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German Interjections Explained: Aua, Huch, Nanu, Oha, Tja (A2–B2)

2,462 views · Published 13 January 2018 · 6:22 · Indexed 1 October 2026

Channel: Definitely German · 2018 · Entertainment

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Want to sound more natural in German? In this lesson I break down the most useful interjections for surprise and pain—what they mean, when to use them, and how they feel in real conversations. 😲🤕
Level: A2–B2

What you’ll learn today:
• Pain: Aua / Autsch — quick, spontaneous pain reactions
• Surprise/shock: Huch! — sudden surprise; Nanu? — puzzled surprise
• Amazed or mildly reproachful: Oha!
• Resignation/shrug: Tja…

Micro-examples:
• “Aua! Ich hab’ mir in den Finger geschnitten.”
• “Huch, das habe ich nicht erwartet!”
• “Nanu? Wo ist denn mein Schlüssel?”
• “Oha, das wird teuer.”
• “Tja, so ist das eben.”

If you enjoyed this, tell me which set to cover next—greetings (ey/na/hey), approval (genau/super), or disapproval (pfui/igitt)?

❓ FAQ
Q: What does “tja” mean in German?
A: It’s a vocalized shrug—often signaling resignation, hesitation, or “well…”. You’ll hear it at the start of a sentence before an opinion or conclusion.
Q: What’s the difference between “aua” and “autsch”?
A: Both express pain. “Aua!” is very common and broad; “Autsch!” often marks a sudden, sharp pain (like stubbing a toe or a burn).

#LearnGerman #GermanInterjections #GermanExpressions #GermanVocabulary #DefinitelyGerman

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