How to Agree in German: From 'I Suppose So' to 'I Completely Agree'
Learn German phrases for strong agreement like Ich stimme völlig zu and weaker agreement like Das mag sein, and understand how German marks different degrees of agreement.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In German, agreeing is not just a yes-or-no choice. You can show full, enthusiastic agreement, polite partial agreement, or cautious acceptance. This lesson teaches common elementary-level phrases for strong agreement and weak agreement, so you can react naturally in conversations without overcommitting. You will also learn where to place words like völlig, genau, and schon, and how tone and context change the strength of your answer.
By the end, you can…
- express strong agreement in German with phrases like Ich stimme völlig zu.
- express weak or cautious agreement in German with phrases like Das mag sein.
- choose between strong and weak agreement based on how certain or enthusiastic I am.
- use common German agreement words like genau, völlig, and schon in short responses.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ich stimme völlig zu.
I completely agree.
ikh SHTIM-muh FÖ-likh tsoo
Strong, clear agreement. Use in discussions, meetings, or serious conversations. Völlig means 'completely' and makes the agreement emphatic.
Da hast du völlig recht.
You're completely right about that.
dah hast doo FÖ-likh rekht
Strong agreement with a person's opinion or statement. Da refers back to what was just said. Common in everyday conversation.
Genau!
Exactly!
guh-NOW
Short, strong agreement. Very common in spoken German. It can stand alone as a complete response.
Das stimmt.
That's true. / That's right.
dahs shtimt
Neutral agreement. It confirms a fact or statement without sounding overly enthusiastic. Useful when you simply want to say the other person is correct.
Das mag sein.
I suppose so. / That may be.
dahs mahk zine
Weak or cautious agreement. It accepts that something could be true, but does not fully confirm it. Useful when you are not completely convinced.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
German often shows the strength of agreement with adverbs or short particles. Strong agreement uses words like völlig ('completely'), genau ('exactly'), or absolut ('absolutely'): Ich stimme völlig zu. Das ist absolut richtig. Weak agreement often uses the verb mögen ('may') or the particle schon: Das mag sein. Das ist schon möglich. The phrase Das stimmt is neutral: it confirms a fact, but does not add extra enthusiasm. By changing one word, you can move from weak to strong agreement without changing the basic sentence.
When to use it
Use strong agreement when you are fully convinced and want to support the other person clearly. For example, if a colleague says the deadline is too tight, you can answer: Da hast du völlig recht. Use weak agreement when you accept a possibility but do not want to promise full support. If someone says the new plan will work, Das mag sein signals polite caution. Genau and Das stimmt are safe in most everyday situations. In formal contexts, Ich stimme Ihnen zu is more appropriate than the informal Da hast du recht.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ich finde, wir sollten den Termin verschieben.
I think we should postpone the appointment.ikh FIN-duh, veer ZOL-tn den ter-MEEN fer-SHEE-bmDa hast du völlig recht. Das ist im Moment zu stressig.
You're completely right about that. It's too stressful at the moment.dah hast doo FÖ-likh rekht. dahs ist im MOH-ment tsoo SHTRESS-ikhUnd die neue Idee von Frau Keller?
And Ms. Keller's new idea?unt dee NOY-uh ee-DAY fon frow KEL-lerDas mag sein, aber ich bin nicht sicher.
I suppose so, but I'm not sure.dahs mahk zine, AH-ber ikh bin nikht ZIKH-erA little context goes a long way
German speakers often value clear, direct statements, so strong agreement like Ich stimme völlig zu is normal and not considered exaggerated. Weak agreement with Das mag sein can sound cautious or reserved, but it is polite and useful when you want to avoid a firm commitment. In formal situations, use the polite Sie form: Ich stimme Ihnen zu. In informal situations among friends, Da hast du recht is common. Regional differences are small here, but Genau is especially frequent in everyday spoken German throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
One thing to watch for
Using Ja to mean 'I completely agree' in every situation.
Try this instead: Ja simply means 'yes'. For strong agreement, say Ich stimme völlig zu or Da hast du völlig recht. For weak agreement, use Das mag sein. Example: A: 'Das ist die beste Lösung.' B: 'Das mag sein.' This shows cautious agreement, not full commitment.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you strongly agree with the statement 'Das Projekt ist wichtig'?
Show a sample answer
Da hast du völlig recht.
This uses a strong agreement phrase with völlig ('completely'). Ich stimme völlig zu is also correct and slightly more formal.
2Which phrase shows weak agreement: Das stimmt or Das mag sein?
Show a sample answer
Das mag sein.
Das mag sein means 'I suppose so' and signals cautious, partial agreement. Das stimmt is neutral and confirms the statement more directly.
3Translate into German: 'Exactly!'
Show a sample answer
Genau!
Genau is a very common short way to show strong agreement in spoken German. It can stand alone as a full response.
Use Ich stimme völlig zu, Da hast du völlig recht, and Genau for strong agreement; use Das mag sein for weak or cautious agreement; and use Das stimmt for neutral confirmation.
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