Essential German Phrases for Travelers
You’ve always dreamed of visiting Germany – strolling through the historic streets of Berlin,
exploring the fairytale castles of Bavaria, or simply ordering your coffee from a local café.
But there’s a lingering fear holding you back. Your friends who have been to Germany warned you, ‘If you can’t speak German, you’ll struggle to do anything!’ Conversations are the key to truly experiencing the country.
Fear not, I have a few magical phrases to change the whole scenario, so that you can confidently speak German, turning your dream trip into a seamless adventure. Ready to break the language barrier and embrace your German journey? Let’s reveal the secret!
Greetings
Hallo! - Hello!
Guten Morgen! - Good morning!
Guten Tag! - Good day!
Guten Abend! - Good evening!
Farewells
Tschüss! - Bye!
Bis später! - See you later!
Auf Wiedersehen! - Goodbye!
Click here for a full lesson about greetings and farewells in German.
Introductions
Wie heißen Sie? - What is your name?
Ich bin [dein Name]. - I am [your name].
Woher kommen Sie? - Where are you from?
Ich komme aus [deinem Land]. - I come from [your country].
Please & Thank You
Bitte. - Please.
Danke. - Thank you.
Danke schön. - Thank you very much.
Getting Directions
Entschuldigung, wo ist [Ort]? - Excuse me, where is [place]?
Wo ist der nächste Bahnhof? - Where is the nearest train station?
Wie komme ich zum Alexanderplatz? - How do I get to Alexanderplatz?
Geradeaus! - Straight ahead!
Links! - Left!
Rechts! - Right!
Click here to learn how to make commands in German.
Click here for a listening/reading comprehension lesson about getting directions in German.
Asking for Clarification
Was? - What?
Häh? - Huh?
Ich verstehe nicht. - I don't understand.
Können Sie mir helfen? - Can you help me?
Ich spreche kein Deutsch. - I don't speak German.
Sprechen Sie Englisch? - Do you speak English?
Können Sie das bitte langsamer sagen? - Can you please say that more slowly?
In Restaurants
Ich möchte [Gericht]. - I would like [Dish].
Ich hätte gern [Getränk]. - I would like to have [Drink].
Kann ich [Getränk] haben? - Can I have [Drink]?
Ein Bier bitte. - One beer please.
Ein Glas Wasser bitte. - One glass of water please.
Stilles Wasser - Still water.
Sprudelwasser. - Fizzy water.
Eine Pizza bitte. - One pizza please.
Die Rechnung, bitte! - Bill, please!
Ich möchte die Rechnung, bitte. - I would like the bill, please.
Click here for some listening/reading comprehension lessons set in German restaurants.
In Hotels
Ich habe eine Reservierung. - I have a reservation.
Ich möchte einchecken. - I would like to check in.
Ich möchte auschecken. - I would like to check out.
Haben Sie ein Zimmer mit [X]? - Do you have a room with [X]?
Können Sie mir bitte [Y] bringen? - Could you please bring me [Y]?
Click here for a listening/reading comprehension lesson about booking a hotel in German.
Congratulations! You’ve just learned some of the most useful German phrases for travelers. Whether you’re greeting locals, finding your way around, or enjoying a delicious meal, these phrases will make your trip smoother and more enjoyable. Don’t stop here, though! For more practice, check out the lessons linked below. They’ll help you build your vocabulary, fine-tune your pronunciation, and improve your listening comprehension so you can truly speak German with confidence. Thanks for learning with me – bis bald und gute Reise! (See you soon and have a great trip!)
Greetings, Farewells & Basic Phrases for Tourists
Basic Conversational Questions and Sample Answers
Phases to Use When You Don’t Understand Someone in German
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