How do you say “A sight for sore eyes” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is ein erfreulicher Anblick, which literally means “a pleasing sight”. English speakers use a sight for sore eyes to mean someone or something you are very pleased or relieved to see. A clear German paraphrase for a welcome sight. In a direct greeting, “Bin ich froh, dich zu sehen!” sounds warmer. Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural German
ein erfreulicher Anblick
/aɪn ɛɐ̯ˈfʁɔʏlɪçɐ ˈanblɪk/
- Literal meaning
- “a pleasing sight”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
86 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
“Ein erfreulicher Anblick” works for something that brings relief or pleasure. It can sound more descriptive and less affectionate than the English.
When greeting a friend, say how glad you are to see them. That conveys the welcome without turning the person into a formal description.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone3 out of 5
- Context4 out of 5
- Literal similarity3 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
I’d been waiting in the rain, so you and your car were a sight for sore eyes.
German
Nach dem Warten im Regen war ich so froh, dich und dein Auto zu sehen.
English
Those lights were a sight for sore eyes after hours on the dark road.
German
Nach Stunden auf der dunklen Straße waren diese Lichter ein erfreulicher Anblick.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-11-13