na ja
well, I dunno, meh
Beginner Interjection
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Pronunciation
/naˈjaː/
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Cultural Note
'Na ja' is one of the most-used filler expressions in spoken German. It conveys mild resignation, hesitation, or a 'meh' feeling. It softens statements and buys thinking time. Mastering the right intonation of 'na ja' — from dismissive to philosophical — is a sign of advanced German fluency.
📝 Example Sentences
Na ja, so schlimm war es auch nicht.
Well, it wasn't that bad either.
Na ja, was soll man machen?
Well, what can you do?
Na ja, ich weiß nicht so recht.
Meh, I'm not so sure.