recht haben
to be right
To be in the right; to make a correct statement or hold a correct opinion.
EXAMPLE
Du hattest recht, der Weg über die Landstraße ist viel schöner.
You were right, the route along the country road is much nicer.
recht
right / quite
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Meanings
recht
right
Spatially on the side of the body where, for most people, the heart is not; the opposite of left.
EXAMPLE
Bitte biegen Sie an der nächsten Kreuzung nach recht ab.
Please turn right at the next intersection.
recht
right / correct
Right, correct, or accurate.
EXAMPLE
Das ist die rechte Antwort auf die Frage.
That is the right answer to the question.
jemandem recht sein
to suit someone
To be okay or agreeable for someone; to suit someone.
EXAMPLE
Ist es dir recht, wenn wir uns erst um 20 Uhr treffen?
Would it suit you if we met at 8 p.m.?
recht
quite / very
Used as an adverb to intensify an adjective or adverb; means 'quite' or 'very'.
EXAMPLE
Es war gestern Abend schon recht spät, als ich nach Hause kam.
It was already quite late last night when I got home.
recht
right / suitable
Appropriate, suitable, or fitting for a specific purpose or situation.
EXAMPLE
Er ist der rechte Mann für diese schwierige Aufgabe.
He is the right man for this difficult task.
recht
right-wing
Refers to a politically conservative or nationalist orientation.
EXAMPLE
Die Partei vertritt traditionell eher rechte Positionen.
The party traditionally represents more right-wing positions.
Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'recht' (right) and the noun 'das Recht' (the right/law) belong to the same word family. Lowercase signals the adjective or adverb, while capitalization indicates the noun. Both share the basic idea of 'correct' or 'just'.
EXAMPLE
Es ist dein gutes Recht, deine Meinung zu sagen.
It is your good right to express your opinion.
Fixed expression
The expression 'recht haben' (to be right) is a fixed construction. Here you always use the verb 'haben' (to have) to express that someone is in the right.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss zugeben, du hast recht.
I have to admit, you are right.
Dative construction
When something is okay for a person, you use the structure 'etwas ist jemandem recht' (something suits someone / is okay with someone). The person it suits is always in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Wäre es Ihnen recht, wenn wir das Treffen verschieben?
Would it suit you if we postponed the meeting?
Intensifying adverb
As an adverb, 'recht' (quite/very) is not declined and comes directly before another adjective or adverb. It means 'ziemlich' (quite) or 'sehr' (very) and intensifies its meaning.
EXAMPLE
Der Film war recht unterhaltsam.
The film was quite entertaining.
Context: direction
When a direction is meant, the form 'rechts' with 's' at the end is often used, especially in the expression 'nach rechts' (to the right). The adjective 'recht' without 's' is less common in this context.
EXAMPLE
Das Badezimmer ist die zweite Tür auf der rechten Seite.
The bathroom is the second door on the right-hand side.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'passend' (suitable) or 'geeignet' (appropriate), 'recht' is often found in combinations like 'der rechte Augenblick' (the right moment), 'zur rechten Zeit' (at the right time), or 'am rechten Ort' (in the right place).
EXAMPLE
Er wartete auf den rechten Moment, um seine Frage zu stellen.
He waited for the right moment to ask his question.
Political context
In a political context, 'recht' describes a conservative position. Depending on the context, the word can be neutrally descriptive or evaluative.
EXAMPLE
Diese Partei wird dem rechten Spektrum zugeordnet.
This party is assigned to the right-wing spectrum.
Compare with
recht vs sehr
very
Sehr and recht can both increase the degree of an adjective. Sehr clearly expresses high intensity; recht usually sounds weaker or more restrained, but in the right context it can also be intended strongly. Sehr is suitable for unambiguous praise, while recht is often used for a more cautious judgment.
recht
Das Essen in diesem Restaurant war recht gut.
The food at this restaurant was quite good.
sehr
Das Essen in diesem Restaurant war sehr gut.
The food at this restaurant was very good.
In real life
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