Skip to content

um es mal so zu sagen

to put it that way; if you will

adverb oom es mahl zo tsoo ZAH-gen Rare
Communication Expressions

Usage Note

um es mal so zu sagen is a hedging phrase that softens an unusual or approximate formulation. The particle mal makes it conversational and tentative, equivalent to English 'if you will' or 'so to speak'.

Examples

"Das war, um es mal so zu sagen, kein Meisterstück."

Natural Translation

That was, to put it that way, not a masterpiece.

Literal Translation

That was, in-order-to it once so to say, no masterpiece.

Explore German by topic