Have you ever wanted to learn German?
Or are you planning a trip to a German-speaking country?
To get started and have your first basic conversations in German, you’re going to need to learn some words!
In this post, you’ll learn 92 basic German phrases and words that will help you on your travels or just at home.
To make it easier for you, I’ve divided the phrases into different categories.
- German Greetings & Introductions
- “I do not understand!” – Getting Out Of Sticky Situations
- Numbers In German
- Visiting A German Restaurant
- Transport – Getting Around In Germany
- Asking For Directions
- Shopping In German
- Dealing with Medical Emergencies
- Finding Hidden Gems
Whether you’re going to Germany or Austria or Switzerland, chances are you can get by in English. But if you learn basic German too, you’ll be able to connect more with German speakers.
Having a few common German phrases will make you experience these countries in a completely different way.
And even at home, learning German will allow you to learn more about German culture and connect with native German speakers in your local community.
You don’t need to have a natural flair for language learning. Learning a few key phrases and being able to use them is a great start. And German isn’t as hard as its reputation suggests, especially for native English speakers.
You never know, maybe learning these phrases will motivate you to go on and learn to speak German fluently.
Note: Want to go beyond basic German phrases and learn German with confidence and fluency? The best way to do so is by working through a comprehensive and well designed course.
My top recommendation is German Uncovered, my in-depth online German course for beginners that teaches you through the power of story. If you’re ready to get started, click here for a 7-day FREE trial.
German Greetings & Introductions
If you want to make a good impression with German speakers, you’ll need a few basic phrases to meet and greet people.
After all, you’re going to use greetings every time you have a conversation in German!
These phrases are simple, easy to remember and will help you make new German friends.
#1 Hallo – Hello [any time of day]
#2 Hallo, wie geht’s? – Hello, how are you?
#3 Guten Morgen – Good morning
#4 Guten Tag [lit. good day] – Good afternoon
#5 Guten Abend – Good evening
#6 Gute Nacht – Good night
#7 Vielen Dank – Thank you very much
#8 Ich danke Ihnen auch – Thank you, too [in reply to “thank you” from someone else else]
#9 Tschüss, bis zum nächsten Mal – Goodbye, see you next time
#10 Schönes Wetter heute, nicht wahr? – It’s lovely weather today, is not it?
#11 Mein Name ist _ – My name is _____
#12 Ich bin Amerikaner, Kanadier, Engländer (male) – I’m American / Canadian / English
#13 Ich bin Amerikanerin, Kanadierin, Engländerin (female) – I’m American / Canadian / English
#14 Woher kommen Sie? – Where are you from?
#15 Freut mich – Nice to meet you!
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“I Do Not Understand!” – Getting Out Of Sticky Situations
It might seem a little intimidating to speak German, especially if you’re new to the language. German people will be understanding if you’re struggling to get your message across or catch what they say.
At the same time, don’t hesitate to use these expressions to help the conversation run smoothly if you don’t understand something or need a little help.
#16 Es tut mir leid, aber ich verstehe nicht – I’m sorry, but I do not understand
#17 Ich spreche nicht gut Deutsch – I do not speak German very well
#18 Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? – Could you say that again please?
#19 Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? – Could you say that more slowly please?
#20 Schreiben Sie das bitte für mich auf – Please write that down for me
#21 Was bedeutet das? – What does that mean?
#22 Sprechen Sie Englisch? – Do you speak English?
#23 Es tut mir leid – I’m sorry
#24 Ich weiß nicht – I do not know
#25 In Ordnung – All right
#26 Macht nichts – never mind
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Numbers In German
Whether you’re at the supermarket, ordering in a restaurant, or just having a normal conversation, it’s essential to know how to use numbers in German. Eins, zwei, drei….let’s get to it!
- null – zero
- eins – one
- zwei – two
- drei – three
- vier – four
- fünf – five
- sechs – six
- sieben – seven
- acht – eight
- neun – nine
- zehn – ten
- elf – eleven
- zwölf – twelve
- dreizehn – thirteen
- vierzehn – fourteen
- fünfzehn – fifteen
- sechzehn – sixteen
- siebzehn – seventeen
- achtzehn – eighteen
- neunzehn – nineteen
- zwanzig – twenty
- einundzwanzig – twenty-one
- zweiundzwanzig – twenty-two
- dreiundzwanzig – twenty-three
- vierundzwanzig – twenty-four
- fünfundzwanzig – twenty-five
- sechsundzwanzig – twenty-six
- siebenundzwanzig – twenty-seven
- achtundzwanzig – twenty-eight
- neunundzwanzig – twenty-nine
- dreißig – thirty
- einunddreißig – thirty-one
- zweiunddreißig – thirty-two
- vierzig – forty
- fünfzig – fifty
- sechzig – sixty
- siebzig – seventy
- achtzig – eighty
- neunzig – ninety
- hundert – one hundred
- zweihundertfünfzig – two hundred and fifty
- fünfhundert – five hundred
- siebenhundertdreiundachtzig – seven hundred and eighty three
- tausend – one thousand
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Visiting A German Restaurant
One of the most enjoyable cultural experiences you can have in a German-speaking country is visiting a restaurant and trying out some of the delicious local dishes.
The following phrases cover all the questions and statements you need to make when eating out, from asking for a table to paying the bill!
#27 Ein Tisch für eine Person bitte – A table for one, please
#28 Ein Tisch für zwei Personen, bitte – A table for two, please
#29 Haben Sie schon auf? – Are you open yet?
#30 Können wir (auf einen Tisch) warten? – Can we wait (for a table)?
#31 Können wir dort sitzen? – Can we sit over there?
#32 Entschuldigung! – Excuse me! [Calling a waiter]
#33 Was empfehlen Sie? – What do you recommend?
#34 Was ist das beliebteste Gericht? – What’s your most popular dish?
#35 Was ist das? – What is this?
#36 Was für Bier haben Sie? – What type of beer do you have?
#37 Ein kleines Bier bitte – A small beer, please
#38 Ein großes Bier bitte – A large beer, please
#39 Bringen Sie mir bitte eine Auswahl von leckeren Sachen – Please bring me a selection of nice things
#40 Bitte wählen Sie etwas – It’s up to you / You can decide
#41 Die Rechnung, bitte – The bill, please
#42 Kann ich bitte die Speisekarte haben? – Can I have the menu, please?
By the way, if you’re interested in food and drink as it relates to German culture, take a look at this post about Oktoberfest, the world-famous Bavarian beer festival.
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Transport – Getting Around In Germany
There are lots of practicalities to consider when taking a trip to Germany, including finding your way around. Finding the right train or bus on time isn’t always easy and you don’t want to end up being the ‘foreigner’ who is holding up the ticket queue!
In this section, you’ll learn some key transport phrases that will help you quickly and easily navigate your way around any German-speaking city or country.
#43 Ich möchte nach _____ – I want to go to
#44 Wann fährt der nächste Zug / Bus nach _____? – What time is the next train/bus to __?
#45 Was kostet das? – How much is it?
#46 Einmal/ zweimal (nach _____), bitte – 1 ticket / 2 tickets (to _____), please
#47 Wie lange dauert das? – How long does it take?
#48 Wohin muss ich jetzt gehen? – Where should I go now?
#49 Wann fährt er ab? – When does it leave?
