basic german words for travel

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136 Useful German Travel Phrases, Expressions and Vocabulary Words

Planning your big trip to Germany is so exciting—but you’re not done until you’ve brushed up on common German phrases for travel.

In this post, you’ll find a handy phrasebook of German travel phrases and vocabulary , conveniently organized by group.

Print it out or keep it on your phone for smooth travels and the trip of a lifetime.

German Greetings, Introductions and Goodbyes

German expressions for shopping, german travel phrases for the restaurant, german words and phrases for directions, german travel phrases for public transportation, german travel phrases for the hotel, german phrases for getting around the city, german words and expressions for emergencies, german expressions for language help, german guides for traveling, german apps for travelers, why you should learn german travel phrases, and one more thing....

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Please note that most of these German sentences are in the formal Sie conjugation. For your travel purposes, this form should be just fine, although native speakers may opt to use different pronoun forms with you depending on the context.

A trusty guide fits in your backpack or purse, and it serves as a way to look up unfamiliar words and phrases or brush up on vocab while traveling from one place to another. Here are some recommendations:

“Rick Steves’ German Phrase Book and Dictionary”

You can’t go wrong with Rick Steves, since the man has traveled all over Europe (numerous times), hosted his own travel show and written dozens of bestselling guides for European travel.

From meeting new people to ordering a bratwurst, this guide outlines the most common everyday phrases to further improve your travel lingo. It also comes with phonetic spellings , currency information, rail transportation guides and a cheat sheet that you can tear out and slide in your pocket.

“German Survival Guide”

This guide can give you the confidence to speak with people while traveling through Germany and Austria. It touches on cultural points and shows you how to interact with German speakers a various spots such as the Autobahn, grocery stores, ice cream parlors and more.

It includes vocabulary and basic German instruction , with travel and study tips scattered throughout the entire guide. It’s a rather helpful book for your travels if staying in Germany or Austria for quite some time.

Lonely Planet German Phrasebook and Dictionary

This German phrasebook has a huge section for decoding restaurant menus and ordering food properly, plus a 3,500-word two-way German-English dictionary.

The cultural manners section can prevent you from embarrassing yourself or making others feel uncomfortable and help you feel at ease while traveling.

Lonely Planet at large has tons of German phrasebook and travel guide options available on their site.  Read these ahead of time to know what to expect wherever you go, then bring them on your trip to whip out at a moment’s notice. 

“Perfect Phrases in German for Confident Travel”

Context and manners are extremely important when going to Germany, just like they are in every country. If you insult a person’s language, why would they talk to you in return?

The “Perfect Phrases” book details the proper words and phrases to use while traveling, while also discussing faux pas and how they can hurt your conversation.

“Point it: Traveller’s Language Kit”

This guide may not help you much with your pronunciation, but it’s an essential tool to bring with you while traveling in German-speaking countries.

The “Point It” book has 1,300 images and words, so you can point at the images when your speaking abilities fail. For example, point to the picture of a chicken when ordering at a restaurant.

A good app can serve as a viable replacement for a travel and language guide that doesn’t add any weight to your pack. Plus, the apps generally offer audio to hear how to pronounce certain words and phrases. Here are some great options:

Learn German Phrases & Words: Phrases for Travel in Germany

The Learn German Phrases & Words app is designed to boost your speaking capabilities while traveling. It can be used without an internet connection, so you can always depend on it.

The visual guide has carefully categorized sections like greetings, eating, romance and health. The app has over 800 common German phrases, and the German-speaking parrot pronounces everything for you.

Learn German – Phrasebook

This phrasebook is free, but you can upgrade to receive all of the phrases and words for your travels. The app works as a quick reference perfect for tourists visiting Germany. 

The main page shows categories like numbers, general conversation and transportation. Once you select a category and phrase, it gives you the option to hear a spoken version and slow down the audio for better understanding.

Wie Geht ‘s German

The Wie Geht ‘s app provides a few lessons with audio tracks that are useful while moving around the world. It has a travel section filled with options like directions, meeting people, weather, shopping, money and more.

Membership is required to get most of the content. The app is formatted like a class, but feel free to skip around and use the examples when you come across a moment when they are needed.

Germany Travel Guide Offline

The German Travel Guide app is not going to help you much with your German learning, but it may prevent you from getting lost.

The app works online and offline, with detailed maps for navigating cities like Berlin, Munich and Hamburg. Check out weather, time and fun suggestions while moving around the cities.

With this app, you can immerse yourself in the German language and culture before stepping foot in Germany.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

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• Even if you can’t have a fluent conversation, native German speakers always appreciate when foreigners put the effort into learning a bit of their language . It shows respect and demonstrates that you truly want to reach out and connect with people while abroad. 
• You won’t be totally reliant on your German phrasebook. Yes, your German phrasebook has glossy pages and you love getting the chance to use it—but you want to be able to respond quickly when people speak to you, at a moment’s notice. 
• If you can express yourself with some basic German phrases , you are less likely to be taken advantage of by taxi drivers, souvenir shops and waiters!
• The perception that all German speakers speak English is simply not true. Even in big German cities you’ll find loads of people that know very little English. You don’t want to have to track down other English speakers every time you have a question or want to make a friend.

Try practicing some of these phrases out loud to get your pronunciation right before leaving on your travels. 

Before we part ways, there’s one final German travel phrase you need to know: Gute Reise!   (Have a good trip!)

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The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you're learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.

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50 Essential German Phrases for Tourists: English Translations and Pronunciations

If you’re planning a trip to Germany, it’s always helpful to know a few basic phrases in German to help you navigate your way around the country. This guide provides 50 essential German phrases for tourists, along with their English translations and pronunciations. From ordering food in a restaurant to asking for directions, these phrases will come in handy during your visit to Germany.

Table of Contents

Here are 50 essential german phrases for tourists traveling in germany, with their english translations and german pronunciations:.

Read also: Offensive German Vocabulary: 50 Words You Should Avoid Using

• Hello – Hallo (hah-loh)
• Goodbye – Tschüss (chooss)
• Please – Bitte (bit-teh)
• Thank you – Danke (dahn-keh)
• You’re welcome – Bitte (bit-teh)
• Excuse me – Entschuldigung (ent-shool-dee-goong)
• Do you speak English? – Sprechen Sie Englisch? (shpre-chen zee eng-lish?)
• I don’t understand – Ich verstehe nicht (eekh fer-shtay-eh nikht)
• How much does it cost? – Wie viel kostet es? (vee feel kohs-tet ess?)
• Where is the bathroom? – Wo ist die Toilette? (vo ist dee toh-let-teh?)
• Can you help me? – Können Sie mir helfen? (kern-nen zee meer hell-fen?)
• I would like… – Ich möchte… (eekh merkh-teh…)
• Do you have…? – Haben Sie…? (hah-ben zee…?)
• Yes – Ja (yah)
• No – Nein (nine)
• Excuse me, is this seat taken? – Entschuldigung, ist dieser Platz besetzt? (ent-shool-dee-goong, ist dee-zer platz beh-zetst?)
• What is your name? – Wie heißen Sie? (vee hi-sen zee?)
• Nice to meet you – Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen (froit mikh, zee ken-nen-tsuh-lern-en)
• Can you recommend a good restaurant? – Können Sie ein gutes Restaurant empfehlen? (kern-nen zee ighn goot-es rest-o-rahnt em-pfeh-len?)
• I’m allergic to… – Ich bin allergisch gegen… (eekh bin ah-ler-gish geh-gen…)
• Is there a pharmacy nearby? – Gibt es eine Apotheke in der Nähe? (gibt ess igh-nuh ah-po-teh-keh in dare neh-eh?)
• Could you call me a taxi, please? – Könnten Sie mir bitte ein Taxi rufen? (kern-nen zee meer bit-teh ighn tahk-see roo-fen?)
• Where can I find a map? – Wo finde ich eine Karte? (vo fin-deh eekh igh-nuh kahr-teh?)
• Can you show me on the map? – Können Sie es mir auf der Karte zeigen? (kern-nen zee ess meer auf dare kahr-teh tsigh-gen?)
• I need a doctor – Ich brauche einen Arzt (eekh brow-khe igh-nen ahrtst)
• I’m lost – Ich habe mich verlaufen (eekh hah-beh meekh fer-lah-fohn)
• Is it safe here? – Ist es hier sicher? (ist ess heer zee-cher?)
• Is there Wi-Fi here? – Gibt es hier Wi-Fi? (gibt ess heer wee-fie?)
• How do I get to…? – Wie komme ich nach…? (vee kohm-meh eekh nahkh…?)
• What time is it? – Wie spät ist es? (vee shpayt ist ess?)

Read also: 45 Ways to Save Money During Your Trip to Europe

• Can you tell me the way to…? – Können Sie mir den Weg nach… erklären? (kern-nen zee meer den vayg nahkh…er-kla-ren?)
• I would like to book a room – Ich möchte ein Zimmer reservieren (eekh merkh-teh ighn tsim-mer reh-zer-vee-ren)
• Is breakfast included? – Ist Frühstück inklusive? (ist frooh-shtook in-kloo-see-veh?)
• What time is breakfast served? – Wann gibt es Frühstück? (vahn gibt ess frooh-shtook?)
• Can I pay with a credit card? – Kann ich mit Kreditkarte zahlen? (kahn eekh mit kreh-dit-kahr-teh tsah-len?)
• What is the exchange rate? – Wie ist der Wechselkurs? (vee ist dare vek-sel-kurs?)
• Can I get a discount? – Kann ich einen Rabatt bekommen? (kahn eekh igh-nen rah-baht geh-kom-men?)
• I need a wake-up call – Ich brauche einen Weckruf (eekh brow-khe igh-nen vehk-roof)
• Is there a safe in the room? – Gibt es einen Safe im Zimmer? (gibt ess igh-nen zahf-eh im tsim-mer?)
• Can I have some more…? – Kann ich noch etwas…haben? (kahn eekh nokh ess-tas…hah-ben?)
• How far is it to…? – Wie weit ist es bis…? (vee vight ist ess bis…?)
• What is the best way to get to…? – Wie komme ich am besten nach…? (vee kohm-meh eekh am bes-ten nahkh…?)
• I’m sorry – Es tut mir leid (ess toot meer liyt)
• What is the weather like today? – Wie ist das Wetter heute? (vee ist dahs vet-ter hoy-teh?)
• Do you have a menu in English? – Haben Sie eine Speisekarte auf Englisch? (hah-ben zee igh-nuh shpy-suh-kahr-teh owf eng-lish?)
• Could you please bring me the bill? – Könnten Sie mir bitte die Rechnung bringen? (kern-nen zee meer bit-teh dee rek-noong bren-gen?)
• Is there a tourist information center nearby? – Gibt es ein Touristeninformationszentrum in der Nähe? (gibt ess ighn too-ris-ten-in-fohr-ma-tsee-ons-tsent-room in dare neh-eh?)
• How do I get to the train/bus station? – Wie komme ich zum Zug/Busbahnhof? (vee kohm-meh eekh tsuhm tsug/boos-bahn-hof?)
• Can I have a glass of water, please? – Kann ich bitte ein Glas Wasser haben? (kahn eekh bit-teh ighn glahs vah-ser hah-ben?)
• Have a nice day – Einen schönen Tag noch (igh-nen shern-en tahg nokh)

With this guide, you now have a handy resource to help you communicate with locals during your trip to Germany. Don’t be afraid to practice these German Phrases for Tourists and immerse yourself in the local culture. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, these essential German phrases will help you make the most of your trip

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Basic German Words For Travelers

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 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. In short, it is a useful language to know in general.

Try it when dining out or traveling by train, or even at the colorful vocabulary involved in Oktoberfest. Start your first lesson of Deutsch here, and learn common German greetings and basic vocabulary that will be helpful for you in any situation. (You'll find the pronunciation in parentheses. Just read it out loud, the capitalized part of the word should be emphasized.)

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)
• Men and Women - Herren/Männer and Damen/Frauen (Hair-en/Menner and Dom-en/FR-ow-en)

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.

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. However, everyone learns Hochdeutsch (high German) and should be able to communicate by using these uniform words and pronunciation. 

For example, the pronunciation of "Ich" ("I") depends on dialect. In general, the sound is harder like "Ikh" in the south , while it is softer like "Ish" in the north, particularly in Berlin. However, there are many exceptions. We have used the softer "Ish" pronunciation in this guide.

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)
• I would like… - Ich hätte gern… (Ish het-a Gar-en)
• I am from…[the USA/Canada/Australia/UK]. - Ich komme aus…(den USA/Kanada/Australien/Großbritannien)
• Do you speak English? - Sprechen Sie Englisch? (SPRA-shun see ANG-lish)
• I don't understand - Ich verstehe nicht (Ish VARE-stahe nisht)
• I can't speak German – Ich kann kein Deutsch. (Ish kun kine doitsh)
• How much does that cost? - Wieviel kostet das? (Vee-veal cost-it DAs?)
• Cheers! - Prost! (PRO-st)
• Have a good trip! - Gute Reise! ( GOOta Rise-a)

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

• Three - Drei
• Four - Vier
• Five - Fünf
• Six - Sechs
• Seven - Sieben
• Eight - Acht
• Nine - Neun
• Eleven - Elf
• Twelve - Zwölf

Days of the Week in German

• Monday - Montag
• Tuesday - Dienstag
• Wednesday - Mittwoch
• Thursday - Donnertag
• Friday - Freitag
• Saturday - Samstag
• Sunday - Sonntag

Months in German

• January - Januar
• February - Februar
• March - März
• April - April
• June - Juni
• July - Juli
• August - August
• September - September
• October - Oktober
• November - November
• December - Dezember

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• History & Culture
• Pronunciation & Conversation

You hear it all the time. Don't worry, everybody in Germany (Austria/Switzerland) speaks English. You'll get along just fine without any German.

Well, since you're here at the German Language site, you know better. First of all, not everyone in German Europe does speak English. And even if they did, how rude of anyone going there not to bother learning at least the basics of the language.

If you're going to be in a German-speaking country for a long period of time, it's obvious you'll need to know some German. But often travelers or tourists going for a brief visit forget one of the most important elements in planning their trip:  Deutsch.  If you're going to Mexico, you want to know at least " un poquito de español ." If you're headed for Paris, " un peu de français " would be nice. Germany-bound travelers need "ein bisschen Deutsch" (a little German). So what's the minimum for a traveler bound for Austria, Germany, or German Switzerland?

Well, courtesy and politeness are a valuable asset in any language. The basics should include "please," "excuse me," " sorry ," "thank you," and "you're welcome." But that's not all. Below, we have prepared a short phrasebook with the most important basic German phrases for a traveler or tourist. They are listed in approximate order of importance, but that is somewhat subjective. You might think that "Wo ist die Toilette?" is more important than "Ich heisse..."

In parentheses (pah-REN-thuh-cees) you'll find a rudimentary pronunciation guide for each expression. 

