common german travel phrases

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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.

• 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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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! 

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

29 Common German phrases you'll need on your travels

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

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

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

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

10 common german phrases.

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

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

Want to learn more German phrases?

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

Danke, I will

6 phrases for getting around .

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

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

7 Common German phrases for eating out

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

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

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

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

6 German sentences for talking about your travels

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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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Wilkommen zusammen! Welcome everyone! Today you’re going to learn some useful German travel phrases that are essential for your trip to Germany. I assume you’ve already learned some basic words like Guten Tag and Danke Schön, so we’re going to dive right into some new German phrases .

German Phrases for Transportation and Directions

Entschuldigung, wo ist das WC? – Excuse me, where is the restroom?

Es ist um die Ecke – It’s around the corner

In welcher Richtung ist der Bahnhof? – Which direction is the station?

Nach links/rechts – To the left/right

Sie müssen links/rechts/geradeaus laufen/fahren – You have to walk/drive left/right/straight

Wann fährt der nächste Bus? – When is the next bus?

Können Sie mir bitte zeigen wie der Fahrkartenautomat funktioniert? – Can you please show me how the ticket machine works?

Wie weit ist es bis zur Stadtmitte? – How far is it to the city center?

Es ist etwa 500 meter entfernt – It’s about 500 meters away

Wo ist der Eingang/Ausgang? – Where is the entrance/exit?

Sie müssen mit dem Aufzug ins Erdgeschoss – You have to take the elevator to the ground floor

Wo kann man hier parken? – Where can I park here?

Ich habe mich verlaufen/verfahren – I’m lost (by foot or by vehicle)

Es gibt ein Parkhaus in der Lindenstraβe – There’s a parking garage in the Linden street

German Travel Phrases for Checking in to Your Hotel

Haben Sie eine Reservierung? – Do you have a reservation?

Ich habe eine Reservierung – I have a reservation

Haben Sie ein Zimmer frei? – Do you have a room available?

Ich möchte zwei Nächte bleiben – I want to stay for two nights.

Um wie viel Uhr darf ich einchecken? – At what time can I check in?

Um wie viel Uhr muss ich auschecken? – When do I have to check out?

Wie ist Ihre Name? – What is your name?

Mein Name ist – My name is

Haben Sie WLAN? – Do you have WIFI?

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

Um wie viel Uhr gibt es Frühstück? – What time is breakfast?

Frühstück ist von sieben (7) Uhr bis elf (11) Uhr – Breakfast is from 7am until 11am

German Travel Phrases for Shopping at the Store

Kann ich Ihnen helfen? – Can I help you?

Suchen Sie etwas bestimmtes? – Are you looking for anything in particular?

Ich schaue mich nur um – I’m just looking around

Wie viel kostet das? – How much does this cost?

Es kostet 9.99 – It costs 9.99

Wo finde ich Lederhosen? – Where can I find Lederhosen?

Im Gang vier – In aisle four

Haben Sie die Schuhe in Gröβe 39? – Do you have the shoes in size 39?

Um wie viel Uhr machen Sie zu? – What time do you close?

Um wie viel Uhr machen Sie auf? – What time do you open?

Kann ich mit Kreditkarte bezahlen? – Can I pay by credit card?

Ich bräuchte eine Tüte bitte – I’m going to need a bag please

German Travel Phrases for Friendly Conversation

Es freut mich dich/Sie kennenzulernen – It’s nice to meet you

Woher kommen Sie? Woher kommst du? – Where are you from

Ich komme aus Bayern – I come from Bavaria

Sollen wir uns hinsetzen? – Should we sit down?

Sind Sie zum ersten mal in Deutschland? – Is it your first time in Germany?

Wie gefällt es Ihnen? – How do you like it?

Es ist wunderschön – It’s wonderful

Wie lange bleiben Sie? – How long are you staying?

Ich bleibe zwei Wochen – I’m staying for two weeks

German Phrases for When You Don’t Understand

Mein Deutsch ist nicht sehr gut – My German is not very good

Könnten Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? – Could you speak slower please

Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? – Can you repeat that please

Was bedeutet diese Wort? – What does this word mean?

Ich habe leider nicht verstanden – I’m afraid I didn’t understand

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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.

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 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.

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Basic German Words For Travelers

Most Germans speak English, especially younger people in the bigger cities, so you probably won't have any difficulties getting around this diverse country. Still, a little German can go a long way. The language has a rich history and is the third most widely taught foreign language in the USA, as well as one of the major languages of the world. In short, it is a useful language to know in general.

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

Basic German Words Every Traveler Should Know

• Yes – Ja (yah)
• No – Nein (nine)
• Thank you – Danke ( DAHN-kuh - not like the very popular Wayne Newton song)
• Please and You're welcome - Bitte (BITT-uh)
• Excuse me - Entschuldigen Sie (ent-SHOOL-degen see)
• I'm sorry - Es tut mir leid (ehs toot meer lite)
• Where? - Wo? (Vo?)
• Where's the restroom? - Wo ist die Toilette? (vo ist dee toy-LET-uh)
• Left / Right - Links / Rechts (linx / rechts)
• Do you have.... - Haben Sie... Rechts (Haaben ze...)
• Entrance and Exit - Eingang and Ausgang (Eyen-Gong and Ow-S-Gang)
• Men and Women - Herren/Männer and Damen/Frauen (Hair-en/Menner and Dom-en/FR-ow-en)

Dialects in Germany

For a mid-size country, Germany has a very diverse set of dialects. Linguists say there are as many as 250 distinct German dialects.