#50 Wie spät ist es (jetzt)? – What time is it (now)?
#51 Hält der Zug/ Bus in _? – Does this train/bus stop in _____?
#52 Entschuldigen Sie, ist dies _____?– Excuse me, is this _____ ? [Useful when you’re on the bus / train and are not sure when to get off]
#53 Können Sie das bitte für mich aufschreiben? – Can you write that down for me?
#54 Zeigen Sie mir das bitte auf der Karte? – Can you show me on the map?
#55 Wo ist _____ auf der Karte? – Where is _____ on the map?
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Asking For Directions In German
Public transport in Germany is notoriously excellent, but there are some places you’ll need to walk or drive to yourself. And for most of us, that means occasionally getting lost and asking for directions!
Here are the phrases you need to ask and receive directions in German:
#56 Entschuldigung, darf ich Sie etwas fragen? – Excuse me, could I ask you something?
#57 Ich möchte nach _____ – I want to go to _ [If you know the name of your destination]
#58 Ich möchte dahin – I want to go here [Pointing to your destination on the map]
#59 Ich habe mich verlaufen – I’m lost (on foot)
#60 Ich habe mich verfahren – I’m lost (by car)
#61 Wie komme ich dahin? – How can I get there?
#62 Geht es hier lang? – Is it this way? [Useful for checking if you’re walking in the right direction]
#63 Zeigen Sie mir das bitte auf der Karte? – Can you show me on the map?
#64 Wo ist __?– Where is _ ?
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Whether you’re at the supermarket, the shopping centre or the local farmer’s market you’re going to buy things at some point or another!
And even haggle a bit – just like you would in English. Grab a bargain in German with these sentences.
#65 Das gefällt mir – I like this
#66 Was kostet das? – How much is this?
#67 Bitte wiederholen Sie das – Can you say that again please?
#68 Schreiben Sie das bitte für mich auf? – Can you write that down for me?
#69 Und wenn ich das alles kaufe? – If I buy these together? [A useful way to knock the price down]
#70 Das ist mir zu teuer – it’s too expensive for me
#71 Geben Sie mir einen Rabatt? – Can you give me a discount?
#72 Ich suche nach _____ – I’m looking for a _____
#73 Ich schaue mich nur um – I’m just looking around
#74 Danke, ich suche noch weiter – Thank you, I’ll keep looking [if you’re getting hassled to buy something]
#75 Moment, bitte – Just a moment
#76 Ja, bitte – Yes, please
#77 Nein, danke – No, thanks
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Dealing With Medical Emergencies In German
Hopefully, you’ll never need the phrases in this section! Nonetheless, it’s always good to know some basic medical vocabulary so that you can handle an emergency if you’re unwell or have an accident.
#78 Können Sie mir bitte helfen? – Can you help me, please?
#79 Ich brauche einen Arzt – I need to see a doctor
#80 Es geht mir nicht gut – I do not feel well
#81 Es geht ihm/ihr nicht gut – he / she does not feel well
#82 Gibt es ein Krankenhaus in der Nähe? – Is there a hospital near here?
#83 Fahren Sie mich bitte zum Krankenhaus – Take me to the hospital [To a taxi driver]
#84 Es tut hier weh – It hurts here [pointing to body part]
#85 Ich brauche Medizin – I need some medicine
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Finally, let’s learn a few more phrases that don’t fall into any particular category. These final examples of basic vocabulary will allow you to sound more polite and natural.
I’ve included a couple of questions you can ask the locals, so you can find the hidden gems in their cities and have a more authentic German experience!
#86 Es tut mir leid, Sie zu stören, aber… – I’m sorry to bother you, but …
#87 Kann ich Sie schnell etwas fragen? – Could I ask you something quickly?
#88 Ich suche ein Restaurant mit gutem Essen hier in der Nähe – I’m looking for a place with good food around here
#89 Ich suche ein nettes Café in der Nähe – I’m looking for a nice cafe in the area
#90 Wissen Sie etwas über _____? – Do you know anything about _____ ?
#91 Gibt es hier in der Nähe etwas Interessantes zu sehen? – Is there anything interesting to see in this area?
#92 Trotzdem danke – Thank you anyway [if the person can not help you]
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Your Next Steps In German
So there you have it: a collection of German expressions to help you get started on your new adventure!
With these phrases in your back pocket, you’ll soon find yourself having your first basic conversations and getting excited about continuing to improve your German.
So now that you’ve learned the basics, are you ready to take the next step in your German adventure?
I’m a big believer in the power of story to enable you to learn a language. That’s why I’ve created an entire beginner course to help you learn German online by immersing yourself in a compelling story.
It’s my German Uncovered course, and it’s designed to take you from beginner to B1 Intermediate level.
Click here for more information on the course and how it’ll help you.
There are certain words and phrases that every language uses on the daily.
If you can learn these German phrases, you’ll find everyday conversation much easier to navigate!
This post contains 140 useful German phrases sure to boost your conversational skills and help you out in any situation.
Contents
- Common German Slang
- Basic Greetings in German
- Asking for Help in German
- German Conversational Phrases
- Food and Drink in German
- German Travel Phrases
- German Shopping Phrases
- German Expressions in Cases of Emergency
- Why You Should Learn German Phrases
- How to Learn Common German Phrases
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Common German Slang
These German slang phrases are fun and will definitely give you extra street cred and impress your German friends.
1. Moin, moin
Meaning: Morning/Hi/Hello/Good day/How are you?
This multi-purpose phrase is mostly used in Northern Germany.
2. Geil
Meaning: Awesome/Cool/Sexy
This slangy term can be used for all things good, just tread carefully—it can refer to sexual arousal, too.
3. Dit jefällt ma
Meaning: I like it
This is Berlinian dialect for Das gefällt mir (I like it).
4. Na?
Meaning: Hey, what’s up?/How are you?
You can even answer this with Naaa? to say “I’m good, how about you?”
5. Basta
Meaning: Period
As in, “end of discussion.” This is useful when you’re not interested in hearing any backchat or excuses.
6. Quatsch
Meaning: Nonsense/That’s ridiculous
7. Ich habe die Nase voll
Meaning: I’m fed up/I’m sick of it
Literal: I have a full nose
8. Das ist nicht mein Bier
Meaning: Not my problem
Literal: That’s not my beer
You can also say das ist dein Bier (this is your beer) to point out that the thing in question is someone else’s burden to bear.
9. Abwarten und Tee trinken
Meaning: Just wait and see
Literal: Wait and drink tea
10. Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof
Meaning: I don’t understand any of that/It’s all Greek to me
Literal: I only understand train station
11. Es ist mir Wurst
Meaning: I don’t care
Literal: It’s sausage to me
12. Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof
Meaning: Life is no picnic
Literal: Life is not a pony farm
13. Da haben wir den Salat
Meaning: Everything is a mess/Now we’re in a pickle
Literal: Here we’ve got the salad
14. Leben wie Gott in Frankreich
Meaning: Live like a king
Literal: Live like God in France
This phrase is a reflection of the past. At a time in history, royalty lived fancy and rich in the kingdom of France while the German city-states lived in relative poverty, struggling to feed themselves.
