Study Resource: Common German sayings with modal verbs

Das darf doch nicht wahr sein!

That can't be true!

Ich möchte dich mal sehen!

I'd like to see what you'd do if you were in my shoes.

lit. I’d like to see for once…!

Das mag stimmen!

That may be true!

Er will krank gewesen sein.

He maintains that he was sick.

lit. He wants to have been sick.

Das will ich aber hoffen!

This had better happen!

lit. But I really want to hope that.

Mag kommen, was da will.

Come what may.

Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen!

You can be dead sure of that!

lit. You can take poison on that.

Gegen die können wir einpacken.

There's no way we can win against them.

lit. Against them, we can pack up.

Das kann ich nicht haben.

I can't stand that.

Ich kann ihn nicht riechen.

I really dislike him.

lit. I can't smell him.

Damit kann ich nichts anfangen.

This has no meaning to me. / That makes no sense to me.

lit. I can't start anything with this.

Da kannstdu doch gar nicht mitreden.

You really don't have a stake in this. / This topic is too advanced for you.

lit. You can't really participate in the discussion.

Das kannste dir schenken.

That's a useless thing to do.

lit. You can gift that to yourself.

Ich könnte mir in den Hintern beißen.

I am so annoyed at myself!

lit. I could bite my own behind!

Davon kann ich ein Lied singen!

I totally get it! / I can totally commiserate.

lit. I can sing a song about that!

Der Kuchen muss jetzt dran glauben.

That cake is going to be demolished.

lit. The cake has to believe in it, now.

Eins muss man ihm lassen ...

You gotta give him one thing...

Ich muss das jetzt ausbaden.

I have to take the rap for it.

lit. I have to sit in the bath now.

Warum muss ich immer für alles herhalten?

Why is it always me (that has to do the unpleasant stuff)?

Da muss ich passen.

I have to pass there.

Da kannst/musst du dich aber warm anziehen!

You better be ready for something difficult.

lit. For that you had better dress warmly.

Darf ich (Sie zum Tanz / um diesen Tanz) bitten?

May I ask (for this dance)?

Wir dürfen keine Zeit verlieren!

We can't lose time!

Mag sein.

That may well be.

Was soll das heißen?

What's that supposed to mean?

Da soll noch einer sagen, ...

No one shall ever say that...

Es hat einfach nicht sein sollen.

It wasn't meant to be.

Na gut, (es) soll mir recht sein.

Oh fine, I give in. / Well, I guess I am alright with it.

Reisende soll man nicht aufhalten.

Don't keep a cat from catching mice. / Don't stand in nature's way.

lit. One shouldn't stop travelers.

Soll das ein Witz sein!?

Is that supposed to be a joke?

Was soll man dazu sagen?

Well, what do you want me to say to that?

Möge er in Frieden ruhen.

May he rest in peace.

Möge die Macht mir dir sein.

May the force be with you.

Wer's mag!

To each their own.

lit. Whoever likes it!

Ich muss ins Bett.

I need to go to bed.

Ich muss los.

I gotta leave.

Ich muss mal.

I really have to use the restroom.

lit. I gotta go!

Wer nicht will, der muss nicht.

If you don't want to, you don't have to.

Du sollst das nicht!

Don't do that.

Das muss so (sein).

It has to be like that.

Wer nicht will, der hat schon.

Suit yourself.

lit. Whoever doesn't want, must have (something) already.

Willste mit?

Wanna come? (colloquial)

Kannste was, dann biste was.

Learning a skill allows you to climb a rung on the social ladder.

lit. If you can (do) something, then you are something.

Das will mir nicht mehr aus dem Kopf.

I cannot forget that.

lit. That really doesn't want to leave my head.

Das will mir einfach nicht in den Kopf.

I can't seem to get it. (That really doesn't want to get in my head.)

Das hat so kommen müssen.

It's was unavoidable that it happened.

lit. I had to come like that.

Dann wollen wir mal.

Let's get to it.

lit. The let's want it.

Was soll das (denn)!?

What are you doing? / What's that supposed to mean?

Er kann einfach nicht aus seiner Haut.

A leopard can't change its spots.

lit. He simply can't get out of his skin.

Was soll's!

Oh well.

Ich kann nichts dafür.

It's not my fault.

lit. I can't anything for it.

Ich kann gut mit ihr.

She and I get along well.

lit. I can well with her.