Basic German phrases for travel

Excuse me

ent-SHOOL-dee-goong

Use it to get someone’s attention before a question, or to squeeze past on a crowded metro.

Please

BIT-teh

Add it to any order or request.

A hardworking word: please, you’re welcome, here you go, and “pardon?” are all “bitte”.

Thank you

DAHN-keh

Say it after any small service, such as a waiter bringing a dish or a shopkeeper handing over change.

Thank you very much

FEE-len DAHNK

Use it when someone has gone out of their way to help and you want to show extra gratitude.

You’re welcome

GEHR-neh

Use it after someone thanks you. “No problem” is a more casual alternative.

The modern everyday reply, literally “gladly”. “Bitte schön” and “gern geschehen” work too.

• More formal Gern geschehen gehrn geh-SHEH-en

I’m sorry

es toot meer LITE

Use it to apologise when you’ve made a mistake or caused someone trouble.

Yes

yah

Useful for confirming a price or accepting an offer.

No

nine

Use it to turn down an offer or an extra you didn’t ask for.

Okay

in ORD-noong

Use it to agree to a plan, a price, a meeting time or a pickup point.

“Alles klar” (all clear) is the relaxed version you’ll hear constantly.

• Casual Alles klar AH-les KLAR

Perfect

pehr-FEKT

A warmer “okay” for when a suggestion suits you.

That works for me

dahs PAHST meer

Use it to accept a suggestion, such as a later table or a different room.

No problem

kine proh-BLEHM

Use it when someone apologises to you, or to wave off a small inconvenience.

One moment, please

EYE-nen moh-MENT BIT-teh

Buy yourself a few seconds at the counter while you find your wallet or decide what to buy.

Could you help me, please?

KUH-nen zee meer BIT-teh HEL-fen

The polite way to open a request for assistance.

Hello

HAH-loh

An everyday greeting polite enough for staff and strangers. One of the first things you should learn in any language.

Hi

high

The casual “hello” for friends and anyone you know well.

Yes, just “hi”. Germans use it too. Regionally you’ll hear “Moin” in the north and “Servus” in the south.

• North Moin moyn
• South Servus SEHR-voos

Good morning

GOO-ten MOR-gen

Use it until around midday when you greet staff in a shop, café or hotel.

Good afternoon

GOO-ten TAHK

For the stretch between lunch and evening. When people switch to “good evening” varies, so follow what locals say to you.

German’s daytime greeting covers morning to evening; there’s no separate “good afternoon”.

Good evening

GOO-ten AH-bent

The greeting for later in the day: walking into a restaurant for dinner, or checking in after dark.

Goodbye

owf VEE-der-zayn

Say it as you leave a shop or get out of a taxi.

The formal farewell. In everyday life nearly everyone says “tschüss”.

• Everyday Tschüss chewss

See you later

biss SHPAY-ter

For people you’ll see again, such as hotel staff or the barista you visit each morning.

Have a good day

SHUH-nen TAHK nokh

A sign-off after a short exchange, such as paying in a shop.

Literally “a nice day still”, the standard shop-counter farewell.

My name is [name]

ish HIGH-seh [NAH-meh]

It’s useful to introduce yourself in the local language, especially when meeting people during your travels.

How are you?

vee GAYT es EE-nen

Follow your greeting with it. Some people answer briefly, others treat it as a real question.

• Casual Wie geht’s? vee GAYTS

I’m well, thank you

goot DAHN-keh

The standard reply to “How are you?”. Ask the question back if you want to continue the conversation.

Nice to meet you

froyt mish

A useful phrase when meeting someone new on your travels. Saying it in the local language is a nice touch.

Short for “it pleases me”: no gender endings, always right.