german words related to 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.

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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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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.

• Linguistics

German for Travelers: 101 Useful Phrases Every Backpacker Should Know

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. 

Bis später!

• German sounds
• language learning

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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47 Survival German Travel Phrases [You Need To Know]

Are you dreaming about your next trip to Germany? Maybe this is your first visit and you’re keen to blend in. Or perhaps you’ve visited German speaking countries a few times but always resorted to using English.

In this post you will discover 47 tried and tested German travel phrases that have worked well for me on my many trips to Germany. You’ll also hear audio of each of the phrases.

After reading this post you will:

• Know how to say 47 essential German travel phrases
• Hear how each of the phrases sound
• Be able to mix and match which ever phrases you want to try out on German speakers

Why Learn German Travel Phrases?

Before we get started I want to give you a quick pep talk.

If you’re travelling to a German speaking country any time soon, you may head there with the idea that ‘everyone speaks English’.

If you’re heading for a city break, you’ll probably meet people in the tourist industry that do speak a bit of English. But once you step off the tourist path, you’ll realise that many people don’t speak much English at all.

Even if you’re opting for a city break, it shows a great deal of respect to the local people to at least learn how to say ‘hello’, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ in German. If you expand your knowledge and learn how to say more German tourist phrases such as ‘I would like’ or ‘can I check in?’ the person you’re speaking to will be really impressed.

In my many trips to Germany, I’ve learned to never be afraid of speaking German with the locals. Even during my earlier visits when I tried and butchered that poor language, the German speakers I spoke to were so happy that I was even trying.

Don’t let the fear of making mistakes stop you from trying. Even if you mostly speak English, then throw in one of these German travel phrases somewhere, you’ll make progress.

Common German Words

Let’s make a start with the most common German travel phrases and words you’ll encounter as a tourist. These are simple pleasantries that will be appreciated by the locals. So make sure you learn some of these even if you don’t learn anything else.

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Asking For Help / Not Understanding

Whenever you’re in a country where you don’t speak a lot of the language, it’s always helpful to learn a few ’emergency phrases’.

For example, one time when I was in Germany, but didn’t know much German at that point, another guest in a hotel started chatting to me in German. My go-to phrase to politely end a conversation was sorry, mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut (sorry, my German isn’t very good).

And just so you know, in a real emergency, the emergency number in Germany is 112.

Whether you’re stopping for a quick coffee or a full on meal, there are loads of chances to practice some German travel phrases with the waiting staff when you order food and drink in German . At the very least, memorise ich hätte gern … (I would like…) and then add your drink or meal of choice. It’s really polite and shows a lot of respect to the person serving you to order in this way.

Some key words to listen out for are trinken (drink) and essen (eat). These are great words to train yourself to listen for so you can get a feel for what is being asked.

In a hotel you’re most likely to meet English speakers, but if you want to practice some German, the receptionists are usually very happy to speak to you. Why not try some of these essential phrases out?

Getting Around & Directions

Thanks to Google Maps, you probably won’t need to ask a local for directions, but it’s always helpful to know how to ask the way to the toilet / bathroom if you’re in a café.

One thing to keep in mind when shopping in Germany, is that you’ll encounter shops, cafés and restaurants that only accept cash. So it’s a good idea to check before you order.

German has 3+ words for receipt, and in my experience they seem to be interchangeable. One way of saying receipt isn’t limited to the area you’re in, so you might hear Quittung, Bon and Beleg being used all in the same city. Keep your ears alert for these tricky words!

So there you go, 47 essential German travel phrases, all tried and tested and ready for you to use on your next trip.

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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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German for Travelers: The Basic Travel Phrasebook

• 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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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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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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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 and tourism vocabulary PDF list

• Post author By Matosan314
• Post date March 27, 2020

German Words for Beginners : Travel and tourism

– essential vocabulary list –.

Here’s a complete German vocabulary list about travel and tourism. Increase your German vocabulary fast and efficiently with this useful words list!

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PACKAGE IN ONE CLICK: 100 GERMAN VOCABULARY LISTS

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• Tags german

Basic Vacation and Travel Vocabulary in German – Part 1

Vacation and travel is an interesting topic for all the hodophiles. A Hodophile is a person who loves to travel. Knowing basic German travel vocabulary is an additional advantage if you are visiting Germany for the first time.

Vacation and travel translates to ‘ Urlaub und Reisen ‘ in German. In this lesson, you will learn a few important and common vacation-related German words. Learning German travel vocabulary with the help of word clouds is an easy to remember way.

Below are 5 Useful Vacation and Travel Vocabulary Word Clouds

Places to stay on a vacation.

Before the vacation begins, deciding where to stay can be a time consuming task. In this word cloud, we have mentioned some places to stay when on a vacation. Clockwise from top left, the English translations of these words are as follows:

• Hotel 2. Inn 3. Log cabin 4. Caravan 5. Motel 6. Ski resort

Downloadable podcasts below. Click ‘Play’ to learn the correct pronunciations of these places.

Objects You Need While Travelling

In this word cloud, we have mentioned some common objects you use on a vacation or while travelling. Just in case you are wondering what these words are called in English, here are the translations, clockwise from top left:

• Suitcase 2. Sunglasses 3. Camera 4. City map 5. Ticket 6. Money

Click ‘Play’ below to learn the correct pronunciations of these objects.

Vacation Vocabulary in German

In this word cloud, we have mentioned a few must-have items and basic travel vocabulary in German. Clockwise from top left, the English translations of these words are as follows:

• Passport 2. Tourist visa 3. Room reservation 4. Toiletries 5. Rental car 6. Road trip

Click ‘Play’ below to learn the correct pronunciations of these words.

Nature Travel Destinations

If you are a nature lover, you would hope for a vacation that offers you a chance to immerse in nature . In this word cloud, we have mentioned some common nature travel destinations in German.

As you can see, the English translations of the destinations are also mentioned in the word cloud. Click ‘Play’ below to learn the correct pronunciations of these words.

Best Places for Nature Lovers

Scenic lakes, majestic waterfalls and ocean are some of the beautiful places a nature lover would love to visit. In this word cloud, we have mentioned such natural treasures in German.

As you can see, the English translations of the natural wonders are also mentioned in the word cloud. Click ‘Play’ below to learn the correct pronunciations of these places.

Also check out our Urlaub flashcards here to learn more vacation and travel vocabulary in German.

Find Part 2 of this post here.

Keep coming back to our blog for more posts like these.

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Useful German Phrases for Train Travel

Train travel is the best way to get around Germany . Trains run regularly and cheaply to every corner of the country and are fast and efficient.

