50+ German Phrases That Will Be Useful During a Trip to Germany

In Germany, travellers can expect medieval castles, Alpine landscapes, gastronomy, and a convenient transport network. It is easy to get here from Ukraine by bus, and a basic vocabulary will help you feel confident once you arrive.

This selection contains more than 50 essential phrases in German for typical travel situations — from a hotel to a pharmacy and a railway station. Each item includes a basic translation and a transcription of the German words so that you can immediately pronounce them aloud without spending time decoding the International Phonetic Alphabet.

If you are planning a trip, the most convenient way to start getting acquainted with the country is with its capital — buses to Berlin depart from many Ukrainian cities, including a regular bus route from Lviv to Berlin. The journey allows you to calmly review the vocabulary list, listen to audio lessons, or look through a city map so that you can feel confident on unfamiliar streets from the very first minutes.

What You Should Know About the German Language Before Your Trip

Before moving on to the phrases themselves, let us pay attention to several features that will help you avoid common mistakes and feel more confident when speaking with local people.

• First, all nouns in German are written with a capital letter, regardless of their position in a sentence. For example, the words Bahnhof (railway station), Kaffee (coffee), and Straße (street) will always begin with a capital letter.

• Second, the letter ß, called Eszett, is pronounced like a double “s” and appears everywhere — on signs, maps, and menus: Straße (street), Fußgängerzone (pedestrian zone). If you are unsure about the spelling, ß can be replaced with ss — you will be understood correctly.

• Third, the pronoun Sie, meaning “you” in the formal sense, is written with a capital letter, while sie, meaning “she” or “they,” is written with a lowercase letter. These are different words that can easily be confused in writing, especially in a text message or an email to a hotel.

Another important point concerns communication culture. Waiters, bus drivers, cashiers, hotel staff, and any unfamiliar adults should be addressed exclusively with Sie.

The form Du (“you” in the informal sense) is acceptable only among friends, children, or in informal groups of young people. Using the overly familiar informal “you” when addressing a stranger is considered rude even in modern Germany, and even young people working in the service industry expect customers to use a formal tone.

Greetings, Introductions, and the First Simple Phrases in German

Let us begin with the simplest section, which may already be useful at the border or when checking into a hotel. These are phrases for any first interaction with local residents and staff:

• Ja [Ya] – Yes

• Nein [Nine] – No

• Hallo [Hah-loh] – Hello

• Guten Morgen [Goo-ten Mor-gen] – Good morning

• Guten Tag [Goo-ten Tahg] – Good afternoon

• Guten Abend [Goo-ten Ah-bent] – Good evening

• Gute Nacht [Goo-te Nahkht] – Good night

• Auf Wiedersehen [Ow-f Vee-der-zay-en] – Goodbye

• Tschüss [Choos] – Bye (informal)

• Wie heißen Sie? [Vee high-sen Zee?] – What is your name?

• Ich heiße… [Ikh high-se…] – My name is…

Please note that the greeting Guten Morgen is appropriate until approximately 10–11 a.m., after which residents switch to Guten Tag. In the south of the country, particularly in Bavaria, you can also often hear the local greeting Grüß Gott [Groos Got], which literally means “greetings with God” but is used as an ordinary “good afternoon.”

Berlin also has its own distinctive features. Here, local residents often shorten greetings to the familiar “Hallo” or the northern “Moin,” and it is worth preparing in advance for the fast pace of life in the capital. If you are travelling there for the first time, our overview of interesting places in Berlin with a ready-made itinerary for several days will be useful.

Essential German Phrases for Everyday Use: Politeness, Gratitude, and Apologies

These phrases shape the impression people have of you within the first few seconds of a conversation. Germans value correctness and politeness, so “Danke” and “Bitte” should be used even in small everyday situations — when handing money to a cashier, receiving change, or letting someone pass through a doorway:

• Danke [Dahn-keh] – Thank you

• Danke schön [Dahn-keh shern] – Thank you very much

• Bitte [Bit-teh] – Please (when making a request)

• Bitte schön [Bit-teh shern] – You’re welcome (in response to thanks)

• Sehr angenehm [Zair ahn-geh-naim] – Very pleased to meet you

• Entschuldigung [Ent-shool-dee-goong] – Excuse me (to attract attention)

• Entschuldigen Sie mich [Ent-shool-dee-gen Zee mikh] – Forgive me

The word Entschuldigung is universal — it is appropriate to use it when you bump into someone on the underground, want to ask for directions, or attract a waiter’s attention. Local people perceive this expression as a standard sign of good manners and respond to it much more willingly than to a simple “Hallo!”

