German · Greetings & Essentials
"Really?" in German: wirklich?
wirklich?
Really? in German is wirklich? Use it for surprise or mild doubt. Stronger disbelief can be Echt? which is a close cousin in casual talk.
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How to pronounce wirklich?
Say it
VEERK-likh
/ˈvɪʁklɪç/
VEERK-likh. Long ee in wir-; ch soft; question rise at the end.
"Really?" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| wirklich? | really? Core question. | Core question. |
| Wirklich nicht? | really not? Checking a no. | Checking a no. |
| echt? | really? Very casual. | Very casual. |
| Ist das wahr? | is that true? Stronger check. | Stronger check. |
How to use wirklich? in real life
- 1Surprising news
Du ziehst nach Wien? Wirklich?
You're moving to Vienna? Really?
Standalone wirklich?
- 2Price shock
Fünfzig Euro für das? Wirklich?
Fifty euros for that? Really?
Disbelief.
- 3Confirming a plan
Wir treffen uns um acht, wirklich?
We're meeting at eight, really?
Soft confirm.
Mistakes English speakers make with wirklich?
Incorrect: Real?
Correct: Wirklich?
Use wirklich, not English real.
Incorrect: Wirklich. (flat, when you mean the question)
Correct: Wirklich?
Rising intonation / question mark marks the headword sense.
Good to know
Wirklich? is polite enough for most settings. Echt? is friendlier and punchier among peers. Overusing either can sound sarcastic.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Hearing about a job offer
ChatPal
Ich habe die Stelle bekommen.
I got the job.
You
Wirklich? Das ist mega!
Really? That's huge!
ChatPal
Wirklich. Vertrag kommt morgen.
Really. The contract comes tomorrow.
You
Dann feiern wir am Wochenende.
Then we'll celebrate this weekend.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Really?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Really?" in German
How do you say really?
Wirklich?
Is echt the same?
Very close in casual speech.
Can wirklich mean truly (not a question)?
Yes: Das ist wirklich gut.
How do you say oh really?
Ach wirklich? / Echt jetzt?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
