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German Phrase

Ja, das bin ich.

/jaː das bɪn ɪç/
Meaning"Yes, that's me."
💡

Meaning

The speaker is confirming that they are the person being referred to. It translates to “Yes, that’s me.” or “Yes, I am the one.” The phrase carries a slight emphasis on the identity because of the inverted word order.

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When to use

Use this sentence after someone asks who a person is, points to you, or wonders if you are the one being talked about. It works in both formal and informal settings, but the “Ja” can be dropped in very casual speech.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Jadasbinich

1

Ja (affirmation)

Ja means “yes” and is used to confirm or agree with a preceding statement or question.

2

das (demonstrative pronoun)

In a predicate position das works like “that” or “it” and refers to a previously mentioned person or thing.

3

bin (sein – 1st person singular)

Bin is the present‑tense form of the verb sein (to be) for “I”.

4

ich (personal pronoun)

Ich means “I”. In German the verb “sein” takes a predicate nominative, so the order can be “Das bin ich” to stress the identity.

5

Word order

The normal subject‑verb‑object order is inverted here (predicate‑verb‑subject) to give emphasis to the demonstrative “das”.

🗨In Conversation

A

Wer ist an der Tür?

Who is at the door?

Ja, das bin ich.

Yes, that's me.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich bin das.

    While grammatically correct, “Ich bin das” sounds less natural and less emphatic than “Das bin ich.”

  • Ja das bin ich.

    Missing the comma changes the pause and can make the sentence sound rushed; the comma signals a brief pause after “Ja”.

  • Das bin ich ja.

    Placing “ja” at the end changes the meaning to “that’s me, you know”, which is a different nuance.

↔Alternatives

  • Genau, das bin ich.

    Exactly, that's me.

  • Stimmt, das bin ich.

    Right, that's me.

  • Ich bin's.

    It's me.

de

Cultural Tip

In German the construction “das bin ich” is more emphatic than the straightforward “ich bin das”. It is often used when you want to stress that you are the person being talked about, especially after a surprise or a question. Native speakers may drop the “Ja” in rapid conversation, but keeping it adds a polite, confirming tone.