15. Der Zug ist schon abgefahren
Meaning: That ship has sailed/The opportunity is gone
Literal: The train has already left
16. Innerer Schweinehund
Meaning: Devil on your shoulder
Literal: Inner pig-dog
The German people’s “inner pig-dog” is the voice in one’s head that steers you wrong.
17. Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund
Meaning: The early bird gets the worm
Literal: Morning hours have gold in the mouth
18. Hunde, die bellen, beißen nicht
Meaning: His bark is worse than his bite
Literal: Dogs that bark don’t bite
Basic Greetings in German
Now, let’s go over how to say hello to native German speakers and exchange some basic pleasantries.
19. Hallo
Meaning: Hello
20. Guten Morgen
Meaning: Good morning
This is a common greeting used until noon.
21. Guten Tag
Meaning: Good afternoon
Use this between noon and 6 pm.
22. Guten Abend
Meaning: Good evening
This greeting is used from 6 pm to bedtime.
23. Wie geht es Ihnen?
Meaning: How are you? (formal)
This form should be used with strangers and people who command respect, such as a boss, teacher or elder.
24. Wie geht’s dir?
Meaning: How are you? (informal)
You can use this version of the phrase in more casual interactions, like with friends and family.
25. Mir geht es gut, danke
Meaning: I am fine, thank you
26. Freut mich zu hören
Meaning: Glad to hear it
27. Mir geht es nicht so gut
Meaning: I’m not so good
28. Es tut mir leid
Meaning: I’m sorry
You might also hear the shortened version: tut mir leid.
29. Gesundheit
Meaning: Bless you (said after someone sneezes)
Literal: Health
30. Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!
Meaning: Happy birthday!
31. Machs gut
Meaning: Take care
32. Bis später
Meaning: See you later
If you know you’re seeing this person again within the next day, you can bid them farewell with this phrase.
33. Bis bald
Meaning: See you soon
If you think you’ll see this person again in the near future but you’re not exactly sure when, you can opt for this expression.
34. Auf Wiedersehen
Meaning: Goodbye
35. Tschüss
Meaning: Bye
36. Gute Nacht
Meaning: Good night
37. Einen schönen Tag noch
Meaning: Have a nice day
38. Schönes Wochenende
Meaning: Have a nice weekend
Asking for Help in German
As a stranger in a German-speaking country, you will likely need help from a local at some point or another; these phrases will make it a little easier.
39. Entschuldigung
Meaning: Excuse me/Sorry
You’ll also likely hear the contracted version when out and about: ‘Schuldigung.
40. Sprechen Sie Englisch?
Meaning: Do you speak English? (formal)
41. Ja
Meaning: Yes/Yeah
42. Nein
Meaning: No
43. Bitte
Meaning: Please
This word has several important functions in German.
44. Ich spreche nur ein bisschen Deutsch
Meaning: I only speak a little German
45. Ich brauche eine Auskunft
Meaning: I need some information
46. Ich brauche Hilfe
Meaning: I need help
47. Bin ich hier richtig?
Meaning: Am I in the right place?
48. Wie sagt man … auf Deutsch?
Meaning: How do you say … in German?
49. Danke schön
Meaning: Thank you
There are many ways to say thank you in German. Danke schön is like the English “thank you,” whereas danke on its own is like “thanks.”
50. Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe
Meaning: Thanks so much for your help (formal)
51. Gern geschehen
Meaning: You’re welcome
German has other ways to express “you’re welcome,” too.
German Conversational Phrases
These phrases will help you hold a conversation in German—you can even practice before you go! Note that some phrases differ in formality.
52. Wie ist Ihr Name?/Wie heißt du?
Meaning: What is your name? (formal/informal)
53. Ich heiße…/Mein Name ist…
Meaning: My name is…
54. Woher kommen Sie?/Woher kommst du?
Meaning: Where are you from? (formal/informal)
55. Ich komme aus…
Meaning: I’m from…
56. Wie lange bleiben Sie in Deutschland/Österreich/der Schweiz?
Meaning: How long are you staying in Germany/Austria/Switzerland?
57. Ich bleibe eine Woche hier
Meaning: I am staying here for one week
Of course, you can replace eine Woche with something like zwei Wochen (two weeks), sechs Tage (six days), etc.
58. Wie alt sind Sie?/Wie alt bist du?
Meaning: How old are you? (formal/informal)
59. Ich bin 20 Jahre alt
Meaning: I am 20 years old
Brush up on your German numbers so you can replace 20 with your own age.
60. Was machen Sie/Was machst du beruflich?
Meaning: What do you do for work? (formal/informal)
61. Ich bin…
Meaning: I’m a/an…
You don’t need an article in German (words like “a” or “the”) before the job title here, so you’re literally just saying “I am teacher” or whatever your job is.
62. Was machst du sonst so?
Meaning: What else do you do? (informal)
Learn some German words about hobbies so you can bust out this phrase and then understand the response.
63. Ich… gerne
Meaning: I like to…
64. Ich stimme dir zu
Meaning: I agree with you
65. Können Sie/Kannst du langsamer sprechen?
Meaning: Can you speak slower? (formal/informal)
66. Können Sie/Kannst du das bitte wiederholen?
Meaning: Can you repeat that please? (formal/informal)
67. Verstehen Sie?/Verstehst du?
Meaning: Do you understand? (formal/informal)
68. Ich verstehe nicht
Meaning: I don’t understand
69. Hat mich gefreut Sie/dich kennenzulernen
Meaning: It was nice meeting you (formal/informal)
Food and Drink in German
Now that you got a conversation going, you might end up with a meal invite! These German expressions will help you order food and drinks like a native.
70. Haben Sie/Hast du Hunger?
Meaning: Are you hungry? (formal/informal)
71. Haben Sie/Hast du Durst?
Meaning: Are you thirsty? (formal/informal)
72. Wollen wir zusammen was essen gehen?
Meaning: Shall we get something to eat together?
Or: Wollen wir zusammen was trinken gehen? (Shall we get something to drink together?)
73. Frühstück
Meaning: Breakfast
74. Mittagessen
Meaning: Lunch
75. Abendessen
Meaning: Dinner
76. Einen Tisch für vier bitte
Meaning: A table for four, please
At most German restaurants, you’ll just seat yourself at an open table, but if you’re greeted at the door, you can replace vier with the correct number of people in your party.
77. Ich möchte einen Tisch reservieren
Meaning: I’d like to reserve a table
When Germans eat out, they tend to take their time. If you don’t reserve a table (especially at popular restaurants or in bigger cities), you run the risk of having to wait a very long time for a table to open up or maybe not getting a table at all.
To complete the phrase with all the relevant information, you can say: Ich möchte einen Tisch für … Personen um … reservieren (I’d like to reserve a table for … people at … o’clock).
And don’t forget that Germans tend to use the 24 hour clock! When asking for a table at 7 pm, you’ll need to say “nineteen o’clock” in German.
78. Ich habe eine Reservierung
Meaning: I have a reservation
79. Einen Augenblick bitte
Meaning: Wait a minute, please
80. Können wir die Speisekarte haben bitte?
Meaning: Can we see the menu, please?
You can also replace Speisekarte with Getränkekarte (drinks menu) or Weinkarte (wine list).
81. Was ist das?
Meaning: What is this?
82. Können Sie etwas empfehlen?
Meaning: Can you recommend something?
83. Haben Sie etwas vegetarisches/veganisches?
Meaning: Do you have something vegetarian/vegan?