These get even more pronounced in places like Austria and German-speaking Switzerland. Vocabulary, accent and phrases vary wildly and some native German speakers can't even understand people from different regions. However, everyone learns Hochdeutsch (high German) and should be able to communicate by using these uniform words and pronunciation. 

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

German Greetings

• Hello/Good day - Guten Tag (GOOT-en tahk)
• Good morning - Guten Morgen (GOO-ten MOR-gen)
• Good evening – Guten Abend (GOO-ten AH-bent)
• Good night - Gute Nacht (GOO-tuh nahdt)
• Good bye – Auf Wiedersehen (Ouf VEE-der-zane)
• See you later - Bis später (Biss Sch-PAY-ter)
• Informal Good-Bye - Tschüß (t-ch-uice)

German Small Talk

• My name is - Mein Name ist.... (Mine NAH-muh ist...)
• What's your name? (formal) - Wie heißen Sie? (vee hie-ssen zee)
• Nice to meet you – Es freut mich. (As froit mish)
• How are you? (formal) -  Wie geht es Ihnen? (vee gayt es ee-nen)
• How are you? (informal) - Wie geht`s? (wee gates)
• (Very) Good - ( Sehr ) Gut  ( zair goot ) / Bad -  Schlecht (shlekht)
• I’m doing well. - Mir geht’s gut. (MIR gates GOOt)
• Do you speak English? (informal) - Sprichst du englisch? (shprikhst doo eng-lish)
• I would like… - Ich hätte gern… (Ish het-a Gar-en)
• I am from…[the USA/Canada/Australia/UK]. - Ich komme aus…(den USA/Kanada/Australien/Großbritannien)
• Do you speak English? - Sprechen Sie Englisch? (SPRA-shun see ANG-lish)
• I don't understand - Ich verstehe nicht (Ish VARE-stahe nisht)
• I can't speak German – Ich kann kein Deutsch. (Ish kun kine doitsh)
• How much does that cost? - Wieviel kostet das? (Vee-veal cost-it DAs?)
• Cheers! - Prost! (PRO-st)
• Have a good trip! - Gute Reise! ( GOOta Rise-a)

Regional German

Northern germany.

• Hi (informal) - Moin (Moi’n) Can also be used to ask if someone is good? ( Moin ?), and answered with good! good! ( Moin ! Moin !)
• Good - Jut (YOU-t)

Southern Germany

• Hello/Good-bye - Servus! (Sir-VUS)
• Hello (formal) - Grüß Gott or S'Gott (GRu-S GOT)
• May god protect you (informal good-bye) - Behüte dich/euch ( Gott ) (Ba-Hewta DICK)
• Yes! (strong) - Jawohl (Yeah VULL)

German Numbers

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

Days of the Week in German

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

Months in German

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

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50 Essential German Phrases for Tourists: English Translations and Pronunciations

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

Table of Contents

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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100+ Common German Phrases and Expressions to Sound Like a Native Speaker

Whether you are learning German “just because” or because you are planning to visit — or move to — Germany, getting familiar with some of the basics of German language is not only helpful in day-to-day life, but can also enhance your experience in a plethora of ways.

In this blog post I’d like to introduce you to one hundred (yes, one hundred!) German phrases and expressions that will help you navigate during your stay in Germany.

From introducing yourself to new friends or colleagues to navigating public transportation or letting others know that you’re having a hard time understanding — or making yourself understood — this blog post will hopefully cover all of your linguistic travel needs!

So without further ado, let’s jump into one hundred German phrases and expressions that you should learn to sound like a native speaker!

Introducing Yourself and Saying Hello

There are a variety of ways to introduce yourself in German or to simply say “hello” — some of them are more formal and some of them work in pretty much any situation.

These German phrases will serve as excellent “ice breakers”, especially when you are nervous about your first ventures into speaking German with native speakers.

Guten Tag! — Good day!

→ This phrase works for pretty much any time of the day except for evenings. You can use it when entering a store, approaching a stranger to ask for directions or when talking to somebody on the phone.

Guten Morgen! — Good morning!

→ Used both in person and on the phone, this is the common, yet more formal way to greet others in the morning.

Guten Abend! — Good evening!

→ This is the formal way of saying “good evening” in German. Usually you’d start saying “Guten Abend” around six o’clock in the evening, but some people might use it sooner than that.

You might notice that the German equivalent of the English “ good afternoon ” doesn’t really exist in German. Instead, you use “Guten Morgen” in the morning hours until approximately eleven o’clock, and after that you could opt for “Guten Tag”.

It is kind of a point of contention in Germany when to stop using “Guten Morgen” as well as when to start using “Guten Abend”, so if you want to be on the safe side, you can always opt for:

Hallo! — Hello!

→ This is a more informal way of greeting someone in German, but it can be used around any time of the day.

When it comes to more informal ways of greeting, you can also simply say “Hi!” — a widely used phrase in Germany as well.

If you’d like to learn more German greetings, check out our post on saying hello in German!

When being introduced to a new group of people, there are several things you might be asked, such as:

Wo kommst du her? — Where are you from? (informal)

Woher kommen Sie? — Where are you from? (formal)

In this case, you could answer with either …

Ich bin aus New York. or Ich komme aus New York. (for example) — I am from New York .

If you just simply want to state what country you are from, you could say:

Ich komme aus Amerika/Kanada/Spanien. — I am from the US/Canada/Spain.

You could also opt for saying:

Ich bin Amerikaner/Kanadier/Spanier. — I am American/Canadian/Spanish.