Deutsche Bahn, the German Railway company, offers a comprehensive site within Germany and extending into the rest of Europe. Their site offers info in English with train schedules, travel deals , and the ability to buy tickets online.

However, sometimes you need to speak to a real German person or just interpret your train ticket or schedule in German. Try out some deutsch with the agent at the ticket counter or your fellow travelers on the train. It's true that most Germans speak English, but ein bisschen (a little) German can open a lot of doors.

In this German travel glossary, you'll find the most-used German vocabulary and expressions related to rail travel in Germany. Learn how to book your train tickets in German and get to know essential phrases that you can use on the train or in the train stations.

(You will find the pronunciations in parentheses. Just read it out loud with the capitalized part of the word emphasized.)

Gute Reise ! (GOO-tuh RY-suh) - Have a good trip!

German for Travelers: Train Travel Glossary

Remember the date in Germany is written dd.mm.yy . For example, Christmas 2019 is written 25.12.19. The time may also be a bit different than you are used to as it is based on the 24-hour clock. For example, 7:00 am is 7:00 and 7:00 pm is 19:00.

When looking for your reserved seat, the digital display should say your last name above the seat assigned on your ticket. Alternatively, it may be a printed card or a simple description of origin and destination. It is not unheard of for someone to be in your seat as reservations aren't required, but just use our handy glossary to sort it out and usually the other passenger will be quick to move on.

Types of Trains and Abbreviations

• InterCity-Express (ICE) – Pronounced I-C-E like the German alphabet - not "ice" like frozen water - these are the high-speed, long-distance trains that crisscross the country and into neighboring EU countries
• EuroCity (EC) – International long-distance trains
• InterCity (IC) – Long-distance trains linking German cities
• EuroNight (EN) – International night trains with sleeping cars. Routes include Cologne - Frankfurt - Vienna , Berlin - Prague - Bratislava - Budapest , and Munich -Salzburg-Vienna
• Regional-Express (RE) – Fastest regional rail with fewer stops than the RB trains below
• Interregio-Express (IRE) – Fast local services on longer distances than RE trains
• RegionalBahn (RB) or Regio – standard regional trains
• S-Bahn (S) – Local commuter trains usually covered on public transport tickets

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10 magical German travel words you’ll wish we had in English

By: Author Sophie Nadeau

Posted on Last updated: 2nd March 2023

Categories Germany , Languages

Last Updated on 2nd March 2023 by Sophie Nadeau

One of the best parts of learning a new language is all of the interesting, unique, quirky and downright weird vocabulary that comes along with it! When it comes to German, there are plenty of magical German travel words that simply don’t exist in the English language (although obviously, we’re all wishing they did!)

I was raised in a bilingual household and have been learning new languages since before I even understood the concept of ‘language’. And one language that has always fascinated me is… German. A pretty logical language, it’s full of compound words. 

Oh, and a quick note on German nouns: German nouns always (always, always) start with a capital letter- just a word of warning before you start thinking I was a little over-enthusiastic on the grammar front today…

#1 Fernweh (n.)

#2 gemütlichkeit (n.), #3 kopfkino (n.), #4 luftschloss (n.), #5 sehnsucht (n.), #6 sprachgefühl (n.), #7 torschlusspanik (n.), #8 waldeinsamkeit (n.), #9 zeitgeist (n.), #10 over to you, enjoyed reading this guide to the best german travel words you’ll wish we had in english pin this article now, read it again later:, german travel words you’ll wish we had in english.

Although there’s no direct translation for ‘Fernweh’ in the English language, the literal translation is ‘far-sickness’. Indeed, the word Fernweh is one of those compound words I was talking about that are so common in the German language!

You know those feelings of itchy feet, opening up every travel deal that finds its way into your email inbox and daydreaming a little too much about your next adventure during your coffee break? Well, the word ‘Fernweh’ sums up all these feelings and more.

If you were to translate Fernweh into English, then its equivalent would be ‘wanderlust’. Ironically, Wanderlust  is a loan word from German which came to have a different meaning in English. The word was originally a German verb ‘Wandern’ (‘to hike’) and still means this in German to this day.

Although this word is often translated as simply ‘cozy,’ the word conveys so much more than this, and would be immediately obvious to any German speaker. Gemütlichkeit is all about achieving the perfect balance between cozy, warm and comfortable.

When I checked the dictionary definition, it simply returned ‘friendliness or geniality’. However, a little further research revealed that Gemütlichkeit is just one of those words which you wish we had in English… but don’t!

If you’ve heard anything about the Danish concept of  Hygge  recently, then you can think of this as the German equivalent…

I absolutely love  this word, it’s such a fun word to say! Don’t believe me? Try saying ‘Kopfkino’ out loud five times, really quickly. This is yet another of those words where there’s no real translation! If you were to transliterate it, you would literally get ‘head cinema’.

And if you hadn’t guessed yet , this word is for those situations where you play out how you imagine a scenario would go in your head.

I like to think of this word as all those times I’m in the library (and meant to be studying) , but find myself staring aimlessly out the window and dreaming of finding medieval France , or reading more about the Original Arc de Triomphe in Provence !

The German word Luftschloss is literally translated as an ‘air castle’ and is all about the unrealistic dreams you might have. A more idiomatic English translation would be ‘a pipe dream’.

Although I guess this word has kind of negative connotations, I like to think that many unrealistic dreams, are actually achievable if you plan them right…

Okay, so funny story: when I searched for the English translation of ‘ Sehnsucht ‘, the dictionary only returned around 500 different possibilities! Yep, this is definitely an untranslatable German word.

The compound words of ‘Sehn’ and ‘Sucht’ are literally translated as something along the lines of ‘seeing addiction’. Sehnsucht is basically an indescribable yearning for far off places and indescribable goals. It can be translated as longing, yearning, craving, pining, etc.

CS Lewis, the author of the Narnia books had something interesting to say about this quirky German word; “ That unnameable something, desire for which pierces us like a rapier at the smell of bonfire, the sound of wild ducks flying overhead, the title of The Well at the World’s End, the opening lines of “Kubla Khan”, the morning cobwebs in late summer, or the noise of falling waves. ” Perhaps the best way to sum up this word is to describe it as future thinking nostalgia…

Although not strictly travel related, the German word Sprachgefühl is for describing those people who just have a real talent for learning new languages!

You know that girl in your Spanish class at school who could look at the vocabulary once and then memorize it? Or that guy in French who could just imitate the Parisian accent perfectly?

Well, Sprachgefühl is my new favourite word for describing these people! I’ve decided to add it to the list of German travel words you should know about because speaking languages other than you is a big part of seeing the world!