84. Ich esse kein…
Meaning: I don’t eat…
85. Ich bin allergisch gegen…
Meaning: I am allergic to…
86. Ich hätte gerne…
Meaning: I’d like to have…
87. Ein Bier bitte
Meaning: A beer, please
88. Einen Kaffee bitte
Meaning: One coffee, please
You might want to specify whether you want a Milchkaffee (milky coffee) or a Kaffee ohne Milch (coffee without milk).
89. Prost!
Meaning: Cheers!
90. Guten Appetit
Meaning: Bon appetit
You might also hear: Lass es schmecken! (Enjoy your meal!)
91. Nichts für mich, danke
Meaning: Nothing for me, thanks
92. Ich bin satt
Meaning: I am full
93. Entschuldigen Sie bitte, wo ist die Toilette?
Meaning: Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
94. Die Rechnung bitte
Meaning: The check, please
95. Kann ich eine Quitting haben bitte?
Meaning: Can I have a receipt, please?
96. Stimmt so
Meaning: Keep the change
German Travel Phrases
I’m sure you want to do plenty of sightseeing while in Germany. Study the phrases below so you don’t get lost in the process.
97. Darf ich mal durch?
Meaning: Can you let me through?
You might also hear Darf ich mal vorbei? In this phrase, vorbei implies that you’re trying to walk around a person, rather than through a group of them.
98. Entschuldigung, wie komme ich zum…?
Meaning: Excuse me, how do I get to the…?
You’ll want to know the gender of the place you’re going to. You use zum for masculine and neuter nouns like der Bahnhof (the train station) or das Rathaus (the town hall) and zur for feminine nouns like die Kirche (the church).
99. Ich suche das Museum
Meaning: I am looking for the museum
You might replace das Museum with den Park (the park), das Hotel (the hotel) or something similar.
100. Ist das in der Nähe?
Meaning: Is that close by?
101. Ist das weit von hier?
Meaning: Is that far from here?
102. In welcher Richtung ist das?
Meaning: Which direction is that?
103. Nach links/rechts
Meaning: To the left/right
104. Geradeaus
Meaning: Straight on
105. Wo ist die nächste U-bahn/Bushaltestelle?
Meaning: Where is the nearest subway/bus station?
106. Fährt dieser Zug nach…?
Meaning: Does this train go to…?
You might replace Zug with Bus to ask “Does this bus go to…?”
The final preposition depends on the type of place you’re traveling to. Generally, you’ll use nach when referring to specific stations or geographic locations, such as: Fährt dieser Zug nach Wittenau? (Does this train go to Wittenau?)
You’ll typically use zum (masculine and neuter nouns) or zur (feminine nouns) for places or sites, such as a bank, museum or the park, as in: Fährt dieser Bus zur Nationalgalerie? (Does this bus go to the National Gallery?)
And you’ll sometimes use in for “traveling into” generic city areas, like Stadtmitte (city center). For example: Fährt dieser Bus in die Stadtmitte? (Does this bus go to the city center?)
107. Wie viel kostet eine Fahrkarte nach…?
Meaning: How much is a ticket to…?
108. Muss ich umsteigen?
Meaning: Do I have to change?
109. Wo finde ich ein Taxi?
Meaning: Where do I find a taxi?
110. Zum Bahnhof bitte
Meaning: To the train station, please
Use this construction to direct your taxi driver. You might replace zum Bahnhof with zum Flughafen (to the airport) or zur Bushaltestelle (to the bus station), for instance.
111. Bitte halten Sie hier an
Meaning: Please stop here
112. Haben Sie einen Stadtplan?
Meaning: Do you have a city map?
113. Können Sie mir das auf der Karte zeigen?
Meaning: Can you show me that on the map?
114. Ich habe mich verlaufen
Meaning: I’ve gotten lost
115. Haben Sie noch Zimmer frei?
Meaning: Do you have rooms available?
116. Ich bleibe eine Nacht
Meaning: I am staying for one night
Change the number as needed to fit your schedule: zwei Nächte (two nights), drei Nächte (three nights), etc. Notice how the vowel changes from a to ä in the plural.
117. Ich hätte gerne ein Zimmer/ein Doppelzimmer
Meaning: I’d like to have a room/a double room
118. Ist das inklusive Frühstück?
Meaning: Is breakfast included?
119. Bis wann muss ich auschecken?
Meaning: When is check-out?
German Shopping Phrases
Whether you need everyday things during your stay or want something to take home to your loved ones, these sentences will help you get what you want.
120. Was möchten Sie?
Meaning: What would you like?
121. Suchen Sie etwas Bestimmtes?
Meaning: Are you looking for something specific?
122. Ich schaue mich nur um
Meaning: I’m just looking around.
123. Ich suche…
Meaning: I am looking for…
124. Verkaufen Sie…?
Meaning: Do you sell…?
125. Was kostet das?
Meaning: How much is this?
126. Haben Sie das auch in einer anderen Größe/Farbe?
Meaning: Do you have this in another size/color?
127. Das ist zu teuer
Meaning: That’s too expensive
128. Können Sie mir einen Rabatt geben?
Meaning: Can you give me a discount?
129. Kann ich bar bezahlen?
Meaning: Can I pay in cash?
Particularly after the pandemic, some places in Europe started to request card payments to reduce cash-handling. Although in Germany the adage nur bar ist wahr (“only cash is true”) is still widely the case, it might still be worth asking in more modern establishments.
130. Kann ich mit Kreditkarte bezahlen?
Meaning: Can I pay with a credit card?
Many restaurants and smaller shops in Germany still do not take card payments, so it’s definitely worth knowing how to ask.
131. Um wieviel Uhr öffnet das Geschäft?
Meaning: What time does the shop open?
And the opposite ask is: Um wieviel Uhr schließt das Geschäft? (What time does the shop close?)
German Expressions in Cases of Emergency
Fingers crossed you never have an emergency in a German-speaking country (or in your home country, for that matter). However, it’s always good to be prepared!
132. Hilfe!
Meaning: Help!
133. Feuer!
Meaning: Fire!
134. Rufen Sie die Polizei!
Meaning: Call the police!
You might need to replace die Polizei with dei Feuerwehr (the fire department) or einen Krankenwagen (an ambulance).
Note that you can also simply call 112 in all German-speaking countries in Europe to access emergency services.
135. Wo ist das Krankenhaus?
Meaning: Where is the hospital?
136. Wo ist die Apotheke?
Meaning: Where is the pharmacy?
137. Mir ist schlecht
Meaning: I feel ill
138. Wie komme ich zur amerikanischen Botschaft?
Meaning: How do I get to the American embassy?
139. Lassen Sie mich in Ruhe!
Meaning: Leave me alone!
140. Es ist ein Notfall
Meaning: It’s an emergency
Why You Should Learn German Phrases
- Even if you can’t have a fluent conversation, native German speakers always appreciate when foreigners put effort into learning a bit of their language. It shows respect and demonstrates that you truly want to reach out and connect with people while abroad.
- You won’t be totally reliant on your German phrasebook. Conversation will flow much smoother if you’re able to respond instead of having to flip through your book to find the appropriate phrase.
- Contrary to popular belief, not all Germans speak English. Knowing basic German can really come in handy if you find yourself in a situation where you need to communicate with someone who only speaks German.