Conversational German Phrases in a Café or Restaurant

Next comes one of the most important sections, as food and drinks are an essential part of any trip. These German words you need to know will help you confidently order breakfast, lunch, or dinner, ask for drinks, and pay the waiter in different establishments — from a cosy local pub to a popular café:

• Frühstück [Froo-shtook] – Breakfast

• Mittagessen [Mit-tahg-es-sen] – Lunch

• Abendessen [Ah-bent-es-sen] – Dinner

• Ich möchte… [Ikh merkh-teh…] – I would like…

• Hähnchen [Hen-khen] – Chicken (a chicken dish)

• Wurst [Voorst] – Sausage

• Käse [Kay-zeh] – Cheese

• Eier [Eye-er] – Eggs

• Salat [Zah-laht] – Salad

• frisches Gemüse [Frish-es Geh-moo-zeh] – Fresh vegetables

• frisches Obst [Frish-es Obst] – Fresh fruit

• Kaffee [Kah-feh] – Coffee

• Tee [Teh] – Tea

• Saft [Zahft] – Juice

• Mineralwasser [Mee-neh-rahl-vah-ser] – Mineral water

• etwas Salz [Et-vahs Zahlts] – A little salt

• etwas Pfeffer [Et-vahs Pfeh-fer] – A little pepper

• Kellner [Kel-ner] – Waiter

• Ein Bier, bitte [Eine Beer, bit-teh] – One beer, please

• Zwei Bier, bitte [Tsvai Beer, bit-teh] – Two beers, please

• Zahlen, bitte [Tsah-len, bit-teh] – The bill, please

When ordering salt or pepper, add the word etwas (“a little”); otherwise, the request sounds like a command. When paying in Germany, the longer phrase “Geben Sie mir die Rechnung” is rarely used — local waiters expect the shorter “Zahlen, bitte” or “Die Rechnung, bitte.” It is also worth remembering that in restaurants and cafés, it is customary to attract the waiter’s attention with eye contact or a slight nod rather than loudly calling out from your table.

Another useful tip concerns water. If you simply say “Wasser,” you will almost certainly be served sparkling mineral water, which costs money. To receive still water, order Wasser ohne Kohlensäure [Vah-ser oh-neh Koh-len-zoy-reh] or stilles Wasser [Shtil-es Vah-ser].

Useful German Phrases for Navigating the City and Railway Stations

Travelling around Germany is convenient thanks to clear navigation, but several expressions will still be useful. These are phrases for transport-related situations that you may need from the very first day:

• Biegen Sie rechts ab [Bee-gen Zee rekhts ap] – Turn right

• Biegen Sie links ab [Bee-gen Zee links ap] – Turn left

• Wie komme ich zu…? [Vee kom-me ikh tsoo…?] – How do I get to…?

• zum Busbahnhof [Tsoom Boos-bahn-hof] – To the bus station

• zum Flughafen [Tsoom Floog-hah-fen] – To the airport

• zum Bahnhof [Tsoom Bahn-hof] – To the railway station

• zum Stadtzentrum [Tsoom Shtaht-tsen-troom] – To the city centre

• Zeigen Sie mir bitte auf dem Stadtplan [Tsai-gen Zee meer bit-teh owf dehm Shtaht-plahn] – Please show me on the city map

• Wie viel kostet die Fahrkarte nach…? [Vee feel kos-tet dee Fahr-kar-teh nahkh…?] – How much does a ticket to… cost?

• Hält der Bus in…? [Helt dehr Boos in…?] – Does the bus stop in…?