Sadly, I am not one of these people, blessed with the art of ‘ Sprachgefül ‘. Luckily, I had picked up a number of tips and tricks to learning a new language during the past few years, though…

Now, this is one of those perfect German travel words to describe how I feel about my life right now! Torschlusspanik is a German word meaning something along the lines of ‘fear that time is running out to achieve your goals’.

Literally translated as ‘gate-closing panic,’ this can also be that feeling you get when you’re near the end of an essay deadline and have barely even opened a book!

Waldeinsamkeit is yet another compound words from ‘Wald’ meaning wood and Einsamkeit meaning alone . Therefore, it literally meant the feeling of being alone in a forest.

You know those times where you just stop and think to yourself how beautiful the world around you is? Well, now you have a new word for that indescribable feeling!

Travel doesn’t necessarily have to be geographical, but can also be a journey through time itself. Zeitgeist is when you capture the feeling of a certain era or decade. Zeitgeist is all about capturing the vibe of a specific moment in time…

Know of any unusual or magical German travel words that you can’t quite translate into English (or any other language!) Let me know in the comments below!

Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.

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Saturday 25th of June 2022

Thank you Sophie.

I just thought of another one: liebäugeln which means flirting:)

Monday 21st of March 2022

The "sehn" in Sehnsucht is not from the verb "sehen," to see, but rather from "sehnen," to long for.

Tuesday 7th of September 2021

There's also drawing castles in the air which means unrealistic or pipe dreams as you mentioned.

Fernweh | Finding A Lark

Monday 6th of September 2021

[…] Thank you SoloSophie for photo and Definition https://www.solosophie.com/magical-german-travel-words-not-in-english/ […]

What’s in a name? – TravelTeachTalk

Saturday 1st of May 2021

[…] The Travel? As much as I really love travelling and meeting new people and places – fernweh, or far-sickness or wanderlust, as it’s beautifully called in German (a nice link here to other great German words which say just what you want them to say: https://www.solosophie.com/magical-german-travel-words-not-in-english/ […]

Transportation Vocabulary

In this lesson you'll learn common German words and phrases related to travel and transportation. The words are shown with the definite article. The plural form of the nouns is shown in parentheses. Pictures are shown with most of the words to make it easier to associate the word with the object it represents.

This lesson includes online flashcards and a quiz to help you improve your German vocabulary.

Introduction

The German word is given for each of the following pictures along with the definite article. The plural form of nouns is given in parentheses. For example: das Auto (s). In this case das Auto means the car. The plural form is die Autos. (-) means there is no plural form of the noun. See the lesson on nouns for more information about the plural of nouns in German.

German Vocabulary

Here are some common German words related to travel and transportation.

German Phrases

Here are some useful German phrases that will be helpful when arranging transportation by train, bus, or taxi.

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Transportation Flashcards

Here are some flashcards to help you learn the German words and phrases related to travel and transportation.

Here is a quiz to test how well you know the German words for travel and transportation. The questions will be different each time you take the quiz.

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• Open access
• Published: 27 April 2024

Horizontal mapping of time-related words in first and second language

• Anastasia Malyshevskaya 1 , 2 ,
• Martin H. Fischer 1 ,
• Yury Shtyrov 3 &
• Andriy Myachykov 4  

Scientific Reports volume  14 , Article number:  9675 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

• Human behaviour
• Psychology and behaviour

The existence of a consistent horizontal spatial-conceptual mapping for words denoting time is a well-established phenomenon. For example, words related to the past or future (e.g., yesterday/tomorrow) facilitate respective leftward/rightward attentional shifts and responses, suggesting the visual-spatial grounding of temporal semantics, at least in the native language (L1). To examine whether similar horizontal bias also accompanies access to time-related words in a second language (L2), we tested 53 Russian-English (Experiment 1) and 48 German-English (Experiment 2) bilinguals, who classified randomly presented L1 and L2 time-related words as past- or future-related using left or right response keys. The predicted spatial congruency effect was registered in all tested languages and, furthermore, was positively associated with higher L2 proficiency in Experiment 2. Our findings (1) support the notion of horizontal spatial-conceptual mapping in diverse L1s, (2) demonstrate the existence of a similar spatial bias when processing temporal words in L2, and (3) show that the strength of time-space association in L2 may depend on individual L2 proficiency.

Cognitive research provides numerous examples of regular and consistent spatial biases accompanying processing of both concrete and abstract concepts [see 1 , 2 , 3 for meta-analyses and reviews]. For example, processing words with implicit concrete spatial referents, e.g., bird and root , induces corresponding systematic upward and downward attentional shifts 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 . Similar spatial biases accompany the processing of abstract concepts, e.g., words with emotional 8 , numerical 2 , and temporal semantics 9 . For example, passive listening to number names induces leftward ocular drift for smaller numbers and rightward ocular drift for larger numbers 10 , 11 . These and other examples indicate that the relationship between visuospatial and conceptual processes is regular and robust, providing general support to the embodied/grounded theories of cognition that emphasize the intrinsic link between perceptual experiences and high-level cognitive functions 12 . Yet, the ubiquity of this association across conceptual domains and different languages, as well as the functional neurocognitive systems supporting it, remains understudied. The present study focuses on the horizontal attentional displacement known to accompany the processing of time-related concepts —highly abstract and very common across languages 13 .

Previous findings indicate that the processing of temporal words in one’s native language (L1) is regularly accompanied by visuospatial biases 14 , 15 , 16 . These biases manifest as a complex three-dimensional space whereby individual time concepts related to the future or the past can be located along sagittal, vertical, and horizontal axes 17 , 18 . Among these three axes, or Mental Time Lines (MTLs) 9 , 14 , the sagittal MTL is most commonly observed in space-time metaphors such as past is behind or future is in front 15 , 19 . Indeed, speakers of different languages associate past events with backward and future events with forward space [but see 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 for culture-specific variations]. The regular and largely universal orientation of the sagittal MTL is likely to result from the regular sensorimotor experience of moving forward in space 14 . Considerable research supports this view, showing facilitation of processing past/future related information while performing backward/forward movements in space, respectively 18 , e.g., 25 .

In contrast, the vertically oriented MTL is likely to reflect cultural and context-specific biases expressed in, e.g., spatio-temporal metaphors 26 , 27 ,but see 28 . For example, speakers of languages that emphasize vertical dimension for time metaphors (e.g., Mandarin: [shàng zhōu] (“above week”) meaning last week and [xià xià zhōu] (“below week”) meaning the week after next week ) were shown to associate past-related information with upward and future-related information with downward space but see 18 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 . This pattern might not necessarily reflect a broader cultural influence but could be a result of habitual linguistic practices within specific settings or contexts. On the other hand, representatives of European languages without vertical spatio-temporal metaphors demonstrate a reverse pattern, with their vertical MTL oriented from the bottom to the top 32 , 33 . This variation suggests that the orientation of vertical MTL can be significantly influenced by conventional practices and preferences in language use, which are shaped by the linguistic environment and the specific contexts. That is, while cultural factors do play a role, the specific sociolinguistic context, including the habitual use of language and exposure to specific lexical choices, appears to exert a more direct influence on the vertical MTL.

