Essential German Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of German words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation,
please see the Pronunciation Guide below.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Hallo.

Hello.
Auf Wiedersehen.
Goodbye.
Sprechen Sie Englisch?
Do you speak English?
Ich verstehe nicht.
I don't understand.
Ein bisschen.
A little.
Ja. Nein.
Yes. No.
Wieviel kostet es?

How much is it?
Zu teuer. In ordnung.
Too expensive. OK.
Bitte.
Please.
Danke (schön).
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Wie heißen Sie? What is your name? Ich heiße ... My name is ... Wie geht es mit Ihnen? How are you? Gut. Und mit Ihnen? Fine. And you? Wo ist ...? Where is ...? Wo ist die Toilette? Herren/Damen Where is the toilet? Men/Women Entschuldigung. Sorry. Excuse me. Kein Problem. No problem. Ich will ... I want ... Ich will nicht ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...

Woher kommen Sie?
Where are you from?
Ich komme aus Australien.*
I am from Australia.
Die Rechnung, bitte.
The bill, please.
Ich habe mich verirrt.
I am lost.
Halten Sie! Warten Sie!
Stop! Wait!
Hier, dort, dort drüben.
Here, there, over there.
Taxi. Hotel. Flughafen. Bahnhof.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Es gefällt mir ...
I like ...
Es gefällt mir nicht ...
I don't like ...

eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf.
one, two, three, four, five.
sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

*Or choose your country:
Amerika - America
Kanada - Canada
England - England
Irland - Ireland
Neuseeland - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

Prost!
Cheers!

gut / schlecht
good / bad
groß / klein
big / small
nahe / weit
near / far
weniger / mehr
less / more
noch ein / genug
another / enough

Ich bin Vegetarier. (man)
Ich bin Vegetarierin. (woman)
I am vegetarian.
Ich esse kein Fleisch.
I don't eat meat.
... Hühnchen.
... chicken.
... Fisch.
... fish.

Ich bin allergisch gegen Nüsse.
I am allergic to nuts.
... Erdnüsse.
... peanuts.
... Fisch.
... fish.
... Meeresfrüchte.
... seafood.
... Eier.
... eggs.

Pronunciation Guide

Vowels:
ä is pronounced as a as in hat (æ)
äu is pronounced as oi as in boil
unstressed e is pronounced as er as in her (ə)
ei is pronounced as ai as in aisle (IPA ai)
eu is pronounced as oi as in boil
ie is pronounced as i
ö is pronounced ir as in bird (ø)
ü an i with rounded lips (IPA y)

Consonants:
ß indicates a double s
b at the end of a word is pronounced as a p
ch is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
ch after e or i is pronounced as h as in huge (IPA ç)
d at the end of a word is pronounced as a t
g at the end of a word is pronounced as a k
-ig is pronounced as i + h as in huge (-iç)
j is pronounced as y as in yet (IPA j)
k is pronounced as k as in kick, with a puff of air (kʰ)
p is pronounced as p as in pat, with a puff of air (pʰ)
r is pronounced as a voiced uvular fricative as in French (ʁ)
s at the beginning of a word is pronounced as z
sch is pronounced as sh as in shop (ʃ)
s before p or t is pronounced as sh (ʃ)
t is pronounced as t as in top, with a puff of air (tʰ)
v is pronounced as f as in fall
w is pronounced as v as in vent
z is pronounced as ts as in cats