Note that this expression pertains to the guys. If you are female, the correct expression would be:

Ich bin Amerikanerin/Kanadierin/Spanierin.

After your initial introduction, you could simply say:

Freut mich, Sie kennen zu lernen . — Pleasure to meet you!

Or if you are talking to a younger crowd or in a less formal environment simply choose:

Freut mich, dich/euch kennen zu lernen. — Pleasure to meet you (guys)!

Wie lange lebst du schon in Stuttgart? — How long have you been living in Stuttgart?

Leben Sie schon lange hier? — Have you [polite] been living here for a long time?

On that note …

You are probably familiar with the difference between “ Sie ” and “ du ” in German — formal ‘ you ’ vs. the informal, more familial ‘ you ’.

When in doubt, always opt for the more polite “ Sie ”, especially if you have never met the person before.

Usually, when people are comfortable using a less formal way of addressing, they will offer the following.

“ Sie können du zu mir sagen ” or “ Du kannst mich duzen ”, which literally translates to “You can say you to me” .

While this phrase might sound rather confusing and illogical to you, it makes perfect sense for German natives!

Out and About — Navigating Public Transportation and Getting Around

It’s no secret that Germany has an excellent public transportation system. While it is somewhat of a national tradition to complain about the trains being a) always late, b) never clean, c) too cold, or d) too hot, deep down every German appreciates the convenience of not having to use their car when trying to get somewhere.

Especially if you are not used to riding on public trains and buses, navigating public transportation system can be hard at first.

With these helpful German phrases, you should have no problem getting around though! Next to that, I’ll be providing some other expressions that might come in handy when out and about in Germany.

When Using Public Transportation

There are various types of trains in Germany. In most cities you will find both U-Bahn (“ Untergrundbahn ”, ‘ underground train ’) as well as S-Bahn (“ Stadtschnellbahn ”, basically an inner-city fast train), as well as regional trains commuting between larger cities (so-called ICE Zug or simply ICE , “Intercity Express”) or trains commuting between different cities which aren’t as fast as the ICE trains.

These following German phrases might come in handy when using public trains:

Mit welchem Zug/mit welcher U-Bahn/mit welcher S-Bahn komme ich nach Pankow?  — Which train/U-Bahn/S-Bahn do I have to take to get to Pankow?

Von welchem Gleis aus fährt der Zug? — Which platform is the train leaving from?

Hält diese S-Bahn an der Haltestelle Feuersee? — Does this train stop at the stop “Feuersee”?

Wann fährt der Zug ab? — When is the train departing?

Ist dies der Zug/Bus nach Esslingen? — Is this the train/bus going to Esslingen?

Entschuldigen Sie, fährt dieser Zug/Bus nach …? — Excuse me please, is this train/bus going to …?

→ When approaching strangers to ask questions or for directions, the polite form “ Sie ” ( you ) should always be used.

Wann fährt der nächste Bus nach Mitte? — When is the next bus to Mitte leaving?

→ FYI: In this case, “Mitte” — center — refers to a district in Berlin. If you are not referring to the district, but simply to any city center, you could say:

Wann fährt der nächste Bus in die Innenstadt? — When is the next bus to the city center leaving?

Was kostet ein Ticket nach Stuttgart? — How much is a ticket to Stuttgart?

→ The German word “ Ticket ” (same as in English!) can be used for both bus and train tickets. If you want to be more specific, you can use the word “ Zugticket ” ( train ticket ) or “ Busticket ” ( bus ticket ). Generally speaking though, the word “ Ticket ” is usually enough for people to understand what you are referring to.

Ich möchte nach Prenzlauer Berg. Wie komme ich am besten dorthin? — I’d like to go to Prenzlauer Berg. How can I get there best?

Wann fährt der letzte Zug/Bus nach Tübingen? — When is the last train/bus to Tübingen leaving?

Ein Ticket/zwei Tickets nach Stuttgart-Vaihingen bitte. — One ticket/two tickets to Stuttgart-Vaihingen, please.

Exploring New Territories

One advantage of German cities and smaller towns is that a lot of landmarks and sights can be explored by foot. To get from A to B, you don’t necessarily need to use a car.

Especially when in an unfamiliar area it is important to know some basics in case you need to ask for directions. I’ve also included basics like asking for the time in the list below, since it’s something that can be very helpful when you don’t have a watch on you or your phone has run out of battery.

Entschuldigen Sie, ich habe eine Frage. — Excuse me please, I have a question .

Wie komme ich zur Stiftskirche? — How do I get to the Stiftskirche?

Gibt es hier in der Nähe eine Touristeninformation? — Is there a tourist information close by?

Kennen Sie einen Mietwagenverleih in der Nähe? — Do you know of any car rental services around here?

Komme ich auf diesem Weg zum Rathausplatz? — Is this the way to the Rathausplatz (city hall square)?

Könnten Sie mir das bitte auf der Karte zeigen? — Would you mind showing me this on the map, please?

Gibt es hier in der Gegend interessante Sehenswürdigkeiten? — Are there any interesting sights here in the area?

Wo ist der Bahnhof? — Where is the train station?

Gibt es hier in der Nähe eine öffentliche Toilette? — Is there a public restroom close by?

Geht es hier lang zum Museum? — Is it this way to get to the museum?

Geht es da lang? — Is it in this direction?

→ This is a way to ask for confirmation after you’ve already asked for directions, such as to make sure you’re actually going in the right direction.

Ich habe mich verlaufen. — I am lost.

→ Note: When using “ Ich habe mich verlaufen ” it refers to being lost when walking on foot. It could literally be translated by “I mis-walked”. If you are driving by car and you are lost, you could say:

Ich habe mich verfahren. — I am lost (driving a car).

