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German Phrase

Du solltest dir das mal anschauen.

/duː ˈzɔl.tst diːɐ̯ das maːl ˈan.ʃaʊ̯ən/
Meaning"You should take a look at that."
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Meaning

Literally, ‘You should look at that once.’ In everyday German it means ‘You should take a look at that.’ The sentence is informal and carries a friendly, low‑pressure tone.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you want to suggest something to a friend, a colleague, or anyone you address with ‘du’. It works well in casual conversations, at work when recommending a document, or when pointing out a video, article, or object.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Dusolltestdirdasmalanschauen

1

Konjunktiv II von sollen

‘solltest’ is the Konjunktiv II form of the modal verb ‘sollen’ and is used to give a polite suggestion or recommendation.

2

Reflexivpronomen im Dativ

‘dir’ is the dative reflexive pronoun that belongs with the separable verb ‘anschauen’ when the action is directed at the listener.

3

‘mal’ als Abschwächung

The particle ‘mal’ (short for ‘einmal’) softens the request, making it sound more casual and friendly.

4

Trennbares Verb ‘anschauen’

‘anschauen’ is a separable verb; in the infinitive position it stays together at the end of the clause.

🗨In Conversation

A

Du solltest dir das mal anschauen.

You should take a look at that.

Klar, ich schau es mir gleich an.

Sure, I’ll look at it right away.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Du sollst dir das mal anschauen.

    ‘sollst’ is present indicative; for a polite suggestion you need the Konjunktiv II form ‘solltest’.

  • Du solltest das mal anschauen.

    Leaving out the reflexive ‘dir’ is possible but changes the nuance; with ‘dir’ the speaker emphasizes that the listener should look at it for themselves.

  • Du solltest dir das anschauen mal.

    Placing ‘mal’ after the verb (e.g., ‘anschauen mal’) breaks the normal word order.

↔Alternatives

  • Du könntest dir das ansehen.

    You could have a look at that.

  • Schau dir das doch mal an.

    Go ahead and take a look at that.

  • Sieh dir das bitte an.

    Please look at that.

de

Cultural Tip

In German the informal ‘du’ is used among peers, friends, or when a relaxed atmosphere is intended. Adding ‘mal’ makes the suggestion sound less demanding and more like a friendly tip. If you need a more formal tone, switch to ‘Sie sollten sich das anschauen.’