Travel Deutsch: Basic German for Travelers

Mixing any of the above phrases-for example, "Haben Sie..." plus "ein Zimmer?" (Do you have a room?) may work, but requires a bit more grammar knowledge than a real beginner is likely to possess. For instance, if you wanted to say, "Do you have a rental car?" you would have to add an -en to "ein" ("Haben Sie einen Mietwagen?"). But leaving it off would not prevent you from being understood-assuming you are pronouncing the basic German correctly.

You won't find too many questions in our guide. Questions require answers. If you ask a question in fairly decent German, the next thing you're about to hear is a torrent of German in the answer. On the other hand, if the restroom is left, right, upstairs, or downstairs, you can usually figure that out-especially with a few hand signals.

Of course, it's a good idea to go beyond the bare minimum if you can. Several important areas of vocabulary are relatively easy to learn:  colors, days, months, numbers, time, food and drink, question words, and basic descriptive words  (narrow, tall, small, round, etc.). All of these topics are covered in our free  German for Beginners  course.

You'll need to set your own priorities, but don't forget to learn at least some essential German before your trip. You'll have "eine bessere Reise" (a better trip) if you do.  Gute Reise!  (Have a good trip!)

Related Pages

German Audio Lab Learn the sounds of German.

German for Beginners Our free online German course.

Travel Resources and Links A collection of information and links for travel to and in German Europe.

Wo spricht man Deutsch? Where in the world is German spoken? Can you name the seven countries where German is the dominant language or has official status?

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Ultimate German Vocabulary List: 100 German Phrases for Travel

Are you planning a trip to a German-speaking country? Then you will need to learn some key vocab before you go. In this ultimate German vocabulary guide, we’ve compiled 100 essential phrases and basic German vocabulary list to help you navigate various situations during your travels.

From greetings and introductions to ordering food, asking for directions, and handling emergencies, this comprehensive list has got you covered. Whether you’re a beginner or have some prior knowledge of German, these phrases will enhance your travel experience and make communication easier.

Read on to equip yourself with the necessary tools to explore and connect with locals in Germany with confidence.

Greetings in German

Let’s start with the most common German words and phrases for greetings .

• Hallo – Hello Hallo is a commonly used German greeting that is equivalent to “hello” in English. It is a versatile and informal greeting suitable for both casual and formal settings.
• Guten Morgen – Good morning Guten Morgen is used to greet someone in the early hours of the day. It is a polite and friendly way to start the day.
• Guten Tag – Good day This is a standard greeting used throughout the day.
• Guten Abend – Good evening This is used to greet someone in the evening or late afternoon.
• Servus – Hi/Bye Servus can be used to say both “hi” and “bye” and is commonly used among friends and acquaintances.
• Grüß Gott – Greetings to God Grüß Gott is a regional greeting predominantly used in Southern Germany and Austria. It is a respectful way of saying hello.
• Moin – Hi Moin is a common greeting used in Northern Germany, particularly in Hamburg and the surrounding regions. It is an informal way of saying “hi” and is used throughout the day.
• Wie geht es Ihnen? – How are you? This is a formal way of inquiring about someone’s well-being. It is a polite and considerate way to start a conversation.
• Auf Wiedersehen – Goodbye This phrase is a standard farewell used in German. It is a formal and respectful way to part with someone.
• Tschüss – Bye Tschüss is suitable for both informal and formal settings and is widely recognized across Germany.

Introductions in German

When meeting new people , it’s standard to introduce yourself. Below are common words and phrases to use when introducing yourself, especially when trying to make friends in a German-speaking country.

• Mein Name ist… – My name is…
• Wie heißt du? – What is your name?
• Schön dich kennenzulernen – Nice to meet you
• Woher kommst du? – Where are you from?
• Ich komme aus.. . – I come from…
• Wie geht es dir? – How are you?
• Es freut mich, dich kennenzulernen – I’m pleased to meet you
• Darf ich mich vorstellen? – May I introduce myself?
• Schön, dich wiederzusehen – Nice to see you again

These phrases are all pretty self-explanatory and used much as they would be in English – the more comfortable you are with greetings and introductions, the easier it will be to navigate social situations in Germany.

Basic Phrases in German

Now, let’s move on to some more basic phrases with real-life usage . These phrases will come in handy in various situations during your travels.

• Danke – Thank you
• Bitte – Please This word has multiple meanings, including “please” and “you’re welcome,” depending on the context.
• Entschuldigung – Excuse me This can be used to apologize or to get someone’s attention politely, as with the English “excuse me.”
• Wie geht es Ihnen? – How are you?
• Ja – Yes
• Nein – No
• Ich verstehe nicht – I don’t understand This phrase is useful when you need to clarify the meaning of a German word or phrase, or ask the speaker to repeat or rephrase something.
• Wo ist…? – Where is…?
• Wie viel kostet das? – How much does it cost?
• Ich möchte… – I would like…
• Ich liebe dich – I love you This phrase is particularly good to know if you have a partner or loved ones that speak German.

Ordering Food and Drinks in German

Exploring local cuisine is an essential part of any travel experience. Here are some phrases to help you order food and drinks in a German-speaking establishment.

• Speisekarte – Menu
• Bestellung – To order
• Vorspeise – Appetizer
• Hauptgericht – Main course
• Getränk – Drink
• Kellner/Kellnerin – Waiter/Waitress
• Dessert – Dessert
• Rechnung – Bill

Asking for Directions in German

When exploring a new city, it’s common to ask for directions . These phrases will help you navigate your way.

• Wie komme ich zu…? – How do I get to…?
• Straße – Street
• Links – Left
• Rechts – Right
• Geradeaus – Straight ahead
• Kreuzung – Intersection
• Ampel – Traffic light

Shopping in German

If you plan to do some shopping during your trip, these phrases will be useful.

• Einkaufen – Shopping
• Geschäft – Store
• Einkaufszentrum – Shopping center
• Kleidung – Clothing
• Schuhe – Shoes
• Lebensmittel – Groceries
• Kasse – Cashier/checkout
• Rabatt – Discount
• Umtausch – Exchange

Emergencies in German

While we hope you won’t encounter any emergencies, it’s always good to be prepared. Here are some phrases to use in case of emergencies .

• Notfall – Emergency
• Hilfe – Help
• Feuer – Fire
• Unfall – Accident
• Krankenwagen – Ambulance
• Polizei – Police
• Krankenhaus – Hospital
• Verletzung – Injury
• Gefahr – Danger
• Rettung – Rescue

18 Common German Nouns

Nouns are an important part of speech of every language and German is no different. Below are coming German nouns that could come in handy.

• Haus – House
• Auto – Car
• Stadt – City
• Schule – School
• Buch – Book
• Katze – Cat
• Hund – Dog
• Wasser – Water
• Essen – Food
• Kind – Child
• Familie – Family
• Zeitung – Newspaper
• Apfel – Apple
• Baum – Tree
• Arzt – Doctor
• Tisch – Table
• Bett – Bed
• Kaffee – Coffee

18 Useful German Verbs

Another important part of speech is verbs. Here are 20 German verbs that are useful for constructing sentences.

• Sein – to be
• Haben – to have
• Gehen – to go
• Kommen – to come
• Machen – to do/make
• Sehen – to see
• Wollen – to want
• Können – to be able to
• Müssen – to have to/must
• Sagen – to say
• Geben – to give
• Nehmen – to take
• Wissen – to know
• Finden – to find
• Denken – to think
• Fühlen – to feel
• Sprechen – to speak
• Leben – to live

Why Learn German

There are numerous reasons why learning German is beneficial. Firstly, German is the most widely spoken language in Europe and is an official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Learning German opens up opportunities for work, travel, and cultural immersion in these countries.

Additionally, Germany is a global economic powerhouse with a strong job market, making German language skills highly valuable for career prospects. Moreover, German is a gateway to learning other Germanic languages such as Dutch and Swedish.

Overall, learning German is a gateway to new experiences, improved career prospects, and a deeper understanding of European culture.

FAQs About German Words and Phrases to Learn for Travel

Now that you have learned 100 new German words and phrases, let’s look at some of the most frequently asked questions about German words and phrases to learn for travel.

What is some German vocabulary?

Some common German vocabulary includes greetings like Guten Tag (“Good day”) and Auf Wiedersehen (“Goodbye”), common German phrases such as Bitte (“Please”) and Danke (“Thank you”), and practical expressions like Wo ist die Toilette? (“Where is the restroom?”). These are some of the most common German words and phrases that tourists will learn so they can navigate life in Germany.

How can I master German vocabulary?

To master German vocabulary, adopt effective learning strategies. Start by creating a structured study plan and allocating regular time for practice. Utilize flashcards or vocabulary apps for learning German words and review them regularly. Engage in immersive activities such as watching German movies, listening to podcasts, and conversing with native speakers.

Lastly, practice active recall and apply new words in real-life situations to solidify your understanding and retention of the German vocabulary. Consistency, dedication, and exposure are key to achieving proficiency in German vocabulary.

How many words are in A1 German?

The number of words in A1 German language level may vary, but it generally encompasses a basic vocabulary range of approximately 500 to 800 words. This level focuses on fundamental language skills and commonly used everyday expressions. A1 German aims to provide learners with a solid foundation in vocabulary, enabling them to handle simple conversations and navigate basic communication scenarios.

How can I memorize German words fast?

To memorize German words quickly, employ effective techniques. Create flashcards with German words on one side and their English translations on the other, reviewing them frequently. Practice active recall by covering the translations and trying to recall the German word from memory. Utilize mnemonic devices, such as creating memorable associations or visualizations for each word. By consistently using these strategies and engaging in regular practice, you can enhance your ability to memorize German words rapidly.

Summary: German Words and Phrases to Learn for Travel

Congratulations. You’ve now acquired a solid foundation of German words and phrases to elevate your travel experience.

Armed with basic German vocabulary words and common German words for greetings, introductions, ordering food, asking for directions, and handling emergencies, you’ll feel more confident engaging with native German speakers during your trip.

So, pack your bags, venture into the German-speaking world, and embark on an unforgettable journey filled with new encounters, delicious food, and fascinating discoveries.

60 Essential German Travel Phrases

Are you planning a trip to a German-speaking country? There are so many reasons for learning basic German travel phrases before you jump on that plane. And we invite you to try out Drops to learn more than 2500 useful German words and phrases !

The locals will appreciate any effort you make to speak the local language. You’ll make traveling far easier on yourself as you’ll be able to communicate more clearly. You can get to know people who don’t speak English and experience a different culture.

Despite the common belief, not everyone speaks English. Even if you are planning a city break, it will be appreciated if you make an effort to speak a bit of German. It’s a sign of respect for the people in the country you are visiting.

If you want to venture away from the cities, you’ll likely encounter a lot of people who hardly speak any English at all. So it’s worth being prepared!

So let’s dive right in and take a look at my favorite tried and tested German travel phrases.

German Greetings & German Basics

Hallo - “hello”

Tschüss - “bye”

Auf wiedersehen - “goodbye”

Tschau - “ciao”

Guten Morgen - "good morning”

Guten Tag - "good day”

Guten Abend - "good evening”

Gute Nacht - "good night”

Danke / Vielen Dank / Dankeschön - " thanks” and “many thanks”

There are a few ways to say thank you in German. Just use danke for now but expect to hear the other versions as well.

Bitte - "please”

Sorry - "sorry”

Entschuldigen Sie bitte - "excuse me” or “sorry”

Ja - "yes”

Nein - "no”

German Phrases You Might Hear

You might also hear the following German expressions:

Gerne - "gladly” or “my pleasure”

Bitte schön - "there you go” or “you’re welcome”

Both of these are often used in restaurants and cafes, when the waiting staff bring your food or drinks over, and also in shops. More on that later!

German Phrases in the Hotel

One of the first things you’ll do when you arrive in a German-speaking country is check into your hotel. There are a few standard phrases which you can use, and the checking in procedure usually follows the same pattern. 

The receptionist will ask if you have a reservation (listen for ‘Reservierung’ ), they’ll ask your name (listen for ‘Name’ [Nahmeh] ) and they’ll give you your key (listen for ‘Schüssel’ ).

Checking in to the Hotel in German

Kann ich bitte einchecken? - “Can I check in please?”

Ich habe eine Reservierung - “I have a reservation”

Mein Name ist (...) - “My name is (...)”

Ich bleibe bis Montag hier / bis zum vierundzwanzigsten (24th) Juni hier - “I’m staying here until Monday / until the 24th June”

Wann / wo gibt es Frühstück? - ”When is breakfast?”

Gibt es hier WLAN [vee-lan]? - “ Is there wifi here?”

Wie lautet das WLAN-Passwort? - “What is the wifi password?”

Um wie viel Uhr muss man auschecken? - “By what time must I check out?”

Kann ich bitte auschecken? - “ Can I check out, please?”

What You May Hear in German at the Hotel

Haben Sie eine Reservierung? - “Do you have a reservation?”

Wie ist Ihre Name? - “What is your name?”

Bleiben Sie hier für drei (3) Nächte / eine (1) Woche / zwei (2) Wochen? - “Are you staying here for 3 nights / 1 week / 2 weeks?”

Frühstück ist bis sieben (7) Uhr bis zehn (10) Uhr - “Breakfast is from 7am until 10am”

Ihre Zimmernummer ist… - “Your room number is…”

Shopping in German

If you’re out exploring the city, you’ll probably want to do a bit of shopping for souvenirs. The first phrase (ich schaue mich nur um) in this section was pretty essential for me in the early days when I was too nervous to speak much German. If a shop assistant comes up to help and you’re just having a look around or you’re too nervous to speak, this phrase can come in handy.

What You Can Say When Shopping in German

Ich schaue mich nur um - “I’m just looking around”

Ich suche nach… - “I’m looking for…”

Wie viel kostet das? - “How much does that cost?”

Kann ich mit Bargeld / Kreditkarte bezahlen? - “Can I pay with cash / credit card?”

Könnte ich eine Tüte haben? - “Could I have a bag?”

What You May Hear While Shopping in German

Kann ich Ihnen helfen? - “Can I help you?”

Möchten Sie es probieren? - “Would you like to try it?”

Eating Out in German

When it comes to eating out, this is a really great way to practice a bit of basic German. You only need a few phrases to get by. Your power phrase in this section is ich hätte gern… which you can use for any food or drink order. It’s very polite and the serving staff will appreciate it.

Like when checking into the hotel, there is usually a set pattern to look out for when in a cafe or restaurant:

The waiter will ask for your drinks order (listen for trinken ), they will then ask for your food order (listen for essen ) and later they will ask if you’d like a dessert (listen for Nachtisch ).

What You Can Say in German When Dining Out

Haben Sie ein Tisch für ein (1) / zwei (2) / drei (3) Person(en)? - “Do you have a table for 1 / 2 / 3 person / people?”