How to Learn Common German Phrases
The best way to learn common German expressions is to get out and interact with German speakers! If you can’t do that yet, here are some other ways to pick up useful phrases:
- Consume German media. Television shows and music are often great ways to pick up a language’s idiosyncrasies and slang.
- Try an immersive language program. FluentU, for example, takes authentic German videos made for natives and uses tools such as interactive subtitles, flashcards and quizzes to boost learning efficiency. The program is available on iOS, Android, and the web.
- Ask your German friends. Ask your native-speaking German friends to provide you with some phrases and idioms that they use on a daily basis, and work on learning those.
- Integrate phrases into your conversations. Use these phrases as often as possible in your everyday speech and you’ll find yourself speaking more fluently in no time.
Now you’re all ready to go have conversations with these common German expressions!
Planning a trip to a German-speaking country? Or perhaps you are starting to learn German? You’ll need a list of the most basic German words and phrases.
From the simplest German words to the phrases you need to get by, here’s the list you need together with:
- its English translation, and
- a phonetic pronunciation guide
At the end of each section, you can also take the mini quizzes to make sure the words stick to your memory.
Ready? Let’s begin!
I. The Very Basics
Let’s start with the basic German words and phrases. With just these in your arsenal, you can already survive the simplest conversations!
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| German word / phrase | English translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| hallo | hello | hello |
| Ja | Yes | ya |
| Nein | No | niyn |
| Bitte | Please | bi-te. |
| Danke | Thank you | dân-ke |
| Bitte schön. | you’re welcome | bi-te shurn |
| Entschuldigen Sie. | Excuse me (getting attention) | ent-SHOOL-dee-gun zee |
| Entschuldigung! | Excuse me (sorry, asking pardon) | ênt-shool-dee-goong |
| Wie heißen Sie? | What’s your name? | vee hays-en zee? |
| Ich heiße…. | My name is… | iH hays-e…. |
| Freut mich | Pleased to meet you | froyt miH |
Mini Quiz 1
1. What does bitte schön mean?
Click to reveal the answer
2. Entschuldigen Sie and Entschuldigung both mean excuse me. But what makes them different from each other?
Click to reveal the answer
3. To say “pleased to meet you”, you say:
Click to reveal the answer
You can learn more German greetings in this article: A Quick Guide to German Greetings
II. Simple Questions
Now let’s talk about the simplest German questions. There’s another article here in this website that talks about this with more detail.
You can check it out here: Basic German Questions Every Traveler Should Know
For now let’s just run through the most simple ones that you can memorize quickly.
| Wo? | Where? | vo |
| Wann? | When? | van |
| Wie? | How? | vee |
| Warum? | Why? | va-room |
| Wer? | Who? | vair |
| Welches? | Which? | vel-shes |
| Wo ist…? | Where is…? | vo ist |
| Wie viel? | How much? | vee feel |
| Wie viele? | How many? | vee feel-e |
| Was ist das? | What’s that? | vass ist dass |
Mini Quiz 2
1. How do you ask “why?” in German?
Click to reveal the answer
2. What does “wo ist..?» mean
Click to reveal the answer
3. True or false: wie in German means who
Click to reveal the answer
Expressing likes or dislikes
In daily life, you’ll always be faced with different choices. Which one should you take? Which one do you like? Do you hate the one in front of you? Speak your mind with these simple German phrases!
| Ich hätte gern… | I’d like… | ixh hett-er gairn… |
| Ich möchte… | I want… | ixh merxht-er |
| Es gefällt mir. | I like it. | ess ge-felt meer |
| Es gefällt mir nicht. | I don’t like it. | ess ge-felt meer nixht |
| In Ordnung/Einverstanden. | OK/Agreed. | in ord-noong/iyn-fer-shtan-den |
| Das ist gut. | That’s good / That’s fine. | dass ist goot |
| Ich will/Wir wollen… | I want/We want… | ixh vill/veer voll-en |
| Ich bin/Wir sind… | I am/We are…. | ixh bin/veer zint |
| Ich habe/Wir haben… | I have/We have… | ixh har-ber/veer har-b |
Mini Quiz 3:
1. To say “I want…” in German, you say:
Click to reveal the answer
2. Das ist gut means
Click to reveal the answer
3. When you like something, you say:
Click to reveal the answer
Speaking Difficulties
When you’re in a place where you don’t speak the language that well, there’s bound to be some conversational hiccups. Solve any speaking difficulties you might have with the help of these useful phrases.
| Sprechen Sie Englisch? | Do you speak English? | shprêH-en zee êng-lish? |
| Ich kann nicht [so gut] Deutsch sprechen. | I can’t speak German (well). | eesh kahn nikht [zo goot] doytsh shpreH-en |
| Ich verstehe nicht. | I don’t understand. | ixh fair-shtay-er nixht |
| Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? | Can you repeat that please? | kern-en zee dâs bi-te vee-der-hoh-len? |
| Könnten Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? | Would you be able to speak slower please? | kern-en zee bi-te lâng-zâm-er shprêH-en? |
Needing Help
Need help finding your way around? Or perhaps it’s a different type of emergency? Here are some basic German phrases to help get you un-stuck!
| Würden Sie mir bitte helfen? | Would you help me please? | vuer-den zee meer bi-te hêl-fen? |
| Ich weiß nicht | I don’t know | ixh viyss nixht |
| Ich habe mich verirrt. | I’m lost. | eesh HAH-buh meesh fer-EERT |
| Kannst du/Können Sie mir das auf der Karte zeigen? | Can you show me on the map? | kahnst doo/KOON-en zee meer dahss ouf dayr KAHR-tuh TSIGH-gen? |
| Ich kenne mich hier nicht aus. | I don’t know my way around here. | iH kên-e miH heer niHt ous. |
Mini Quiz 4
1. Ich verstehe nicht means
Click to reveal the answer
2. How do you say “I’m lost” in German?
Click to reveal the answer
3. Würden Sie mir bitte helfen? Means
Click to reveal the answer
Conclusion
There you go with the most basic survival words and phrases in German. With these in your back pocket, you’re ready to take on a few conversations in German—with correct pronunciation, too!
To expand your vocabulary and boost your reading and listening skills, check out German short stories below!
A FUN AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN GERMAN
- 10 entertaining short stories about everyday themes
- Practice reading and listening with 90+ minutes of audio
- Learn 1,000+ new German vocabulary effortlessly!
If learning to speak German was always on your bucket list, you might be wondering what is the best way to start?
It may sound boring but, memorizing German phrases and words is key to speaking the language. It is definitely the first thing that any good German language tutor will ask you to do.
After all, how will you learn the proper rules of grammar if you don’t even
know enough German words to make a proper sentence? Or answer questions from German speakers if you can’t understand common German phrases.
To help you out on your language learning journey, we’ve compiled a list of 97 common German phrases that you should learn. Bonus? There’s a PDF that you can download here so you can study these words at your leisure. Let’s start by learning how you can start a conversation with a German speaker.
Bonus: Download a FREE PDF file of German phrases
German Phrases of Greeting to Use to Start a Conversation
When attempting to start a conversation with a German speaker, the first thing that you should do is greet them. You can do so by using one of the four phrases below.
