Basic Words and Phrases in German
Reinier van der Windt
About German
German is a West Germanic language spoken mainly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is one of the most widely spoken languages in Europe. The German language originated from the Old High German language and developed under the influence of Latin, French and other languages. It uses the Latin alphabet and has a phonetic orthography. German grammar is characterized by noun declensions, verbs and grammatical cases. In terms of vocabulary, German has borrowed words from various languages, including Latin, French and English. The German language plays an important role in literature, philosophy, science and technology and is an integral part of German culture and identity.
Basic Words and Phrases
Learning a foreign language opens up a world of opportunities, allowing you to connect with people from different cultures and expand your horizons. Whether you're planning a trip or simply curious about a new language, mastering some basic words and phrases is a great place to start.
| Yes | Ja |
|---|---|
| No | Nein |
| Please | Bitte |
| Yes, please | Ja, bitte |
| No, thank you | Nein, danke |
| Thanks | Danke |
| Thank you | Danke |
| Thank you very much | Vielen Dank |
| You're welcome | Gern geschehen |
| No problem | Kein Problem |
| Excuse me | Entschuldigung |
| I’m sorry | Es tut mir leid |
| Sorry | Entschuldigung |
| Cheers! | Prost! |
| Okay | In Ordnung |
Greetings
Greetings are an essential part of any language. Saying "hello" and "goodbye" can create an instant connection with native speakers. In many languages, "hello" is a universal term, but learning the specific greeting for the language you're interested in can show respect and appreciation. Similarly, learning how to say "goodbye" will help you leave a positive impression.
| Hi | Hallo |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallo |
| Good day | Guten Tag |
| Good morning | Guten Morgen |
| Good afternoon | Guten Tag |
| Good evening | Guten Abend |
| Good night | Guten Nacht |
| Goodbye | Auf wiedersehen |
| See you later! | Bis später! |
| Have a nice day! | Schönen Tag! |
| Bye | Tschüss |
Conversations
Next, let's explore basic conversation starters. Asking "how are you?" or "what's your name?" in another language is a friendly way to engage with others. These simple phrases can pave the way for more meaningful conversations and help you build rapport.
| How are you? | Wie geht es dir? (frm) Wie geht's? (inf) |
|---|---|
| I'm fine | Mir geht's gut |
| Good, thank you! | Gut, danke! |
| And you? | Und Sie? (frm) Und du? (inf) |
| Nice to meet you! | Schön, Sie kennenzulernen! |
| Pleased to meet you! | Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen! |
| What is your name? | Wie heissen Sie? (frm) Wie heisst du? (inf) |
| My name is … | Ich heiße … |
| Where are you from? | Woher kommen Sie? (frm) |
| I am from … | Ich komme aus ... |
| I don't speak German | Ich spreche kein Deutsch |
| Do you speak English? | Sprechen Sie Englisch? (frm) |
| I understand | Ich verstehe |
| I do not understand | Ich verstehe nicht |
| I like it | Es gefällt mir |
| I don't like it | Es gefällt mir nicht |
| How is the weather today? | Wie ist das Wetter heute? |
| Can you recommend any local attractions? | Können Sie lokale Sehenswürdigkeiten empfehlen? (frm) Kannst du mir lokale Sehenswürdigkeiten empfehlen? (inf) |
Hotel
When staying at a hotel in a foreign country, it's helpful to be familiar with some phrases that can assist you during your stay. Here are a few key phrases you can use in a hotel.
| Hotel | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Reception | Rezeption |
| Reservation | Reservierung |
| Hotel room | Hotelzimmer |
| Key | Schlüssel |
| Breakfast | Frühstück |
| I have a reservation | Ich habe eine Reservierung |
| I would like to book a room | Ich würde gerne ein Zimmer buchen |
| Do you have any rooms available? | Haben Sie Zimmer frei? |
Restaurant
When dining at restaurants in a foreign country, it's helpful to know phrases that can assist you during your meal. Being able to request a table, order food and drinks, and ask for the bill are important for a pleasant dining experience.