More relevant for the research reported here is the horizontal mapping of temporal events and time-related words 9 , 34 , 35 for reviews. Indeed, a left-to-right mapping of temporal concepts representing progression from past to future was shown to emerge early in linguistic development 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 . In adults, processing of past and future-related temporal expressions was shown to induce horizontal spatial biases in pointing gestures 41 [but see 23 , 42 for some exceptions], eye movements 43 , and manual responses e.g., 44 , 45 . The notion of a horizontal MTL is supported by the existence of the so-called Spatial–Temporal Association of Response Codes (STEARC) effect: Left-oriented responses are typically faster when processing past-related words while right-oriented responses are faster when processing future-related words e.g., 44 , 45 .

As with the vertical axis, the orientation of one’s horizontal MTL may be modified by cultural effects, e.g., reading direction habits differing across languages 14 , 28 , 46 , 47 . Indeed, the “classical” left-to-right orientation of the MTL has been confirmed for left-to-right reading and writing systems 48 , 49 while its reversed direction has been documented for cultures with right-to-left reading and writing habits 47 , 49 , 50 . Thus, MTL research provides compelling evidence for a regular but flexible mapping between temporal concepts and the horizontal space that depends on an individual’s linguistic and cultural habits.

While the evidence regarding the activation of a horizontal MTL during processing of temporal words in an individual’s L1 is quite consistent, it remains largely unclear to what extent similar spatial biases accompany the use of this and other types of abstract concepts in one’s second language (L2), since previous findings show inconsistent results [see 51 , 52 for reviews]. Note that L1 acquisition represents a long-term process involving numerous interactions with other people and the physical world, thus naturally producing sensorimotor grounding of word meanings. Instead, the acquisition of L2 (at least for late bilinguals) relies mostly on didactic instruction, often relying on translation. Moreover, L2 is often used in more limited contexts than L1, e.g., only in academic or professional environments. As a result, late acquired L2 might be viewed as less (or even not at all) grounded in regular sensorimotor experiences when compared to L1 53 , thus leading to weaker MTL activation.

Nevertheless, some studies using Mandarin-English (ME) bilinguals have demonstrated a complex interplay between visuo-spatial mapping of temporal information in L1 and L2 in a three-dimensional space 18 , 26 , 30 , 54 , 55 , 56 . For example, several studies showed simultaneous activation of the vertical (commonly observed in Mandarin speakers) and the horizontal (commonly observed in English speakers) axes in ME bilinguals during processing of temporal information e.g., 18 . Furthermore, ME bilinguals were shown to adopt either time- or ego-moving perspectives of time representation (e.g., the deadline is approaching vs. we are approaching the deadline ), depending on processing L1 Mandarin or L2 English spatio-temporal metaphors 55 . At the same time, research directly comparing differences between L1 and L2 with regard to the horizontal mapping of temporal words is sparse. Specifically, only a few studies have compared differences in the processing of temporal information in L1 vs. L2 in languages beyond Chinese and English. Park and colleagues 47 demonstrated that Arabic-English bilinguals tend to use a right-to-left chronological arrangement of cards illustrating different scenes from a story when using their L1 but not L2. Athanasopoulos and Bylund 57 showed that Spanish-Swedish bilinguals tend to estimate time durations either as a quantity or as a distance, depending on whether they process temporal metaphors in their L1 ( small vs. big ) or L2 ( short vs. long ), respectively.

The studies reviewed above leave open the question of whether horizontal spatial biases accompany L2 temporal word processing. Moreover, only very few of these studies have controlled for L2 proficiency in their analyses—even though this is a key factor modulating the efficiency of L2 use and, therefore, also the potential activation of the MTL in L2. Existing research shows that higher L2 proficiency is associated with facilitated L2 lexical access 58 . Indeed, Athanasopoulos and Bylund 57 demonstrated that the estimation of the duration of spatial configurations similar to those used in L2 time metaphors was modulated by L2 proficiency. Higher L2 proficiency was also shown to be associated with a stronger reliance on the vertical visuospatial mapping in L2 when it is different from the one common in L1 30 . At the same time, Yang et al. 59 did not reveal any influence of L2 proficiency on space-time association in ME bilinguals, since all bilingual participants demonstrated MTL biases similar to Mandarin monolinguals. Therefore, while higher L2 proficiency may entail a stronger link between L2 words and respective spatial representations, existing evidence regarding the role of proficiency in the emergence of spatial biases in processing L2 words is mixed.

Importantly, studies using other conceptual domains, including words related to power , spatial words , emotionally valenced words, and action-related words, also show inconsistent results regarding sensorimotor activation in L2. On the one hand, several existing studies showed extremely rapid accrual of sensorimotor representational traces in novel word learning with even a brief exposure inducing stable sensorimotor effects for action words 60 and for pseudowords denoting emotional valency 61 . Moreover, research showed that motor actions and physical interactions with objects facilitate rapid learning of novel concrete and abstract concepts 60 , 62 , 63 , 64 . This sensorimotor activation was shown to accompany adult L2 word processing, similar to L1 e.g., 65 , 66 . At the neurophysiological level, activation in sensory and motor cortical areas was shown to accompany the processing of L1 and L2 words denoting graspable objects 53 , 67 , 68 . However, these studies differ vastly regarding the balance between the degree of reliance on sensorimotor processes in L1 and L2—while some studies report a similarly strong involvement of the attention and sensorimotor systems in L1 and L2 69 , others indicate differences between L1 than in L2 70 71 which might be modulated by L2 proficiency 72 . Thus, even though the above findings suggest that attentional and sensorimotor traces accumulate already at the onset of language learning, their nature and persistence during the acquisition and use of L2 lexicon as well as their modulation by proficiency remain unclear. In the current study, we addressed these issues by (1) including participants with substantially different levels of L2 proficiency and (2) controlling for L2 proficiency in the statistical analysis.

