doch

See also: Doch and do'ch

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch doch, from Old Dutch thoh, from Proto-West Germanic *þauh, from Proto-Germanic *þauh.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɔx/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔx
• Hyphenation: doch
• Homophone: dog

Conjunction

doch

1. (formal or dated) yet, but, still, on the contrary, no, yes
2. (formal or dated) but rather

Synonyms

• edoch

Descendants

• Negerhollands: doch, dog
• → Papiamentu: doch, dò (dated)

German

Etymology

From Middle High German doch, from Old High German doh, from Proto-West Germanic *þauh, from Proto-Germanic *þauh. Cognate to Old English þēah (English though).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɔx/ (standard)
• IPA^(key): /dɔ/, /do/ (chiefly southern Germany and Austria; also in northern Germany in some positions, e.g. before nicht)

• Audio

  (file)

• Audio

  (file)

Particle

doch

1. (in response to a negative question or statement) yes; surely; really; on the contrary

   Das darfst du nicht sagen. — Doch!

   You can’t say that. — Yes, I can!

   Du wirst nicht kommen? — Doch!

   You're not going to come? — Yes, I am!

Conjunction

doch

1. though; yet; but; however; nevertheless
2. for all that; after all; but

Adverb

doch

1. after all; yet; however; nevertheless
   • 1918, Elisabeth von Heyking, Die Orgelpfeifen, in: Zwei Erzählungen, Phillipp Reclam jun. Verlag, page 35:

     Auf dem Bahnhof dann, in dem sich senkenden Nebel, ein Gewühl von Pferden und grauen Gestalten, das zuerst unentwirrbar schien und sich dann doch rasch ordnete.

     On the station then, in the sinking fog, a crowd of horses and gray characters that initially looked inextricable, but then put itself in order swiftly after all.

2. really; just
3. indicates proposal Why don't you/we

   Komm doch mal mit.

   Why don't you just come [with us]?

Usage notes

• (really, just): As an emphatic particle, doch often stresses a contrast or a certainty. It is used more frequently in German than its nearest English equivalents and is often best translated into English by rephrasing the surrounding sentence.

Further reading

• “doch” in Duden online
• “doch” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Plautdietsch

Adverb

doch

1. still, yet
2. nevertheless