❌ “Ich mache Spaß”? ✅ Say it right: “Ich habe Spaß!”

❌ “Ich mache Spaß”?

✅ Say it right: “Ich habe Spaß!”

Why this sentence sounds wrong in German – and how to say it correctly.

You’re learning German. You want to say something fun and casual – and suddenly someone tells you:

„That’s not how we say it...“

Sound familiar?

You’re not alone.

German is full of phrases that sound almost right – but still feel wrong to native speakers.

One of the most common ones?

„That’s not how we say it...“

One of the most common ones?

❌ Ich mache Spaß.(Direct translation: “I make fun.”)

It feels like a good translation of “I’m having fun” – but it doesn’t work in German.

✅ Say it right: „Ich habe Spaß.“

Why? Because in German, you don’t make fun – you have fun.

Here’s how it sounds naturally:

Ich habe Spaß. = I’m having fun.

Wir hatten viel Spaß. = We had a great time.

Habt ihr Spaß? = Are you enjoying yourselves?

🧠 Tip: Think of Spaß as something you possess – not something you create.

You can’t make fun for yourself – you can only have it.

So when can I say “Spaß machen”?

Great question. You use Spaß machen when something or someone else is fun.

Examples:

Der Film macht Spaß.

→ The film is fun.

Du machst Spaß!

→ You’re joking!

Learning German with GermanMind macht Spaß.

😉 Of course it does.

Mistakes like this aren’t a problem – they’re part of learning.

That’s why we started our new campaign at GermanMind:

“Say it right!”

We help you spot the phrases that sound “textbook German” – and show you how to say them in a way that sounds clear, correct and natural.

Because learning German isn’t just about grammar –

It’s about real communication and feeling confident when you speak.

👉 Want more tips like this?

Check out our Learning Blog at www.germanmind-method.ie – or follow us on Instagram.

Every week we share common mistakes, natural alternatives, and real-life German that sounds just right.

📩 Ready to speak confidently?

Join one of our courses and learn to say what you really mean – without the awkwardness.

Ready to make German phrases second nature?

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