Ich hätte gern (…) bitte - “I would like (...) please”

• einen schwarzen Tee (mit Milch) - “a black tea (with milk)”
• einen Kaffee - “a coffee”
• ein Mineralwasser - “a mineral water”
• ein Glas Rotwein - “a glass of red wine”
• ein Glas Weißwein - “a glass of white wine”
• ein Bier - “a beer”

Könnte ich ein stück Kuchen haben? - “Could I have a piece of cake?”

Was empfehlen Sie? - “What do you recommend?”

Kann ich bitte bezahlen? - “Can I pay please?”

What You Might Hear in German at a Restaurant

Was möchten Sie? - “What would you like?”

Ich empfehle (...) - “I recommend (...)”

Was möchten Sie trinken? - “What would you like to drink?”

Was möchten Sie essen? - “What would you like to eat?”

Möchten Sie die Nachtischkarte? - “Would you like the dessert menu?”

Sightseeing in German

When you’re out sightseeing, you’ll probably be able to find an English language tour guide. But there are a lot of situations where you might be on your own and need to ask where something is. The simple phrase wo ist… is very useful and easy to remember.

Entschuldigen Sie bitte - “excuse me please”

Wo ist (…)? - “Where is (...)?”

• die Touristeninformation - “the tourist information”
• das Stadtzentrum - “the city centre”
• das Museum - “the museum”
• der Dom - “the cathedral”
• das Rathaus - “the town hall”
• der Bahnhof - “the train station”

When You Struggle to Understand German

If all else fails, here are some phrases to memorize to help you if you have trouble understanding German. Trust me, I used these a lot when I first started visiting Germany. If you’re a bit nervous about your German, committing a few of these phrases to memory can help you get out of tricky situations.

Ich verstehe nicht - “I don’t understand”

Ich spreche kein Deutsch - “I don’t speak German”

Mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut - “my German is not so good”

Sprechen Sie Englisch? - “Do you speak English?”

Langsamer bitte - “slower please”

Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? - “Can you repeat that, please?”

Was bedeutet (…)? - “What does (...) mean?”

Bitte haben Sie Geduld mit mir - “please be patient with me”

So now you know all my essential German travel phrases! These helped me out a lot, and I hope you find them useful on your travels, too! 

Ready to learn more?  Try Drops!

About the Author: Emma Jackman is the founder of Emma Loves German an all-round resource for German learners. You’ll find articles on speaking, reading, writing, and listening in German as well as grammar tips, frequently used phrases, and other language learning tips.

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Survival German Travel Phrase Guide with Pronunciation

Whether you’re hiking the Alps or relaxing in a Bavarian beerhouse, using this German travel phase guide will enrich your holiday experience.

No trip to a German-speaking country would be complete without taking a German travel phrase guide packed with useful basic German words. Fortunately, I’ve prepared one for you! 

When you first start out speaking a foreign language, you’ll have quite a few near misses. Sometimes you’ll translate things literally, or simply forget to apply a grammar rule. This happens with the German language and all many other languages. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or in need of a refresher, check out these popular German courses   by German teacher Kerstin Cable from Fluent Languages.

Want to have fun whilst learning German? Struggling to find decent German language resources? I recommend getting uTalk . Available as a desktop site and app, uTalk is awesome for learning key words and phrases in German, especially if you want to use it for travel purposes.  It’s great for beginners getting started in a language and invaluable for intermediates looking to fill in gaps in their vocabulary and pronunciation. 

What I love most about uTalk is that you can jump around their extensive library of topics and choose what you want to learn, when you want, and at your own pace.  Because I believe in uTalk so much, I reached out to them and we’ve teamed up to offer you an exclusive 30% OFF reader discount across all of uTalk’s 140 languages! This offer isn’t available anywhere else! Click here to claim your exclusive 30% discount.

Planning a trip to Berlin? Don’t miss my Berlin 3-Day Itinerary: 19 Absolute Best Things to do in Berlin

Where is German spoken?

Did you know that German is spoken by about 95 million people?

German ( Deutsch)  is the official language of Germany, Austria , and Liechtenstein, as well is one of the four official languages of Switzerland . The German spoken in Switzerland is called  Schweizerdeutsch. German is also widely spoken in South Tyrol (Italy) , Luxembourg, and Belgium .

German is a West Germanic language   and shares similarities with other major languages, such as Afrikaans , Dutch ,  and English . It is the second most widely spoken Germanic language, after English.

German Pronunciation

You may have already heard that German is a very close relative of English, so pronunciation is fairly easy to pick up.

Here are some important tips on vowel pronunciation to keep in mind:

ei as in line ie as in lean ö as in worm  (but without the r ) ü as in tea (but with the lips rounded) ä as in get eu or äu as in boy

Now for some tips on consonant pronunciation:

sch   as in shoe sp and st  as in shp and sht ß as in boss z as in cats

German Vocabulary

You will come across a lot of German vocabulary that won’t look entirely foreign to you such as,  das Haus (the house), der Hund (the dog/hound), die Strasse (the street), ein Mann (a/one man), machen (to make), sprechen (to speak) and so on.

By the way, did you notice that all the nouns were capitalised? That’s no accident.

Now, back to German vocabulary. Some German words will seem familiar because English is a Germanic language.

But things changed, and English became heavily influenced by Latin when the Norman’s invaded England in the 11th-century. From then on, an awful lot of French words were adopted into the English lexicon so it tends to look more like French than like German. For example, the verb  to compare , which in French is comparer , and  vergleichen in German.

Find out more about German grammar and how hard German is to learn here.

In some ways, German vocabulary will look more foreign to you than French or Spanish!

Let’s take a look at some essential phrase in this German travel phrase guide, use the links below to jump to each section.

Greetings Basic Questions Numbers Days Months Eating Out Emergencies

Hello! Hallo! hâ-loh! (informal greeting)

Good day! Guten Tag! gooh-ten tahk!

Good evening! Guten Abend! gooh-ten ah-bent!

Good-bye! Auf Wiedersehen! ouf vee-der-zey-en!

Please/You’re welcome Bitte bi-te

Thank you Danke dân-ke

Excuse me Entschuldigung ênt-shool-dee-goong

My name is…. Ich heiße…. iH hays-e….

Pleased to meet you Freut mich froyt miH

Basic Questions

Do you speak English? Sprechen Sie Englisch? shprêH-en zee êng-lish?

How are you? Wie geht es Ihnen? vee geyt ês een-en?

Would you help me please? Würden Sie mir bitte helfen? vuer-den zee meer bi-tehêl-fen?

What’s your name? Wie heißen Sie? vee hays-en zee?

What time is it? Wie viel Uhr ist es? vee feel oohr ist ês?

What’s the weather like? Wie ist das Wetter? ee ist dâs vêt-er?

How much does . . . cost? Wie viel kostet . . .? vee feel kos-tet…?

Where do I find . . .? Wo finde ich . . .? voh fin-de iH…?

Where are the bathrooms? Wo sind die Toiletten? voh zint dee toy-lêt-en?

Do you have…? Haben Sie…? hah-ben zee…?

Where is…? Wo ist…? voh ist…?

Could you please talk more slowly? Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? kern-en zee bi-te lâng-zâm-er shprêH-en?

Could you repeat that, please? Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? kern-en zee dâs bi-tevee-der-hoh-len?

0 null nool 1 eins ayns 2 zwei tsvay 3 drei dray 4 vier feer 5 fünf fuenf 6 sechs zêks 7 sieben zee-ben 8 acht âHt 9 neun noyn 10 zehn tseyn

Monday Montag mohn-tahk

Tuesday Dienstag deens-tahk

Wednesday Mittwoch mit-voH

Thursday Donnerstag don-ers-tahk

Friday Freitag fray-tahk

Saturday Samstag / Sonnabend zâms-tahk / zon-ah-bent

Sunday Sonntag zon-tahk

January Januar yâ-noo-ahr

February Februar fey-broo-ahr

March März mêrts

April April ah-pril

May Mai may

June Juni yooh-nee

July Juli yooh-lee

August August ou-goost

September September zêp-têm-ber

October Oktober ok-toh-ber

November November no-vêm-ber

December Dezember dey-tsêm-ber

The menu, please Die Speisekarte bitte dee shpay-ze kâr-te bi-te

I’d like…. Ich hätte gern…. iH hê-te gern….

I’d like…. Ich möchte gern…. iH merH-te gern….

Could you recommend something? Könnten Sie etwas empfehlen? kern-ten zee êt-vas êm-pfey-len?

Another (beer) please Noch (ein Bier) bitte noH [ayn beer] bi-te

Excuse me Entschuldigen Sie bitte ênt-shool-dee-gen zeebi-te

The check, please Die Rechnung bitte dee rêH-noong bi-te

A receipt, please Eine Quittung bitte ayn-e kvi-toong bi-te

Enjoy your meal Guten Appetit gooh-ten âp-e-teet

Emergencies

Help! Hilfe! hilf -e!

Police! Polizei! po-li-tsay!

Fire! Feuer! foy-er!

Get a doctor! Holen Sie einen Arzt! hohl-en zee ayn-en ârtst!

I am sick Ich bin krank iH bin krânk

I don’t know my way around here Ich kenne mich hier nicht aus iH kên-e miH heer niHt ous

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Learning German? Then you’ll love these…

• 13 Common German Mistakes You Make and How to Fix them Immediately
• Is German Hard To Learn? PLUS 7 Common German Mistakes to Avoid
• 50 Amusing German Phrases that will Brighten Your Day
• 27 Hilarious Everyday German Idioms and Expressions
• Swiss German Travel Phrase Guide with Pronunciation
• When you first start out speaking a foreign language, you’ll have quite a few near misses. Sometimes you’ll translate things literally, or simply forget to apply a grammar rule. This happens with the German language and all many other languages. To learn through the power of story, check out this excellent German course with Olly Richards. For more tips, check this course on how to  improve your German accent and pronunciation or this German Grammar course here.

Want to know more about learning languages? Start here!

• 14 Top Language Learning Resources You Should Use
• 23 Cool Gift for Language Learners They Will Actually Use and Love
• 11 Life-Changing Reasons Why You Should Learn a Language
• 42 beautiful Inspirational Quotes for Language Learners
• Language learning tips: 11 Polyglots Reveal The Secrets of Their Success
• Top 10 Best Ways to Learn a Language Better and Faster

Sources:  German for Dummies  |  Wikipedia

Over to you!

Which of these German phrases do you find most useful? What other German travel phrases would you like to know? Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

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Michele creates language learning guides and courses for travel. What separates her from other instructors is her ability to explain complex grammar in a no-nonsense, straightforward manner using her unique 80/20 method. Get her free guide 9 reasons you’re not fluent…YET & how to fix it! Planning a trip? Learn the local language with her 80/20 method for less than the cost of eating at a tourist trap restaurant Start learning today!

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Guide to German Travel Phrases for Tourists and Travelers

When you’re traveling outside of your home country, there’s a very good chance that you won’t speak the language of that country. For that reason, it can be really helpful to learn some basic German travel phrases before going to Germany, Austria, or even parts of Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxemburg.

In this article, we’ll provide you with German phrases for tourists that will help you survive basic daily situations.

For instance, when traveling to the center of Europe, you’ll probably have to take a train at some point. (And if you don’t have to take one, we suggest you take one anyway. This experience is part of traveling to Germany.)

Once you’ve bought your ticket at Deutsche Bahn (the German railway company) and you’re ready to discover a new city, the conductor may want to see your ticket or ask some questions. If you didn’t know, even though this is an international company, their staff isn’t one-hundred percent trained to speak English. Trust us, you don’t want to come into this situation unprepared. You’ll need to know phrases for travelers in German.

But no worries. To prevent you from this embarrassing situation, we have free courses for beginner , intermediate , and advanced students. You can even find free bonus material on our website.

Without a lot of hustle and bustle, let’s just get straight to it. Here are the most useful German phrases for travelers.

Table of Contents

• Why Should You Learn German?
• German Pronunciation Specialities
• Basic Questions and Their Perfect Answers
• Restaurants and Ordering Food
• At the Hotel
• Locations and Transportation
• Working Through Communication Barriers
• How GermanPod101 Can Help You Master Urgent Travel Situations

1. Why Should You Learn German?

We know that learning another language can be frustrating and hard, and this may be more true of German than some other languages. But here are some facts that should convince you to learn German:

• Studying in Germany is free – While you have to pay for a college education in most countries, studying in Germany is free of charge.
• Germany is Export King – Germany is the country with the biggest export market in Europe , and the third biggest worldwide.
• Easy for native English speakers – English and German belong to the same language family , which makes it easy to learn (and vice versa).
• Startup hotspot – The startup scene is growing rapidly in the cities of Berlin, Munich, Cologne, and Hamburg.

Knowing even just the basic German travel phrases for beginners can greatly help you make the most of your time in Germany.

2. German Pronunciation Specialities

Before we move on to learning German phrases for travelers, you should have a little information on German pronunciation specialties.

As already mentioned, German is really close to the English language, which makes it easy for good English speakers to adapt to German. But there are some combinations that require special effort in terms of pronunciation. On the left, you see the letter combination; on the right, an English equivalent to that sound.

3. Greetings

Now, onto the most basic German words and phrases for travellers: Greetings. These are the most common German travel phrases, and always important to have at the ready.

• Hallo! Hello!
• Guten Morgen! Good morning!
• Guten Tag! Good day!
• Guten Abend. Good evening!
• Bitte. Please.
• Danke. Thanks. / Thank you.
• Tschüss. Bye.
• Auf Wiedersehen. Goodbye.
• Ich heiße … My name is …
• Ich bin in Deutschland für … Wochen. I am in Germany for … weeks.
• Ich komme aus … I am from …
• Wie geht’s? How are you?
• Mir geht es gut. I am fine.

4. Basic Questions and Their Perfect Answers

To help you out with the pronunciation and some practice for these questions, you can find a free lesson on our website . Also feel free to click on the links in the chart; they’ll take you to relevant German vocabulary lists on our site to help you answer the questions yourself!

5. Restaurants and Ordering Food

• Einen Tisch für zwei/drei/vier Personen, bitte. A table for two/three/four persons, please.
• Wir haben eine Reservierung. We have a reservation.
• Die Speisekarte, bitte. The menu, please.
• Ich hätte gerne das Steak mit Pommes. I would like the steak with fries.
• Haben Sie ein veganes Gericht? Do you have a vegan meal?
• Können Sie etwas empfehlen? Can you recommend something?
• Noch ein Glas Wasser, bitte. Another glass of water, please.
• Getrennt oder zusammen? Together or separately?
• Guten Appetit. Enjoy your meal.
• Die Rechnung, bitte. The check, please.

We have a complete vocabulary list for you, with words for the restaurant.

6. At the Hotel

• Haben Sie noch freie Zimmer? Do you have free rooms available?
• Wie viel kostet ein Zimmer pro Nacht? How much is a room per night?
• Ich möchte ein Zimmer reservieren. I would like to reserve a room.
• Ist das Frühstück inklusive? Is the breakfast inclusive?
• Zimmerservice. Room service.
• Um wie viel Uhr ist Check-Out? At what time is the check out?