Overall, the main goal of the present study was to investigate whether similar horizontal biases accompany access to time-related words in L1 and L2. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the extent to which this putative signature of attentional engagement might be modulated by L2 proficiency. Below, we report the results of two experiments conducted on L2 English speakers with two different L1s: Russian in Experiment 1 and German in Experiment 2. All three languages have left-to-right oriented reading and writing direction, with English and German known to show a rightward MTL e.g., 28 —English, 73 – German. At the same time, there is only very limited evidence of horizontal space-time associations in Russian e.g., 74 . Thus, the present research aimed to further extend existing evidence and generalize the corresponding findings to this previously understudied language. Importantly, we used different L1s and the same L2 in our experiments, thus allowing to generalize our findings from two L1s with rather different lexical and morphosyntactic organization. We also controlled for L2 proficiency in both experiments, which was evaluated objectively using the Cambridge General English Test as well as an L2-L1 translation task (see Procedure subsection below). In doing so, we went beyond the conventional studies that assess L2 proficiency merely by subjective self-reports e.g., 30 , 55 .

In both experiments, we implemented a semantic time classification task—a method that has been widely used in MTL research 32 , 44 , 45 ,e.g., 75 . We chose this task because time-relevant tasks tend to show larger effect sizes than time-irrelevant ones 35 . In its classical version, participants categorize time-related words as related to the past or the future by pressing lateralized response keys. In line with previous findings, we expected to find the STEARC effect, revealed by RT facilitation in congruent conditions (combinations of past-related word + left response button/future-related word + right response button) compared to incongruent conditions (past-related word + right response button/future-related word + left response button). Specifically, we expected to register similar horizontal attention shifts in both Russian and German L1s and in English L2, since the horizontal spatial mapping is presumed to be the same for all three tested languages with the same left-to-right reading direction. We also entertained the following contrasting hypotheses:

The STEARC effect should be stronger in L1 than in L2, and it should be modulated by L2 proficiency since some studies showed differences in the strength of spatial biases in L1 vs. L2 e.g., 72 as well as a positive correlation between attentional and sensorimotor traces in L2 words and proficiency 30 , 57 ,e.g., 69 .

At the same time, some studies failed to find the influence of L2 proficiency on L2 word access 59 ,e.g., 71 . Moreover, several studies showed a rapid accrual of sensorimotor traces in novel word learning 60 ,e.g., 61 . Therefore, an alternative hypothesis suggests that the strength of the predicted STEARC effect should be similar in L1 and L2, without any modulation by L2 proficiency.

Considering power estimations reported in a study by Beracci and Fabbri 32 investigating space-time association in a similar semantic time classification task, we relied on the average number of participants used in previous studies being ~ 41. Based on this, we recruited 53 participants for Experiment 1 and 48 participants for Experiment 2. All participants gave their informed consent for participation. The selection of the target population pipeline in both experiments was determined by the fact that the typical young population both in Germany and in Russia are the most active users of English as L2 across communication contexts—both in their professional and personal life. At the same time, further studies are necessary in order to examine the degree and the nature of spatial-conceptual mappings of time words in other age groups as well as in the cultures with different reading and writing scripts 14 , 28 .

Ethical approval

All experimental protocols were approved by the HSE University research ethics committee which ensures that participants are treated according to the Declaration of Helsinki.

Preliminary norming study

In order to verify the intended temporal semantics of these words, we conducted separate norming studies for each list of words. Participants (separate from the main experimental group) indicated whether the word belongs to the future, past, or somewhere in between using a non-numerical computerized questionnaire with five response options ranging from "definitely past" to "definitely future". For statistical analysis, the responses were offline assigned scores on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (definitely past) to 5 (definitely future). For the Russian list of words, we tested a sample of Russian native speakers ( N  = 20). The results indicated the following group averages: M  = 1.1 for past-related words and M  = 4.7 for future-related words (see Table 1 for details). For the English list of words, participants with English as L1 were recruited ( N  = 5). The results indicated M  = 1.5 (past-related words) and M  = 4.6 (future-related words) as group averages (see Table 1 for details). Thus, we concluded that these words indeed activate past and future projecting semantics as intended.

Main experiment

All words were randomly presented in capital letters in the center of the screen. Participants were asked to classify them as related to the past or future by pressing the left or right response keys under instructions that rendered stimulus/response combinations as congruent and incongruent. Thus, the combinations of time-related words and response keys past  +  left key and future  +  right key were established as congruent experimental conditions, and past  +  right key / future  +  left key —as incongruent conditions. The dependent variable was Reaction Time (RT), defined as the time from word onset to button press in milliseconds. In addition, the participants were asked to perform the Cambridge General English Test, as well as a custom-made translation task (see below), to access their L2 Proficiency. As a result, the following experimental factors were independently manipulated in a within-subjects design: Language (L1/L2) and Congruency (Congruent/Incongruent). L2 Proficiency was included as a continuous predictor representing a score obtained from the Cambridge General English Test.

The experiment was implemented and hosted in Gorilla Experiment Builder 76 . Data were collected in 2021. In order to maximize the quality of the data, participants were asked to sit in a quiet and dimly lit room, place both the screen and the keyboard in the center with respect to themselves, close all irrelevant software tabs and windows, and switch to a full-screen mode. Before the main experiment, participants were asked to perform a short questionnaire with demographic items.

The experiment consisted of two blocks (randomized and counterbalanced) with a short break between them to reduce fatigue. At the beginning of their individual experimental sessions, participants were asked to rest their index fingers on the c and m buttons (US English layout) on a keyboard. Next, participants were instructed to read words in L1 or L2 and classify them as related to the past/future as fast and accurately as possible by pressing the lateralized response keys. The instruction was varied in each block: in the congruent block, left/right response keys corresponded to the past-/future-related words, respectively. In the incongruent block, the correspondence was reversed. Each block started with eight practice trials, consisting of stimuli that were not used in the main experiment. Each individual trial started with a centrally presented fixation cross that remained visible for 300 ms. After the fixation cross, a word appeared centrally on the screen (a past- or future-related word in L1 or in L2). The stimulus remained on the screen until a response key was pressed but no longer than 3000 ms. While previous research has demonstrated that even a short word presentation (e.g., 250 ms) is sufficient to activate time–space associations 73 , our task entailed additional cognitive demands, including stimulus-based decision-making. Consequently, we opted for a prolonged stimulus presentation duration, aligning with methodologies employed in similar studies 45 , 77 . Thus, we ensured that participants had sufficient time to fully process the stimuli, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of their responses. Each trial ended with a 1500 ms inter-trial interval. Each element of the stimulus set was presented randomly, once in each of the two blocks. A typical trial sequence is shown in Fig.  1 . If participants classified the word incorrectly or missed the response during the 3000 ms period, the trial was coded as incorrect.

Example L2 stimulus and experimental trial sequence.