1. Guten Morgen
Translation: Good morning
2. Guten Tag
Translation: Good afternoon/Good day
3. Guten Abend
Translation: Good evening
Those three phrases are used by German speakers to greet someone, and you can use them too. However, you should know that they are “time-sensitive”.
“Guten Morgen” can be used until around noon, at which point, Germans usually switch to using “Guten Tag”. “Guten Tag” is also translated to “Good day” and as such, can also be used in place of “Guten Morgen”, as long as the sun is up.
“Guten Abend”, on the other hand, is used starting around 6 PM in Germany,
4. Hallo
Translation: Hello
Instead of one of the “Guten” phrases, you can actually use this as an all-around, anytime greeting.
Phrases You Can Use to Introduce Yourself in German
After you’ve gotten someone’s attention by greeting them, it’s only polite that you introduce yourself to them by saying the following German phrase.
5. Mein Name ist
Translation: My name is
Most German speakers, after you’ve told them your name will respond in kind. After they’ve told you their name, you should then keep the conversation going by saying the following.
6. Est freut mich, dich kennenzulernen
Translation: I’m pleased to meet you
7. Wie geht’s?
Translation: How are you?
Most Germans will ask you “wei geht’s” after meeting or being introduced to you. Much like in English, it’s more a polite formality than an actual request. They don’t express a long and detailed answer, but mostly a polite “I’m fine”.
Here are German phrases to answer when someone says “wei geht’s?”
8. Gut, Danke
Translation: I’m fine, thank you
9. Es geht mir sehr gut
Translation: I’m very well
10. Nicht schlecht
Translation: Not bad
You should also then add the following phrase:
11. Und dir?
Translation: And you?
How to Ask and Answer “Getting to Know You” Questions in German
As a traveler striking conversations with native German speakers, they are bound to be a little curious about where you are from. As, such, you will probably hear one of the following phrases below quite often.
12. Wo kommst du her?
Translation: Where are you from?
13. Woher kommen Sie?
Translation: Where are you from?
Both these German phrases mean the same thing, but “Wo kommst du her?” is considered informal compared to “Woher kommen Sie?”.
To answer you can use one of the following phrases:
14. Ich bin aus (city name)
Translation: I am from
15. Ich komme aus (country)
Translation: I am from
Of course, you should also ask about the person you are speaking to, so you should use the following phrases.
16. Woher kommst du/Sie?
Translation: Where are you from? (informal/formal)
17. Woher wohst du/Sie?
Translation: Where do you live? (informal/formal)
18. Wie lange lebst du schon in (area)?
How long have you been living in (area)?
You might also want to ask your new friend the following questions to keep the conversation going and get to know a little more about them
19. Wie alt bist du?
Translation: How old are you?
20. Was bist du von Beruf?
Translation: What is your profession?
21. Was machen Sie in Ihrer Freizeit?
Translation: What do you do for fun?
How to Finish a Conversation in German
If you need to leave your new friends, because you have to get to class or go to a meeting, you can use the following German phrases.
22. Tschüss
Translation: Goodbye
23. Auf Wiedersehen
Translation: Goodbye
24. Gute Nacht
Translation: Good night
This is, of course, a “time-sensitive” way of saying goodbye.
While the above phrases are the generic “polite” way of saying goodbye in German, you can also use the following phrases.
25. Bis bald!
Translation: See you soon!
This is a good phrase to use among friends, especially if you have plans to meet up with them later. Here are a few other informal ways to say “goodbye”
26. Bis spatter
Translation: See you later
27. Bis morgan
Translation: See you tomorrow
German Phrases Language Learners Should Learn and Use
One of the best ways to learn German is to practice it by having daily conversations with German speakers. However, no matter how well your German language tutor says you’ve come along when you actually around German speakers you might have a hard time following along.
Don’t get too discouraged, however. If you let a German speaker know that you are just learning they will be more than willing to help you out.
To identify yourself as a foreigner learning to speak their language, here are a few German phrases you should memorize and use as needed.
28. Sprechen Sie (language)
Translation: Do you speak (language)
If things are urgent and you need to find someone who can tell you something in your native tongue, use this phrase.
29. Ich Spreche Deutsch
Translation: I speak German
Though of course, you might want to be more honest and tell them that you are only learning and might not understand everything by saying these phrases instead.
30. Ich lerne Deutsch
Translation: I am learning to speak German
32. Ich spreche nicht viel Deutsch
Translation: I don’t speak much German
33. Ich spreche nicht gut Deutsch
Translation: I do not speak German very well
Once you’ve told people you are just a learner, don’t hesitate to use the following phrases to make sure that you understand everyone correctly.
34. Sorry, aber ich verstehe nicht
Translation: I’m sorry, but I do not understand.
35. Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
Translation: Could you say that again, please?
36. Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
Translation: Could you say that more slowly, please?
37. Was bedeutet das?
Translation: What does that mean?
Important German Phrases to Learn in Case of Emergencies
Of course, we hope that you won’t need to use these phrases, but it’s always a good idea to know how you can ask for medical attention or help from the police.
38. Ich bin verletzt
Translation: I am injured
39. Es geht mir nicht gut
Translation: I do not feel well
40. Ich brauche einen Arzt
Translation: I need to see a doctor
41. Gibt es ein Krankenhaus in der Nähe?
Translation: Is there a hospital near here?
42. Fahren Sie mich bitte zum Krankenhaus
Translation: Take me to the hospital
43. Bitte rufen Sie die Polizei
Translation: Please call the police
44. Gibt es hier in der Nähe eine Polizeistation?
Translation: Is there a police department in the vicinity?
German Phrases You Should Learn Because You Will Use Them Every Day
Here are a few other German phrases that you might find useful to learn.
45. Ja, bitte
Translation: Yes, please
46. Nein, danke
Translation: No, thank you
47. Kannst du/Sie mir helfen?
Translation: Can you help me? (informal/formal)
48. Gern geschehen
Translation: You’re welcome
49. Mir geht es gut
Translation: I’m fine
50. Vielen Dank
Translation: Thank you very much
51. Ich have mich verlaufen
Translation: I’ve gotten myself lost.
52. Ich weiß nicht
Translation: I do not know
53. Ich schaue mich nur um
Translation: I’m just looking around
54. Macht nichts
Translation: Nevermind
55. Wo ist?
Translation: Where is?
56. Ich bin hungrig
Translation: I’m hungry
57. Ich habe Durst
Translation: I’m thirsty
58. Darf ich heir sitzen
Translation: May I sit here?
59. Wo bist du?
Translation: Where are you?
60. In Ordnung
Translation: All right
61. Ich brauche Auskunft
Translation: I need some help
62. Haben Sie schon auf?
Translation: Are you open yet?
63. Was empfehlen Sie?
Translation: What do you recommend?
64. Was ist das?
Translation: What is this?
65. Die Rechnung, bitte
Translation: The bill, please
66. Ich möchte nach
Translation: I want to go to
67. Was kostet das?
Translation: How much is it?
68. Wie spät ist es jetzt?
Translation: What time is it now?
69. Können Sie das bitte für mich aufschreiben?
Translation: Can you write that down for me?
70. Zeigen Sie mir das bitte auf der Karte?
Translation: Can you show me on the map?
71. Geht es da lang?
Translation: Is it in this direction?