7. Locations and Transportation

1- Asking for and Giving Directions

2- transportation.

• Wo ist die Haltestelle? Where is the station?
• Wo kann ich eine Fahrkarte kaufen? Where can I buy a ticket?
• Fährt dieser Zug / Bus nach … ? Is this train / bus going to … ?
• Können Sie es mir auf der Karte zeigen? Can you show me on the map?
• Muss ich umsteigen? Do I have to change?

Again, we’ve prepared for you a free vocabulary list with words that you can use when asking for directions and locations.

8. Working Through Communication Barriers

Just in case you don’t know what to say or you didn’t understand anything someone just said to you, here are some phrases that can get you out of this sticky situation:

• Sprechen Sie Englisch? Do you speak English?
• Können Sie das bitte nochmal wiederholen? Could you please repeat that again?
• Ich spreche kein Deutsch. I don’t speak German.
• Ich verstehe Sie nicht. I don’t understand you.
• Können Sie das bitte übersetzen? Could you please translate this for me?
• Hilfe! Help!

Maybe you’re asking yourself if you can go to Germany without speaking any German. Sure you can, you can live there even without speaking the language.

Getting along as a tourist with just English will be more than easy for you. Everybody knows at least the basics of English. And as long as they can see that you’re patient, they’ll be patient with you.

9. How GermanPod101 Can Help You Master Urgent Travel Situations

In this article, we showed you the most helpful phrases that you can use on your travels. We covered some basic pronunciation specialities of the German language, greetings, numbers, situations in a restaurant and hotel, and asking for directions.

While you can survive traveling Germany with only English, Germans will be really grateful when they see that you’re trying to speak their language. We know that German is a hard language, but to see someone trying makes us happy.

This article was just the beginning; take a look at our free resources . But if you really want to get to it and become a good German speaker, then we can offer you a private teacher to help you learn based on your needs and goals with the German language.

Before you go, let us know in the comments how you feel about using the useful German travel phrases outlined in this article. Feel free to reach out with questions in the comments below, and know that the more you practice and use these essential German travel phrases, the easier it will become.

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Inspire Your Trip

100+ Useful Basic German Phrases for Travel

Are you planning a trip to Germany or a German speaking country? Or have you always wanted to learn German?

We have put together a guide to the most useful basic German words and phrases that will allow you pick up the basics on the language and really help you to survive visiting a German speaking country.

Do I Need to Speak German in Germany?

In the major cities and tourist destinations in Germany you will find a lot of local people can speak English, especially younger people, so visiting the country can be done without knowing any German. But not everyone does speak or understand English, especially in non-touristy locations so it is important to at least learn the basics. Also local people will appreciate if you put the effort into learning a bit of their language, even if just hello, please and thank you.

Is German a Difficult Language to Learn?

German is considered a one of the most difficult European languages to learn especially compared to French , Spanish and Portuguese. German is regarded as hard due to the long words, pronunciation, four noun case endings and three grammatical genders. But it is still a lot easier than a lot of other worldwide languages like Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Like with any language, practise really helps to improve your fluency.

Greetings in German

Here are some of the word you will probably use the most and the good news is they. are very easy to pick up.

Hello – Hallo ( learn how to say hello in other languages ) Good morning – Guten Morge Good day – Guten Tag Good evening – Guten Abend Goodbye – Auf Wiedersehen Good night – Gute Nacht See you later – Bis später

These are some of the most common words and phrases you are likely to use.

Please / You’re welcome – Bitte Thank you – Danke (here’s how to say thanks in other languages ) Yes – Ja (yah) No – Nein (nine) Excuse me – Entschuldigen Sie I’m sorry – Es tut mir leid What does that mean? – Was bedeutet das? I’m sorry – Es tut mir leid I do not know – Ich weiß nicht

Conversational Phrases in German

These are some basic German phrases when meeting people for the first time.

How are you? (formal) – Wie geht es Ihnen? How are you? (informal) – Wie geht`s? Nice to meet you – Es freut mich What’s your name? – Wie ist dein Name? My name is… – Ich heiße… I am fine – Mir geht es gut Do you speak English? – Sprechen Sie Englisch? Could you please repeat that again? – Können Sie das bitte nochmal wiederholen? I don’t speak German – Ich spreche kein Deutsch What did you say? – Was hast du gesagt? I don’t understand you – Ich verstehe Sie nicht What’s your name? (formal) – Wie heißen Sie? I’m doing well. – Mir geht’s gut Very good – Sehr gut Bad – Schlecht Where are you from? – Wo kommst du her? I am from … – Ich komme aus … USA / Canada / Australia / UK – USA / Kanada / Australien / Großbritannien Do you speak English? – Sprechen Sie Englisch? I don’t understand – Ich verstehe nicht I can’t speak German – Ich kann kein Deutsch I do not speak German very well – Ich spreche nicht gut Deutsch I’m sorry, but I do not understand – Es tut mir leid, aber ich verstehe nicht Could you say that again please? – Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? Could you say that more slowly please? – Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? Please write that down for me – Schreiben Sie das bitte für mich auf How old are you? – Wie alt bist du? What’s your phone number? – Wie lautet deine Telefonnumer? My phone number is… – Meine Telefonnumer lautet… Where do you work? – Wo arbeitest du? I work at… – Ich arbeite bei…

These phrases are good for when you are out and about buying things.

Supermarket – Supermarkt City center – Stadtzentrum Bank – Bank How much does that cost? – Wieviel kostet das? I would like… – Ich hätte gern… Do you have…. – Haben Sie… Rechts Excuse me, where is the – Entschuldigung, wo ist die Is it far from here? – Ist es noch weit von hier

Food & Drink

These phrases are perfect for visiting restaurants and ordering food.

A table for two, bitte – Einen Tisch für zwei, please We have a reservation – Wir haben eine Reservierung The menu, please – Die Speisekarte, bitte Can you recommend something? – Können Sie etwas empfehlen? What is this? – Was ist das? I would like – Ich hätte gerne Steak with fries – Steak mit Pommes Do you have a vegan meal? – Haben Sie ein veganes Gericht? Another glass of water, please – Noch ein Glas Wasser, bitte Enjoy your meal – Guten Appetit What is your favorite food? – Was ist dein Lieblingsessen? My favorite food is… – Ich esse am liebsten… The check, please – Die Rechnung, bitte Cheers! – Prost! Where is the bathroom? – Wo ist die Toilette

Hotels & Accommodation

We have a reservation – Wir haben eine Reservierung Do you have free rooms available? – Haben Sie noch freie Zimmer? How much is a room per night? – Wie viel kostet ein Zimmer pro Nacht? I would like to reserve a room – Ich möchte ein Zimmer reservieren Is the breakfast inclusive? – Ist das Frühstück inklusive? Room service – Zimmerservice What time is the check out? – Wie viel uhr ist check-out?

Transport & Directions

These are the most common German travel phrases related to getting around, These are some of the most important words and phrases to have:

Where? – Wo? Left / Right – Links / Rechts Entrance and Exit – Eingang and Ausgang In which direction can I find … ? – In welcher Richtung finde ich … ? Bus – Bus Subway – Metro Gas station – Tankstelle Train station – Bahnhof The airport – Flughafen North / South / West / East – Norden / Süden / Westen / Osten Upstairs / Downstairs – Oben / Unte Can I get there on foot? – Kann ich dorthin zu Fuß laufen? You have to turn left / right. Which underground or bus do I have to take? – Welche Straßenbahn, Metro oder Bus muss ich nehmen? Airport – Flughafen Train station, please – Bahnhof, bitte Is it close to … ? – Ist es in der Nähe von … ? Around the corner – Um die Ecke Where is the exit / entrance? – Wo ist der Ausgang / Eingang? Stop here, please – Halten Sie hier an, bitte. Where is the station? – Wo ist die Haltestelle? Where can I buy a ticket? – Wo kann ich eine Fahrkarte kaufen? Is this train / bus going to … ? – Fährt dieser Zug / Bus nach … ? Can you show me on the map? – Können Sie es mir auf der Karte zeigen? Do I have to change? – Muss ich umsteigen?

Emergencies

Here are some useful phrases to use if you find yourself in a difficult situation:

Could you please translate this for me? – Können Sie das bitte übersetzen? Help! – Hilfe! Police – Polizei Ambulance – Ambulanz Hospital – Krankenhaus

German Numbers

One – Eins Two – Zwei Three – Drei Four – Vier Five – Fünf Six – Sechs Seven – Sieben Eight – Acht Nine – Neun Ten – Zehn Eleven – Elf Twelve – Zwölf Thirteen – Dreizehn Fourteen – Vierzehn Fifteen – Fünfzehn – Sixteen – Sechzehn Seventeen – Siebzehn Eighteen – Achtzehn Nineteen – Neunzehn Twenty – Zwanzig Thirty – Dreißig Forty – Vierzig Fifty – Fünfzig Sixty – Sechzig Seventy – Siebzig Eighty – Achtzig Ninety – Neunzig One hundred – Hundert Two hundred and fifty – Zweihundertfünfzig Five hundred – Fünfhundert One thousand – Tausend

Days of the Week in German

Monday – Montag Tuesday – Dienstag Wednesday – Mittwoch Thursday – Donnertag Friday – Freitag Saturday – Samstag Sunday – Sonntag

Months of the Year in German

January – Januar February – Februar March – März April – April May – Mai June – Juni July – Juli August – August September – September October – Oktober November – November December – Dezember

We hope our list of the best German travel phrases for tourists and travelers has been useful to you. You could download the article as a PDF and print it out, or write down some of the most important ones.

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Home » 29 Common German phrases you’ll need on your travels

29 Common German phrases you'll need on your travels

Pack your socks and sandals, and hold on to your Bretzel. We’re going to Germany – the land of beer and sausages! 

Whether you’ve booked a trip to go to the Oktoberfest in Munich, the carnival in Cologne, or just a nice, relaxing hiking trip around the Black Forest, knowing how to get by in Germany will make your stay much more enjoyable.

We’ve gathered the most essential, basic German words and phrases that’ll help you get by on your travels.

From saying hi to ordering Bratwurst – here are 29 common German travel phrases for your travels

10 common german phrases.

From basic German greetings to pleas for help when you get stuck, we’ve got you covered.

• Hallo (Hello)
• Tschüss (Bye)
• Bitte (Please)
• Danke (Thanks)
• Entschuldigung (Excuse me)
• Sorry (Sorry)
• Formal: Können Sie mir helfen?; informal: Kannst du mir helfen? (Can you help me?)
• Formal: Sprechen Sie English?; informal: In Sprichst du Englisch? (Do you speak English?)
• Einen Moment, bitte. (One moment, please.)
• Das ist alles, danke. (That’s all, thank you.)

Want to learn more German phrases?

Enrich your German vocabulary and unlock a world of phrases beyond “Hallo!” with Busuu’s free expert-designed online courses. Join our 120 million+ native speaker community, and access a treasure trove of language learning resources.

Danke, I will

6 phrases for getting around .

Try these phrases out when Google Maps (or the paper version, if you’re that retro!) lets you down.

• Wo finde ich… (Where do I find… ) … den Bahnhof? (… the train station?) … einen Geldautomaten? (… a cash machine?) … die Touristeninformation? (… the tourist information?) … ein Taxi? (… a cab?) … eine Toilette? (… a toilet?)
• Darf ich bitte vorbei? (Could you let me pass please?)
• Wie viel kostet das? (How much does this cost?)
• Wann fährt…  (When’s… ) … der nächste Bus? (… the next bus?) … die nächste Bahn? (… the next train?)
• Ich habe mich verlaufen. (I’m lost.)
• Wie komme ich zu… (How do I get to… )

7 Common German phrases for eating out

Wining and dining out on the town? Whip out this list to hold your own in any German restaurant.

• Ich habe eine Reservierung auf den Namen… (I’ve got a reservation under… )
• Ich möchte bitte… (I would like… ) … einen Tisch reservieren. (… to book a table, please.) … ein Glas Wein. (… a glass of wine, please.) … die Speisekarte. (… the menu.) … zahlen.(… to pay, please.)
• Kann ich mit EC-Karte / Kreditkarte zahlen? (Do you take debit cards / credit cards?) 
• Zum Wohl! / Prost! (Cheers!)
• Guten Appetit. (Enjoy your meal.)
• Die Rechnung, bitte. (The bill, please.)
• Stimmt so. (Keep the change.)

Top tip: The service at restaurants or cafes usually isn’t included in the bill. Tipping is welcomed and should reflect how happy you were with food and service – 10% of the bill is the norm.

@busuu Do you know any more? 🇩🇪 #german #germanlesson #learngerman #germanwords #edutok #languagelearning #busuu ♬ Reason – XO TEAM

6 German sentences for talking about your travels

You never know who you might meet on your travels… open yourself up to meeting new people with these basic German conversation-starters.

• Ich heiße… (My name is… )
• Ich komme aus… (I’m from… ) … Großbritannien (… the UK.) … den Staaten (… the States.) … Australien. (… Australia.)
• Ich habe… (I have…) … ein Zimmer reserviert. (… booked a room.)
• Ich bin zum ersten Mal hier. (This is my first time here.)
• Ich bleibe für… (I’m staying for… ) … das Wochenende (… the weekend.) … ein paar Tage. (… a few days.) … eine Woche. (… a week.)
• Ich fahre weiter nach… (I’m travelling on to… ) 

Did you know this? Besides hip places like urban Berlin, it’s still most common to approach people you don’t know with the polite Sie instead of the personal du , which we use with friends, family or children. Though if you’ve been chatting with someone for a while, they might ask if you want to use the informal du – especially after you’ve been trying all these new phrases out on them. They might ask: Wollen wir uns duzen? (Should we use “du”?) Of course, you’ll want to say: Ja!

That’s all from us! Just one last thing: remember that being able to communicate always also means being able to connect. 

Knowing the local lingo is not only useful for navigating around unfamiliar places. Speaking German will also open many cultural doors for you. Even if it’s just a friendly danke (thanks), you’ll have shown you’ve made an effort. 

And who knows? You might even make a German smile!

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Learn more common German phrases – or common phrases in 13 other languages – with Busuu, the app that makes learning a language easier for everyone.

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The Science of Language Learning

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German for Travelers: 101 Useful Phrases Every Backpacker Should Know

• 13 min read
• July 7, 2022
• [addtoany] test

Renán L. Cuervo

Content Writer

Passport? Check. Bags? Packed. Tickets? Booked. How’s your Deutsch? Get ready for your upcoming trip to Germany with this handy list of German phrases for travelers to cover every situation!

Why you should learn these German phrases for travelers

Are you getting ready to visit Germany? Or is it Austria? Switzerland? Whatever the country, these German travel phrases will make your trip that much more enjoyable. So, print them out or keep them on your phone!

Even if you’re not looking to become fluent in German, these common German phrases for travel are a great way to connect with native speakers and immerse yourself in the country during your journey. But, in case you need more convincing, here are a few other reasons why you should pick up some basic German for travelers :

Travel better : First, it’ll be easier to move around, ask for directions, and communicate with locals. Besides, you’ll score points with native speakers!

