German Phrase
Das ist echt schade.
Meaning
Literally, ‘That is really a shame.’ It is used to express mild disappointment or regret about something that has happened or will happen.
When to use
Use this phrase right after hearing bad news, when a plan falls through, or when you want to show empathy for an unfortunate situation. It works in both casual and semi‑formal contexts, but the word ‘echt’ keeps the tone informal.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dasistechtschade
Das (demonstrative pronoun)
‘Das’ points to a situation or thing previously mentioned, functioning as the subject of the sentence.
ist (sein – present)
The verb ‘sein’ is used as a copula to link the subject with the predicate adjective.
echt (adverb)
‘echt’ intensifies the statement, meaning ‘really’ or ‘truly’; it is informal and common in spoken German.
schade (predicative adjective)
‘schade’ expresses regret or disappointment; it is used predicatively without a noun after ‘sein’.
🗨In Conversation
Ich habe meinen Zug verpasst und komme zu spät zur Arbeit.
I missed my train and will be late for work.
Das ist echt schade.
That’s really a shame.
✕Common Mistakes
Das ist sehr schade.
‘Schade’ is not gradable; you cannot say ‘sehr schade’. Use ‘wirklich’ or ‘echt’ instead.
Das ist echt schaden.
‘Schaden’ is a verb meaning ‘to damage’; it is not used to express pity.
Das echt schade.
In some dialects the verb can be omitted, but in standard German the copula ‘ist’ is required.
↔Alternatives
Das ist wirklich schade.
That’s truly a shame.
Das ist ja schade.
That’s a shame.
Wie schade!
What a pity!
Schade, dass du nicht kommen kannst.
It’s a pity you can’t come.
Cultural Tip
‘Schade’ is a very common, low‑key way to show empathy in German. It’s less dramatic than ‘traurig’ (sad) and more polite than directly criticizing. The adverb ‘echt’ adds a colloquial flavor, so you’ll hear it more among friends or in informal media. In formal writing, replace ‘echt’ with ‘wirklich’ or omit the intensifier altogether.