SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to Technology Help

German Phrase

Du kannst einen Speedtest machen.

/duː kanst ˈaɪ̯nən ˈʃpidiːtɛst ˈmaχən/
Meaning"You can do a speed test."
💡

Meaning

This sentence tells someone that they are able to, or are allowed to, run a speed test – typically to check the performance of an internet connection. The modal verb ‘kannst’ conveys both ability and permission, while ‘machen’ is the everyday verb used with this borrowed English noun.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when you want to suggest that someone check their internet speed, either because the connection seems slow or before troubleshooting. It works in casual conversation, tech‑support chats, or when giving a quick tip to a friend.

✦Grammar Breakdown

DukannsteinenSpeedtestmachen

1

Personalpronomen (Du)

‘Du’ is the informal singular ‘you’, used with friends, family, or peers.

2

Modalverb ‘können’ (kannst)

‘kannst’ is the 2nd person singular present form of ‘können’, expressing ability or permission.

3

Akkusativobjekt (einen Speedtest)

‘Speedtest’ is masculine, so the indefinite article in the accusative case is ‘einen’.

4

Verb ‘machen’

‘machen’ means ‘to do/make’; with a noun like ‘Speedtest’ it forms a common collocation meaning ‘to run a test’.

🗨In Conversation

A

Deine Verbindung ist ziemlich langsam, was soll ich tun?

Your connection is pretty slow, what should I do?

Du kannst einen Speedtest machen, um zu sehen, wie schnell dein Internet wirklich ist.

You can run a speed test to see how fast your internet really is.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Du kannst ein Speedtest machen.

    ‘Speedtest’ is masculine, so the correct accusative article is ‘einen’, not ‘ein’.

  • Du machst einen Speedtest.

    ‘Machst’ states that you are doing the test, not that you are allowed to. Use ‘kannst’ for ability/permission.

  • Du kann einen Speedtest machen.

    When addressing one person informally, the verb must be conjugated to ‘kannst’. ‘Kann’ is 3rd‑person singular.

↔Alternatives

  • Du kannst einen Internet‑Geschwindigkeitstest durchführen.

    You can carry out an internet speed test.

  • Du kannst einen Geschwindigkeitstest machen.

    You can do a speed test.

  • Du darfst einen Speedtest machen.

    You may do a speed test.

de

Cultural Tip

‘Speedtest’ is an English loanword that is widely accepted in German tech jargon, especially in informal contexts. In more formal writing you might prefer ‘Geschwindigkeitstest’ or ‘Internet‑Geschwindigkeitstest’. Also, remember that ‘kannst’ can imply permission; if you want to stress only the ability, you could say ‘Du bist in der Lage, einen Speedtest zu machen.’