More independence : Second, you’ll rely less on expensive phrase books, awkward translations from your phone, and complicated hand gesturing. Additionally, we promise you’ll feel great after successfully ordering a beer in German all on your own. 

Not everyone speaks English : Third, the idea that every single European speaks English is not true. So, avoid the hassle of tracking down an English speaker every time you need help.

Easier to meet new people : Fourth, meeting people and making friends will be easier. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet your new best friend or someone special thanks to a smooth Hallo, wie geht es dir?

Make learning German easier : Lastly, if you’re interested in fully learning this European language, good news! Learning phrases in your target language is one of the best ways to learn German .

German phrases for travelers: a note on pronunciation

Before we get to our list of German phrases for travelers , here’s a quick, helpful note on German pronunciation. 

Generally, German is a highly phonetic language: its words tend to sound exactly like they’re written. It’s also a close linguistic relative to English and uses the Latin alphabet, so its pronunciation is not that difficult to grasp. That being said, there are a few tricky letters and sounds to consider. Here’s a quick rundown:

To help you out even more, we’re adding the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) of each phrase so you know exactly how to pronounce it. 

Remember: the Fluent Forever app is chock-full of even more useful German travel phrases you can learn.

Keep these phrases handy! Photo by Skylar Kang

The top 101 German phrases for travelers

Greetings, introductions, and farewells.

From “hello” to “goodbye,” these first group of German phrases for travelers will help you pick the right salutation for the right context. 

Basic questions and answers

These aren’t life’s most pressing questions, but they’re certainly some of its most common ones. This next list has some great questions you’ll need, along with their answers.

You’ll need to eat during your trip, right? Well, these phrases will help you navigate your first time ordering a Bratwurst.

At the hotel

Be it at a hostel or a five-star hotel, the following phrases will come in handy when you’re looking for a place to spend the night.

Locations & asking for directions

You’ll also need to know how to get to places. So here’s a list of phrases you can use to find your way through Berlin’s lively downtown. 

Most German-speaking countries have efficient public transport. Make sure you keep these next phrases handy for when you need to use the metro.

Your friends and family will probably expect souvenirs. Don’t let them down and get them something nice at the gift shop! Here’s how:

Emergency phrases 

Emergency? Fret not, these last group of phrases are sure to help you out in your moments of need!

Learn German phrases for travelers with these online resources

If you’re looking to learn even more German, there are different resources you can tap into online. As we’ve already mentioned, even if you’re not looking to become fluent, locals will appreciate the effort you make to speak their language. 

First, you can learn with a language exchange partner. It’s a fun way to practice any language and meet someone at the same time. Additionally, if they’re from the place you plan to visit, they can give you useful information and travel tips. My Language Exchange is a great place to start your search.

Second, YouTube is a fantastic platform for online language tutors. There are a lot of people who upload free courses and provide tips in simple and straightforward videos. Here’s a list of some well-known German language YouTubers: 

• German with Anja
• Fröhlich Deutsch
• EasyDeutsch
• Get Germanized

Third, you can take a free German course before you step on the plane. Here’s a neatly compiled list of free online courses you can check out. 

Lastly, what better way to learn German online than with Fluent Forever? You can download our app and learn through our unique, science-backed method that’ll get you speaking in no time. Plus, you can sign up for our Live Coaching program to get 1-on-1 sessions from a native speaker who’s certified in our language learning system. 

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Travel and Language Adventures

Ultimate and Printable Guide: Basic German for Travelers

Are you planning a trip to Germany soon? If so you’re not alone, approximately 37.4 million people visit Germany every year making it the ninth-most visited country in the world. German is also one of the most prevalent languages spoken and taught worldwide, with over 130 million speaking it around the globe.

Having some knowledge of basic German words and phrases in your repertoire is a great asset before departing on your trip. Even if a large percentage of Germans know some English, they may not be comfortable using it. Additionally, locals usually respect the fact that a visitor has taken the time to learn some of their language.

Some German words are quite similar to English as you will see. However, the pronunciation of some other German words can be quite daunting. You may not have a community of native German speakers at your disposal to help with pronouncing new words either. While talking with native speakers is the best way to learn, online tools like Google Translate or Duolingo can help in the meantime.

Without further adieu, here are some great Basic German Words and Phrases you should know before traveling to Germany:

General Greetings

• Hello — Hallo
• Thank You — Dankeschön or simply ‘Danke’
• Good Morning — Guten Morgen
• What time is it? — Wie spät ist es?
• Good Day — Guten Tag
• Good Evening — Guten Abend
• Goodbye — Auf Wiedersehen
• Please — Bitte
• Sorry — Entschuldigung
• My name is *name* — Ich heiße *name*
• How are you doing? — Wie geht es Ihnen?
• Do you speak English? — Sprechen Sie Englisch?
• Airport — Der Flughafen
• Train Station — Der Bahnhof
• Restaurant — Das Restaurant
• Washroom — Der Waschraum (WC)
• Hotel — Das Hotel
• Museum — Das Museum
• Metro — Die U-Bahn
• Car — Das Auto
• Taxi — Das Taxi
• Bus — Der Bus
• Ticket — Das Ticket
• Street — Die Straße
• Passport — Der Pass
• Luggage — Das Gepäck

Food and Drink

• Water — Wasser
• Beer — Bier
• Coffee — Kaffee
• Bread — Brot
• Cheese — Käse
• Breakfast — Frühstück
• Lunch — Mittagessen
• Dinner — Abendessen
• Food — Essen
• Drinks — Getränke
• Menu — Speisekarte
• Cheque, please! — Rechnung bitte!

Get the Free Printable Version HERE

The German language has ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ words that English does not have to address someone. For instance, in English, you would just ask ‘How are you doing?’, whereas Germans can ask either ‘Wie geht es Ihnen?’ (formal) or ‘Wie geht es dir?’ (informal). If you have never met someone before, make sure you use the formal ‘you’.

Another thing to remember: the emergency number in a foreign country may not be the same as your own. For instance, in Germany, it is 112. Something important to note before traveling to a new place, just in case you need it!

With some Basic German words and phrases in your repertoire, you’re ready to enjoy your visit to Deutschland!

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82 Essential German Travel Phrases And Words For Daily Survival

Planning a visit to Germany or Austria? Already there perhaps?

Most people you’re going to meet in Germany will be able to communicate in English to some extent, but what if you’d like to try your hand at expressing yourself in German?

In today’s article we’re looking at the most basic German phrases you’re going to need for getting around, ordering food, talking to people, booking a hotel room and more. Note: Some of these phrases appear twice, once in their formal and their informal version. As a general rule of thumb, if you’re talking to someone in a formal setting (clerks, waiters, hotel staff, etc.) and/or they’re older than you,  Sie is the better choice. Friends, family, close acquaintances or children are generally addressed with  Du.

Basic German Words & Phrases

Let’s start with the absolute fundamentals you’re going to need on a daily basis:

Hallo! Hello!

Danke. Thank you.

Auf Wiedersehen! Goodbye

Bitte. Please/You’re welcome.

Vielleicht maybe

Entschuldigung! Excuse me!

Guten Tag! Good day!

Guten Morgen! Good morning!

Guten Abend Good evening

Meet & Greet in German

Next up, let’s have a look at some basic German phrases for talking to people. Here you’ll find everything you’re going to need for introducing yourself and starting up your first German conversation:

Ich heiße … My name is …

Wie heißen Sie? What’s your name? (formal)

Wie heißt du? What’s your name? (informal)

Woher kommen Sie? Where are you from?

Woher kommst du? Where are you from?

Ich komme aus … I’m from …

Wie geht es Ihnen? How are you?

Wie geht es dir? How are you?

Ich kann nicht (so gut) Deutsch sprechen. I can’t speak German very well.

Sprechen Sie Englisch? Do you speak English? (formal)

Sprichst du Englisch? Do you speak English? (informal)

Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? Could you repeat that? (formal)

Kannst du das bitte wiederholen? Could you repeat that? (informal)

Nett Sie kennenzulernen. I’m pleased to meet you. (formal)

Nett dich kennenzulernen. I’m pleased to meet you. (informal)

Kommen Sie oft hierher? Do you come here often? (formal)

Kommst du oft hierher? Do you come here often? (formal)

German Phrases For Going Shopping

Now that we’ve learned some basic German words and phrases to have simple exchanges, let’s hit the shopping malls and pedestrian zones and start shopping in German:

Wie viel kostet … ? How much is …?

Haben Sie …? Do you have?

Wo finde ich …? Where can I find …?

Wo sind die Toiletten, bitte? Where are the restrooms, please?

Kann ich mit Kreditkarte zahlen? Can I pay with credit card?

Wo ist der nächste Geldautomat? Where is the closest ATM?

Kann ich bar bezahlen? Can I pay cash?

Nehmen Sie (Visa/Mastercard, etc.)? Do you accept (Visa/Mastercard, etc.)?

How To Get From A To B in German

One of the most important parts of travelling in a foreign country is making sure you catch the right bus, train or tram on time. Here are some basic German phrases for securing your transportational needs:

Eine Fahrkarte nach …, bitte! One ticket to …, please!

Was kostet eine Fahrkarte nach …? How much is a ticket to …?

Wann fährt der nächste Bus/Zug nach …? When does next bus/train leave to …?

Wohin fährt dieser Bus/Zug? Where does this bus/train go?

Wann kommt dieser Bus/Zug an? When does this bus/train arrive?

Hotels & Lodging

Most staff at big hotels is trained to handle your business in English, but what if the personnel at that quaint little seaside lodging only speaks German? The following phrases may come in handy:

Sind noch Zimmer frei? Do you have any rooms available?

Wie viel kostet ein Einzelzimmer? How much is a single room?

Wie viel kostet ein Doppelzimmer? How much is a double room?

Hat das Zimmer …? Does the room come with …?

eine Klimaanlage – air conditioning einen Balkon – balcony einen Fernseher – TV

Ich bleibe für … . I’ll stay for … .

eine Nacht – one night zwei Nächte – two nights drei Nächte – three nights

Wann gibt es Frühstück/Abendessen? When is breakfast/dinner?

Ich möchte auschecken. I’d like to check out.

German Phrases For Eating Out

Tired of being immediately spotted as (and treated like) a tourist? Why not try your hand at ordering your food like a local? Here are some of the basics you’re going to need while eating out in Germany:

Die Speisekarte, bitte. The menu please.

Einen Tisch für eine Person/zwei/drei …, bitte. A table for one/two/three …, please.

Ich bin Vegetarier. I’m vegetarian.

Ich hätte gerne … I’d like to have …

Noch ein …, bitte! Another …, please!

Schweinefleisch pork

Hühnchen chicken

Rindfleisch beef

Nudeln Pasta

Gemüse vegetables

Leitungswasser tap water

Achtung! Basic German For Emergencies

Unfortunately, even the most meticulously-planned holiday isn’t safe from the occasional hazard. Hence, here are some basic German phrases to use in moments of emergency:

Hilfe! Help!

Feuer! Fire!

Halt! Ein Dieb! Stop! A thief!

Rufen Sie die Polizei! Call the police! (formal)

Ruf die Polizei! Call the police! (informal)

Ich brauche einen Arzt. I need a doctor.

Wo ist das nächste Krankenhaus? Where’s the closest hospital?

Kann ich Ihr Telefon benutzen? Can I use your phone? (formal)

Kann ich dein Telefon benutzen? Can I use your phone? (informal)

German Holiday Greetings For Beginners

When your travel plans coincide with one of the local holidays, the following German holiday greetings will surely be useful:

Frohe Weihnachten! Merry Christmas!

Frohe Ostern! Happy Easter!

Frohes Neues! Happy New Year!

Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag! Happy Birthday!

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About the Author

André Klein has been teaching languages for more than 15 years and is the author of various short stories for German learners such as Dino lernt Deutsch and Baumgartner & Momen , grammar guides, children's books and more.

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Our intrep traveler heads to Liechtenstein to join a coveted workshop, when a global pandemic shutters all entries and exits to the Alpine monarchy.

11 essential German phrases to memorise for your trip

Recently updated on July 6th, 2023 at 09:40 am

Exploring the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle. Walking along the remnants of the graffiti-covered Berlin Wall. Sipping Bavaria’s rich beer-brewing heritage. Admiring beautiful Baroque architecture in Dresden. No matter where you are travelling in Germany, knowing some essential German phrases can help your trip run smoother – and make a good impression on the locals too. 

Savvy travellers will probably already know basic German words, and they’re pretty easy to pick up if you don’t. Try hallo (hello), guten tag (good day), auf wiedersehen (goodbye), danke (thank you), bitte (please), ja (yes) and nein (no). And having a few numbers under your belt – eins (one), zwei (two), drei (three) – should come in handy when buying tickets. Or beer, of course.

Taking you (a little) beyond the basic German words you need to know, we’ve pulled together some essential German phrases that are incredibly useful for travellers to have in their back pocket. Best of all, if you learn these you’ll be all set for trips to Austria and Switzerland too. Win, win, win. GET INSPIRED BY: Best of Germany

Wie geht’s? 

Few things immerse you in a destination quite like striking up a conversation with locals. Asking “how are you?” is a brilliant way to start. If they ask back, you can reply “ mir geht’s gut ”, meaning “I am fine”. And if the conversation’s going really well, why not introduce yourself? Simply say “ Ich heiße… ” (I am called…) before your name, and ask “ Wie heißt du? ” to find out someone else’s. 

Remember: when you come across the ß (called an eszett, a character unique to the German language), simply pronounce it like “s”, as you would in the English “see”. 

Entschuldigung

No matter what language you’re speaking, it’s good to have good manners. Just say “ entschuldigung ” (excuse me) to get the attention of hotel receptionists, ticket officers and waiters, or perhaps people who might look like they know the directions you need. Incorporate this into a longer sentence “Entschuldigen sie, ist dies… ?” (excuse me, is this…?) when you’re on public transport and unsure where to get off. 

RELATED CONTENT: Germany Destination Guide

Where is…? An essential phrase for explorers. Simply add the name of your intended destination to the end. If you’re in Berlin, for instance, that could be the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate), Berliner Fernsehturm (Berlin Television Tower) or Museumsinsel (Museum Island). More common places include the “ Bahnhof” (train station), “Flughafen” (airport), “ stadtzentrum ” (city centre) and “ supermarkt ” (supermarket). Helpfully, “taxi” and “bank” are the same in German and English.

In this case, asking “ zeigen sie mir das bitte auf der Karte? ” (can you show me on the map?) can be a more foolproof way of getting where you want to go. RELATED CONTENT: 5 hidden gems of Germany

Einmal nach…  bitte

Germany’s public transport is among the world’s best, and a handful of basic german phrases can help you navigate the various transport systems. To ask for a ticket: “Einmal/ zweimal nach…  bitte”, meaning “one ticket/ two tickets to (your destination) please”. Follow up with “ was kostet das?” (how much is it?) and “ wann fährt er ab?” (when does it leave?) and you’ll get from A to B in no time. (Hopefully.)