→ This could more or less translate to “I mis-drove”, and is commonly used when you’ve gotten lost while driving.

Wie viel Uhr ist es? — What time is it?

When Out Shopping …

Whether you’re taking a stroll across the Christmas market in Germany  looking for some souvenirs to send home to loved ones, indulging in some retail therapy, or simply want to get some grocery shopping done, knowing how to ask for certain things can certainly prove to be helpful!

These German phrases should come in handy when hunting for the perfect gift to give to a friend (or to yourself) or when shopping at the supermarket.

Kann ich hier auch mit Kreditkarte bezahlen? — Do you accept credit cards as well?

Ich bin auf der Suche nach einer Mütze. — I am looking for a (winter) hat.

Haben Sie das auch in einer kleineren/größeren Größe? — Do you still have this in a smaller/larger size?

Haben Sie das auch in einer anderen Farbe? — Do you have this in a different color?

Ich schaue mich nur um, danke. — I am just looking, thank you.

→ This phrase comes in handy when the salesperson is a little too enthusiastic.

Das steht mir leider nicht . — Unfortunately, this doesn’t look good on me.

Könnten Sie das bitte für mich zurücklegen? — Could you please put this on hold for me?

Danke, ich suche erst einmal noch weiter . — Thanks, but for now I’ll keep looking .

Wie viel kostet ein halbes Kilo Kartoffeln? — How much is half a kilogram of potatoes?

Ich hätte gerne vier Laugenbrötchen. — I’d like four pretzel rolls, please.

Nein, das ist alles, danke. — No, thanks, that’s all for today.

→ Usually this is the answer to the question “ Darf es noch etwas sein? ” ( Is there anything else you need? )

Einen Moment bitte. — Just a moment please.

Nein, danke. — No, thank you.

Ja, bitte! — Yes, please!

Danke, aber ich würde mich gerne noch ein bisschen umsehen. — Thank you, but I’d like to look around a bit more.

→ This phrase can be used when you actually want to shop around for something some more before making a final decision, but it also can be used when a salesperson is being a little too pushy, essentially giving a subtle hint you’re not intending to buy anything there (without bluntly stating that). Most sellers will get the hint when you state that you’d “like to look around some more”.

When Going Out To Eat

Germany offers a variety of different restaurants and street food — from fine dining to your local Döner Kebap shop (which I highly recommend you give a try!), there are plenty of delicious treats to discover.

In this section, you’ll find useful German phrases for making a reservation at a restaurant as well as very specific German expressions that you can use when ordering food.

At a Restaurant

Haben Sie bereits geöffnet? — Are you open yet?

→ Some restaurants in Germany open their doors well after twelve o’clock noon (depending on if they serve dinner rather than lunch), so sometimes it is good to ask whether the establishment is open yet.

Ich würde gerne einen Tisch für zwei Personen für heute um sechs Uhr reservieren. — I’d like to reserve a table for two at six o’clock today.

→ This would usually be said when making a phone call, but can also be used in person.

Ich hätte gerne einen Tisch für eine Person, bitte. — I’d like a table for one, please.

Ich/wir hätten gerne einen Tisch für zwei/drei/vier Personen bitte. — I’d like/we’d like a table for two/three/four, please.

Wie lange ist die Wartezeit für einen Tisch? — How long would we have to wait for a table?

Haben Sie eine Speisekarte auf Englisch? — Do you have a menu in English?

Haben Sie auch eine Kinderkarte? — Do you have a children’s menu as well?

Was können Sie empfehlen? — What can you recommend?

→ If you want to be a bit more specific, you can also say:

Welches Gericht können Sie empfehlen? — Which dish can you recommend?

Welchen Wein würden Sie dazu empfehlen? — Which wine would you recommend with this dish?

Haben Sie auch Spezialitäten aus der Region? — Do you offer regional specialties as well?

Ein kleines Bier, bitte. — A small beer, please.

Ein großes Bier, bitte. — A large beer, please .

Haben Sie eine Dessertkarte? — Do you have a dessert menu?

Ich hätte gerne die Rechnung. — I’d like the check, please.

→ Alternatively, you can say:

Ich/wir würde/würden gerne bezahlen. — I/we would like to pay, please.

Please note: While in the US the check is always brought to your table, in Germany you have to request the check when eating at a restaurant. Otherwise, the staff will just assume that you’d like to stay a little bit longer, and won’t bother you at all.

If you need the waiter’s or the waitress’ attention, usually signing with your hand or your finger (by simply lifting it up in the air) is enough to get somebody’s attention.

German Street food

Germany offers a variety of delicious treats that can be purchased at either permanent booths in towns and cities or at smaller shops, which usually aren’t as full as restaurants, but offer food to go and takeout/deliveries to your home.

There are a couple of phrases or expressions that aren’t necessarily “proper” high German but often coined in dialects, yet they still come in extremely handy when ordering food on the go.

Ich hätte gerne eine Pommes rot-weiß . — I’d like one portion of fries red and white, please .

→ “Pommes” (short for pommes frites , which is French for “french fries”) is the casual term for fries in Germany. Rot-weiß (‘ red-white ’) stands for a way of topping the fries with both a heaping amount of ketchup and mayonnaise. It’s a delicious snack oftentimes served at (outdoor) pools and parks, although it’s definitely not for those watching their calorie intake.

Einen Döner “mit scharf”, bitte . — One Döner Kebap “with spicy”, please .

→ Before I even go into the details: be aware that in terms of grammar and vocabulary, this sentence is not correct whatsoever .