After the time classification task, participants’ L2 proficiency was assessed with the help of the Cambridge General English Test. Finally, participants were presented with the full set of English words (24 stimuli) used in the experiment and asked to translate them into L1. If participants did not know the translation of the word, they could mark it in the appropriate box. If all words were translated correctly, participants received a Word Recognition Score equal to 24. This procedure was implemented in order to check whether participants understood all words while performing the task. In addition, the Word Recognition Score was used as an additional stimulus-specific measure of L2 Proficiency (see Results for detail).

Participants

Fifty-three participants were recruited (40 females, mean age 27.5 ± 6.8 years) who did not take part in the norming study. As part of the selection criteria, participants had to be Russian native speakers and English second language learners (English should not be their second native language). Forty-eight participants reported themselves as right-handed. All participants reported having no diagnosis of dyslexia or other language deficits. Participants were recruited through the Internet (social media) and were remunerated for participation.

Data preprocessing and analysis

Statistical analysis was executed using R software version 4.1.3 78 . Task-related RT was defined as the time interval between the stimulus onset and the provided response. For data trimming, incorrect responses and trials without responses (including delays over the 3000-ms timeout) were excluded. To normalize RT data, a reciprocal transformation was applied on the values (1/RT). A Linear Mixed Effects Model (LMM) analysis was then run on this measure using the lme4 package 79 . Language (L1/L2), Congruency (Congruent/Incongruent), and L2 Proficiency (continuous) were included in the model as fixed effects. Interactions between all factors were also included. Subjects and stimuli were indicated as random effects. A continuous predictor (L2 Proficiency) was mean-centered. Categorical predictors (Language and Congruency) were assigned sum-coded contrasts (− 0.5 and 0.5) 80 . Backward elimination using the drop1 function was employed to identify the best-fit model: effects and interactions that did not improve model fit ( p  > 0.1) were successively eliminated. For better readability of the model, 1 was subtracted from 1/RT values (in order to reverse signs in the output) and the obtained measures were multiplied by 1000 (in order to reduce the number of decimal places) (X = (1/RT − 1)*1000).

Participants’ L2 proficiency varied from 7 to 25 ( M  = 19, SD  = 5.1; see Fig. 2 , Experiment 1). After backward elimination, three effects (Language, Congruency, and L2 Proficiency) as well as an interaction between L2 Proficiency and Language remained in the model. Marginal r -squared (variance explained by fixed effects only, i.e., without random effects) was 0.137, and conditional r -squared (variance explained by the whole model) was 0.468. The statistical results (the output from the best-fit linear mixed-effects model) are presented in Table 3 .

Distributions of L2 proficiency across the participant samples in Experiments 1 and Experiment 2. Note: X-axes represent scores obtained from Cambridge General English Test.

The analysis registered a reliable main effect of Language (b = 0.2473, p < 0.001): response RTs were faster for L1 ( M  = 845 ms, SD  = 322) than for L2 ( M  = 1066 ms, SD  = 469). The main effect of L2 Proficiency was also reliable ( b  = -0.0141, p  = 0.001): the higher participants' L2 proficiency was, the faster they performed the task. Furthermore, the analysis revealed a reliable interaction between L2 Proficiency and Language ( b  = − 0.0073, p  < 0.001), indicating smaller L1–L2 difference for more proficient participants. More importantly, the model yielded a significant main effect of Congruency ( b  = -0.0766, p  < 0.001), suggesting faster response RTs in congruent conditions ( M  = 912 ms, SD  = 392) in comparison with incongruent ones ( M  = 984 ms, SD  = 428).

To further scrutinize this finding, we ran an additional LMM analysis with the same steps, procedure, and included factors, with one important distinction of decomposing the single main effect of Congruency into two separate effects of Time (past/future) and Response Key (left/right). This additional analysis fully confirmed the initial result above. Namely, it registered that participants responded faster to past-related words using the left key ( M  = 909 ms, SD  = 356) than the right key ( M  = 980 ms, SD  = 418) ( b  = -0.0879, SE  = 0.0120, t  = -7.32, p  < 0.001). Similarly, they responded faster to future-related words using the right key ( M  = 916 ms, SD  = 427) than the left key ( M  = 989 ms, SD  = 440) ( b  = 0.0646, SE  = 0.0118, t  = 5.50, p  < 0.001).

As an additional analysis, a Pearson’s correlation was computed on L2 Proficiency measure and Word Recognition Score in order to check the reliability of participants’ L2 proficiency obtained from the Cambridge General English Test in relation to the specific stimulus set. Participants’ Word Recognition Scores varied from 7 to 24 ( M  = 19, SD  = 3.8). The analysis registered a reliable positive correlation ( r (51) = 0.79, p  < 0.001) between the two factors. Thus, the Cambridge General English Test reliably reflected participants’ L2 proficiency.

To summarize, Experiment 1 demonstrated a reliable main effect of Congruency between the key mapping and the mental time line representation, regardless of the language participants used: words denoting the past in either L1 or L2 were classified faster with the left key and words denoting the future in either L1 or L2 were classified faster with the right key. Moreover, L2 proficiency did not influence the strength of spatial biases in L2: There was no reliable interaction between L2 Proficiency and Congruency. Given that this is the first MTL research comparing L1 and L2, these novel results should be replicated and extended. Experiment 2 was conducted with these objectives.

Experiment 2

Experimental design and material.

In Experiment 2, we presented German-English bilinguals with German (L1) and English (L2) time-related words. As in Experiment 1, 12 past- (e.g., yesterday, gestern ) and 12 future-related words (e.g., tomorrow, morgen ) were selected for each language. For the English list of words, the same stimuli were used as in Experiment 1. Again, it was impossible to create a list of exact equivalents of English words in German (e.g., übermorgen is a single lexeme in German, while in English it is three words: the   day after tomorrow ). For this reason, we created a separate list of German words that partially overlaps with the English list but also includes stimuli that do not appear in it. The full set of stimuli is presented in Table 1 . There were no reliable differences between past- and future-related words in terms of letter length and frequency (see results of independent sample t -tests in Table 2 ). Words were nouns, adverbs, adjectives, and participles. Similar to Experiment 1, lexical class was included in the main analysis as a random effect (see Analysis for detail).

Following the same procedures as in Experiment 1, we conducted a separate norming study for the German list of words. German native speakers ( N  = 6) we asked to estimate the words as related to the past or the future using the same rating procedures as described for Experiment 1 above. The results indicated the following group averages: M  = 1.1 for past-related words and M  = 4.8 for future-related words (see Table 1 for details), highly similar to both the English L2 and Russian L1 items normed in Experiment 1. Thus, these words indeed activate past and future projecting semantics.