Ich hätte gerne… 

Tucking into the culinary culture of a country is one of the best ways to get a real taste of your destination. Instead of just smiling and pointing at the menu – ask “ kann ich bitte die Speisekarte haben? (can I have the menu, please?) if you don’t already have one – simply add “ Ich hätte gerne ” (I would like) before the name of your preferred food, be it bratwurst (sausage), spätzle (egg noodles), kartoffelkloesse (potato dumplings) or schweininshaxe , a slow-roasted pork knuckle – best enjoyed with a local beer on the side. Sehr lekker! (Very tasty!)

Can’t decide what to order? Ask: “ Was empfehlen sie? ” (what do you recommend?). GET INSPIRED BY: Imperial Europe

As the world’s largest beer festival, Oktoberfest is a huge draw for travellers and locals every autumn (usually late Steptember or early October), but beer is a big part of German culture year-round. These are some German words you need to know: “ Prost! ” (cheers!); “ maß ”, a litre glass jug of beer; and “ Eins, Zwei, Drei, G’suffa!” , meaning “one, two, three, drink!”. You’ll probably want a few brezeln (pretzels) to soak up all that beer too. 

This is a time when traditional clothing comes out the wardrobe. Expect to see the dirndl , a peasant-style pinafore, and lederhosen , leather trousers or shorts – or perhaps even get some to wear yourself. RELATED CONTENT: Iconic Germany: 8 of the most incredible German sights

Ich esse kein(e)… 

A less fun entry on this list, but necessary for any traveller with special dietary requirements. “ Ich esse kein(e)…” translates as “I don’t eat… “. Follow up with “ nüsse” (nuts), “ milchproductke” (dairy) or “ fleisch” (meat) as appropriate. “Gluten” is the same as in English, and you can explain that you are “ vegetarier(in)” (vegetarian, adding the ‘in’ for female), “veganerin vegan or have “ die Zöliakie ” (coeliac disease).

Die Rechnung, bitte

The bill, please. An essential ending to any meal. “Kann ich zahlen ?” (can I pay?) is a less formal way of asking. And “ Entschldigung, wo ist die Toilette ” (Excuse me, where is the toilet?) might also come in handy after all those beers.  GET INSPIRED BY: Best of Germany and Austria

Was kostet das? 

It’s inevitable you’ll end up parting with a few euros in shops, whether that’s on travel basics or souvenirs for yourself, and friends and family back home – especially if you visit a “ weihnachtsmarkt ” (Christmas market). “ Nur schauen ” (just looking); “ darf ich mit Bargeld bezahlen? ” (may I pay with cash?); “ darf ich mit Kreditkarte bezahlen? ” (may I pay with credit card?); and the aforementioned “ was kostet das? ” (how much is it?) should all be useful here. 

GET INSPIRED BY: Christmas Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland

RELATED CONTENT: The best Christmas markets in Germany

Ich brauche einen Arzt

We sincerely hope you don’t have to use them, but if anything goes awry, “ ich brauche einen Arzt ” (I need to see a doctor) or “ fahren sie mich bitte zum Krankenhaus ” (take me to the hospital) are handy for the linguistic arsenal. Simply “ Krankenhaus” should do the job in an emergency. Consider it the word equivalent of the traveller’s first aid kit.

Sprechen sie English?

Unless you’re fluent, there will, of course, be times when you reach the limits of your German language skills. In that case, ask “ sprechen sie English?” (do you speak English?). There’s a good chance the answer will be yes; more than half of the people in Germany speak English, and more still in areas popular with travellers, such as Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich. 

In this conversation, it might be worth adding “ Ich verstehe nicht” , meaning I don’t understand, or “ Ich spreche nicht gut Deutsch” (I do not speak German very well).

What words have you found useful when travelling in Germany? Anything other phrases you’d like to know? Let us know in the comments.

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German Language for Travellers: Learn German Travel Phrases

Last updated on  April 4, 2024

If you are planning a short holiday stay or a business trip to Germany you do not need to learn any German as most people you are going to meet will speak some English anyway. But, it will not hurt if you learn some basic German phrases, such as greetings, just to sound nice. However, if you are traveling to Germany or any other German-speaking country more often, learning a few essential German travel phrases and expressions may help you get along in situations when there are no English speakers around. Below you will find an overview of free Internet resources that largely focus on German for travellers.

German for Tourists on YouTube

• German Phrases for Travelers is a 20 min video that will teach you the very basics of the German language that any foreigner travelling around Germany will find useful.
• Basic German Travel Phrases from expertvillage is a collection of fourteen youtube videos that will not only teach you essential German travel phrases like those used when greeting people, asking for directions, travelling through airports, seeking accommodation, ordering in a restaurant, renting a car or expressions used in emergency situations, but will also give you a couple of useful travel tips on must-see German locations for foreign visitors.

Interactive Online Courses for Travellers to Germany

• LingoHut offers a free German course suitable for tourists as most of their 109 lessons focus on travel topics such as understanding directions, airport and hotel conversations, moving around town, sightseeing, shopping, ordering food at a restaurant, etc. You will learn basic vocabulary and phrases related to each topic. Each lesson includes vocabulary training, flashcards, and matching, tic-tac-toe and concentration games as well as a listening game.
• Goethe Verlag has prepared a German course for beginners as part of their series called 50 languages. This course contains many lessons that frequent travellers to German-speaking countries may find useful. In the first 80 or so lessons you will learn basic German phrases related to the most common conversational topics whereas the remaining lessons provide examples of sentences illustrating the use of German grammar (this part may be difficult to understand without further explanation, though). You can access this course online for free, download all of its 100 lessons as mp3 files or try it on your mobile device. However, only the first 30 lessons are free in the mobile application. Complete course for portable devices will cost you $2.99.

German for Travellers on Mobile Apps

• Bravolol is a mobile application for foreign visitors to Germany who wish to learn some basic German phrases and vocabulary most frequently used when traveling around. You will be listening to the speaking parrot and repeating the phrases and expressions you heard. Whenever needed you can search for phrases by keywords. This app can also be used offline. The basic version is free but the full version will cost you $4.99.

German Travel Phrases on PDFs

• German for Confident Travel is a free downloadable German travel phrasebook in the PDF format. It contains hundreds of German phrases with English translations and explanations on when to use each phrase. This phrasebook also provides pronunciation guidance for English speakers. The main focus is on travel-related topics such as greetings, food, accommodation, shopping, transportation and socializing.

Social Platforms for Travellers

• PolyglotClub is a social platform where people can find conversation partners in foreign countries who are native speakers in the language they are trying to learn. However, this platform is also used by travellers who wish to connect with natives in the country they are planning to visit. They can ask them all sorts of questions about their country, language and culture to become more familiar with the place before they leave on a trip. Likewise, travellers can ask their language exchange partners before they go on a trip to teach them correct vocabulary to be able to take a taxi, check at a hotel, ask for directions or order meals and drinks at a restaurant.
• Interpals brings together people from all over the world who are learning foreign languages and/or are looking for travel buddies abroad that will show them around when visiting their town. Although this platform is not specifically designed for teaching travel phrases, it is very likely that these will be some of the first expressions you will learn before and during your visit to another country.

Other Great German Learning Resources for Travelers

Also, do not forget to check out our section on German beginner courses where you will certainly find additional lessons that teach vocabulary and phrases you can use on your next trip to Germany or any other German-speaking country. Alternatively, for making friends in foreign countries who can help you learn their native language and introduce you to their culture see the list of free language exchanges . Your German language exchange partner will not only help you learn some basic German travel phrases but may also want to meet you in person and show you around their town next time you are visiting Germany.

Travel German FAQs

‘Ja’ (yaa) and ‘Nein’ (nain).

The first words you may want to learn before your trip to Germany should include: ‘Ja’ (yes) and ‘Nein’ (no), greetings such as ‘Hallo’ (hello), ‘Guten Tag’ (good day), ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ (good bye) and a couple of words to sound polite such as ‘Bitte’ (please), ‘Danke’ (thank you), ‘Entschuldigung’ (sorry, though many Germans also say sorry) and ‘Gesundheit’ (bless you).

‘Bitte’ is one of the most frequent words you will hear when visiting Germany and usually means ‘please’ or ‘yes, please’. As an interjection it can also translate as ‘you are welcome’, ‘here you go’ or ‘go ahead’. ‘Die Bitte’ is also a noun meaning a ‘plea’, ‘request’ or an ‘appeal’.

‘Bitte schön’ are actually two words used most often as a polite response to someone saying ‘Danke schön’ or ‘Danke sehr’ (i.e., different ways of saying thank you such as ‘many thanks’ or ‘thanks a lot’) and it means ‘you are welcome’, ‘my pleasure’ or ‘not at all’.

The most common casual German greetings are ‘Grüß dich!’ and ‘Hallo!’.

The German word for tip is ‘Trinkgeld’ which literally means ‘drink money’, suggesting that you usually tip the waiter. It is a kind of gratuity, not a service charge. Hence, if you were happy with the service, you round up the bill by adding up to 10% extra. But, if you were not satisfied, there is absolutely no reason to leave a tip.

You may hear people say ‘gerne’ quite often while travelling in Germany, especially as a response to saying ‘thank you’ to them. It is a polite expression that translates as ‘gladly’ or ‘with pleasure’, meaning that the person enjoyed helping you.

Genau literally means “exact(ly)”, “accurate(ly)” or “precise(ly)”. However, its other meanings are “that’s right”, “yes, that’s it”, “yes, that’s correct” or simply “right” or “yes”. This broader meaning is the main reason why German speakers use the word “genau” so much.

German Travel Phrases With Pronunciation

Before heading off on a holiday, perhaps to a land filled with pretzels and techno clubs, it may come in handy to download some useful German travel phrases onto your brain, along with the “Hot Girl Summer” song you may have already downloaded onto your phone.

German travel phrases are useful for tourists and can help you show a little respect for local German culture. In this post, we're going to look at useful German words & expressions you can use on your holiday here.

Basic German Travel Phrases

We're going to start out with very common German travel phrases and later in the post look at some more advanced expressions you might want to use on your trip. All travel phrases come with audio recordings, so just click on the play button to listen to the pronunciation. 😊

Common German Travel Phrases

Let's start with the absolute basics of German. If you don't have much time left and want to make sure you can at least say Hello , Goodbye and yes in German, have an intense stare at this list:

Introducing Yourself

If you want to introduce yourself in German or have a little bit of small talk , whether it be at a café or at the airport, you might like the following phrases. When using these phrases, make sure that your name is Tom.

If you would like to learn how to talk about yourself more, the first lesson of our free online German lessons is about how to introduce yourself in German .

Locations in German

Phrases for the airport, ordering at restaurants & cafés, travel phrases for the hotel, getting around in german, advanced german travel phrases & idioms.

Now, if you are an intermediate learner, you might not have to learn simple phrases like “Ein Bier bitte” and “Guten Tag” anymore. The phrases in the following list will provide you with helpful building blocks you may use to form more advanced, eloquent sentences about your trip, in German, whilst you tuck into your Spaghettieis.

1. Der Geheimtipp

Have you ever been on holiday and found a restaurant or a sight that is little known, but absolutely amazing? If so, you found a Geheimtipp.

A Geheimtipp is a quality place that has a certain charm in part because it isn’t filled with tourists. The reason for this is because it isn’t so well known; as if the locals have been keeping it a secret from the crowds of tourists.

2. Die Touristenfalle

When on holiday, you may come across certain low-quality tourist attractions and services that are meant to entice those looking for a quick and easy-to-find place to go, in order to pass the time. They may be mediocre and tacky, and are often overpriced.

When you go to such a place, you may even leave feeling like you were given a superficial impression of the culture, and may have noticed that the place was full of tourists, with no locals in sight. Some people enjoy the convenience of such places, but for those who don’t, they can be referred to as: tourist traps.

So, next time you’re on holiday, you might find it useful to remember this term.

PS: Das Beispiel ist ein echter Tipp. Die haben sehr leckere Baumstriezel.

3. In der Umgebung

Sometimes it can be useful to ask around for Geheimtipps in the area you are staying. Die Umgebung is the Kreis district or Bereich area in which one is staying. If you know the whereabouts of some hidden gems in the area, you can kill two birds with one stone by visiting interesting, quality places, without having to travel around the city all day. Or, perhaps for those who do love to explore all the far corners of a given travel destination, it may be enough to just know which little cafe in the area one may visit every morning, for a reliable cup of coffee.

Either way, it may come in handy to remember the phrase: In der Umgebung .

4. sich nach etw. erkundigen

It’s always a good idea to plan ahead of your holiday ☝️; to seek any information that may be useful to you on your trip. Sich nach etw. erkundigen means just this - to seek information / to ask about something, looking for helpful information.

For example, you may have booked a dinner on the beach during your holiday, but would like to ask for more information regarding the exact location. Or, you may have booked your hotel but would like to ask if they offer specific food at the breakfast buffet. To ask for this information, you could say:

5. keine Sekunde vergeuden

Some people love to make the most out of the time they have on holiday. They wake up early, maybe as early as the sun rises, to double check their plan for the day, packed with a number of activities to do and sights to see.

First there’ll be a morning hike through the mountains, before a tour of the city, then a quick train ride to a cheese tasting in the countryside, then back to the city for a dinner that was booked weeks in advance, and a night of dancing at an edgy fetish party held in a medieval castle.

Do you know someone like this? In any case, not a minute should be wasted!

6. etw. durchplanen / etw. bis ins letzte Detail planen

For those who love to plan every detail of their holiday, the phrase “etw. bis ins letzte Detail planen” may come in handy.

There are some holiday destinations that are full of fascinating things to explore and experience. For example, Berlin has an abundance of quality clubs, spas and museums to offer. So, in order to fit in as much as you can in a short amount of time, one might like to plan ahead and get organized.

7. es sich gut gehen lassen

Whilst some people love to make the most out of their holiday by filling it with activities, others are perfectly content with lots of relaxation and restoration.

This may be done by booking a relaxing holiday by the sea, or retreating into nature by spending your trip in a cabin in the woods. What’s important here is the idea of just letting go, or to: sich gut gehen lassen .

8. auf gut Glück

Sometimes, some people enjoy keeping holiday planning to a bare minimum, as in not planning much at all and letting each day bring new, spontaneous adventures.

For example, you may book a flight to a remote destination you’ve never visited before, just like that. No plan. No wishlist. Just your passport and, hopefully, the eyes of god watching over you. Whether it’s a whole holiday left unplanned, or perhaps just a day to see where your mood takes you, a helpful expression to describe this intentional spontaneity is: auf gut Glück .

9. jdn. auf die Folter spannen

Have you ever booked a holiday for your partner or friend, but didn’t tell them the destination until the day you took your flight?