Yet if using it at one of the Döner shops in Germany, everyone will understand what you mean: you do want the spicy red chili flakes on top that make this already pretty delicious treat even better.

Ein Döner mit allem, bitte . — One Döner with everything, please .

→ A pretty common modification of this phrase is to simply say “ mit alles ” ( with everything ) — this is also very much grammatically wrong, but the expression is sort of a cult classic in Germany, hence many people keep using it.

Zum mitnehmen, bitte . — To go, please .

Zum hier essen, bitte . — For here, please.

Bieten Sie auch Gerichte zum Mitnehmen an? — Do you offer takeaway meals as well?

Dealing with Emergencies

I really do hope that you will not run into any unpleasant situations in Germany — whether this might be getting sick and having to go to the doctor or the hospital, having to call the police or requesting an ambulance.

In this case, however, I think the rule “ better safe than sorry ” applies all too well.

The following German phrases are vital for any trip abroad — no matter if it’s a short vacation or a long-term stay.

Below you can find the most important German expressions that you might need when dealing with an emergency.

Können Sie mir bitte helfen? — Can you help me, please?

Haben Sie ein Handy? Ich brauche einen Krankenwagen. — Do you have a cell phone? I need an ambulance.

Rufen Sie bitte einen Krankenwagen. — Please call an ambulance .

Ich hatte einen Fahrradunfall/Autounfall. — I had a bicycle/car accident.

Ich brauche/wir brauchen einen Arzt. — I need/we need a doctor. (Or: I/we need to see a doctor .)

Ich bin verletzt . — I am hurt/injured .

Gibt es hier in der Nähe ein Krankenhaus? — Is there a hospital close by?

Bitte fahren Sie mich zum nächsten Krankenhaus. — Please drive me to the nearest hospital.

→ This phrase would be commonly used when speaking to a taxi drive or sitting in a cab.

Kennen Sie einen guten Hausarzt? — Do you know any good family physicians?

Gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Kinderarzt? — Is there a pediatrician’s office close by?

Es geht mir nicht gut. — I don’t feel well .

Ich habe eine Grippe . — I have the flu.

Ich habe starke Kopfschmerzen/eine starke Migräne . — I have a very bad headache/a bad migraine .

Ich glaube, ich habe mir etwas gebrochen . — I think I have broken something .

Es tut mir hier weh . — It hurts here .

→ This is commonly used when pointing at the respective body part.

Ich bin auf der Suche nach einer Apotheke . — I am looking for a pharmacy .

Haben Sie auch etwas, das ich ohne Rezept bekomme? — Do you have anything that I won’t need a prescription for?

Er/Sie braucht Medikamente . — He/she needs medication .

Bitte rufen Sie die Polizei . — Please call the police .

Gibt es hier in der Nähe eine Polizeistation? — Is there a police department in the vicinity?

Ich bin bestohlen worden . — I was mugged .

In meinem Hotelzimmer wurde eingebrochen . — My hotel room was broken into .

Mein Auto wurde aufgebrochen . — My car was broken into .

Ich bin unschuldig! — I am innocent!

( → In all seriousness though: I hope you will not need this one.)

As I’ve already mentioned, I really do hope you won’t have to make use of any of the German phrases in the last section of this post.

Other than that, I hope these examples will come in handy when traveling through Germany and communicating with native speakers of German!

Viel Erfolg and until next time!

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Common German Phrases and Words for your Travels

You are planning your next trip to Germany and want to know the most important German phrases and words? Or you want to impress your colleague or family with your German skills? Here you will learn the German basics such as how to say hello or goodbye in German, but also the German numbers, the difference between formal and informal speech, and other important German basics. Watch the video first, listen to the correct German pronunciation with the audio recordings, and then don't miss out on doing some speaking exercises to practice German for free.

Basic German For Travelers

You plan to go to Germany and want to learn a few basics? If you meet somebody, you can just say “Hallo”. A more casual way, to greet friends or rather young people, is to use “Hi”. And if you want to get more advanced use for good morning - "Guten Morgen", for afternoon "Guten Tag" or for the evening "Guten Abend". If you want to ask a stranger something, you can start a conversation with “Entschuldigung”, which is the same as “Excuse me” in English. In an informal situation you could just use the English word “Sorry”. To ask somebody for his well-being you’d say “Wie geht’s?”, literally, ‘how is it going?’, the short form of “Wie geht es?”. The important thing to know here is: in Germany it’s not used as a way of greeting. The rather common answer however is “Gut”. Or “Gut, und dir?” which means “Good, and you?” To introduce yourself you can say “Ich bin ...” followed by your name, e.g. “Ich bin Christopher”. To say where you are from you’d say “Ich bin aus ...” followed by the name of your country. It literally means “I’m from”. For example: "Ich bin aus Spanien." For a bit more advanced students, you can also say “Ich komme aus Spanien” which means “I’m coming from Spain”. If you want to ask where something is, you would say “Wo ist ...” followed by what you are looking for. For example “Wo ist die U-Bahn” - where is the metro? Or “Entschldigung, wo ist die Toilette” - “Excuse me, where is the toilet?” If you don’t understand the other person you can say “Ich verstehe nicht” - I don’t understand. Or try asking “Sprichst du Spanish”? - Do you speak Spanish? Now let’s look at some few basic words that you absolutely need to know: "Ja" - yes. "Nein" - No. "Danke" - Thanks. "Bitte" - Please. Pretty basic, right? It doesn’t also hurt to know a few numbers to be able to order drinks or tickets or something."Eins" - one. "Zwei" - two. "Drei" - three. To order something you’d say: "Ich nehme" … or "Ich hätte gerne..", followed by what you want. So ordering a soup you’d say “Ich nehme die Suppe.” or “Ich hätte gerne die Suppe”. If you want to pay, just ask “Kann ich zahlen?” which literally means “Can I pay?” And whenever you end a conversation you want to say some sort of ‘good-bye’. The most common thing to say is “Tschüss”. The super formal way would be “Auf Wiedersehen” which literally means “until we see again”, used no matter if you actually intend to see the person again.