As in Experiment 1, the stimulus set was presented randomly, once in each of the two blocks. All words were presented in capital letters. Participants were asked to perform a time classification task by pressing the left and right response keys. Participants’ objective L2 proficiency measure was also obtained by the Cambridge General English Test and custom-made translation task. The same experimental factors were independently manipulated in a within-subjects design: language (L1/L2), Congruency (Congruent/Incongruent), and L2 Proficiency was used as a continuous predictor.

The procedure was the same as in Experiment 1, except that the words were presented in German L1 and English L2. Data were collected in 2021.

48 participants were recruited (33 females, mean age 24 ± 8.5 years). As part of the selection criteria, participants had to be German native speakers and English second-language learners (English should not be their second native language). 43 participants reported themselves as right-handed. All participants reported having no diagnosis of dyslexia or other language deficits. All participants were students at the University of Potsdam. Participants were recruited through the local Sona System ( https://www.sona-systems.com ) and received course credit for their contribution.

The analysis was identical to that employed in Experiment 1.

Participants’ L2 proficiency varied from 11 to 25 ( M  = 20, SD  = 3.2; see Fig.  2 , Experiment 2). After backward elimination, all effects as well as an interaction between L2 Proficiency and Congruency remained in the model. The statistical results (the output from the best-fit linear mixed-effects model) are presented in Table 4 . Marginal r -squared was 0.102, and conditional r -squared was 0.470. Consistent with the pattern observed in Experiment 1, the analysis yielded a significant main effect of Language ( b  = 0.1026, p  = 0.034): response RTs were faster for L1 ( M  = 918 ms, SD  = 379) than for L2 ( M  = 990 ms, SD  = 419). L2 Proficiency effect was also reliable ( b  = − 0.0348, p  < 0.001): the higher the participants' L2 proficiency, the faster they performed the task. Again, the main effect of Congruency was reliable ( b  = − 0.0437, p  < 0.001), reflecting faster RTs in congruent conditions ( M  = 933 ms, SD  = 392) in comparison with incongruent ones ( M  = 970 ms, SD  = 406). Finally, the model yielded a reliable interaction between L2 Proficiency and Congruency ( b  = − 0.0055, p  = 0.049), suggesting that higher L2 Proficiency produced stronger space-time associations.

To follow up on the interaction between L2 Proficiency and Congruency, further analysis was performed using linear mixed models. To this end, L2 Proficiency was first coded as a binary factor with two levels divided by median ( Median  = 21): low- (from 11 to 20; N  = 23) and high- (from 21 to 25; N  = 25) proficiency groups. As a new categorical predictor, it was assigned sum-coded contrasts (− 0.5 and 0.5). The data were then submitted to a linear mixed model analysis with the same factors and interactions between them as in the main analysis. When the data were split by L2 Proficiency group, the analyses revealed that participants with high L2 proficiency were significantly faster in congruent conditions ( M  = 851 ms, SD  = 317) than in incongruent ones ( M  = 911 ms, SD  = 366) ( b  = − 0.0698, SE  = 0.0121, t  = − 5.76, p  < 0.001), with no such difference ( b  = − 0.0127, SE  = 0.0132, t  = − 0.96, p  = 0.339) for participants with low L2 proficiency (congruent conditions: M  = 1028 ms, SD  = 444; incongruent conditions: M  = 1043 ms, SD  = 439) (see Fig.  3 ).

Experiment 2. Differences in congruency depending on L2 proficiency. Note: Interaction between L2 Proficiency (low/high) and Congruency (congruent / incongruent). Mean RTs in ms. Error bars represent standard errors.

Scrutinizing the results pattern specifically for the high L2 proficiency group, we repeated the same additional LMM procedures and steps as described in Experiment 1, splitting the Congruency factor into two separate ones: time (past/future) and Response Key (left/right). This analysis registered faster reaction times when past-related words were combined with the left key ( M  = 871 ms, SD  = 316) than with the right key ( M  = 929 ms, SD  = 381) ( b  = − 0.0901, SE  = 0.0173, t  = -5.21, p  < 0.001) and when future-related words were combined with the right key ( M  = 830 ms, SD  = 319) than with the left key ( M  = 891 ms, SD  = 349) ( b  = 0.0503, SE  = 0.0170, t  = 2.97, p  < 0.005).

As in Experiment 1, an additional Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed on L2 Proficiency measure and Word Recognition Score to check the reliability of participants’ L2 proficiency obtained from the Cambridge General English Test. Participants’ Word Recognition Scores varied from 13 to 24 ( M  = 19, SD  = 2.2). The analysis registered a reliable positive correlation ( r (46) = 0.40, p  = 0.005) between the factors. Thus, the Cambridge General English Test reliably reflected participants’ L2 proficiency with respect to the specific stimulus set.

Overall, the general effect of an association between temporal semantics and spatial responses (the STEARC effect) was observed in both L1 and L2, since there was no reliable interaction between Congruency and Language. This is consistent with the results obtained in Experiment 1, thereby replicating and extending this novel finding. At the same time, the significant interaction between Congruency and L2 Proficiency reflected that the general spatial congruency effect was only reliable in the high-proficiency group, but not in the low-proficiency group. Thus, the strength of the spatial biases did depend on participants’ L2 proficiency. This observation also provides a possible explanation for the inconsistent findings in previous studies, as we will discuss below.

General discussion

Two experiments reported in this paper aimed to examine whether access to time-related words is accompanied by activation of the horizontal MTL in both L1 and L2. The additional goal was to investigate whether the strength of this activation is modulated by L2 proficiency. For this purpose, we asked Russian-English (Experiment 1) and German-English (Experiment 2) bilinguals to read temporal words in their L1 and L2 and classify them as related to the past or the future by pressing left and right response keys in a counterbalanced fashion. We investigated shifts in visual attention caused by processing these words, registered as RT differences in congruent (past + left, future + right) vs. incongruent (past + right, future + left) conditions. In addition, participants’ L2 proficiency was assessed by an internationally established linguistic tool, the Cambridge General English Test, as well as by a custom-made translation task. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first that compares access to time-related words in both L1 and L2 with respect to the activation of the horizontal MTL. This represents a novel contribution to the field, expanding our understanding of bilingual cognitive processing in the context of temporal language. Furthermore, this study included participants with various levels of L2 proficiency, and the statistical analysis specifically controlled for this parameter.

Confirming our first hypothesis, we found the STEARC effect in both experiments, indicating the activation of the horizontal MTL during the processing of time-related words. These findings are consistent with previous research showing a horizontal shift in visual attention for past- and future-related words in L1 32 , 44 , 45 , 75 . More specifically, the obtained results are in line with the studies showing horizontal time–space association in German e.g., 73 , 81 , English e.g., 28 , and with limited reports of a horizontal MTL in Russian 74 . Thus, our findings further extend the generalizability of the resulting theoretical inferences by offering evidence from both German and Russian as native languages.

