daß — meaning in English: that

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fall

daß

kinder

sagen

uns

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neutral very common

Usage

Native German speakers use 'daß' primarily in subordinate clauses to introduce statements or conditions. For instance, someone might say, 'Ich glaube, daß es morgen regnet,' meaning 'I believe that it will rain tomorrow.' It's frequently encountered in both everyday conversation and written forms, such as literature or formal communication.

Synonyms & nuances

'Daß' translates to 'that' in English but is distinct from other conjunctions like 'weil' (because) or 'ob' (if). Use 'daß' when you need to indicate a specific clause or thought, whereas 'weil' and 'ob' introduce different types of relationships in the sentence.

Culture

'Daß' has an interesting historical journey; it used to be spelled 'daß' until the German orthography reform in 1996. This change aimed to simplify the language, but many speakers still debate the merits of the new rules. In everyday conversation, you might even hear some older generations sticking with the traditional spelling in casual contexts.

FAQ

Q.What does 'daß' mean in German?

'Daß' translates to 'that' in English and is used to introduce dependent clauses.

Q.Is 'daß' used in formal writing?

Yes, 'daß' is frequently used in both formal and informal writing, particularly in subordinate clauses.

Q.What are common mistakes with 'daß'?

A common mistake is confusing 'daß' with 'das' (the). Remember, 'daß' is used as a conjunction, while 'das' refers to a definite article or pronoun.

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