Travelers visit German-speaking countries for many reasons, including leisure, work, or to visit family and friends. No matter why you want to visit, one thing is certain: knowing helpful German phrases and words can make your visit that much more meaningful, and provide insight into culture and customs.
From ordering food to getting around a city or the country, you’ll want to learn the most common German phrases to help you feel confident. Learning German is easier than you might think and having conversations with native tutors can help propel you to proficiency faster than ever.
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The most useful German phrases to learn
If you’re traveling to one of the several German-speaking countries—which include Germany, Austria, and Switzerland—learning ein wenig Deutsch (“a little German”) can make your stay more enjoyable. Below, you’ll find 10 of the most useful phrases to help you navigate various situations. This list balances both formal and informal phrases, so you can tailor your speech accordingly and sound more like a native speaker!
| German | English |
| bitte | please |
| bitteschön (formal) | You’re welcome |
| Das stimmt! | That’s correct! |
| Einen Moment, bitte. | One moment, please. |
| Entschuldigen Sie bitte… (formal) | Excuse me, please… |
| Entschuldige bitte… (informal) | Excuse me, please… |
| Es tut mir Leid. | I’m sorry. |
| Gern geschehen (informal) | You’re welcome |
| Ich habe eine Frage. | I have a question. |
| Ich spreche ein wenig Deutsch. | I speak a little German. |
| Ich weiß es nicht/keine Ahnung | I don’t know/no idea |
| Ja, bitte!. | Yes, please. |
| Kannst du mir helfen? (informal) | Can you help me? |
| Kein Problem. | No problem. |
| Können Sie mir helfen? (formal) | Can you help me? |
| Mach dir keine Sorgen. | Don’t worry about it. |
| Sprechen Sie Englisch? (formal) | Do you speak English? |
| Sprichst du Englisch? (informal) | Do you speak English? |
| Nein, danke. | No, thank you. |
| Vielen Dank! | Thank you! |
>>Learn German numbers with tips and tricks that make them easy to remember!
Phrases to “hello” or start a conversation in German
In your native language, etiquette—or politeness—is second nature. With friends, a quick “what’s up?” and a hug is all you need. In professional settings, a phrase like “it’s a pleasure to see you again” is often more appropriate.
This list of basic German phrases will help you confidently meet, greet, and strike up a conversation with people you meet. Just like in English, there are plenty of ways to say hello in German, the most common of which are Hallo (“hello”) and Guten Tag (“good day”). You can also practice a few common questions as conversation starters.
| German | English |
| Guten Morgen | Good morning |
| Guten Tag | Good day |
| Guten Abend | Good evening |
| Hallo | Hello |
| Tach/Tag | Hello |
| Ich heiße… | My name is… |
| Ich gehe heute noch… | Later on, I will go… |
| Ich komme aus… | I’m from… |
| Freut mich, dich/euch kennenzulernen (informal) | It’s a pleasure to meet you. |
| Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen (formal) | It’s a pleasure to meet you. |
| Ich bin zum ersten Mal hier. | This is my first time here. |
| Ich bleibe…(über das Wochenende) | I’m staying…(over the weekend) |
| Was machen Sie heute noch? (formal) | What are your plans for the rest of the day? |
| Was sind Ihre Hobbies? (formal) | What are your hobbies? |
| Wie geht’s? (informal) | How’s it going? |
| Wie geht es dir? (formal) | How are you doing? |
| Wie heißen Sie? (formal) | What is your name? |
| Wie lange bleiben Sie? (formal) | How long are you staying? |
| Woher kommen Sie? (formal) | Where do you come from? |
| Haben Sie Lust mitzugehen? (formal) | Would you like to join? |
How to ask for directions in German
The conversation starters listed above make for great, meaningful interactions. But when you need to get to the point—or a particular place—you’ll need to know how to navigate transportation and ask for directions.
Let’s say you’re hungry, but you can’t find the nearest cafe. While it is fairly simple to learn Ich habe Hunger (“I am hungry”) or Ich habe Durst (“I am thirsty”), it’s more useful to know how to ask certain questions to help you find what you need most.
| German | English |
| Biegen Sie links ab/rechts ab | turn left/right |
| die Straße überqueren | cross the street |
| ein Weg | one way |
| Einzelfahrkarte | one-way ticket |
| fahren Sie geradeaus | go straight |
| hier drüben/da drüben | over here/over there |
| Ich bin gleich da. | I am almost there. |
| Ich bin unterwegs. | I am on my way. |
| Ich habe mich verlaufen. | I’ve lost my way (while walking). |
| Ich habe mich verfahren. | I’ve lost my way (while driving). |
| nahe/weit | near/far |
| Rundfahrten | round trip |
| Wann fährt der Zug ab? | When does the train leave? |
| Wie komme ich… | How do I get … |
| Wieviel kostet… | How much is… |
| Wo finde ich… | Where do I find… |
| Wo ist die Toilette? | Where is the bathroom? |
| Wo ist der Banhof? | Where is the train station? |
It may also be helpful to have a list of the most common words related to traveling. Many of them are just like the word in English, or they’re made up of a couple of German words to form a compound word.
| German | English |
| Autobahn | highway |
| Autovermietung | car rental |
| Banhof | train station |
| Bank | bank |
| Bus | bus |
| Einkaufszentrum | shopping mall |
| Fahrkarte | train ticket |
| Flughafen | airport |
| Geldautomaten/ATM | cash machine/ATM |
| Konzert | concert |
| Lebensmittelgeschäft | grocery store |
| Taxi | taxi |
| Theater | theater |
| Toilette | toilet |
| Touristeninformation | tourist information |
| U-Bahn | subway |
| Zug | train |
How to order food in German
Germany is known for its Biergärtens which are gardens (or more commonly, rustic backyard settings) where beer is served. But there’s far more to Germany than beer! From restaurants to unique fast food, the vibrant German food scene is one that can’t be missed.
