A small German contrast word that can mean but or yet, mark something as true despite expectation, colour a sentence with reminder or insistence, or answer yes to a negative question.
Die Nachricht klang falsch, erwies sich aber doch als wahr.
The news sounded false, but turned out to be true after all.
Das klingt einfach, doch es braucht Übung.
That sounds simple, but it takes practice.
Wir wollten absagen, sind dann aber doch gefahren.
We meant to cancel, but then we went after all.
Ich dachte, der Laden sei geschlossen, aber er war doch offen.
I thought the shop was closed, but it was open after all.
Er hatte wenig Zeit, doch er half uns.
He had little time, but he helped us.
Similar words
schon
dennoch
natürlich
dennoch
mal
schließlich
gewiss
halt
ja
trotzdem
Meanings
Contrast with but or yet
conjunction
communication
neutral
Introduces a contrast between two clauses, close to English but, yet, or however.
Examples
Ich wollte kommen, doch der Zug fiel aus.
I wanted to come, but the train was canceled.
Sie war müde, doch sie blieb bis zum Ende.
She was tired, yet she stayed until the end.
Das klingt einfach, doch es braucht Übung.
That sounds simple, but it takes practice.
Der Plan war riskant, doch er funktionierte.
The plan was risky, but it worked.
Viele zweifelten, doch das Team machte weiter.
Many people doubted, but the team kept going.
Er hatte wenig Zeit, doch er half uns.
He had little time, but he helped us.
Die Straße war glatt, doch niemand wurde verletzt.
The road was icy, but no one was hurt.
Similar words
aber
jedoch
allerdings
hingegen
dennoch
trotzdem
indessen
Despite expectation
adverb
everyday
neutral
Shows that something happens or proves true after a contrary expectation, close to after all, nevertheless, or still.
Examples
Trotz allem hat sie es doch geschafft.
Despite everything, she made it after all.
Ich dachte, der Laden sei geschlossen, aber er war doch offen.
I thought the shop was closed, but it was open after all.
Wir wollten absagen, sind dann aber doch gefahren.
We meant to cancel, but then we went after all.
Er hatte Angst, ging aber doch auf die Bühne.
He was afraid, but he went on stage anyway.
Das Kind schlief zuerst nicht, wurde dann doch müde.
The child would not sleep at first, then got tired after all.
Nach vielen Fehlern fand ich doch die richtige Lösung.
After many mistakes, I found the right solution after all.
Die Nachricht klang falsch, erwies sich aber doch als wahr.
The news sounded false, but turned out to be true after all.
Similar words
dennoch
trotzdem
letztlich
schließlich
immerhin
gleichwohl
Modal emphasis and attitude
adverb
communication
informal
Adds the speaker's attitude to a statement, question, command, or wish, often as a reminder, insistence, softening, or impatience.
Examples
Das weißt du doch.
You know that already.
Komm doch kurz her.
Do come over here for a moment.
Das ist doch nicht dein Ernst.
Surely that is not serious.
Du hast doch den Schlüssel?
You do have the key, right?
Wenn er doch endlich käme!
If only he would finally come!
Lass uns doch morgen fahren.
Why don't we go tomorrow?
Ich habe dir doch geholfen.
I did help you, after all.
Similar words
ja
eben
halt
schon
mal
wohl
denn
Yes to a negative question
interjection
conversation
neutral
Answers a negative question or statement by affirming the thing that was denied.
Examples
Hast du keinen Hunger? – Doch.
Aren't you hungry? – Yes.
Du kommst nicht mit? – Doch.
You're not coming along? – Yes, I am.
Ist das nicht dein Buch? – Doch.
Isn't that your book? – Yes, it is.
Hast du sie nicht angerufen? – Doch.
Didn't you call her? – Yes, I did.
Du hast es nicht gesehen? – Doch.
You didn't see it? – Yes, I did.
Sind keine Plätze frei? – Doch.
Are there no seats free? – Yes, there are.
War das nicht zu teuer? – Doch.
Wasn't that too expensive? – Yes, it was.
Similar words
ja
jawohl
sicher
natürlich
gewiss
klar
Etymology
From Middle High German doch and Old High German doh or thoh, from a Proto-Germanic form also reflected in Old English þēah, the source of English though.
FAQ
What does doch mean in German?
Doch can mean but, yet, after all, or yes to a negative question, and it can also work as a modal particle that adds attitude.
Is doch the same as aber?
No. Aber is the plain word for but, while doch often adds a stronger contrast, reversal, or modal nuance.
How is doch used as a modal particle?
Doch can remind, insist, soften a command, express impatience, or show that the speaker expects agreement.
When is doch an answer?
Doch answers a negative question affirmatively, as in Hast du keinen Hunger? – Doch.
Can doch mean after all?
Yes. In sentences such as Sie ist doch gekommen, doch means that she came after all or despite the earlier expectation.
Where does doch stand in a German sentence?
As a modal particle or adverb it usually stands inside the clause, often after the finite verb and pronouns, not at the very front.
Is doch formal or informal?
The conjunction is neutral, while many modal-particle uses are especially common in spoken and informal German.
What is related to doch?
Useful neighbours include aber, jedoch, dennoch, trotzdem, ja, and schon, but none covers every use of doch.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
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Glad Ocelot
Jul 17
Komm doch mal vorbei and Komm doch endlich her do not feel alike. mal softens it, endlich makes it impatient. the neighbors of doch do half the work tbh
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Ivory Robin
Jul 12
Doch schon, aber... is a useful chunk. It is a qualified yes, like yes sort of, but there is a catch coming.
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Plucky Zebra
Jul 12
Ja doch! can mean yes already, stop asking. tone does a lot there
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Ebony Pika
Jul 9
Stress changes the reading. Das ist doch Marlene can be surprised recognition, but Das ist DOCH Marlene corrects somebody who thought it was another person.
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Crimson Owl
Jul 6
Wie hieß sie doch gleich? = the name was in your head and then escaped. Not "right away".
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Midnight Beaver
Jul 3
learners sometimes use Doch! after any correction, but it really wants a negative thing to push against. If you said Ich habe meine Hausaufgaben vergessen and then find them, plain Doch! sounds odd. Say nein, doch nicht, sie sind im Rucksack, or just ach, hier sind sie.
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Violet Dragonfly
Jun 29
For negative questions, answer the verb in your head, not the English yes/no. Hast du keinen Hunger? Doch = I do have hunger. Nein = I dont. Ja there makes Germans wait for the rest of the sentence.
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Jaunty Koala
Jun 20
Doch at the front is not the same animal. Das weißt du doch is normal. Doch, das weißt du is more like "but you know that".
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Soft Gopher
Jun 19
I would be careful with doch = "but". It is real German, no question, but Ich wollte kommen, doch der Zug fiel aus sounds like a novel, a speech, or newspaper-ish prose to me. In a WhatsApp message I would almost never type that unless I was joking around with a dramatic style. Aber is the boring normal one for everyday "but".