German Phrases for Travelers

Travel phrases in german.

Imagine you are standing at the airport in Germany. Do you have any idea how to greet the staff there? Have a look at the examples and find out what kind of greeting suits you.

The greeting "Hallo" is the simplest and most common informal greeting in the German language area. You can use it everywhere and address everyone very shortly. You can also just smile, raise your hand to greet them or wave to them.

• Informal Informal
• One person Multiple persons

at the airport, at the train station, at a cafe

The greeting "Guten Tag" is the most common formal greeting in the German language area. You can use it all day. It is used in more formal situations, e.g. when you are talking to your boss.

• Formal Formal

Good ‍ Happy

at the airport, at the train station, at the hotel

The farewell "Tschüss!" is the simplest and most common greeting in the German language area. Sometimes it is written with the "ß" - Tschüß! - which has the same sound as "ss". You can use it when saying goodbye to friends or colleagues. Possible variations are "Tschü!" or "Tschüssi!".

Good ‍ Friendly

at the airport, at the train station, at a club

The farewell "Auf Wiedersehen!" is the most common formal greeting in the German language area. "Auf" is a preposition in this case. "Wieder" means again and "sehen" means to see. In summary, "Auf Wiedersehen" literally means - "See you again".

Most important words in German

Imagine you want to express your agreement or you want to contact someone. Not so easy, is it? In this section you will learn the most important words in German. The simplest form of 'Excuse me' is for example "Entschuldigung". It is also possible to say simply "Sorry!". To say “Thank you” you can use “Danke”.

This is the easiest way to say thank you. Although it is considered quite informal, it is suitable for most situations, whether informal or formal. It is not impolite to use it even with people you know less well. It can be reinforced by "vielen" (Vielen Dank) which means thank you very much.

Good ‍ Thankful

at the airport, at the bus station, at a bar

You want to say thank you formally? The "Ihnen" makes it clear that your statement is formal. You use it when you're at a business dinner or talking to a stranger in a hotel.

Good Thankful

at the airport, at the bus station, in the office

"Bitte" is a very multifaceted word and it is essential to know. It is one of the very first words you will probably learn when you start learning German. In addition to "You are welcome", its common meanings are "Please!", "Excuse me!" and "Can I help you?". The meaning changes depending on the context of the conversation.

Helping Thankful

at the airport, at the train station, at a restaurant

Bittesehr is a formal word and it is essential to know. In addition to "you are very welcome", common meanings are "please", "excuse me" and "can I help you?" in the formal way. The meaning changes depending on the context of the conversation.

When you learn a new language, one of the first things you learn is certainly how to say "yes" and "no". The most common way to say "yes" in German is simply to say "ja" (YAH). Just like in other languages, there are many other words and expressions you can learn in German to signal agreement or acceptance.

Agreeing Thankful

at the airport, at the train station, at a bar

When you learn a new language, one of the first things you learn is certainly how to say "yes" and "no". You want to express yourself very formally? The most common way is to say "ja bitte". Just like in other languages, there are many other words and expressions you can learn in German to signal agreement or acceptance.

The easiest way to say no is to say "nein". There are even more polite ways, but for the beginning, this word should make it easier to get started in the German language.

Disagreeing Angry

You don't want to say just no, you want to express yourself in a more chosen way, but you still don't agree with one thing. Then you can use: It's not possible. - Das ist nicht möglich.

“Vielleicht” is used when you want to think again whether they really want to be part of something. So maybe you can use it if you don't want to say yes or no, or even with the two words together.

Not sure Uncertain

at the bus stop, at the train station, at a restaurant

You are not sure and you want to express "this could be" very formally? Then, you can simply say "Das könnte sein”. It's a more formal answer than just that maybe.

in the office, at the train station, at a restaurant

The formal expression "Entschuldigung!" is the quickest term to excuse yourself. You can use the expression anywhere to ask someone or to excuse yourself. “Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?” - "Excuse me, where is the station?"

at the airport, at the bus station, at a restaurant

The informal expression "Sorry" is a simple and common term especially in between young people. You can use the expression anywhere and just smile nicely or raise both hands when apologizing. When you are in a bar and run into someone you would just simply say: “Sorry!” and move on.

The first three numbers in German are “eins”, “zwei” and “drei”. If you pronounce them, you can also show the number with your fingers. One is the index finger. Two is the index and middle finger and three is the thumb, index and middle finger.

at the ticket counter, at the bus station, in a bar

Most important phrases for travel

You are planning your trip to Germany and want to learn the most important German sentences? Besides "The bill please", you should be able to ask for directions in German. You can also read about how to present yourself.

Sprichst du ...? You can use it if you want to ask someone for help informally. And first you want to ask if he or she speaks a language.

Asking Curious

at the ticket counter, at the bus station, at a bar

Sprechen Sie ...? You can use it if you want to ask someone for help. And first you want to ask if he or she speaks a language. The "Sie" is the polite form of address.

"Ich verstehe nicht" can be used to say that unfortunately you don't understand the other person. It can help you to get the other person to speak English with you. Most people in Germany also speak English.