• Taxi [Tak-see] – Taxi

It is also worth learning the German words you will see on information boards and hear in announcements. These everyday terms will help you avoid getting lost during a transfer and correctly understand the announcer’s voice messages:

• Gleis, Bahnsteig [Glice, Bahn-shtyge] – Track, platform

• Verspätung [Fehr-shpay-toong] – Delay

• Umsteigen [Oom-shty-gen] – Transfer

• Ankunft [Ahn-koonft] – Arrival

• Abfahrt [Ahp-fahrt] – Departure

• Eingang [Eye-n-gahng] – Entrance

• Ausgang [Ows-gahng] – Exit

• Verboten [Fehr-boh-ten] – Forbidden

• Kasse [Kas-seh] – Ticket office

• Fahrkartenschalter [Fahr-kar-ten-shal-ter] – Ticket counter

• Nächster Halt [Nekh-ster Halt] – Next stop

• Sitzplatz [Zits-plahts] – Seat

• Frei [Fry] – Available

• Besetzt [Beh-zetzt] – Occupied

• Schließfach [Shlees-fakh] – Luggage locker

Direct buses run from Ukraine to Germany’s financial centre — for example, the Lviv–Frankfurt bus route. Frankfurt is one of Germany’s main transport hubs, from which it is convenient to continue travelling by train to Heidelberg, Stuttgart, or Cologne.

Basic German Phrases with Translations for Shops and Pharmacies

Using the checkout in a supermarket, pharmacy, or clothing store also requires a certain vocabulary. Here are some shopping expressions that will be useful both in a small grocery shop and in a large shopping centre:

• teuer [Toy-er] – Expensive

• billig [Bil-likh] – Cheap

• Haben Sie … in meiner Größe? [Hah-ben Zee … in my-ner Groe-seh?] – Do you have … in my size?

• Wie viel kostet das? [Vee feel kos-tet das?] – How much does this cost?

• Ich brauche… [Ikh brow-khe…] – I need…

• Zahnpasta [Tsahn-pas-tah] – Toothpaste

• eine Zahnbürste [Eye-neh Tsahn-buer-steh] – A toothbrush

• Tampons [Tam-pons] – Tampons

• Seife [Zy-feh] – Soap

• Shampoo [Sham-poo] – Shampoo

• Schmerzmittel [Shmerts-mit-tel] – Painkillers

• etwas gegen Erkältung [Et-vahs geh-gen Er-kel-toong] – Something for a cold

• Magentabletten [Mah-gen-tah-blet-ten] – Stomach tablets

A pharmacy in German is called Apotheke [Ah-poh-teh-keh], and it is not the same as a Drogerie [Dro-geh-ree], which sells only cosmetics and household chemicals. For prescription medicines, go specifically to the former, while toothpaste or shampoo is cheaper to buy in the latter. Most pharmacies are closed on Sundays, so it is worth planning your purchase in advance. Every district has an emergency pharmacy that operates around the clock, and its address is displayed on the doors of regular pharmacies.

Emergency Situations — the Most Essential Words a Tourist Needs to Communicate in German

We hope you will not need these expressions, but they are worth memorising. These are phrases for critical situations when there is simply no time to look for a translator on your phone:

• Ich bin ukrainischer Staatsbürger [Ikh bin oo-krah-ee-nish-er Shtahts-buer-ger] – I am a citizen of Ukraine

• Ich brauche Ihre Hilfe [Ikh brow-khe Ee-re Hil-feh] – I need your help

• Ich bin krank [Ikh bin krank] – I am ill

• Ich habe mich verlaufen [Ikh hah-beh mikh fehr-low-fen] – I am lost

• Wie spät ist es? [Vee shpayt ist es?] – What time is it?

• Wo ist die Toilette? [Voh ist dee Toy-let-teh?] – Where is the toilet?

• Ich rufe die Polizei [Ikh roo-feh dee Poh-li-tsai] – I will call the police

• Darf ich Ihr Telefon benutzen? [Darf ikh Eer Teh-leh-fohn beh-noot-sen?] – May I use your phone?

