German Phrase
Ja, ist leer.
Meaning
A short, affirmative answer meaning “Yes, it’s empty.” The subject “es” is understood and therefore left out, which is common in spoken German.
When to use
Use this phrase when someone asks whether something (a bottle, a box, a schedule, etc.) is empty and you want to give a quick, informal confirmation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jaistleer
Ja (affirmation)
Ja means “yes” and is used to confirm or agree with a preceding statement or question.
ist (sein, 3rd person singular)
ist is the present‑tense form of the verb sein (“to be”) for he/she/it. In short answers the subject (es) is often omitted.
leer (adjective)
leer means “empty”. When used predicatively after sein it does not change its form.
🗨In Conversation
Ist die Flasche noch voll?
Is the bottle still full?
Ja, ist leer.
Yes, it’s empty.
✕Common Mistakes
Ja, ist leer.
In formal writing you should include the subject pronoun (es).
Ja, leer ist.
The normal word order after ‘sein’ is ‘ist leer’, not ‘leer ist’ in affirmative statements.
↔Alternatives
Ja, sie ist leer.
Yes, it is empty.
Ja, das ist leer.
Yes, that is empty.
Ja, es ist leer.
Yes, it is empty.
Cultural Tip
In everyday German conversation native speakers often drop the subject pronoun in short answers, especially with the verb sein. While “Ja, ist leer.” sounds perfectly natural in informal speech, in written or more formal contexts you should include the subject: “Ja, es ist leer.”