seine Meinung sagen

You need to match the possessive pronoun to the person speaking. If I speak, I say meine Meinung. If you speak, you say deine Meinung. The verb sagen goes at the end in some sentences. In others, it stays in the second position. It is a very flexible phrase. You can add adverbs like ehrlich (honestly) or offen (openly) to add punch.

Use this when a decision needs to be made. It is perfect for a meeting at work. Use it when a friend asks for fashion advice. It works well in a restaurant if the food is cold. Germans appreciate clarity. They often prefer a clear opinion over polite silence. It shows you are engaged and care about the outcome.

Avoid using it if you want to be extremely diplomatic. Sometimes, 'saying your opinion' can sound a bit confrontational. If you are in a very delicate social situation, be careful. Don't use it to just be mean. There is a fine line between being direct and being rude. If you don't have all the facts, maybe wait a bit.

Germany is a 'low-context' culture. This means people rely on explicit words. Being direct is a sign of respect. It saves time for everyone involved. There is even a word for it: Direktheit. Children are often encouraged to speak up early. It is not seen as talking back. It is seen as developing a strong character.

You might hear seine Meinung äußern. This is a bit more formal. Another one is seine Meinung geigen. This is idiomatic and means to tell someone off. If you want to be very firm, use klipp und klar seine Meinung sagen. This means to say it 'loud and clear.'