When being served, you may hear, Die servieren ein halbes Schwein auf Toast which translates to, “They serve half a pig on a slice of toast.” If that’s the case, prepare to be very full at the end of your meal. Here are many of the German phrases and words you need to order and eat well.
| German | English |
| Bier | beer |
| Brezel | pretzel |
| Das Essen schmeckt lecker! | The food tastes very good! |
| Das ist alles, danke | That’s all, thank you |
| Die Rechnung, bitte. | The bill, please. |
| die Speisekarte | the menu |
| Fritten | fries |
| Gluhwein | mulled cider |
| Haben Sie…? | Do you have..? |
| Huhn | chicken |
| Ich bin allergisch gegen… | I’m allergic to… |
| Ich bin Vegetarier. | I’m vegetarian. |
| Ich hätte gerne… | I would like to have… |
| Ich möchte bitte zahlen. | I would like to pay. |
| Ich muss glutenfrei essen. | I need to eat gluten free. |
| Kann ich mit EC-Karte/Kreditkarte bezahlen? | Can I pay with debit/credit cards? |
| Kartoffeln | potatoes |
| Käse | cheese |
| Kellner/Kellnerin | waiter/waitress |
| Restaurant | restaurant |
| Rindfleisch | beef |
| Schweinefleisch | pork |
| Stilles Wasser | still water (natural) |
| Stimmt so! | Keep the change! |
| Suppe | soup |
| Was können Sie empfehlen? | What can you recommend? |
| Wasser | water |
| Wasser mit Gas (Sprudelwasser or Mineralwasser) | sparkling water |
| Zum wohl/Prost! | Cheers! |
Don’t forget the cultural context:
- From döner to currywurst, fast food is popular in Germany! You’ll find a wide selection of fast food at Imbissbudes, which are small fast food trailers or vendors.
- Germans surprisingly don’t have a direct translation for “snack” but German speakers in Austria say Jause and Switzerland has its own expression, Z’nüni” und “Z’vieri (“I take a short break and snack”).
German slang and regional expressions
It’s one thing to be able to speak German, but what about blending in as a native speaker? Or at least, impressing the people you meet? Learning basic German slang can help you get there. If you know where a speaker is from or if you’re visiting a specific region, you can even break out localized phrases!
The best part about slang is that it actually makes languages more accessible. In German slang, pairing the word sau (“super”) to adjectives adds emphasis and breaks the mold of German’s notoriously long vocabulary. Gut (“good”) becomes supergut (“above good”).
When it comes to regional expressions, most regions of Germany—as well as some German speaking countries—have their own dialects. Here are several slang and regional expressions you can try:
- Weisst was ich meine? = You know what I mean? Got it?
- Unglaublich, geht ja gar nicht! = Unbelievable, that can’t be!
- Das ist gehupft. Wie gesprungen. = It’s all the same. It doesn’t make a big difference.
- Nur keine Eile. = Don’t stress or rush.
- Mahlzeit! = Going to lunch!
- If greeted with the word “Mahlzeit” in the hallway of your office, the best way to reply is “Mahlzeit!” It doesn’t get more German than that.
- Jetzt mach mal hin! = Hurry up/get it done/make a decision! (Used in the right context, it can mean all three!)
German idioms to sound like a native
Idioms are fun in every language. Some may sound nonsensical, but they often function as windows into a region’s history and culture. Inject humor into your next conversation with the list of German idioms below or check out even more German expressions to use.
Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm.
Meaning: The apple doesn’t fall far from the stem.
Replace “stem” with “tree,” and this one will sound quite familiar to English speakers! German speakers use this idiom when comparing the similarities between a child and their parent.
Es regnet in Strömen.
Meaning: It rains in streams.
No, it doesn’t rain cats and dogs in Germany when it rains heavily. Instead, it rains in streams which makes a bit more sense, depending on who you’re talking to.
Es ist alles in Butter!
Meaning: Everything is in butter.
Grease makes everything work smoothly. And for those who eat dairy, butter is a beautiful thing. This food-related idiom can help you express that everything is great.
Ich habe zwei linke Hände.
Meaning: I have two left hands.
When you’re feeling less than talented at what you’re doing, it would be appropriate to say that you have two left hands. You can also use this to describe a general clumsiness.
Seine Zunge im Zaum halten.
Meaning: Keeping one’s tongue in the bridle.
If you need to hold back words or avoid answering in a spiteful way, then bite your tongue and remember this German saying.
Da wird ja der Hund in der Pfanne verrückt!
Meaning: The dog in the pan gets crazy!
If you see something totally out of the ordinary or hard to comprehend, this would be the expression to use in German.
Ich stehe auf dem Schlauch.
Meaning: I am standing on the hose.
If you hear someone say this expression, get ready to offer help. The speaker does not know what to do or how to solve the problem at hand.
Learn German phrases for every conversation
You don’t have to know much German to feel comfortable striking up a conversation. With the list of German phrases above, you can feel confident when meeting acquaintances for the first time, ordering food, and making people laugh with a cheeky idiom.
If you want to take your German to the next level, Rosetta Stone has everything you need. From immersive, bite-sized lessons to TruAccent pronunciation feedback, you’ll learn every word naturally in a fun, engaging environment. No vocabulary lists or flashcards required.
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