Compliments

1. Das ist wunderschön!

   That is wonderful / beautiful!

   Usage

   Express admiration for beautiful scenery, architecture, or artwork

   Grammar Note

   "Wunderschön" compounds wunder (wonder) + schön (beautiful) for extra emphasis

2. Sie sprechen sehr gut Deutsch

   You speak German very well

   Usage

   Compliment someone's German language ability

   Grammar Note

   "Deutsch" is capitalized when used as a noun. "Sehr gut" (very well) is the adverb pair

3. Was für eine schöne Stadt!

   What a beautiful city!

   Usage

   Exclaim about a beautiful city or place

   Grammar Note

   "Was für eine" introduces exclamations. Stadt (city) is feminine, hence "eine"

4. Das Essen war hervorragend

   The food was outstanding

   Usage

   Compliment a meal after eating it

   Grammar Note

   "Hervorragend" literally means "standing out above" — a compound for outstanding

5. Sie haben einen ausgezeichneten Geschmack

   You have excellent taste

   Usage

   Compliment someone's sense of style or taste

   Grammar Note

   "Geschmack" means both flavor and aesthetic taste. "Haben + accusative" expresses having

6. Sie sind sehr großzügig

   You are very generous

   Usage

   Compliment someone on their generosity or hospitality

   Grammar Note

   "Großzügig" is an adjective meaning generous or magnanimous; "sehr" (very) intensifies it

7. Ihr Akzent ist charmant

   Your accent is charming

   Usage

   Warmly compliment someone on their foreign accent

   Grammar Note

   "Charmant" is borrowed from French. "Akzent" (accent) is masculine

8. Das ist eine ausgezeichnete Arbeit

   That is an excellent piece of work

   Usage

   Praise someone's work, craftsmanship, or creative output

   Grammar Note

   "Arbeit" (work) is feminine, so "ausgezeichnete". The word means literally "marked out as excellent"

9. Deutschland ist ein wunderbares Land

   Germany is a wonderful country

   Usage

   Tell German people how wonderful their country is

   Grammar Note

   "Land" (country/land) is neuter. "Wunderbar" comes from Wunder (wonder/miracle)

10. Sie haben ein unglaubliches Gedächtnis

    You have an incredible memory

    Usage

    Compliment someone on their exceptional memory or knowledge

    Grammar Note

    "Gedächtnis" (memory) is neuter. "Unglaublich" = un (not) + glaublich (believable)

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