• Spricht hier jemand Ukrainisch? [Shprikht heer yay-mant Oo-krah-ee-nish?] – Does anyone here speak Ukrainian?

• Ich spreche kein Deutsch [Ikh shpreh-khe kine Doych] – I do not speak German

• Hilfe! [Hil-feh!] – Help!

The Europe-wide emergency number is 112, while the separate number for the police is 110. It is worth saving these numbers on your phone before departure and also writing them in a notebook together with the address of your hotel. If you lose your phone, a paper note can save the situation.

Tips for Experienced Travellers

A few additional observations that will be useful for those who have already mastered the basic expressions and want to sound more natural when speaking with local people:

• In a bakery or butcher’s shop, instead of “Ich möchte” [Ikh merkh-teh] — “I want” — local people more often say “Ich hätte gern” [Ikh het-teh gern] — “I would like,” which sounds softer and more polite.

• In restaurants, it is customary to state the tip aloud by naming the total amount you wish to pay. If the bill is 18 euros, you can say, for example, “Zwanzig, bitte” [Tsvan-tsikh, bit-teh] — “Twenty, please” — and the waiter keeps the remaining amount as a tip.

• The word Bitte [Bit-teh] performs several functions at once, as it can mean “please,” “you’re welcome,” “excuse me, please repeat that,” and also the response “don’t mention it.”

Before travelling to the south, it is worth looking through our selection of things to see in Munich so that you have a ready-made route around the city.

You can also change the language of your smartphone to German — this way, new words and everyday vocabulary will gradually become familiar through daily use.

How to Quickly Learn German Words for Beginners

Experience shows that memorising a plain list is ineffective, as the brain quickly becomes tired of repetitive work. Here are several practical approaches that can produce noticeable results during the first week of study:

1. Divide the selection into thematic mini-blocks of five to seven expressions and review one block each day.

2. Write the phrases on sticky notes and place them on objects around your home, such as the refrigerator, mirror, or kettle.

3. Use spaced-repetition apps such as Anki or Quizlet, where you can upload ready-made flashcard decks.

4. Say each phrase aloud together with its transcription to engage your auditory memory.

5. Watch short videos with German subtitles, including walking tours of Berlin or Munich on YouTube.

This approach helps you master the basics within just two to three weeks of regular practice.

Frequently Asked Questions from Tourists

Do People Speak English in Germany?

In large cities, airports, and hotels, most staff members speak English, especially younger employees. In small towns and villages, particularly among the older generation, the situation is more difficult, so essential German phrases can help in critical situations and simply make everyday communication faster.

Is It Necessary for a Tourist to Know German?

No, knowledge of German is not a mandatory requirement for travelling. However, even 30–40 learned expressions significantly improve the comfort of the trip and the attitude of local people towards you. Germans readily switch to English when they see that the other person is making an effort.

How Difficult Is the German Language?

German grammar has four cases and complex articles, but its pronunciation is logical, and many everyday words are similar to English. To master the basic conversational minimum, you will need several weeks of systematic study for 20–30 minutes a day.

How Widespread Is the Ukrainian Language in Germany?

Due to the large Ukrainian community, many institutions, hospitals, and schools have employees who speak Ukrainian. Interpreters are often available at refugee support centres, while information desks with Ukrainian-speaking volunteers can be found at railway stations in major cities.

What Should You Do If You Forget a Word?

Use a translation app or show the other person the text on your screen. Google Translate and DeepL support translations between German and Ukrainian, while the camera recognition function can help you read signs and menus.

Conclusion

Knowing even a few dozen phrases changes the quality of your trip — you can order food more confidently, find your way around railway stations, and communicate with local people more easily. The everyday German phrases in this selection are a practical minimum for any tourist, and the best way to practise them is directly during the trip, when you are surrounded by a natural language environment.

When you are ready to travel, choose a convenient route on the KLR website. Regular bus routes to Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, and other German cities are available throughout the year, and you can purchase a ticket online in just a few minutes. Take care of your ticket in advance, save this selection for your future journey, and enjoy the road. Have a pleasant trip — Gute Reise!