herrje
oh dear
An exclamation that expresses surprise, bewilderment, regret, or mild annoyance, depending on the context.
EXAMPLE
Herrje, wie konnte das nur passieren?
Oh dear, how could that have happened?
herrje
oh dear
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Meanings
Usage tips
Sentence position
'Herrje' (oh dear) often appears at the beginning of a sentence and is then separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. As a standalone exclamation, it is often followed by an exclamation mark.
EXAMPLE
Herrje, warum hast du mir das nicht früher gesagt?
Oh dear, why didn't you tell me that earlier?
Herrje! Jetzt habe ich den Schlüssel vergessen.
Oh dear! Now I've forgotten the key.
Register
'Herrje' (oh dear) is mainly used in spoken, fairly informal language. It usually sounds mild, so it can also be used in friendly or humorous situations.
EXAMPLE
Herrje, das war ja eine Aufregung wegen eines kleinen Fehlers!
Oh dear, what a fuss over a little mistake!
Context clue
The reaction expressed by 'Herrje' (oh dear) is often clear from the statement that follows and the tone of voice: it sounds worried or regretful when there is a problem, surprised in response to unexpected news, and annoyed in an irritating situation.
EXAMPLE
Herrje, der arme Mann muss schon wieder ins Krankenhaus.
Oh dear, the poor man has to go to the hospital again.
Herrje, musst du denn immer so laut telefonieren?
Oh dear, do you always have to talk so loudly on the phone?
In real life
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