50+ phrases in German that will help during your trip to Germany

Germany is one of the most attractive countries for tourism in Europe. Travelers come here to enjoy the rich culture: visit medieval castles and fortresses, walk the streets of old towns and villages. Explore untouched nature: visit the Alps, contemplate the flow of clean rivers or the cold sea surf. Well, of course, to penetrate the life of the Germans - try their national cuisine, drink delicious beer and understand the German lifestyle.

High-quality infrastructure makes tourism in Germany much easier. Even in the smallest town you can find a hotel with excellent service, you will be served hospitably in restaurants and cafes, and there is no need to talk about German roads: traveling by bus in Germany is a pleasure.  

But there is one common fear of tourists in new countries, and that is the language barrier. Many tourists are afraid that in an unforeseen situation they may not understand or be ignored. It is good that in Germany language is what unites, and even despite the difference in dialects, knowing at least 50 basic phrases in German, you will feel more confident and free even in Berlin, even in Hamburg, even in Munich.

Below are colloquial phrases in German that a tourist will need while traveling in Germany. Knowing them, you will be more confident in communicating with native speakers, asking them for directions, shopping with confidence or, in case of something, not being afraid to ask for help.

Basic phrases and how to say hello.

• So – Ja – Ya.

• No – Nein – Nain.

• Hi - Hallo - Hello.

• Good morning - Guten Morgen - Guten Morgen.

• Good afternoon - Guten Tag - Guten Tag.

• Good evening - Guten Abend - Guten Abend.

• Good night - Gute Nacht - Gute Nacht.

• Goodbye - Auf wiedersehen - Auf wiederseien.

• Goodbye (farewell) – Tschüss – Chuz.

• What is your name? – Wie heiβen sie? - Are you Heisen z?

• My name is Ich heiβe.

How to say thank you or show politeness.

• Thanks - Danke - Danke.

• Please (request) – Bitte – Bitte.

• Please (response to thank you) – Bitte sehr/Bitte schön. – Bitte zer/Bitte schon.

• It is very nice to meet you - Sehr angehenm - Zer angenem.

• Excuse me (pay attention) - Entschuldigung - Entschuldigung.

• Forgive (ask for forgiveness) – Entschuldigen Sie mich – Entschuldigen Z mich.

How to order food and drinks in German establishments?

• Breakfast - Das Frühstück - Das Früshtük.

• Lunch – Das Mittagesen – Das Mittagesn.

• Supper – Das Abendessen/Abendbrot – Das Abendessen/Abendbrot.

• I would like ____ - Ich möchte ____ - Ich möchte.

• trigger - Hühnerchen - Günerche.

• sausage - Wurst - Wurst.

  1. cheese - Käse - Käse.

  2. eggs - Eier - Ayer.

  3. salad - Salat - Poured.

  4. (fresh) vegetables – (frisches) Gemüse – (Frisches) Gemüse

  5. (fresh) fruits – (frisches) Obst – (frisches) Obst

  6. coffee - Kaffe - Kaffe.

  7. tea - Tee - Tii.

  8. juice - Saft - Zaft.

  9. mineral water - Mineralwasser - Mineralwasser.

  10. Salz salt.

  11. pepper - Pfeffer - Pfeffer.

• Waiter - Kellner - Kellner

• Please, one beer/two beers - Ein Bier/zwei Bier, bitte - Ein Bier/zwei Bier, bitte.

• Give me the bill, please - Geben Sie mir, bitte, die Rechnung - Geben si mir, bitte, die Rechnung.

How to correctly ask about the way and the road?

• Turn right - Biegen Sie nach rechts ab - Biegen si nach rechts ab.

• Turn left - Biegen sie nach links ab - Biegen sie nach links ab.

• How to get to_____? – Wie komme ich– Wie komme ich.

  1. bus station? – zum Busbahnhof? – Tsum Busbangoff.

  2. the airport? – zum Flughafen? – Zum Fluggafen.

  3. to the train station? – zum Bahnhof? – cum Bangoff.

  4. center? – zum Stadtzentrum – cum Stadtcentrum.

• Please show _____ on the map. – Zeigen Sie mir bitte _____ auf dem Stadtplan – Zeigen si mir bitte _____ auf dem Stadtplan.

• How much does it cost to get to _____? – Wie viel kostet die Reise nach/zum _____? – Vi fil costet di Raize nah/tsum _____?

• Does this bus stop at _____? – Macht der Zug/Bus eine Halt im _____? – Macht der Zug/Bus aine Halt im _____?

• Taxi - Taxi - Taxi!

Common shopping phrases

• Expensive - teuer - Toyer.

• Cheap - billig - Billikh.

• Do you have _____ my size? – Haben Sie _____ in meiner Größe? – Gaben Zi _____ another miner Gröse?

• How much does it cost? – Wie viel kostet es? - Are you a fil costet es?

• I do not need ____ – Ich brauche _____ – Ich brauche _____

  1. toothpaste – Zahnpaste – Canpaste.

  2. toothbrush eine – Zahnbürste – Eine Zanbürste.

  3. tamponi – Tampons – Tampons.

  4. soap - Seife - Заифе.

  5. shampoo – Shampoo – Shampoo.

  6. aspirin (painkiller) – Aspirin (Schmerzmittel) – Aspirin (Schmerzmittel).

  7. cold medicine - etwas gegen Erkältung - Etwas gegen Erkältung.

  8. stomach medicine – Magentabletten – Magentabletten.

 Phrases for emergency situations

• I am a citizen of Ukraine - Ich bin ein ukrainischer Staatsbürger - Ich bin ein ukrainischer Staatsbürger.

• I need your help - Ich brauche Ihre Hilfe - Ich brauche Ihre Hilfe.

• I am sick - Ich bin krank - Ich bin krank.

• I got lost - Ich habe mich verlaufen - Ich habe mich verlaufen.

• What time is it? - How late is it? - Are you an Estonian?

• Where is the bathroom? – Wo gibt es eine Toilette? - Where is Toilette?

• I will call the police - Ich rufe die Polizei - Ich rufe die Polizei.

• Can I call you? – Darf ich Ihr Telefon benutzen? – Darf ih Ir Telephone benutzen?

• Does anyone here speak Ukrainian? – Spricht hier jemand Ukrainisch? - Spricht hia emand Ukrainish?

• I don't speak German - Ich spreche kein Deutsch - Ich spreche kein Deutsch.

• Help! – Hilfe! - Hilfe!

These basic phrases will be enough for you to feel comfortable and confident while traveling in Germany. Remember them, practice them and do not hesitate to speak with the locals in their language - remember how pleased we are when foreigners in Ukraine in similar situations say "hello", "thank you", "how are you?" or "let's be". 

Germans are sensitive and responsible, and they are also used to the fact that their country has a lot of tourists from different countries and Ukrainians in general. Therefore, they will approach your situation with understanding and will definitely help, advise and tell you.

We wish you a successful trip to Germany! Chew :)