So what does "doch" mean anyway?

[civ2]

Then, it's just the simple YES with a bit of a SURE and RIGHT spicing.

 

[Part_Time_Civer]

That one doesn't work. You can only use it to react to negative statements. But I like your colloquial inflection

What about when someone asks whether something is true or false? For instance:

"Also kommst du mit zur Kneipe oder nicht?
Doch, ich bin dabei!"

"So do you come to the pub or not?
Sure, I'm with you!"

 

[civver_764]

I don't think that works either, unless the "oder nicht" is emphasized? Actually don't ask me I have no idea xD

In my mind "doch" translates to "though" or "but" a lot. Like "Das hab' ich doch nicht gesagt" - "I didn't say that though" or "Ich verstehe doch" - "but I do understand".

I never learned it in a formal course or anything though, I just kind of picked it up from hearing other people in Germany using it. Same with "noch", which has like 4 or 5 different meanings in English.

 

[civ2]

Ehm... What about "DUH"???

 

[Leoreth]

What about when someone asks whether something is true or false? For instance:

"Also kommst du mit zur Kneipe oder nicht?
Doch, ich bin dabei!"

"So do you come to the pub or not?
Sure, I'm with you!"

I'd say this works, although it's not strictly necessary. I think someone put it best by saying that it's to avoid the ambiguity a simple "yes" would have, because that "yes" could either refer to the statement that you would come to the pub or agree with the insinuation that you don't, while "doch" clearly disagrees with the latter and affirms the former.

I don't think that works either, unless the "oder nicht" is emphasized? Actually don't ask me I have no idea xD

In my mind "doch" translates to "though" or "but" a lot. Like "Das hab' ich doch nicht gesagt" - "I didn't say that though" or "Ich verstehe doch" - "but I do understand".

I never learned it in a formal course or anything though, I just kind of picked it up from hearing other people in Germany using it. Same with "noch", which has like 4 or 5 different meanings in English.

Really? Interesting

What you're referring to would be the use of "doch" as a conjunction, which is for all intents and purposes a completely different word than the "doch" used as an interjection this thread is about.

Ehm... What about "DUH"???

Nein

 

[Hakim]

From my understanding "on the contrary" comes closest. Perhaps "really" could apply sometimes?

Ich hab' doch kein ahnung!

Ich weiss doch nicht!

 

[Lone Wolf]

Similar shenanigans can be seen in Russian, which allows for "No, it is" and "Yes, it isn't". Thus, Russian "yes" in some cases corresponds to English "no", and vice versa. The Russian usage goes like this:

A: <points at a dog> It is not a dog!
B: No! (I disagree.) It's a dog!

A: <points at a cat> It is not a dog!
B: Yes! (I agree.) It's not a dog!

 

[civ2]

LW
"Yes, No, Maybe" - the favorite Russian foreigner incapacitation trio.