ja is the standard yes, but German also has doch — a word English doesn't really have, used to contradict a negative question.
Ways to say it
Kommst du mit? Ja, gerne!
Are you coming along? Yes, gladly!
Hast du keine Zeit? Doch, ich habe Zeit!
Don't you have time? Yes I do (actually)!
Du kommst also auch mit? Genau!
So you're coming too? Exactly!
Hilfst du mir? Klar, kein Problem.
Will you help me? Sure, no problem.
When Ja Isn't Enough
Gehst du nicht nach Hause? ('Aren't you going home?') asked with a negative creates a trap in English - does 'yes' mean yes you're going, or yes you're not going? German solves this with a third word: Doch, ich gehe gleich ('Yes I am, I'm going in a moment') uses doch specifically to contradict the negative and affirm the opposite.
Doch Beyond Yes and No
Once you notice doch, it shows up everywhere - not just as an answer, but inside sentences to add emphasis or gently correct someone: Das stimmt doch nicht ('That's not actually true') uses doch to push back on a claim, not to answer a question at all.
Doch in Context
A: Gehst du nicht mit? B: Doch, ich komme gleich! - 'Aren't you coming?' answered with 'Yes I am, I'm coming in a moment.' This is the exact situation doch exists to handle, and plain ja would leave the question genuinely ambiguous.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is doch and when do I use it?+
doch means "yes, actually" — it's specifically for contradicting a negative question or statement, e.g. answering "Yes I do!" to "Don't you have time?" ja doesn't work there.
Which one should I default to if I'm not sure?+
ja is the safest, most neutral choice for a plain yes — reach for doch only when contradicting a negative.
Can I practice these with flashcards or a quiz?+
Yes — check the phrases you want using the checkboxes in the table, then use the bar at the bottom of the page to start Flashcards, Multiple Choice, or a Final Test.
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Practice tips
- ✓Tap play to hear each phrase before you try saying it yourself.
- ✓Notice which options are formal and which are informal before you use them.
- ✓Practice the example sentence, not just the phrase on its own — that's how it's actually used.