| Restaurant | Restaurant |
|---|---|
| Menu | Speisekarte |
| A table for one, please | Einen Tisch für eine Person, bitte |
| A table for two, please | Einen Tisch für zwei Personen, bitte |
| I would like a coffee, please | Ich hätte gerne einen Kaffee, bitte |
| Enjoy your meal! | Guten Appetit! |
| Can I have the bill, please? | Kann ich bitte die Rechnung haben? |
| Can you bring me the bill, please? | Können Sie mir bitte die Rechnung bringen? |
| I would like to pay, please | Ich möchte gerne zahlen, bitte |
| The bill, please | Die Rechnung, bitte |
| Can I pay with cash? | Kann ich mit Bargeld zahlen? |
| Can I pay with card? | Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? |
| Can I pay with credit card? | Kann ich mit Kreditkarte zahlen? |
| Could you suggest something for me? | Können Sie mir etwas vorschlagen? |
| Can I have a glass of water, please? | Kann ich bitte ein Glas Wasser haben? |
| Do you have any local specialties? | Haben Sie lokale Spezialitäten? (frm) Hast du lokale Spezialitäten? (inf) |
Food and drinks
Being able to order food and drinks, ask for recommendations, and express preferences or dietary restrictions will enhance your dining experience and allow you to explore the local cuisine.
| Breakfast | Frühstück |
|---|---|
| Lunch | Mittagessen |
| Dinner | Abendessen |
| Food | Essen |
| Drinks | Getränke |
| Bread | Brot |
| Sandwich | Sandwich |
| Cheese | Käse |
| Meat | Fleisch |
| Fish | Fisch |
| Vegetables | Gemüse |
| Fruit | Obst |
| Vegetarian | Vegetarisch |
| I am a vegetarian | Ich bin Vegetarier |
| Coffee | Kaffee |
| Tea | Tee |
| Beer | Bier |
| Wine | Wein |
| Juice | Saft |
| Water | Wasser |
| Milk | Milch |
| Dessert | Dessert |
| Salad | Salat |
| Soup | Suppe |
Places and Services
Just like how saying hello helps you connect with others, exploring phrases related to locations and services can greatly enhance your travel experience. Whether you're looking for important places like banks or post offices, these expressions can open up doors to immersing yourself in the local culture.
| ATM | Geldautomat |
|---|---|
| Bank | Bank |
| Beach | Strand |
| Library | Bibliothek |
| Park | Park |
| Pharmacy | Apotheke |
| Post Office | Postamt |
| Tourist Information | Touristeninformation |
| Museum | Museum |
Shopping
Knowing how to ask for the price, request a different size or color, or simply say "I'm just looking" can be useful when shopping in local markets or stores.
| Store | Laden |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | Supermarkt |
| Grocery store | Supermarkt |
| Market | Markt |
| Bakery | Bäckerei |
| Bookstore | Buchhandlung |
| How much does this cost? | Wieviel kostet das? |
| Can I get a receipt? | Kann ich eine Quittung bekommen? |
| I'm just looking | Ich schaue nur |
| Sunglasses | Sonnenbrille |
| Umbrella | Regenschirm |
Directions
Learning phrases related to asking for directions, understanding common landmarks, and getting around the city will help you navigate unfamiliar places with ease.
| Where is the toilet? | Wo ist die Toilette? |
|---|---|
| Where is the beach? | Wo ist der Strand? |
| How do I get to the airport? | Wie komme ich zum Flughafen? |
| Left | Links |
| Right | Rechts |
| Straight ahead | Geradeaus |
| Is it far from here? | Ist es weit von hier? |
| Can you show it on the map? | Können Sie es auf der Karte zeigen? (frm) Kannst du es auf der Karte zeigen? (inf) |
| How long does it take to walk there? | Wie lange dauert es, um dorthin zu laufen? |
Transport
Familiarizing yourself with phrases for using public transportation, such as asking for a ticket, stating your destination, or inquiring about schedules, will make your travel experience smoother and more efficient.
