by Lea Hauke
Published on April 18, 2024
Say it right: How to compliment someone in German
A well-timed compliment can put a smile on someone’s face, but context matters — especially when you’re attempting to give a compliment in a foreign language. German compliments, like compliments in any language, may be more appropriate in some social situations than in others. For example, a compliment on your friend’s flea market find might be considered appropriate, while a similar compliment on your coworker’s new dress might not.
We’re confident that you can read the room, but it’s not always easy to do in a new cultural and linguistic context. To help you out, we’ve composed a list of German compliments for all sorts of different occasions.
Who doesn’t like to hear a good compliment? Let’s start with the most important category. Complimenting someone’s personality is a sure-fire way to make them feel special, and there are several ways to express your admiration for someone in German.
| German | English |
| Mir gefällt deine Einstellung | I like your attitude |
| Du bist beeindruckend | You are impressive |
| Du bist sehr nett | You are very kind |
| Du bist mutig | You are brave |
| Du bist inspirierend | You are inspiring |
| Ich mag deinen Humor | I like your sense of humor |
| Du bist witzig | You are funny |
| Ich wünschte ich wäre so mutig wie du | I wish I was as brave as you |
| Du hast eine tolle Persönlichkeit | You have a great personality |
Note that the above examples, like most in this guide, use the informal form of the second-person singular: du. Sie is the more formal and polite form. Whether you use the formal or informal “you” in German depends on the situation and the person you’re addressing.
We all need words of encouragement from time to time, and it’s just as important to give them to others. Maybe someone did something really special, and you want to express how impressed you are. You can voice your praise using one of the following German compliments.
| German | English |
| Du kannst gut singen/tanzen/etc. | You are good at singing/dancing/etc. |
| Du findest immer die richtigen Worte | You always find the right words |
| Mir gefällt deine Stimme | I like your voice |
| Das hast du toll gemacht | You did great |
| Herzlichen Glückwunsch zu deiner Leistung | Congratulations on your achievement |
| Du bist sehr talentiert | You are very talented |
| Gut gemacht | Well done |
| Gute Arbeit | Good job |
| Ich wusste, dass du es schaffst | I knew you would make it |
Appearances aren’t all that matters, but there’s nothing wrong with complimenting your new friend on their great new haircut or telling your partner that you love their eyes. Still, appearance can be a sensitive topic and may carry certain cultural connotations, so make sure that you’re not crossing any boundaries. It takes a certain degree of familiarity to give compliments about appearances.
| German | English |
| Das steht dir gut | That looks good on you |
| Ich mag deinen Stil | I like your style |
| Du kannst alles tragen | You can wear anything |
| Die neue Frisur steht dir gut | Your new haircut suits you well |
| Du hast schöne Augen | You have beautiful eyes |
| Was für ein schöner Anzug/Rock/etc. | What a beautiful suit/skirt/etc. |
| Das sieht toll aus | That looks great |
| Schöne Kette/Uhr/etc. | Beautiful necklace/watch/etc. |
| Das ist ein tolles Kleid | That’s a beautiful dress |
We trust that you know best what’s appropriate at your workplace. Depending on where you work, a more conservative approach to doling out compliments might be best. But startups and younger companies tend to have a less formal and hierarchical culture, so they may offer the opportunity to speak more freely.
We briefly mentioned this above, but another important aspect of giving compliments in a German workplace is the distinction between the informal du/dein and the polite form Sie/Ihr. While there are workplaces where everyone uses du/dein, it’s always safer to use the polite form — especially when meeting a coworker for the first time. Where applicable, we’ve included both versions in the table below.
| German | English |
| Gute Arbeit | Good job |
| Starke Leistung | Strong performance |
| Ich arbeite gern mit dir/Ihnen zusammen | I like working together with you |
| Deine/Ihre Präsentation war beeindruckend | Your presentation was impressive |
| Du machst/Sie machen deine/Ihre Arbeit sehr gut | You’re very good at your job |
| Auf dich/Sie kann man sich verlassen | You are reliable/I can always rely on you |
| Du bist/Sie sind sehr gut mit der Situation umgegangen | You handled that situation very well |
| Du bist/Sie sind mein Lieblingskollege/meine Lieblingskollegin | You are my favorite colleague |
| Ich weiß deinen/Ihren Einsatz zu schätzen | I appreciate your effort |
Sharing interests with one another is a sure way to connect to people and get to know them and their culture even better. Just like any other person, Germans are happy to hear any positive feedback about their personal interests and hobbies, for example:
| Das ist interessant. | That is interesting. |
| Du weißt so viel darüber. | You know so much about that. |
| Das ist besonders. | That is special. |
| Du hast einen guten Geschmack. | You have great taste. |
As the German saying goes: Liebe geht durch den Magen (Love enters through the stomach)! That’s why it’s important to know how to compliment the food that someone serves you.
| Das schmeckt gut. | That tastes good. |
| Das finde ich lecker. | I think this is tasty. |
| Ich liebe dieses Essen. | I love this food. |
Giving compliments is nice, but receiving them might be even better. If a German gives you a compliment, there are different ways to respond – here are some options.
| Das ist lieb von dir. | That is sweet of you. |
| Das kann ich nur zurückgeben. | Same goes for you. |
| Das freut mich zu hören. | I’m happy to hear that. |
| Das versüßt mir den Tag. | That makes my day. |
| Danke für das Kompliment. | Thanks for the compliment. |
Complimenting someone in German, as in any language, requires tactfulness. While it can be appropriate to call one coworker your Lieblingskollege (favorite colleague), the same compliment might come off a bit strange to someone you’re not really close with.
Complimenting someone’s appearance can also be a tricky proposition, but do it right and you’re likely to brighten someone’s day. The good news is that most German-speaking people will react positively to compliments you give in German. It’s a great way to connect with people and make new friends!