"Ich verstehe Sie nicht" is a formal way of saying you don't understand the other person. It can help you to get the other person to speak English with you. But it can also be used to show that you do not understand something.

"Ich brauche Hilfe", is the long and informal way to ask for help. If you need it fast, just tell "Hilfe" loud and clear.

"Ich brauche Ihre Hilfe." Is the long and very formal way to ask for help and support.

You are looking for a place and want to ask in German. Then, you can simply ask for your destination with these two words and the respective German word. "Wo ist ...?" means "Where is ...?". Important places are: Bahnhof (Train Station), Flughafen (Airport), Bus (Bus), Taxi (Taxi), Polizei (Police).

at the airport counter, at the bus station, at a bar

You want to ask for a place in German. Then, you can simply ask for your destination with these words. "Wo geht es zum...?" means "Where is the ...?"

Helpless Asking

You want to ask the price? Then, you can just say “Wie viel kostet …? But don't worry. Most of the time you can find prices in all supermarkets, shops and restaurants.

at the airport counter, at the bus station, at a market

You want to order something politely in German. Then, you can just say "Ich hätte gern ....". This will help you to strike the right note in a fancy restaurant.

You want to order something very quick in German. Then, you can just say "Ich nehme ....". This will help you to strike the right note in a normal restaurant or bar.

Excited Happy

You want to ask about the bill? That's easy. Just say: “Kann ich zahlen.” In Germany, even friends often pay their own bill. You can invite the other one nutritiously, but that's not a must. The waiter then asks: zusammen (together) or getrennt (separately).

at the restaurant, at a bar

You want to politely ask for the bill? Just say: Die Rechnung, bitte. In Germany, even friends or the boss often pay their own bill. You can invite the other one nutritiously, but that's not a must. The waiter then asks: zusammen (together) or getrennt (separately).

If you want to introduce yourself simply, you can just say "Ich bin...." and your name. You can also add your last name. In most parts of Germany, the first name is said at first and then the surname is said. In the south of Germany, however, it can also happen that the surname is said at first and then the first name is said.

Welcoming Friendly

at the airport, at the train station

If you want to introduce yourself formally as a woman, you can say "Ich bin Frau ...." and your last name. As a man you use "Herr". This is often used by teachers in the first lesson. "Frau" is used for women and "Herr" for men.

at the airport counter, at the bus station, at a work meeting

To tell someone where you come from, you can start with the personal pronoun "Ich" then, use the regular verb "komme" and then, use the preposition "aus" to introduce the country you come from. Examples are: England, Spanien, Italien, Japan, Singapur, or Australien. Ich komme aus Deutschland.

Happy Friendly

at the airport, at the train station, in a restaurant

This is the short version of "How are you?" and it is used to greet friends, relatives, and younger people. Other situations are talks with the neighbors: "Frau Müller, wie geht's?" or if at work if the "du" was discouraged for some reason: "Hallo. Wie geht's?” The short version is: "Wie geht's?" In this case, the "wie" means “how”, "geht" comes from "gehen", which means to go or to walk, and the "s" comes from "es", which means it.

This is the informal, singular version of answering "Wie geht's?" and it is used to greet friends, relatives, and younger people. Other situations are the talks with neighbors, or if at work, if the "du" was discouraged for some reason. If you are very good you can say: “super” or “sehr gut”.

at the airport, at the train station, in a bar

Practice German Dialogues

When you are chatting informally at the train station.

This is an informal dialogue using "Hi!" and "Hallo?! Wie geht es dir?!" that takes place at the train station.

Check in at the airport

Below you will find a dialogue that takes place at the ticket counter of a bus station. It will give you an understanding of the use of “Danke!” and “Bitte!” and many helpful phrases.

Asking for help

Below you will find a dialogue that takes place in the city center, and will give you an understanding of the use of “Entschuldigung” and “vielleicht”.

Having small talk

Two people meet, have a formal conversation and introduce themselves. Then, one of them asks for help.

Free e-book: 10 most important conversations in German

You have just learned the most important German phrases and words for traveling. Do you want to use the right vocabulary, perfect sentences and correct grammar in your next conversation? Creating your own German dialogue scripts with our "shower hack" method will help you to make more progress with your German every day with just little effort! Download the dialogue templates and the instructions how to easily integrate a bit of practice in your busy daily life.

E-Book with Customisable Dialogues

10 Most Important Conversations in German

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Related topics - Learn also:

Do you like our examples of how to say "Hello" and "Goodbye" in many different ways in German? Here we have more exciting topics for you:

You would like to finally refresh your German language skills and not make any unpleasant mistakes when speaking to Germans? We help you to address "how are you?" correctly in German - and to give the right answer as well. Actually, it's not that difficult: In English, the question "how are you?" is just a way of saying hello, and nobody raises an eyebrow if you don't answer. In German, however, an answer is common. There are many different ways to use "wie geht es dir?" in German. Our tips on this website bring light into the darkness and you can shine in Germany next time.

Do you want to know how to greet someone in German? Would you like to say "Hello" to your friends in German or know how to greet people on a trip to Germany? Here, you can learn how to greet someone in German and how to strike the right note. We have provided an overview of where you can learn the difference between informal greetings and formal greetings. Whenever you meet someone informally, you can greet them with the word "Hallo!" In daylight, you can always say "Guten Tag!" and in the dark, you can say "Guten Abend", and when you go to sleep, you can say "Gute Nacht". Are you interested in more useful knowledge? There are also helpful videos, many audio examples, and exciting interactive exercises waiting for you.

