richtig
right, correct · real, genuine · really, properly
Richtig means 'right' or 'correct', and is also used as an adverb to mean 'really' or 'properly'. It's a very common word that learners will hear constantly in everyday German.
What richtig means
- right, correct — when something is true, accurate, or as it should be
- real, genuine — when emphasizing that something is authentic or not fake
- really, properly — as an adverb to intensify or indicate doing something thoroughly
Heard in real German videos
Lines where richtig was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Ja, richtig gut, Opa.Yes, really good, Grandpa.
- Äh nein, das ist richtig. Hurra!Uh no, that's right. Hooray!
- Bingo, du musst aber richtig spielen.Bingo, you have to play properly.
Example sentences
- Das ist die richtige Antwort.That is the right answer.
- Er ist ein richtiger Freund.He is a real friend.
- Du musst richtig spielen.You have to play properly.
- Das Essen schmeckt richtig gut.The food tastes really good.
Grammar
| Comparative | richtiger |
|---|---|
| Superlative | am richtigsten |
Common phrases
- richtig gutreally good
- richtig machento do something right
- richtig liegento be right
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often confuse richtig with recht. Richtig is the everyday word for 'correct' or 'really'. Recht (as an adjective/adverb) can mean 'right' in some fixed phrases (e.g., 'recht haben' = to be right) or 'quite' (e.g., 'recht gut' = quite good), and as a noun (das Recht) it means 'right' or 'law'. In most contexts, use richtig for 'correct'.
Don’t confuse it with
- recht — Recht (noun, das Recht) means 'right' or 'law'. As an adjective/adverb, recht can mean 'right' in phrases like 'recht haben' (to be right) or 'quite' (e.g., 'recht gut'), but richtig is the general word for 'correct'.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between richtig and korrekt?
Richtig is the everyday word for 'right' or 'correct'. Korrekt is more formal and often used in official or technical contexts.
Can richtig be used as an adverb?
Yes, richtig is often used as an adverb to mean 'really' or 'properly', e.g., 'Das ist richtig gut' (That's really good).
How do you say 'That's right' in German?
You say 'Das ist richtig' or simply 'Richtig'.