More importantly, we revealed the STEARC effect in L2. This pattern was consistent in both our experiments: Participants were faster in congruent conditions than in incongruent ones regardless of the language they used. We can conclude that these L2 STEARC phenomena are sufficiently robust since we successfully replicated them across late bilinguals in two experiments with different L1s. Finding similar left-to-right oriented MTL across Russian, German, and English might be explained by cultural effects, e.g., left-to-right reading and writing systems shared across all three tested languages. The emergence of the STEARC effect in these three languages confirms our hypothesis of a consistent horizontal spatial mapping of temporal concepts. Moreover, the results are in line with research supporting the notion of spatial biases accompanying access to temporal semantics in L2 26 , 30 , 55 , 56 , 57 . Our findings are also consistent with previous results showing reliable associations between space and other concepts in L2, e.g., an association between vertical space and spatial words e.g., 69 , emotionally-valenced words e.g., 82 , and words related to power 72 .

Furthermore, we obtained some evidence regarding our competing hypotheses about the modulation of the strength of the STEARC effect by L2 proficiency: Higher L2 proficiency was associated with stronger spatial biases in German-English bilinguals whereby the STEARC effect was registered only in the highly proficient group, without reliable differences between experimental conditions in the low proficient group. However, there was no such effect in Experiment 1: Russian-English bilinguals showed equally strong STEARC effect regardless of their level of L2 proficiency. This inconsistency could reflect differences in L2 proficiency across two samples; however, we recruited participants with practically equal ranges of L2 proficiency in both experiments, with an even narrower range in Experiment 2: from 7 to 25 for Russian-English bilinguals and from 11 to 25 for German-English bilinguals. Another explanation could be the difference in L2 proficiency distributions, with unequal distribution across high- and low-levels compromising statistical comparisons. However, the distribution of L2 proficiency in Experiment 2 was even less heterogeneous than in Experiment 1, with a larger percentage of highly proficient participants (see Fig.  3 ) which speaks against this explanation.

Notably, the results of previous studies with variable L2 proficiency have also yielded inconsistent results see for positive findings 30 , 69 , 72 , but see for null findings 59 , 70 , 71 . Therefore, one possible explanation might be the influence of other L2 parameters, e.g., age of L2 acquisition (AoA), context of L2 acquisition and use, etc. 52 . One can assume that early bilinguals (those who began acquiring L2 during their childhood, typically before 6 years of age) might have a stronger overlap in semantic information between L1 and L2. Thus, sensorimotor and attentional systems in early bilinguals should be involved in L2 semantic access to a degree more similar to that in L1. To support this, one previous study 26 showed a positive correlation between L2 AoA and the tendency to use vertical space-time association in ME bilinguals but see 70 for controversial results in action words. In our study, differences in the influence of L2 proficiency might be also explained by participants’ AoA (or potentially some other unaccounted-for factors), which should be further explored and verified in future investigations.

The contexts of acquisition and use also might modulate differences in the degree of grounding of language processing in sensorimotor and attentional systems. Generally, L1 is acquired in natural conditions requiring ongoing wide-range interactions with the external world via the body and activation of somatosensory systems. Unlike L1, L2 is typically acquired in schools and work environments through abstract formal instruction and without much direct sensorimotor experience. Although we could not control for these parameters, one might assume that German-English bilinguals use their L2 in a wider set of contexts (since it is one of the main EU languages used in tuition, travel, and daily interactions, given the massive expat population in Germany) than Russian-English bilinguals who use their L2 primarily in professional and academic environments, and almost never in everyday life which is dominated by L1. Finally, an influence of other L2 types, especially those with different reading and writing directions, could affect our findings as well e.g., 48 , 49 . Therefore, future studies should both control for the diverse L2 features mentioned above and include them in statistical analyses. Furthermore, a more comprehensive approach to assessing L2 proficiency, e.g., estimating both language comprehension (e.g., DIALANG) and production (e.g., Productive Vocabulary Levels Test) might also be beneficial.

Considering the findings and observations presented in this study, another intriguing direction for future research emerges. While we effectively controlled for the unique characteristics of each stimulus by LMM analyses, future studies might investigate potential cross-linguistic differences in reaction times between words that are more abstract and distant to the present (e.g., “recent”, “soon”, “lately”) and those that denote temporal concepts more concrete and closer to the present (e.g., “yesterday”, “tomorrow”) similar to 83 , 84 . Also, future research might document the timecourse of sensorimotor activation (e.g., by mouse tracking, eye tracking, or EEG/MEG) to investigate differences in the unfolding temporal dynamics of sensorimotor effects between L1 and L2. Finally, future research might consider potential variability in horizontal spatial-conceptual mapping across individuals, e.g., by employing both linguistic and nonlinguistic stimuli to establish baseline RTs for response differences in congruent vs. incongruent conditions (We thank the anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.).

To summarize, our findings provide general support for the notion of spatial biases accompanying access to time-related words in both L1 and L2. Moreover, we demonstrated the robustness of these results by successfully replicating them across two different L1 samples. To our knowledge, this is the first study addressing the question of whether horizontal spatial biases accompany L2 temporal word processing. We also found that special biases in L2 temporal words might positively correlate with L2 proficiency, although this connection was statistically reliable only in Experiment 2, which warrants further investigations. Overall, the present results support the notion of horizontal spatial biases of abstract time concepts in both native (L1) and second (L2) languages.

Data availability

We report in detail information regarding sample size, data exclusion, all experimental manipulations, and all the experimental measures across the two experiments. All the data and the analysis codes are publicly available via this link. Data in both experiments were analyzed using R package, version 4.1.3 (R Core Team, 2022). We did not preregister the experiments’ designs or analyses. The data for both experiments were collected in 2021.

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The article was prepared in the framework of a research grant funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (grant ID: 075-15-2022-325).

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Conceptualization, A.S.M., M.H.F., Y.S., A.M.; Designing the study, A.S.M., M.H.F., Y.S., A.M.; Programming the study, A.S.M.; Data collection, A.S.M.; Data analysis, A.S.M., M.H.F., A.M.; Interpretation of the results, A.S.M., M.H.F., Y.S., A.M.; Writing up, A.S.M., M.H.F., Y.S., A.M.; Overall project supervision, M.H.F., Y.S., A.M.

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Malyshevskaya, A., Fischer, M.H., Shtyrov, Y. et al. Horizontal mapping of time-related words in first and second language. Sci Rep 14 , 9675 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60062-1

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