Most Germans speak English, especially younger people in the bigger cities, so you probably won’t have any difficulties getting around this diverse country. Still, a little German can go a long way. The “German phrases “language has a rich history and is the third most widely taught foreign language in the USA, as well as one of the major languages of the world.
Basic German Words Every Traveler Should Know
- Yes – Ja (yah)
- No – Nein (nine)
- Thank you – Danke ( DAHN-kuh – not like the very popular Wayne Newton song)
- Please and You’re welcome – Bitte (BITT-uh)
- Excuse me – Entschuldigen Sie (ent-SHOOL-degen see)
- I’m sorry – Es tut mir leid (ehs toot meer lite)
- Where? – Wo? (Vo?)
- Where’s the restroom? – Wo ist die Toilette? (vo ist dee toy-LET-uh)
- Left / Right – Links / Rechts (linx / rechts)
- Do you have…. – Haben Sie… Rechts (Haaben ze…)
- Entrance and Exit – Eingang and Ausgang (Eyen-Gong and Ow-S-Gang)
Dialects in Germany
For a mid-size country, Germany has a very diverse set of dialects. Linguists say there are as many as 250 distinct German dialects.
For a mid-size country, Germany has a very diverse set of dialects. Linguists say there are as many as 250 distinct German dialects.
For a mid-size country, Germany has a very diverse set of dialects. Linguists say there are as many as 250 distinct German dialects. These get even more pronounced in places like Austria and German-speaking Switzerland. Vocabulary, accent and phrases vary wildly and some native German speakers can’t even understand people from different regions.
German Greetings
- Hello/Good day – Guten Tag (GOOT-en tahk)
- Good morning – Guten Morgen (GOO-ten MOR-gen)
- Good evening – Guten Abend (GOO-ten AH-bent)
- Good night – Gute Nacht (GOO-tuh nahdt)
- Good bye – Auf Wiedersehen (Ouf VEE-der-zane)
- See you later – Bis später (Biss Sch-PAY-ter)
- Informal Good-Bye – Tschüß (t-ch-uice)
German Small Talk
- My name is – Mein Name ist…. (Mine NAH-muh ist…)
- What’s your name? (formal) – Wie heißen Sie? (vee hie-ssen zee)
- Nice to meet you – Es freut mich. (As froit mish)
- How are you? (formal) – Wie geht es Ihnen? (vee gayt es ee-nen)
- How are you? (informal) – Wie geht`s? (wee gates)
- (Very) Good – (Sehr) Gut (zair goot) / Bad – Schlecht (shlekht)
- I’m doing well. – Mir geht’s gut. (MIR gates GOOt)
- Do you speak English? (informal) – Sprichst du englisch? (shprikhst doo eng-lish)
Regional German
Northern Germany
- Hi (informal) – Moin (Moi’n) Can also be used to ask if someone is good? (Moin?), and answered with good! good! (Moin! Moin!)
- Good – Jut (YOU-t)
Southern Germany
- Hello/Good-bye – Servus! (Sir-VUS)
- Hello (formal) – Grüß Gott or S’Gott (GRu-S GOT)
- May god protect you (informal good-bye) – Behüte dich/euch (Gott) (Ba-Hewta DICK
- Yes! (strong) – Jawohl (Yeah VULL)
German Numbers
- One – Eins
- Two – Zwei
- Three – Drei
- Four – Vier
- Five – Fünf
- Six – Sechs
- Seven – Sieben
- Eight – Acht