Or have you ever planned a special day, or activity during a trip abroad, that your partner or friend knew about except for some really important details, like where the event is being held, or what type of food to expect?

If you have, then you have kept someone waiting in suspense , or you intend to excite somebody by purposefully hiding details about your plan. There is a phrase in German that expresses this: jdn. auf die Folter spannen .

10. Urlaub auf Balkonien machen

This phrase is for those of us who, once in a while, enjoy a good holiday spent in the comfort of our own home… or, yes, balconies.

As this phrase quite literally suggests, “Urlaub auf Balkonien machen”, means to relax and enjoy what one has to offer at home already, rather than to travel somewhere else.

So, for example, many people, perhaps against their wishes, would have spent their recent holidays in "Balkonien", due to the Corona restrictions. Many people living in Berlin also enjoy their holidays in "Balkonien" over the summer, as the city is arguably most alive during this season.

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Basic German Phrases For Travel

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Heading to Germany soon and want to know a few of the basic German phrases for travel to help you get around, show that you are respectful of being in their country, or you just love to learn new foreign words or languages?? I’m not here to teach you German (that would be pretty hypocritical of me, after all since my own German is ATROCIOUS despite living here) but I do think it’s important that when you travel, you have even just a few of the German essentials memorized. The problem is that German travel words may very well vary depending on exactly where you go. Regardless though, I go into what to expect for how to communicate and what German tourist phrases I personally think are the most important for you to know.

High German vs Local Dialects

I discuss if you actually need to know German to travel IN Germany in this article . And one of the main points that I make in there is that it is required curriculum in Germany for students to start learning English (here in Bavaria it starts in 3rd grade). While most kids that live in the small countryside villages will know and speak Bayerisch (or any dialect throughout the country), it is not officially taught in school.

Hoch Deutsch is the “proper” German and this is what is taught in schools. Therefore, while dialects may be used all over, your best bet is to always fall back to the “Hoch Deutsch” words (which is what any translator app will give you, anyway).

Dialects will Vary (Drastically)

I’ll never forget when I traveled to Frankfurt and asked for a “Salami Semmel” and they looked at me like I had 4 heads. At the time, I thought it was just my reeeeeaaaaaaally bad German but I later came to find out that the word “Semmel” (Roll/Sandwich) that we use everywhere here in Regensburg is actually a very Bavarian word and not spoken all over Germany!

When I took my first A1 German class, the teacher was from a teeny tiny village and she was explaining that she speaks Bayerisch (a very strong dialect in Bavaria). But then she was joking that even she can’t understand the Bayerisch in the next village over. You know, the town that is literally a 3 minute drive from the place that she grew up and has spent her entire life in! It was at this moment that I realized I was screwed for learning German. If a GERMAN can’t even understand other dialects, what hope do I have!?

However, as a general traveler, no matter where you travel that has dialect, if you say the “Hoch Deutsch” words, you will still most likely be understood. So, don’t worry about knowing 5 different dialects for where you go (because, like I said, it can actually literally change kilometer to kilometer!), and instead, just trust your Google Translate and the basic German travel phrases that apps like DeepL and Google Translate give you for Hoch Deutsch.

Local Phrases

Another thing to consider is that in some regions of Germany, they just have different phrases or slang for things. It’s not always necessarily a direct correlation to dialect per se (although, that often does come into play). A great example is the first time I traveled to parts of Northern Germany and people were greeting me with a phrase I had NEVER heard before in ALL of my travels of Germany. I knew that saying something like “Grüß Gott” or “Servus” was definitely something from Bavaria, so I knew to default instead to the more general, “Hallo” or even ” Guten Tag.” But when they started saying “Moin” (sometimes even just “Moi”) as a greeting I was legit confused and thrown off! Berlin is also known for having some of their own slang that is typically only spoken in that area.

My point is that having some very basic German words for traveling in your back pocket is absolutely never a bad idea. However, if you are traveling to various regions, just know that the common German phrases for traveling in one region may be quite different from another.

German Phrases for Travelers

The reality is there are plenty of phrases for travel in Germany that would be helpful to know. But let’s be real and let’s be honest with ourselves here. If you are reading this article, you probably are not here to learn German and if you are like me and your brain can only hold onto like, 3 foreign language phrases at a time when traveling, you don’t need a whole long, laundry list and dictionary! So, here are the very basic German phrases for travel. These are the ones that say, “Hi. I’m clearly a foreigner, but I respect you enough to at least pretend to attempt something in your language.” At this point, we aren’t even going for “Did I pronounce this correctly” (although, bonus points if you do!) this is simply a quick and dirty run down of common German phrases for travel that will help you not look like a jerk for just demanding everyone speak English around you.

Essential German Phrases for Travel

Use these simple German words as the bare minimum when traveling in Germany.

Since we’re here for the basics, I won’t judge you, if you don’t judge me? Mmmk? Click on the play button to hear what a typical tourist can say the common German phrases.

Hallo/ Local Greeting

Say It Like: “ HA-low “

The first word you need to know when traveling to ANY foreign country is the basic greeting! Luckily for us, a very standardized way to greet people no matter what region in Germany you are visiting is super easy for English Speakers. “Hallo!” is so close to “Hello!” that you are sure to remember this one. And while saying “Hallo” whether you are in Berlin or in the Alps is going to be 100% acceptable, it is still nice to know what the local greeting is (if for no other reason than when it’s said to YOU so that you’ll know what it is!). Here are a few regional ways you can expect to be greeted in Germany:

Bavaria : Servus, Grüß Gott (that silly looking letter is a double “S” so it is pronounced like “Groos Got”), Grüezi

Other Southern Germany: Grüezi, Grüß Gott

Central Germany: Guten Tag

Northern Germany: Moin/ Moi

Depending on the exact local dialect, most greetings will then take some shape or form from these basic “Hellos.” For example, in some places in the state of Hessen, they just basically gargle the word, “Gut” into the word, “Guude” as a hello. Or in areas along the French border, there may be variations of “Tag” (shortened for “Guten Tag) such as “Tach” for their greeting. Again, the point is that you don’t need to know all of these, but to have a basic prior knowledge of the base words is good so that when someone says to you, “Tagchen” you’ll know “Oh, hey, they are saying hello to me”

Example : “Hallo!” (As you walk into a store)

Sprechen Sie Englisch?

Say It Like: “ Shhprek-in Zee Eng-lish? “

Let’s go in order of importance for this next phrase. You’ve now said “Hallo” to the hotel receptionists, the bus driver, or whomever. But now you need to actually communicate something. Maybe you need to check in to your hotel. Or maybe you have a question about a food item on a menu. You’re next “Must Know” German phrase is simply, “Sprechen Sie Englisch?” Do you speak English? If they say no, then fall back on your Google Translate App (seriously, it can be a life saver!) and if they say, “Ja. Naturlich” then know that it is acceptable to switch the conversation to English.

Insider Tip: Many Germans are actually a bit self conscious of their English abilities. Many will say they can’t speak German or “only speak a little” and the reality is that they can speak wonderfully! (Far better than my butchered German, at least!!) But if they say they only speak a little, try to meet them in the middle with as much as you can manage in German, or, again, simply whip out your Google Translate App.

Example : “Hallo! Sprechen Sie Englisch?” (When you walk into a restaurant, hotel, etc)

Say It Like: “ Choose !” (but quick)

While I said before that “Hoch Deutsch” can always be your default, one area that I find most people no longer actually use the “High German” phrase is when saying, “Goodbye.” As stereotypical as the word, “Auf Wiedersehen” is when you imagine Germans, it’s actually not super commonly used! Granted, if you do say, “Auf Wiedersehen” as you leave somewhere, it’s not like anyone will think anything wrong with it.

However, it’s much more common for people to use the word, “Tchüss” for goodbye and even the Italian word, “Ciao!”

Example : Tchüss! Schönen tag! (Goodbye have a nice day!) (As you leave a restaurant)

Say It Like: “ Ya “/ “ Nine “

Again, luckily these two phrases are pretty darn easy to memorize and remember. Knowing how to say “Yes” and “No” is just a nice thing to be able to say. It can be as simple as the waitress asking you if you are ready to order and you say, “Ja. I’d like a Schnitzle please” Sure, you switched to English immediately. But again, the purpose of knowing the most essential German travel phrases is not to be conversing at this point, but instead to be more of a sign of respect in a foreign country.

Example : Haben Sie eine Reservierung? – “Ja”

Bitte/ Danke (Schön)

Say It Like: “Bit-uh”/ “Dahnk-uh” (Shoe-un)

Just like with Ja und Nein, knowing how to say “Please” (Bitte) and “Thank you” (Danke) is the very least we can do as tourists. I don’t care what language you are speaking or what country you are in, we all know that the basics of politeness can get you quite far in life! Even if you are just saying, “Danke” as you leave a restaurant or if you can manage an “Ein Bier, Bitte” it’s a simple gesture to show you are trying.

Note : Schön saying the word “Schön” is like giving the word more emphasis. Think of it like saying “Thanks!” vs “Thank you so much!”

Example : “Ich mochte das Schnitzle und Pommes, bitte.” or “Danke Schön für die Hilfe!”

Entschuldigung

Say It Like: “ Ent-shool-di-goon “

Knowing how to say, “Excuse me” is one of the main go-to travel phrases. Whether you accidentally bumped into someone on the bus, or need to pass a little old Oma walking slowly on a sidewalk, being able to say, “Entschuldigung” is just the polite thing to say. But perhaps the place where you might be surprised to use it the most is at restaurants. Many people get the impression that Germans can be a bit stand off-ish or even that service at restaurants are lacking and that the servers are rude. That’s not true at all. Germans just very much respect your privacy and time. At restaurants, you’ll want to get used to saying, “Entschudligung” with a polite little wave to the server, because it’s standard that they don’t come to you unless they’ve been asked. Just simply get the waiter’s attention with an “Entschudligung” and then kindly ask for what you need (some ketchup, another drink, the bill. etc….)

Example : “Entschudligung, kannst du hiflen?” (Excuse me, can you help?)

Es Tut Mir Leid

Say It Like: “ Es toot mare lide “

I’ll put “I’m sorry” as a subtext to “Excuse me” because in Germany, saying, “Entschuldigung” is just as acceptable as “I’m sorry” for a plethora of cases. If you bumped into someone, if you are apologizing for not knowing how to speak German, etc saying, “Entschuldigung” is just fine. So, if you are looking at minimizing the amount of common German phrases for travel to know, you can probably skip this one.

Example : “Es tut mir Leid , Ich spreche kein Deutsch ” (I’m sorry, I don’t speak German) “Entschudligung , Ich spreche kein Deutsch ” (also the same meaning)

Say It Like: “Voh Ist… “

Now, I know not everyone has the world’s smallest bladder like me, but one of the first phrases I ever learned when traveling in Germany before I moved here was, “Wo ist die Toilette?” If that’s not as big of a concern for you (lucky you!), then still knowing how to ask, “Where is the….” is still a very helpful travel phrase to know. For example, even though I now live in Germany, I still sometimes have to ask for help when traveling for things like “Wo ist the Bus Stop?” or, “Wo ist die Bahnhof?”…and yes, I still have to regularly ask, “Wo ist die Toilette?”

Example: “Wo ist ein Geldautomat?” (Where is an ATM)

Insider Tip: Bathroom Edition

Since we are on the topic of bathrooms and German travel phrases, a few things to note:

Toilette : I felt really weird asking for “The toilet” when I first moved here. It sounded a bit crass and not very polite. However, that is the most common way to speak about a “Restroom” in Germany. Say It Like: “Toy-lett-uh “

WC : This literally stands for “Water Closet” but if you ask “Wo ist die WC?” you are more than likely going to get a few funny looks, even though many signs on the bathrooms say WC! Just use the word “Toilette” instead. Say It Like: “ Vay- Say “

Damen/Herren: You’ll probably find yourself in a predicament at some point as you stand in front of the bathroom doors in a public building trying to remember which one you need to go into. Luckily, Germans often have silly little pictures on the bathroom doors, like a lady in a Dirndl on the “Women’s” bathroom so it’s typically pretty easy to figure out. But if not: Damen = Women/ Herren = Men Say It Like: “Dahmen/ Hair-en “

Say It Like: “Knock Eye(ns) “

This may be an important one if you plan on eating out often on your trip to Germany. For example, if I finished my Dunkles Bier, I could just point to the mug and say, “Nach Eins (bitte).” It is the most simple way to tell the server that you would like “Another one.” This can be applied to most things at a restaurant as well. Sure, you could go the extra step to say the actual word you need (Ketchup, Helles Bier, etc…) but at it’s simplest form, pointing and saying, “Nach Eins, bitte” is a great start for a traveler.

Example : “Nach Eins Bier, bitte” (Another beer please)

Zahlen Bitte

Say It Like: “Tsah-len Bit-uh”

The first time I traveled to Germany, in my German Phrases for Travellers pocketbook, it said, to ask for “ Die Rechnung (bitte)” when you are ready to ask for “The Bill” and while “Rechnung” is also 100% correct, for some reason, I could just never remember that word on the spot! If you are looking for an easier (and still absolutely acceptable) way to ask for the bill, you can simply politely wave down the server (they do NOT bring it to you automatically) and just say, “Zahlen Bitte?”

Just be sure you know the proper Tipping Etiquette in Germany

Example : “ Entschudligung . Zahlen Bitte?” (Excuse me, may I have the bill please?)

Was Kostet Das?

Say It Like: “Vas Cost-it Dahs? “

If you plan on shopping for things like the Best German Souveneirs , then you may need to know how to ask how much something costs. Typically, the prices are all on items, but in the off chance it’s not, being able to ask “Was Kostet Das?” is a polite ice breaker. That means they may answer in German, though! But no worries, you can just ask them to type it out on your phone if they can’t speak English.

Example : “ Entschudligung . Was Kostet Das?” (as you point to an item) (Excuse me, what does this cost?)

Other Good German Travel Vocabulary To Know

Whether you aced your Duo Lingo practices before you boarded the plane or if you just feel like you’ve got a good memory and got the above phrases locked and loaded, there are still a few more simple German phrases that will be helpful for you to know.

Ich spreche kein Deutsch : “I don’t speak German”- This just may be one of the most useful German phrases for travel if you don’t speak German!

Nimmst Du Karte? : “Do you take Credit Cards?” – While people still argue that “Cash is King” in Germany, credit cards are becoming more and more common, although it’s never a guarantee. “Nimmst Du Karte?” is one of my personal go-to phrases when out and about in Germany.

Ich Habe…: “I have…” For example, “ Ich habe eine Reservierung ” (I have a reservation). You can also ask, “ Kann Ich Habe… ” (May I have…)

Trinken : “Drink” For example, a server will ask you “Was möchten Sie trinken? ” (What would you like to drink?) pretty soon after you sit down.

Genau : “Exactly.” I often joke that if you don’t know what word to say in German, just say, “Genau.” It’s like the classic filler and a common way to say, “Of course” “Yes” “Exactly” etc…

Gerne : “Gladly” You’ll typically hear this when you say Danke to something, like someone holding a door open, a server handing you a drink, etc

Ich Schaue Nur: “I’m just looking” For example, if you are at a store doing some window browsing.