72. Entschuldigung, darf ich Sie etwas fragen?
Translation: Excuse me, could I ask you something?
73. Wissen Sie was über
Translation: Do you know anything about
74. Ich suche ein Restaurant mit gutem Essen hier in der Nähe
Translation: I’m looking for a place with good food around here
75. Gibt es hier in der Nähe etwas Interessantes zu sehen
Translation: Is there anything interesting to see in this area?
76. Ist dies der Zug/Bus nach (place)?
Translation: Is this train/bus going to (place)
77. Wann fährt der Zug ab?
Translation: When is this train departing?
78. Wann fährt der nächste Bus nach (place)?
Translation: When is the next bus to (place) leaving?
79. Wann fährt der letzte Zug/Bus nach (place)?
When is the last train/bus to (place) leaving?
80. Was kostet ein Ticket?
Translation: How much is a ticket?
81. Komme ich auf diesem Weg zum (place)?
Translation: Is this the way to the (place)?
82. Gibt es hier in der Nähe eine öffentliche Toilette?
Translation: Is there a public restroom close by?
83. Kann ich hier auch mit Kreditkarte bezahlen?
Translation: Do you accept credit cards as well?
84. Haben Sie eine Speisekarte auf Englisch?
Translation: Do you have a menu in English?
85. Was ist der heutige Wechselkurs?
Translation: What’s the exchange rate today?
Common German Phrases You Might Hear Every Day
Here are a few common German phrases that you might hear spoken around you. You should learn what they mean in order to understand them and respond appropriately.
86. Was brauchen Sie?
Translation: What do you need?
87. Wohin gehen Sie?
Translation: Where are you going?
88. Es tut mir leid
Translation: I’m sorry
89. Bitte schön
Translation: You’re welcome
90. Darf ich mal vorbie
Translation: May I pass by?
91. Kein problem
Translation: No problem
92. Einen Augenblick, bitte!
Translation: Please wait a moment
93. Kann ich Ihened helfen?
Translation: Can I help you?
94. Darf es noch etwas sein?
Translation: Is there anything else you need?
95. Ich stimme dir zu
Translation: I agree with you.
96. Alles klar?
Translation: Is everything clear?/Are you good?
97. Schönes Wetter heute
Translation: Beautiful weather today
Conclusion
The key to learning any language is to learn and memorize the common word and phrases that are used by native speakers every day.
In order to quickly build up your inner dictionary of German words and phrases, you should find lists like this one and commit their meaning to memory. You should also look into
German idioms and common
German expressions.
It’s not enough, however, that you should know what a German phrase means. You need to know when you should use them. While we’ve tried to help here, we still recommend that you find a native German language tutor who can go through the list with you and explain in more detail what these phrases mean.
Another advantage to working with a native speaking tutor is, they can correct your pronunciation as needed. While there are some
funny German phrases and expressions out there, you don’t want to inadvertently make a German speaker laugh by saying something the wrong way. Happy learning!
If you’ve just started learning German, you might be struggling to get past the beginner stage.
Maybe you feel overwhelmed by the Germanic umlauts on vowels (ä, ö, ü), or maybe that eszett letter (ß). Perhaps it’s the pace of spoken German that’s made you question your decision to start learning.
While there’s definitely truth to those concerns, worry not. There are several short and easy-to-learn words in German that can serve as a springboard while you become familiar with the language.
Memorizing even a few basic German words for beginners will be enough of a stepping stone to help you eventually learn more. This is because many German words are composed of several shorter words that, when combined, have a unique meaning.
Take Kühlschrank, for example. This word is composed of Kühl- which means “cool,” and -schrank which translates to “cupboard.”
Combine the two and you get “cool cupboard,” which is a funny way to describe a refrigerator—the actual meaning of the word Kühlschrank.
Pretty relieving to know this, right?
German isn’t that hard after all. The most difficult part is to summon up the courage to begin.
That’s why we took the time to put together a categorized masterlist of the most essential words in German for beginners.
Without further ado, let’s get right into it…
Table of Contents
- Pronouns
- Numbers
- Nouns
- Verbs
- Adjectives
- Conjunctions
- Others
- Conclusion
1. Pronouns
The first set of words you should add to your German vocabulary are pronouns. These are the words we use to refer to people, places, or things without actually using their names:
- Susan ate the chocolate bar. = She ate the chocolate bar.
Here, we’ll be covering three types of pronouns in German: personal, demonstrative, and interrogative.
Personal Pronouns
We’ll start with personal pronouns, given their importance in sentences. These are crucial for almost any sentence, and we recommend you memorize them by heart before you start with any other words.
| English | German |
| I | ich |
| you | du |
| he | er |
| she | sie |
| it | es |
| we | wir |
| you (plural) | ihr |
| they | sie |
| me | mich / mir |
| you | dich / dir |
| him | ihm / ihn |
| her | ihr |
| us | uns |
| them | ihnen |
Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns are especially critical for indicating which objects or people you’re referring to in your dialogue. These four basic German words are important to master at the beginner stage.
| English | German |
| this | dieses |
| that | das |
| these | diese |
| those | jene |
Interrogative Pronouns / Question Words
Interrogative pronouns, or the “Five Ws,” are the words we use to ask questions.
| English | German |
| who | wer |
| whom | wen / wem |
| whose | wessen |
| what | was |
| which | welche |
In a similar vein, there are a few interrogative adverbs you should learn at this stage as well:
| English | German |
| when | wann |
| where | wo |
| why | warum |
| how | wie |
2. Numbers
The numbers from one to ten in German are rather similar to those in English. Just like with most languages, learning the first ten digits will help you understand and easily learn the rest of the numbers.
| Numbers | English | German |
| 0 | zero | null |
| 1 | one | eins |
| 2 | two | zwei |
| 3 | three | drei |
| 4 | four | vier |
| 5 | five | fünf |
| 6 | six | sechs |
| 7 | seven | sieben |
| 8 | eight | acht |
| 9 | nine | neun |
| 10 | ten | zehn |
3. Nouns
Nouns are one of the most important parts of speech, so you should memorize as many of them in German as you can. When used with verbs, they create a complete sentence—in a pinch, you can even use them alone to get an urgent point across! Below, you’ll find lists of beginner German nouns you should focus on right away.
