master these expressions.
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