Related posts:

LeAnna Brown; Germany Travel Expert

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StoryLearning

Learn A Language Through Stories

92 Basic German Phrases To Survive Your First Conversation With A Native

Have you ever wanted to learn German?

Or are you planning a trip to a German-speaking country?

To get started and have your first basic conversations in German, you're going to need to learn some words!

In this post, you'll learn 92 basic German phrases and words that will help you on your travels or just at home. 

To make it easier for you, I've divided the phrases into different categories.

German Greetings & Introductions

• “I do not understand!” – Getting Out Of Sticky Situations

Numbers In German

Visiting a german restaurant, transport – getting around in germany.

• Asking For Directions
• Shopping In German
• Dealing with Medical Emergencies
• Finding Hidden Gems

Whether you're going to Germany or Austria or Switzerland, chances are you can get by in English.  But if you learn basic German too, you'll be able to connect more with German speakers. 

Having a few common German phrases will make you experience these countries in a completely different way.

And even at home , learning German will allow you to learn more about German culture and connect with native German speakers in your local community.

You don't need to have a natural flair for language learning. Learning a few key phrases and being able to use them is a great start. And German isn't as hard as its reputation suggests, especially for native English speakers. 

You never know, maybe learning these phrases will motivate you to go on and learn to speak German fluently.

Note:  Want to go beyond basic German phrases and learn German with confidence and fluency? The best way to do so is by working through a comprehensive and well designed course.

My top recommendation is   German Uncovered , my in-depth online German course for beginners that teaches you through the power of story. If you’re ready to get started,  click here for a 7-day FREE trial.

If you want to make a good impression with German speakers, you'll need a few basic phrases to meet and greet people.

After all, you're going to use greetings every time you have a conversation in German!

These phrases are simple, easy to remember and will help you make new German friends. 

#1 Hallo – Hello [any time of day]

#2 Hallo, wie geht’s? – Hello, how are you?

#3 Guten Morgen  – Good morning

#4 Guten Tag [lit. good day] – Good afternoon

#5 Guten Abend  – Good evening

#6 Gute Nacht  – Good night

#7 Vielen Dank  – Thank you very much

#8 Ich danke Ihnen auch –  Thank you, too [in reply to “thank you” from someone else else]

#9 Tschüss, bis zum nächsten Mal  – Goodbye, see you next time

#10 Schönes Wetter heute, nicht wahr? – It's lovely weather today, is not it?

#11 Mein Name ist _  – My name is _____

#12 Ich bin Amerikaner, Kanadier, Engländer (male)  – I'm American / Canadian / English

#13 Ich bin Amerikanerin, Kanadierin, Engländerin (female)  – I'm American / Canadian / English

#14 Woher kommen Sie? – Where are you from?

#15 Freut mich  – Nice to meet you!

⬑ Jump back to the contents

“I Do Not Understand!” – Getting Out Of Sticky Situations

It might seem a little intimidating to speak German, especially if you're new to the language. German people will be understanding if you're struggling to get your message across or catch what they say .

At the same time, don't hesitate to use these expressions to help the conversation run smoothly if you don't understand something or need a little help.

#16 Es tut mir leid, aber ich verstehe nicht  – I'm sorry, but I do not understand

#17  Ich spreche nicht gut Deutsch  – I do not speak German very well

#18 Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? – Could you say that again please?

#19 Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? – Could you say that more slowly please?

#20  Schreiben Sie das bitte für mich auf – Please write that down for me

#21 Was bedeutet das? – What does that mean?

#22 Sprechen Sie Englisch? – Do you speak English?

#23  Es tut mir leid – I'm sorry

#24  Ich weiß nicht – I do not know

#25 In Ordnung  – All right

#26  Macht nichts – never mind

Whether you're at the supermarket, ordering in a restaurant, or just having a normal conversation, it's essential to know how to use numbers in German. Eins, zwei, drei….l et's get to it!

• null – zero
• eins – one
• zwei – two
• drei – three
• vier – four
• fünf  – five
• sechs  – six
• sieben – seven
• acht – eight
• neun – nine
• zehn – ten
• elf – eleven
• zwölf – twelve
• dreizehn – thirteen
• vierzehn – fourteen
• fünfzehn – fifteen
• sechzehn – sixteen
• siebzehn – seventeen
• achtzehn – eighteen
• neunzehn – nineteen
• zwanzig  – twenty
• einundzwanzig – twenty-one
• zweiundzwanzig – twenty-two
• dreiundzwanzig   – twenty-three
• vierundzwanzig – twenty-four
• fünfundzwanzig – twenty-five
• sechsundzwanzig – twenty-six
• siebenundzwanzig   – twenty-seven
• achtundzwanzig – twenty-eight
• neunundzwanzig – twenty-nine
• dreißig – thirty
• einunddreißig – thirty-one
• zweiunddreißig – thirty-two
• vierzig – forty
• fünfzig – fifty
• sechzig – sixty
• siebzig – seventy
• achtzig – eighty
• neunzig – ninety
• hundert  – one hundred
• zweihundertfünfzig – two hundred and fifty
• fünfhundert – five hundred
• siebenhundertdreiundachtzig – seven hundred and eighty three
• tausend – one thousand

One of the most enjoyable cultural experiences you can have in a German-speaking country is visiting a restaurant and trying out some of the delicious local dishes.

The following phrases cover all the questions and statements you need to make when eating out, from asking for a table to paying the bill!

#27 Ein Tisch für eine Person bitte  – A table for one, please

#28 Ein Tisch für zwei Personen, bitte  – A table for two, please

#29 Haben Sie schon auf? – Are you open yet?

#30 Können wir (auf einen Tisch) warten? – Can we wait (for a table)?

#31 Können wir dort sitzen? – Can we sit over there?

#32 Entschuldigung! – Excuse me! [Calling a waiter]

#33 Was empfehlen Sie? – What do you recommend?

#34 Was ist das beliebteste Gericht? – What's your most popular dish?

#35 Was ist das? – What is this?

#36 Was für Bier haben Sie?  – What type of beer do you have?

#37 Ein kleines Bier bitte  – A small beer, please

#38 Ein großes Bier bitte  – A large beer, please

#39 Bringen Sie mir bitte eine Auswahl von leckeren Sachen  – Please bring me a selection of nice things

#40 Bitte wählen Sie etwas  – It's up to you / You can decide

#41 Die Rechnung, bitte  – The bill, please

#42 Kann ich bitte die Speisekarte haben? – Can I have the menu, please?

By the way, if you're interested in food and drink as it relates to German culture, take a look at this post about Oktoberfest, the world-famous Bavarian beer festival. 

There are lots of practicalities to consider when taking a trip to Germany, including finding your way around. Finding the right train or bus on time isn’t always easy and you don’t want to end up being the ‘foreigner’ who is holding up the ticket queue!

In this section, you’ll learn some key transport phrases that will help you quickly and easily navigate your way around any German-speaking city or country.

#43 Ich möchte nach _____  – I want to go to

#44 Wann fährt der nächste Zug / Bus nach _____? – What time is the next train/bus to __ ?

#45 Was kostet das? – How much is it?

#46 Einmal/ zweimal (nach _____), bitte – 1 ticket / 2 tickets (to _____), please

#47 Wie lange dauert das? – How long does it take?

#48 Wohin muss ich jetzt gehen? – Where should I go now?

#49 Wann fährt er ab? – When does it leave?

#50 Wie spät ist es (jetzt)? – What time is it (now)?

#51 Hält der Zug/ Bus in _ ? – Does this train/bus stop in _____?

#52 Entschuldigen Sie, ist dies _____? – Excuse me, is this _____ ? [Useful when you're on the bus / train and are not sure when to get off]

#53 Können Sie das bitte für mich aufschreiben? – Can you write that down for me?

#54 Zeigen Sie mir das bitte auf der Karte? – Can you show me on the map?

#55 Wo ist _____ auf der Karte? – Where is _____  on the map?

Asking For Directions In German 

Public transport in Germany is notoriously excellent, but there are some places you'll need to walk or drive to yourself. And for most of us, that means occasionally getting lost and asking for directions!

Here are the phrases you need to ask and receive directions in German:

#56 Entschuldigung, darf ich Sie etwas fragen? –  Excuse me, could I ask you something?

#57  Ich möchte nach _____  – I want to go to _ [If you know the name of your destination]

#58  Ich möchte dahin  – I want to go here [Pointing to your destination on the map]

#59 Ich habe mich verlaufen  – I'm lost (on foot)

#60 Ich habe mich verfahren  – I'm lost (by car)

#61 Wie komme ich dahin? – How can I get there?

#62 Geht es hier lang? – Is it this way? [Useful for checking if you're walking in the right direction]

#63 Zeigen Sie mir das bitte auf der Karte? – Can you show me on the map?

#64 Wo ist __? – Where is _ ?

Shopping And Grabbing A Bargain In German

Whether you're at the supermarket, the shopping centre or the local farmer's market you're going to buy things at some point or another!

And even haggle a bit –  just like you would in English. Grab a bargain in German with these sentences. 

#65  Das gefällt mir  – I like this

#66 Was kostet das? – How much is this?

#67 Bitte wiederholen Sie das  – Can you say that again please?

#68 Schreiben Sie das bitte für mich auf? – Can you write that down for me?

#69 Und wenn ich das alles kaufe? – If I buy these together? [A useful way to knock the price down]

#70 Das ist mir zu teuer  – it's too expensive for me

#71 Geben Sie mir einen Rabatt? – Can you give me a discount?

#72  Ich suche nach _____  – I'm looking for a _____

#73  Ich schaue mich nur um – I'm just looking around

#74 Danke, ich suche noch weiter  – Thank you, I'll keep looking [if you're getting hassled to buy something]

#75 Moment, bitte  – Just a moment

#76 Ja, bitte  – Yes, please

#77 Nein, danke  – No, thanks

Dealing With Medical Emergencies In German 

Hopefully, you'll never need the phrases in this section! Nonetheless, it's always good to know some basic medical vocabulary so that you can handle an emergency if you're unwell or have an accident.

#78 Können Sie mir bitte helfen? – Can you help me, please?

#79 Ich brauche einen Arzt  – I need to see a doctor

#80  Es geht mir nicht gut – I do not feel well

#81  Es geht ihm/ihr nicht gut – he / she does not feel well

#82 Gibt es ein Krankenhaus in der Nähe? – Is there a hospital near here?

#83 Fahren Sie mich bitte zum Krankenhaus  – Take me to the hospital [To a taxi driver]

#84 Es tut hier weh  – It hurts here [pointing to body part]

#85 Ich brauche Medizin  – I need some medicine

Finding Hidden Gems In German-Speaking Countries 

I've included a couple of questions you can ask the locals, so you can find the hidden gems in their cities and have a more authentic German experience!

#86 Es tut mir leid, Sie zu stören, aber…  – I'm sorry to bother you, but …

#87 Kann ich Sie schnell etwas fragen? – Could I ask you something quickly?

#88 Ich suche ein Restaurant mit gutem Essen hier in der Nähe  – I'm looking for a place with good food around here

#89  Ich suche ein nettes Café in der Nähe  – I'm looking for a nice cafe in the area

#90 Wissen Sie etwas über _____?  – Do you know anything about _____ ?

#91 Gibt es hier in der Nähe etwas Interessantes zu sehen? – Is there anything interesting to see in this area?

#92 Trotzdem danke  – Thank you anyway [if the person can not help you]

Your Next Steps In German

So there you have it: a collection of German expressions to help you get started on your new adventure!

With these phrases in your back pocket, you'll soon find yourself having your first basic conversations and getting excited about continuing to improve your German .

So now that you've learned the basics, are you ready to take the next step in your German adventure?

I'm a big believer in the power of story to enable you to learn a language . That's why I've created an entire beginner course to help you learn German online by immersing yourself in a compelling story.

It's my German Uncovered course, and it's designed to take you from beginner to B1 Intermediate level.

Click here for more information on the course and how it'll help you.

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40 Basic German Words and Phrases to Help You Survive a Trip to Germany

by  fredo21  

December 5, 2018

5  Comments

Planning a trip to a German-speaking country? Or perhaps you are starting to learn German? You’ll need a list of the most basic German words and phrases.

From the simplest German words to the phrases you need to get by, here’s the list you need together with:

• its English translation, and
• a phonetic pronunciation guide

At the end of each section, you can also take the mini quizzes to make sure the words stick to your memory.

Ready? Let’s begin!

I. The Very Basics

Let’s start with the basic German words and phrases. With just these in your arsenal, you can already survive the simplest conversations!

LEARN GERMAN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS NOW!

SIGN UP NOW TO GET THESE FOR FREE!

• 100 Days of German Words and Expressions E-book
• 300 Useful German Adjectives

Mini Quiz 1

1. What does bitte schön mean?

Click to reveal the answer

It means “you’re welcome”

2. Entschuldigen Sie and Entschuldigung both mean excuse me. But what makes them different from each other?

The first one is used to get attention. The second is used to ask for pardon.

3.  To say “pleased to meet you”, you say:

You can learn more German greetings in this article: A Quick Guide to German Greetings

II. Simple Questions

Now let’s talk about the simplest German questions. There’s another article here in this website that talks about this with more detail.

You can check it out here: Basic German Questions Every Traveler Should Know

For now let’s just run through the most simple ones that you can memorize quickly.

Mini Quiz 2

1. How do you ask “why?” in German?

2. What does “wo ist..?" mean

“Where is..?”

3. True or false: wie in German means who

False. It means “how”

Expressing likes or dislikes

In daily life, you’ll always be faced with different choices. Which one should you take? Which one do you like? Do you hate the one in front of you? Speak your mind with these simple German phrases!

Mini Quiz 3:

1. To say “I want...” in German, you say:

Ich möchte…

2. Das ist gut means

That’s good / that’s fine

3. When you like something, you say:

Es gefällt mir.

Speaking Difficulties

When you’re in a place where you don’t speak the language that well, there’s bound to be some conversational hiccups. Solve any speaking difficulties you might have with the help of these useful phrases.

Needing Help

Need help finding your way around? Or perhaps it’s a different type of emergency? Here are some basic German phrases to help get you un-stuck!

Mini Quiz 4

1. Ich verstehe nicht means

I don’t understand.

2. How do you say “I’m lost” in German?

Ich habe mich verirrt.

3.  Würden Sie mir bitte helfen? Means

Would you help me please?

There you go with the most basic survival words and phrases in German. With these in your back pocket, you’re ready to take on a few conversations in German--with correct pronunciation, too!

To expand your vocabulary and boost your reading and listening skills, check out German short stories below!

A FUN AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN GERMAN

• 10 entertaining short stories about everyday themes
• Practice reading and listening with 90+ minutes of audio 
• Learn 1,000+ new German vocabulary effortlessly!

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