DekaGerman
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A24 min read6 examples with audio

dass vs weil in German

Pick dass for content and weil for reasons, and switch between weil and denn without word-order mistakes.

dass introduces what someone says, thinks or knows. weil gives a reason and answers the question warum?

Both send the verb to the end, so the only choice is about meaning.

dass = what, weil = why

  • dass follows verbs like sagen, denken, wissen, hoffen.
  • weil answers the question warum?
  • Can you say 'because'? Then use weil.

Typical verbs before dass

  • saysagen
  • thinkdenken
  • believeglauben
  • knowwissen
  • hopehoffen
  • findfinden
  • be gladfroh sein

  • Ich hoffe, dass du bald wieder gesund bist.

    I hope that you'll be well again soon.

  • Ich bleibe im Bett, weil ich Fieber habe.

    I'm staying in bed because I have a temperature.

When English drops 'that'

English often leaves out 'that'. German can drop dass after verbs like glauben or sagen, but then the verb goes back to position 2.

  • Ich glaube, dass er morgen kommt.

    I think he's coming tomorrow.

  • Ich glaube, er kommt morgen.

    I think he's coming tomorrow.

weil or denn?

Both mean 'because'. weil sends the verb to the end, denn keeps it in position 2.

  • Only a weil clause can come before the main clause.
  • Only weil works as a short answer to warum?

  • Wir nehmen ein Taxi, weil es regnet.

    We're taking a taxi because it's raining.

  • Wir nehmen ein Taxi, denn es regnet.

    We're taking a taxi, as it's raining.

Common mistakes

  • ✗ Ich denke, weil das Hotel gut ist.

    ✓ Ich denke, dass das Hotel gut ist.

    Content after denken takes dass, not weil.

  • ✗ Denn ich müde bin, gehe ich schlafen.

    ✓ Weil ich müde bin, gehe ich schlafen.

    A denn clause can't come first; use weil.

  • ✗ Warum lernst du Deutsch? – Denn ich wohne hier.

    ✓ Warum lernst du Deutsch? – Weil ich hier wohne.

    Short answers to warum need weil and verb last.

Questions learners ask

Can I leave out dass in German?

Yes, after verbs like glauben, denken or sagen. The clause then uses main-clause order: Ich glaube, er kommt.

Is denn more formal than weil?

Slightly. In speech weil is far more common, while denn is typical of written German.

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