Meaning: Luckily / Fortunately
When to use it:
When something turns out well or a bad situation has a positive outcome.
Example:
Zum Glück habe ich den Bus noch erreicht.
(Luckily, I still caught the bus.)
Tip:
You can use this phrase at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence.
zum Glück
Schade
Meaning: What a pity / That’s a shame
When to use it:
When something disappointing happens.
Example:
Schade, dass du nicht kommen kannst.
(It’s a pity that you can’t come.)
Tip:
Often used alone as a reaction: „Schade!“ — very natural and common.
Meaning: I can’t believe it! / This is unbelievable!
When to use it:
When you are extremely surprised, shocked, or overwhelmed — either positively or negatively.
Example:
Er hat einfach gekündigt? Ich fasse es nicht!
(He just quit? I can’t believe it!)
Tip:
This phrase expresses strong emotion. It sounds slightly more personal than Das gibt’s doch nicht!, because it focuses on your reaction.