Are you ready to take your German conversation skills to the next level? Learning some handy phrases will make chatting with people so much easier. In this article, I’m gonna give you phrases for all sorts of situations like meeting new people, asking for directions in town, and even ordering your favorite foods.
Let’s get started.
1. Hallo! – Hello! A friendly way to greet anyone.
2. Wie geht es dir? – How are you? A casual way to ask someone about their well-being.
3. Mir geht es gut, danke. – I’m good, thank you. Respond positively and courteously.
4. Entschuldigung. – Excuse me. Useful for getting attention or apologizing.
5. Ich verstehe nicht. – I don’t understand. When you need clarification or didn’t catch something.
6. Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? – Can you please repeat that? Helpful when you need something repeated for better understanding.
7. Wo ist die Toilette? – Where is the bathroom? Essential for finding the restroom.
8. Ich spreche nicht viel Deutsch. – I don’t speak much German. Useful to set expectations about your language level.
9. Sprechen Sie Englisch? – Do you speak English? Helpful if you need to switch to English.
10. Ich hätte gerne… – I would like… Starts many requests in restaurants or shops.
11. Wie viel kostet das? – How much does this cost? Important for shopping.
12. Hilfe! – Help! Critical in emergency situations.
13. Prost! – Cheers! Common in social drinking situations.
14. Tschüss – Bye! Casual way to say goodbye.
15. Guten Morgen – Good morning. Polite way to greet in the morning.
16. Gute Nacht – Good night. Wishing someone a good night.
17. Bitte – Please. Adds politeness to requests.
18. Danke schön – Thank you very much. Shows gratitude.
19. Gerne – You’re welcome. Respond to thanks.
20. Es tut mir leid – I’m sorry. Expressing apologies.
21. Ich habe mich verlaufen – I’m lost. When you need directions.
22. Wo kann ich… finden? – Where can I find…? Useful for locating places or things.
23. Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? – Can I pay with a card? Important for payment methods.
24. Ich bin allergisch gegen… – I’m allergic to… Essential for dining out safely.
25. Kann ich das Menü sehen? – May I see the menu? Common in restaurants.
26. Einen Tisch für zwei, bitte. – A table for two, please. Booking a table.
27. Um wie viel Uhr…? – At what time…? Asking about time for events or schedules.
28. Welcher Bus fährt nach…? – Which bus goes to…? Navigating public transportation.
29. Können wir die Rechnung haben? – Could we have the bill? At the end of a meal.
30. Ich möchte mich beschweren – I would like to complain. When service or product issues arise.
31. Ich bin… – I am… Useful for self-introduction or describing your state.
32. Was machst du beruflich? – What do you do for a living? A common question in social interactions.
33. Hast du Geschwister? – Do you have siblings? Another good question for getting to know someone.
34. Ich lerne Deutsch. – I am learning German. A great way to explain your language skills.
35. Was ist deine Telefonnummer? – What is your phone number? Important when you need to exchange contact information.
36. Kannst du das übersetzen? – Can you translate this? Helpful when you encounter a language barrier.
37. Ich fühle mich nicht gut. – I don’t feel well. Essential for expressing health issues.
38. Ich bin hungrig. – I am hungry. Simple way to express a need for food.
39. Wie komme ich zum Bahnhof? – How do I get to the train station? Useful for directions.
40. Hast du Lust auf Kaffee? – Do you feel like having coffee? Great for inviting someone out casually.
41. Wie spät ist es? – What time is it? Useful for asking the time.
42. Können Sie mir einen Gefallen tun? – Can you do me a favor? When you need help or assistance.
43. Kann ich ein Foto machen? – Can I take a photo? Useful during travel or visits to attractions.
44. Ich bin hier neu. – I am new here. Good for explaining your unfamiliarity with a place.
45. Wo ist der nächste Geldautomat? – Where is the nearest ATM? Important for financial transactions.
46. Hast du Wasser? – Do you have water? Useful in various situations to ask for water.
47. Ich brauche einen Arzt. – I need a doctor. Critical in medical situations.
48. Was empfehlen Sie? – What do you recommend? Great for getting suggestions in restaurants or from locals.
49. Wo kann ich mein Auto parken? – Where can I park my car? Important for drivers in a new city.
50. Ich möchte ein Ticket kaufen. – I want to buy a ticket. Useful at ticket counters for transportation or events.
Now that you’ve got these 50 phrases under your belt, you’ve really got some awesome tools to use in all sorts of common situations. Whether you’re introducing yourself, asking simple questions, or needing some help – these expressions will serve you well.
The more you practice using them, the more natural they’ll feel. Don’t be shy about trying them out.
I’m John Guerrero, with a background in German (Major) and Greek (Minor), leveraging over nine years of translation experience. My academic and professional journey has earned me deep linguistic insights and cultural nuances. I’m very passionate about bridging languages, and always look to deliver content that inspires and informs.