| Airport | Flughafen |
|---|---|
| Plane | Flugzeug |
| Train station | Bahnhof |
| Train | Zug |
| Bus station | Busbahnhof |
| Bus | Bus |
| Taxi | Taxi |
| Ticket | Fahrschein |
| Can I get a ticket to Berlin? | Kann ich ein Ticket nach Berlin bekommen? |
| I would like a ticket to Berlin | Ich möchte ein Ticket nach Berlin |
| I need a ticket to Berlin | Ich brauche ein Ticket nach Berlin |
| A ticket to Berlin, please | Ein Ticket nach Berlin, bitte |
| What time is the next train to Berlin? | Wann geht der nächste Zug nach Berlin? |
| When is the next train to Berlin? | Wann geht der nächste Zug nach Berlin? |
| When does the next train to Berlin leave? | Wann fährt der nächste Zug nach Berlin? |
Emergencies
When you're in a different country, it's really important to be aware of emergency phrases such as 'help,' 'hospital,' and 'police.' Using expressions like 'emergency' and 'I need help' can help you overcome language barriers and make sure you're ready for any unexpected situations that might occur. Having a good grasp of these phrases will help keep you safe and give you peace of mind while traveling.
| Help! | Hilfe! |
|---|---|
| Help me! | Hilfe! |
| I need help | Ich brauche Hilfe |
| I need assistance | Ich brauche Hilfe |
| I need a doctor | Ich brauche einen Arzt |
| Police | Polizei |
| Police Station | Polizeistation |
| Hospital | Krankenhaus |
| Ambulance | Krankenwagen |
| Doctor | Arzt |
| Fire department | Feuerwehr |
| Fire! | Feuer! |
Time
Effortlessly asking and telling the time enhances your travel experience, from coordinating schedules to catching transportation, adding a valuable layer to your linguistic toolkit for effective communication during your stay.
| What time is it? | Wie spät ist es? |
|---|---|
| It is one o'clock | Es ist ein Uhr |
| It is half past two | Es ist halb drei |
| Morning | Morgen |
| Afternoon | Nachmittag |
| Evening | Abend |
| Night | Nacht |
| Today | Heute |
| Tomorrow | Morgen |
| Yesterday | Gestern |
Numbers
Learning numbers is essential for tasks like counting, ordering quantities, or understanding prices.
| Zero | Null |
|---|---|
| One | Eins |
| Two | Zwei |
| Three | Drei |
| Four | Vier |
| Five | Fünf |
| Six | Sechs |
| Seven | Sieben |
| Eight | Acht |
| Nine | Neun |
| Ten | Zehn |
| Eleven | Elf |
| Twelve | Zwölf |
| Thirteen | Dreizehn |
| Fourteen | Vierzehn |
| Fifteen | Fünfzehn |
| Sixteen | Sechzehn |
| Seventeen | Siebzehn |
| Eighteen | Achtzehn |
| Nineteen | Neunzehn |
| Twenty | Zwanzig |
| Twenty-one | Einundzwanzig |
| Twenty-two | Zweiundzwanzig |
| Twenty-three | Dreiundzwanzig |
| Twenty-four | Vierundzwanzig |
| Twenty-five | Fünfundzwanzig |
| Twenty-six | Sechsundzwanzig |
| Twenty-seven | Siebenundzwanzig |
| Twenty-eight | Achtundzwanzig |
| Twenty-nine | Neunundzwanzig |
| Thirty | Dreißig |
| Forty | Vierzig |
| Fifty | Fünfzig |
| Sixty | Sechzig |
| Seventy | Siebzig |
| Eighty | Achtzig |
| Ninety | Neunzig |
| Hundred | Hundert |
| Two hundred | Zweihundert |
| One thousand | Tausend |
| Two thousand | Zweitausend |
| Three thousand | Dreitausend |
| Hundred thousand | Hunderttausend |
| Million | Million |
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers play a crucial role in conveying sequence and order. Whether you're navigating travel itineraries, selecting seats, or exploring historical sites, understanding expressions like 'first,' 'second,' and so on is essential.
