German Phrase
Das ist eine tolle Idee!
Meaning
The sentence expresses strong approval of a suggestion or plan. It literally translates to ‘That is a great idea!’ and conveys enthusiasm and encouragement.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal or semi‑formal conversations when you want to praise someone’s suggestion, whether in a meeting, a classroom, or a casual chat with friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DasisteinetolleIdee!
Das (demonstrative pronoun)
‘Das’ points to something previously mentioned or obvious in the context; it is neuter singular.
ist (sein, 3rd person singular)
The verb ‘sein’ is used for identity or description; here it links the subject ‘Das’ with the predicate.
eine (indefinite article, feminine, accusative)
‘Idee’ is a feminine noun, so the indefinite article takes the form ‘eine’ in the accusative case.
tolle (adjective with weak ending)
After an indefinite article the adjective takes a weak ending ‘-e’; ‘toll’ means ‘great’ or ‘awesome’.
Idee (feminine noun)
‘Idee’ is a feminine noun meaning ‘idea’; its plural is ‘Ideen’.
Exclamation mark
The ‘!’ signals enthusiasm; in spoken German the intonation rises sharply at the end.
🗨In Conversation
Das ist eine tolle Idee!
That's a great idea!
Danke, ich dachte, das könnte uns allen helfen.
Thanks, I thought it could help all of us.
✕Common Mistakes
Das ist der tolle Idee.
‘Idee’ is feminine, so the correct article is ‘eine’, not the masculine ‘der’.
Das ist eine tollen Idee.
After ‘eine’ the adjective takes a weak ending ‘-e’, not ‘-en’.
Das sind eine tolle Idee.
The subject ‘Das’ is singular, so the verb must be ‘ist’, not the plural ‘sind’.
↔Alternatives
Das ist eine großartige Idee!
That's a wonderful idea!
Das ist eine super Idee!
That's a super idea!
Das ist eine prima Idee!
That's a brilliant idea!
Cultural Tip
In German, ‘toll’ is a friendly, everyday way to say something is great. For more formal or emphatic praise you might choose ‘großartig’ or ‘ausgezeichnet’. Be mindful of the intonation: a rising pitch and a clear exclamation mark convey genuine excitement.