You meet a group of people and don't know how to introduce yourself in German? And you want learn how to pronounce German correctly? We have solved your problem! Besides "Wie heißt du?" and ""Ich heiße ..." there are many others ways. But you do not always know when and how to introduce yourself in German and ask for the name? Our overview with interesting videos and sound recordings will help you to quickly understand the difference between formal and informal. In this way you will learn to introduce yourself. n addition, our free e-book provides you with all the information you need.

When something happens to you, you want to stay polite, but how do you say sorry in German? One expression in German for sorry could be “Entschuldiung”. It is one of the most important words in the German language because it can be used for different questions and statements. Besides the distinction between the informal and formal form of apologizing and asking questions, you can practice talking in German and saying sorry. Just scroll down the page for the exercises. After you have looked at our examples and tried them out for yourself, you will be able to express yourself confidently.

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Basic German Phrases Travelers Should Know

Are you planning a trip to Germany ?

We guarantee you will always remember your time here. Germany is an incredible country with plenty to see and do. Visit picturesque Christmas market s and the iconic Oktoberfest, or explore historic churches, monuments and more.

But before you head out, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with a few basic German phrases for travel. Knowing some common German phrases can enrich your overall experience because you can communicate with the locals.

About the German language

Lucky for you, the English language has Germanic roots, which can make learning some basic German sayings a bit easier.

Sentence Structure

For instance, the basic sentence structure for English and German is quite similar. Both languages follow a “subject-verb-object” format.

For example: English – I visit Germany German – Ich beuche Deutschland

However, one of the ways English and German are different is in how questions are organized.

For example: In English we would ask, “Could you give me the ticket? In German, the arrangement would be, “Could you to me the ticket give?”

Special characters

Another difference is that German has special characters not found in the English alphabet. First are umlauts : ä, ö and ü. These additional letters in the German alphabet have two dots on top and because there is no equivalent sound in English, they can a little tricky for non-native speakers.

The second special character is the eszett , which is when “ss” or “sz” occurs. You will likely see this while looking at maps because “Straße” (the German word for “street”) has that double-s sound. Straße is pronounced “strass-uh”.

Common German Phrases

Before you depart on your vacation, consider downloading a language translator app to your Smartphone and familiarize yourself with these basic German words and phrases.

• Thank you – Danke (dan-kuh”)
• You’re welcome – Bitteschön (“bit-tuh-shun“)
• Please, excuse me, or pardon – Bitte (“bit-tuh”)
• Yes – Ja (“jah”)
• No – Nein (“nine”)
• Hello – Hallo (“hallo”)
• Goodbye – Auf Wiedersehen (“Owf Veeder-sane”)
• German – Deutsch (“doych”)
• How are you? – Wie gehts (“Wee gates”)
• Do you speak English? – Sprechen Sie Englisch? (“Spreken zee English?”)
• I don’t speak German – Ich spreche kein Deutsch (“Ish sprekeh kine Doych”)
• Repeat, please – Bitte wiederholen (“Bit-tuh wee-der-holen”)
• I’m sorry – Es tut mir Leid (“Es tut meer lide”)
• I don’t understand – Ich verstehen nicht (“Ish versh-tee nikd”)
• What is your name? – Wie heißen Sie? (“Wee hai-sen zee? “)

Basic German Phrases for Travel

It’s incredibly helpful to know some basic German sayings that are travel-specific since you will be in situations and scenarios where they will be relevant.

• …the train station? – …der Bahnhof?
• …the bus station? – …die Bushaltestelle?
• …the bathroom/toilet? – …die Toilette?
• How much does this cost? – Wie viel kostet das?
• I would like the bill, please – Ich möchte bitte die Rechnung
• I have a reservation – Ich habe eine Reservierung
• I would like to buy this – Ich möchte das kaufen
• I’m lost – Ich bin verloren

German Expressions and Slang

As you explore the country’s amazing cities and sites, you may want to try some common expressions to feel more like a local.

• Prost! / Zum Wohl! – Cheers!
• Mon – Good morning or hello
• Lecker – This is tasty!
• Mensch! – Oh man!
• Jein – Yes and no
• Abhauen – Go away or get lost

Communication tips

It’s best to keep things simple when trying to speak with locals in their native language. Trying to be perfect can often times complicate things. Instead, try to communicate your main message in a few words ( “Bitte, Ich bin verloren. Bushaltestelle?” / “Pardon me, I’m lost. Bus station?” ). The person will likely understand what you are asking for or saying. They may also appreciate the fact that you are making a sincere effort to speak to them in their language rather than assuming they speak English.

Practice Common German Phrases with YMT

We offer exceptional land tours , cruise tours and river cruises in Germany. And while you’re there, take your vacation a step further by renting a boat to explore Berlin’s fascinating waterways. You can use your new language skills to hausboot mieten Berlin .

To join any of our exciting German getaways or to learn more about our services, contact your travel consultant or call YMT Vacations at 888-860-1969 .

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German for Travelers: 101 Useful Phrases Every Backpacker Should Know

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

Renán L. Cuervo

Content Writer

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

Why you should learn these German phrases for travelers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

German phrases for travelers: a note on pronunciation

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

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

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

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

Keep these phrases handy! Photo by Skylar Kang

The top 101 German phrases for travelers

Greetings, introductions, and farewells.

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

Basic questions and answers

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

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

At the hotel

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

Locations & asking for directions

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

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

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

Emergency phrases 

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

Learn German phrases for travelers with these online resources

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bis später!

• German sounds
• language learning

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