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What does “gönn ich dir” mean in German?

German has no single English word for “gönnen,” so learners often guess wrong. It means you’re genuinely happy for someone to have or enjoy something good — the opposite of envy. When the interviewer says “Dann gönn ich dir ja fast noch mehr,” he’s wishing the man even more of it. The word carries real warmth: you want good things for the other person, no jealousy involved.

“Dann gönn ich dir ja fast noch mehr.” — “Then I’m almost happy for you to have even more.” “gönnen” means you’re glad that someone has something good, with no jealousy. You can also “gönnen” something to yourself, meaning you treat yourself and feel good about it — not guilty, just enjoying it. Examples: “Ich gönne dir den Urlaub.” (I’m happy you get this holiday.) — “Gönn dir was Schönes.” (Treat yourself to something nice.) — “Den Erfolg gönne ich ihr.” (I’m glad she had that success.) The little words “ja” and “fast” soften the line and add warmth, so it sounds friendly and a bit playful. That tone is part of what the word does — “gönnen” is generous by nature.