Meaning 1informal spoken language · 82%
An interjection expressing uncertainty or resigned acceptance when little more can be said.
Natural examples
Tja, der Zug ist schon abgefahren.
Well, the train has already left.
Tja! Damit hatte niemand gerechnet.
Oh well! Nobody expected that.
„Können wir den Termin verschieben?“ – „Tja, ich frage mal nach.“
“Can we move the appointment?” “Well, I'll ask.”
Usage note
Tja is an uninflected interjection, often at the start of a sentence or alone; intonation shapes its tone.
Mini-lesson: tja
An interjection expressing uncertainty or resigned acceptance when little more can be said. Tja is an uninflected interjection, often at the start of a sentence or alone; intonation shapes its tone.
Check your learning
Choose one answer.Which definition matches «tja»?