Meaning
Used to encourage someone or express impatience.
Cultural Background
Germans value 'Direktheit' (directness). 'Komm schon!' is a manifestation of this; it's a direct way to express a need for action without excessive 'politeness fluff.' In Berlin, the phrase might be shortened or delivered with a 'Berliner Schnauze' (bluntness). It can sound harsher than in the South, but it's rarely meant personally. Austrians might use 'Geh weiter!' (Go further!) in similar situations where a German would say 'Komm schon!', reflecting a slightly different metaphorical approach to movement. In Swiss German, you might hear 'Chum scho!' which is the dialect version. It is used with similar frequency but sounds softer due to the dialect phonology.
The 'Ach' Factor
Adding 'Ach' at the beginning ('Ach komm schon!') makes you sound much more like a native speaker when expressing disbelief.
Watch the Umlaut
Never say 'Komm schön'. That would mean 'Come beautifully', which sounds very strange in most contexts.
Meaning
Used to encourage someone or express impatience.
The 'Ach' Factor
Adding 'Ach' at the beginning ('Ach komm schon!') makes you sound much more like a native speaker when expressing disbelief.
Watch the Umlaut
Never say 'Komm schön'. That would mean 'Come beautifully', which sounds very strange in most contexts.
Body Language
Pair 'Komm schon!' with a slight tilt of the head or a hand gesture to increase its persuasive power.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to complete the common expression.
Komm ______, wir verpassen sonst den Bus!
'Komm schon' is the fixed idiom for 'Come on'. 'Schön' means beautiful.
Match the 'Komm schon!' intonation/meaning to the situation.
Situation: Your friend says they can't come to your party because they have to wash their hair.
You are using 'Komm schon' to tell them their excuse is weak and they should come anyway.
Choose the most natural response.
A: Ich schaffe die {die|f} Hausaufgaben nicht mehr rechtzeitig. B: ________, es sind doch nur noch zwei {die|f} Seiten!
B is encouraging A to finish the last bit of work.
Which form is used when talking to a group of three friends?
Hey Leute, ______ schon, wir wollen anfangen!
The plural imperative (ihr-form) of 'kommen' is 'kommt'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
The Three Faces of 'Komm schon!'
Encouragement
- • Party
- • Sports
- • Trying food
Impatience
- • Train station
- • Slow internet
- • Waiting for a friend
Disbelief
- • Bad excuses
- • Tall tales
- • Jokes
Practice Bank
4 exercisesKomm ______, wir verpassen sonst den Bus!
'Komm schon' is the fixed idiom for 'Come on'. 'Schön' means beautiful.
Situation: Your friend says they can't come to your party because they have to wash their hair.
You are using 'Komm schon' to tell them their excuse is weak and they should come anyway.
A: Ich schaffe die {die|f} Hausaufgaben nicht mehr rechtzeitig. B: ________, es sind doch nur noch zwei {die|f} Seiten!
B is encouraging A to finish the last bit of work.
Hey Leute, ______ schon, wir wollen anfangen!
The plural imperative (ihr-form) of 'kommen' is 'kommt'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsGenerally, no. It is too informal and can seem disrespectful. Use 'Könnten wir bitte...?' instead.
'Komm schon' is for persuasion or general impatience. 'Mach schon' is specifically about doing a task faster.
Between friends, it's not rude. With strangers or in formal settings, it can be seen as pushy.
Technically yes, but in this idiom, it acts as a 'modal particle' to add emphasis rather than a literal time reference.
Use the plural form: 'Kommt schon!'
No, it is strictly for spoken language or very informal texting.
You can say 'Jetzt komm schon!' (Now come on!) or 'Komm endlich!' (Come finally!).
You can say 'Kommen Sie schon', but it sounds very frustrated and is rarely used politely.
Mostly, but it can also mean 'Oh, please' when you don't believe someone.
Yes, it's universal in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, though dialects may vary the pronunciation.
Related Phrases
Mach schon!
similarHurry up!
Na los!
synonymGo on! / Let's go!
Auf geht's!
similarLet's go!
Hopp hopp!
specialized formChop chop!
Komm mal her
contrastCome over here