| First | Erste |
|---|---|
| Second | Zweite |
| Third | Dritte |
| Fourth | Vierte |
| Fifth | Fünfte |
| Sixth | Sechste |
| Seventh | Siebte |
| Eighth | Achte |
| Ninth | Neunte |
| Tenth | Zehnte |
| Eleventh | Elfte |
| Twelfth | Zwölfte |
| Thirteenth | Dreizehnte |
| Fourteenth | Vierzehnte |
| Fifteenth | Fünfzehnte |
| Sixteenth | Sechzehnte |
| Seventeenth | Siebzehnte |
| Eighteenth | Achtzehnte |
| Nineteenth | Neunzehnte |
| Twentieth | Zwanzigste |
Days of the week
Knowing the names of the days of the week will help you schedule activities, make appointments, or plan your itinerary.
| Monday | Montag |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Dienstag |
| Wednesday | Mittwoch |
| Thursday | Donnerstag |
| Friday | Freitag |
| Saturday | Samstag |
| Sunday | Sonntag |
Months
Being familiar with the names of the months will allow you to discuss dates, make reservations, or talk about specific time frames.
| January | Januar |
|---|---|
| February | Februar |
| March | Marsch |
| April | April |
| May | Mai |
| June | Juni |
| July | Juli |
| August | August |
| September | September |
| Oktober | Oktober |
| November | November |
| December | Dezember |
Question Words
Understanding basic question words like who, what, where, when, why, and how will enable you to ask for information or clarification in various situations.
| What? | Wie? |
|---|---|
| What is your name? | Wie ist Ihr Name? |
| What is that? | Was ist das? |
| What is this called? | Wie nennt man das? |
| What do you need? | Was brauchen Sie? |
| What time is it? | Wie spät ist es? |
| What do you like? | Was magst du? |
| Where? | Wo? |
| Where is the toilet? | Wo ist die Toilette? |
| When? | Wann? |
| When is the next train? | Wann fährt der nächste Zug? |
| When can we meet? | Wann können wir uns treffen? |
| Why? | Warum? |
| Why is it expensive? | Warum ist es so teuer? |
| How? | Wie? |
| How are you doing? | Wie geht es Ihnen? |
| How would you like to pay? | Wie möchten Sie bezahlen? |
| How far is this? | Wie weit ist das? |
| Which? | Welche? Welcher? Welches? |
| Which book belongs to your sister? | Welches Buch gehört deiner Schwester? |
| Which museum did you visit? | Welches Museum haben Sie besucht? |
| Which museums did you visit? | Welche Museen haben Sie besucht? |
| Which one of these is your car? | Welches davon ist Ihr Auto? |
| Who? | Wer? |
| Who is that? | Wer ist das? |
| Who is your travel companion? | Wer ist dein Reisebegleiter? |
| Whose? | Wessen? |
| Whose keys are these? | Wem gehören die Schlüssel? |
| Whose phone is ringing? | Wessen Telefon klingelt denn da? |
| Whose bag is this? | Wessen Tasche ist das? |
| How many? | Wie viele? |
| How many people were at the concert? | Wie viele Menschen waren bei dem Konzert? |
| How much? | Wie viel? |
| How much does this cost? | Wie viel kostet das? |
Hey there! I'm Rainier and I'm the person behind Roaming with Rainier. I've always been really into traveling and photography. I've been fortunate enough to visit incredible destinations and there are still so many more on my bucket list. My plan is to explore breathtaking places around the world and share my experiences through articles and reviews.
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