Traveling to Germany? Then you’re going to need a few basic German phrases with pronunciation to get around!
In the main city centers most people will speak English, but if you plan on getting off the beaten-path at all, you might encounter quite a few locals that don’t speak any English – just like we did!
Plus if you learn these basic phrases, numbers, and starter questions, you’ll win some brownie points for effort and maybe even make a few new friends!
Ready to get started?
Read, practice, and even print out this list of German phrases with pronunciation to take with you on your Germany vacation!
- Basic German Phrases
- German Numbers to 100
- Conversational Questions in German
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How do you greet someone in Germany?
On our own trip to Germany we noticed that greetings are very direct -usually a handshake and a brief hello or good day.
Friends may share a hug or cheek-kiss, but those types of greetings are usually reserved for people who know each other well.
If you are greeting someone in a shop or other public space – eye contact, “Hallo” and a quick nod seem to be plenty.
How can I be polite in Germany?
Germans are rather reserved and don’t seem to appreciate loud or obnoxious behaviors.
In public places keep in mind the following things to stay polite:
- Keep your voice down and don’t engage in loud conversations with people far away from you
- Do not litter – Germany has strong policies against this
- No jay-walking – wait at the cross walk even if there are no cars coming
- Always be on time, Germans do not like lateness
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Basic German Phrases
Hello – Hallo (Hal-lo)
Good morning – Guten Morgen (Gut-en Mor-gen)
Good evening – Guten Abend (Gu-ten A-bend)
Goodbye – Auf Wiedersehen (auf-vee-der-zay-ehn)
Yes or No : Ja/ Nein
Please – Bitte (Bitt-er)
Thank you – Dankeschön (Dan-kay-shoon)
You’re welcome – Bitte (Bitt-eh)
Pardon me – Entschuldigung (ent-shoe-lee-gung)
I don’t speak German – Ich spreche kein deutsch (spreh-kuh kein Doi-tch)
I’m sorry – Es tut mir Leid (es-tut-me-lide)
I’m allergic to – Ich bin allergisch gegen (ich-bin-aller-ish geeg-en)
Help! – Hilfe (hil-fe)
Red/white wine please – Rotwein bitte / Weißwein bitte (root-vine bitte/ vice-vine bitte)
I love Germany! – ich liebe Deutschland (ich libe- Doitch-land)
Basic German Numbers
(1) One – einer (eih-nar)
(2) Two –zwei (zv-eih)
(3) Three – drei (dry)
(4) Four – vier (feer)
(5) Five – fünf (foon-f)
(6) Six – Sechs (zex)
(7) Seven – Sieben (zee-ben)
(8) Eight – Acht (ah-hot)
(9) Nine – Neun (nine)
(10) Ten – Zehn (seen)
(20) Twenty – Zwangzig (swan-seh)
(30) Thirty – dreißig (dry-seh)
(40) Forty – vierzig (foot-say)
(50) Fifty – fünfzig (foon-f-seh)
(60) Sixty – Sechzig (seg-f-zig-f)
(70) Seventy – siebzig (zeeb-zig-f)
(80) Eighty – achtzig (ah-hot-zig-f)
(90) Ninety – neunzig (nine-zig-f)
(100) One hundred –einhundert (eih-n-hun-dirt)
German Conversational Questions
How are you? – Wie geht es Ihnen? (vee-geet-es-ih-nen)
Do you speak English? – Sprichst du Englisch? (sprist-du-English)
What time is it? – Wie spät ist es? (vee-shpit-ist-is)
Where are you from? – Woher kommst du? (wo-her-comes-du)
Where is the airport? – Wo ist der Flughafen? (voo-ist-der-flug-ha-fen)
Where is the train station – Wo ist der Bahnhof (voo-ist-der-ban-hoof)
Where is this address? – Wo ist diese Adresse? (voo-ist-dees-adres-eh)
How much is it? – Wie viel kostet das? (vief-viel-kos-te-tes)
Where is the pharmacy? – Wo ist die Apotheke? (voo-ist-di-apo-teek-heh)
Where is the bathroom? – Wo ist die Toilette? (voo-ist-dee-toil-let-eh)
So what did you think? Ready to practice your German? 😉
Review this list a few times for your trip, and even print it out to take with you – you can even practice on the plane!
And for more travel resources, subscribe to our free travel resource library! It will help you plan your Germany trip like a pro and it only takes 5 seconds!
Happy travels!
– Veronica
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