Time
Time is king, especially in a country like Germany where punctuality is paramount. Learning time-related vocabulary will come in handy in your day-to-day interactions.
| English | German |
| hour | Stunde |
| minute | Minute |
| morning | Morgen |
| afternoon | Nachmittag |
| evening | Abend |
| day | Tag |
| month | Monat |
| year | Jahr |
| Monday | Montag |
| Tuesday | Dienstag |
| Wednesday | Mittwoch |
| Thursday | Donnerstag |
| Friday | Freitag |
| Saturday | Samstag |
| Sunday | Sonntag |
People
These are the words you’d learn in the first lesson of probably any German beginner copybook.
| English | German |
| butcher | Metzger (m.) / Metzgerin (f.) |
| woodman | Holzfäller (m.) / Holzfällerin (f.) |
| police officer | Polizist (m.) / Polizistin (f.) |
| doctor | Arzt (m.) / Ärztin (f.) |
| nurse | Krankenpfleger (m.) / Krankenschwester (f.) |
| firefighter | Feuerwehrmann (m.) / Feuerwehrfrau (f.) |
| teacher | Lehrer (m.) / Lehrerin (f.) |
| father | Vater |
| mother | Mutter |
| sister | Schwester |
| brother | Bruder |
| Mr. | Herr |
| Ms. | Frau |
Places Around Town
If you’re traveling in Germany, whether in one town or around the country, these words will help you get by and even ask for directions.
| English | German |
| hospital | Krankenhaus |
| supermarket | Supermarkt |
| school | Schule |
| downtown | Innenstadt |
| university | Universität |
| city hall | Rathaus |
| main square | Hauptplatz |
| bank | Bank |
| museum | Museum |
| restaurant | Restaurant |
| café | Café |
| police station | Polizeistation |
| train station | Bahnhof |
| bus station | Bushaltestelle |
School/Office Essentials
If you have to study or work in Germany, these words will be helpful when you’re in class or at the office.
| English | German |
| pen | Kugelschreiber |
| notebook | Notizbuch |
| computer | Computer |
| pencil case | Federmappe |
| headphones | Kopfhörer |
| mouse | Maus |
| keyboard | Tastatur |
| wifi | WLAN |
| charger | Ladegerät |
| cable | Kabel |
| backpack | Rucksack |
| desk | Schreibtisch |
| copybook | Heft |
Body Parts
| English | German |
| eye | Auge |
| nose | Nase |
| ear | Ohr |
| face | Gesicht |
| arm | Arm |
| chest | Brust |
| cheek | Wange |
| forehead | Stirn |
| mouth | Mund |
| chin | Kinn |
| armpit | Achselhöhle |
| abdomen | Bauch |
| leg | Bein |
| toe | Zeh |
| finger | Finger |
| ankle | Knöchel |
| hip | Hüfte |
| forearm | Unterarm |
| elbow | Ellbogen |
| wrist | Handgelenk |
Food
Germans are proud of their cuisine and German culture values eating healthy, fresh food rather than buying frozen or ready-to-eat meals. Here’s a list of words for your next grocery shopping spree.
| English | German |
| ٍٍvegetables | Gemüse |
| fruit | Obst |
| meat | Fleisch |
| milk | Milch |
| egg | Ei |
| coffee | Kaffee |
| yogurt | Joghurt |
| bread | Brot |
| bacon | Speck |
| pie | Kuchen |
| ham | Schinken |
| chicken | Huhn |
| juice | Saft |
| sausage | Wurst |
4. Verbs
As a beginner in German, you’ll greatly benefit from picking up the most commonly used verbs. Learning them together with nouns will give you a headstart when it comes to forming sentences and communicating with others.
Daily Routine Verbs
If you’re into daily journaling, doing that in German will require you to know a set of daily routine-related verbs. Here’s a list to get you started:
| English | German |
| to get up | aufstehen |
| to eat | essen |
| to drink | trinken |
| to go | gehen |
| to work | arbeiten |
| to study | studieren |
| to drive | fahren |
| to ride | reiten |
| to sleep | schlafen |
| to wake up | aufwachen |
| to hang | hängen |
| to do laundry | Wäsche machen |
| to nap | ein Nickerchen machen |
| to work out | trainieren |
| to go out | ausgehen |
| to prepare | vorbereiten |
| to cook | kochen |
| to clean | putzen |
| to wash | waschen |
| to tidy up | aufräumen |
| to connect | verbinden |
| to communicate | kommunizieren |
| to wear | tragen |
| to warm up | aufwärmen |
| to grab | greifen |
| to mix | mischen |
| to hold | halten |
| to freeze | einfrieren |
| to change | wechseln |
| to move | bewegen |
Other Common Verbs
| English | German |
| to give | geben |
| to get | bekommen |
| to do | tun |
| to make | machen |
| to let | lassen |
| to ask | fragen |
| to smile | lächeln |
| to find | finden |
| to use | benutzen |
| to take | nehmen |
| to come | kommen |
| to look | schauen |
| to hear | hören |
| to smell | riechen |
| to talk | sprechen |
| to exit | gehen |
| to call | rufen |
| to feel | fühlen |
| to answer | antworten |
| to laugh | lachen |
| to cry | weinen |
| to steal | stehlen |
| to run | rennen |
| to walk | gehen |
| to meet | treffen |
| to create | erschaffen |
| to finish | beenden |
5. Adjectives
Using adjectives in your speech or writing can add a layer of meaning and help you better express yourself. To get you started, here are a few beginner German adjectives in different categories.
Describing Objects
| English | German |
| big | groß |
| small | klein |
| long | lang |
| short | kurz |
| round | rund |
| rectangular | rechteckig |
| smooth | glatt |
| rough | rau |
Describing People
| English | German |
| pretty | hübsch |
| handsome | gutaussehend |
| tall | groß |
| short | klein |
| disgusting | ekelhaft |
| sociable | kontaktfreudig |
| funny | lustig |
| beautiful | schön |
| lovely | lieblich |
| caring | fürsorglich |
| selfless | selbstlos |
| arrogant | arrogant |
| humble | bescheiden |
| courageous | mutig |
| weak | schwach |
| strong | stark |
| quirky | schrullig |
Describing Emotions
Being able to describe our own emotions is critical for well-being and also helps us better understand others. Here’s a list of adjectives for describing emotions:
| English | German |
| happy | glücklich |
| sad | traurig |
| joyful | freudig |
| angry | sauer |
| depressed | depressiv |
| anxious | ängstlich |
| stressed out | gestresst |
| jolly | fröhlich |
Describing Weather
| English | German |
| rainy | regnerisch |
| wet | nass |
| humid | feucht |
| dry | trocken |
| arid | dürr |
| cool | kühl |
| frigid | kalt |
| foggy | neblig |
| windy | windig |
| stormy | stürmisch |
| breezy | luftig |
| windless | windstill |
| calm | ruhig |
6. Conjunctions
| English | German |
| and | und |
| but | aber |
| then | dann |
| because | weil |
| so | so / also |
7. Others
Below is a short list of filler words that Germans use in their conversations. Using these will make you sound like a native and they’ll come in handy in many situations.
| English | German |
| I see (sudden understanding) | ach so |
| sure | klar |
| simply | halt |
| well | tja |
| already | schon |
8. Conclusion
Armed with these German beginner words, you’ll be able to understand even more of the spoken language than you may have thought (thanks to those nifty word combinations!). How many of these words were new to you? And how many did you know already? We look forward to hearing from you in the comments!
As you read more German, pay attention to how different words are composed. You’ll often notice they can be broken down into parts, which will help you derive their meanings more easily.
Your goal should be to learn around 1000 German words; statistically, that’d cover 85.5% of all words you hear.
In other words, if you learn 1000 words, you’ll be able to speak German almost fluently. You’ll only have issues expressing yourself 14.5% of the time.
Memorize the 200+ from our list, and you’ll only be 800 words away from fluency.
Wondering where and how to learn those other 800 words?
Buckle up and head to GermanPod101.com.
Here, you can access lessons and word lists for the most important day-to-day vocabulary. Our lessons all feature the most effective learning tools, such as flashcards, slideshows, slowed-down audio, line-by-line breakdowns, and more.
You can also opt for 1-on-1 guidance from a language expert to answer your questions. Your private tutor can even give you a personalized learning program to match your learning goals.
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