# Neat language “Facts”

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-language-facts/987882>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 31, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-language-facts/987882 "2023-07-31T18:23:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 10

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**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neat-language-facts/987882/10 "2023-08-07T19:57:07Z")

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> [@Dr\_Paprika](#):
>
> what is the most concise English equivalent of the German _doch_?

It depends on context, i.e. the phrase you are replying to, but it is usually along the lines “(but) yes, I can!”, “(but) yes, I do!”, “(But) yes, it is!”… like this:  
You can’t do that! - Doch! → Yes, I can!  
You don’t believe that BS! - Doch! → Yes, I do!  
That can’t be true! - Doch! → Yes, it is!  
and so on… It is the very spirit of [contradiction](https://youtu.be/ohDB5gbtaEQ?t=70). That sketch translates full of _doch!_ into German.  
Now translate “Nicht doch!” and explain in which context it can be said 😃  
BTW, French translates _doch_ simply as _si_, or _mais si_ (which is not the same as _oui_ or _mais oui_, and is not Spanish either, although it looks like it was). But _nicht doch!_ does not translate as _non si_ nor _pas si_, as far as I know.

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