Basic Phrases
If you choose to listen to only one German lesson, let it be this one. In this lesson, we are going to teach you the basic phrases that will ensure your safe and comfortable transition into life in Germany.
Vocabulary and Phrases:
| Entschuldigung! | Excuse me |
| Guten Morgen! | Good Morning |
| Guten Abend! | Good Evening |
| Grüss Gott! | This literally means “Hello God!” and is used in the Southern Germany, at any time of day |
| Sprechen Sie Englisch? | Do you speak English? |
| Ich spreche kein Englisch/Deutsch. | I don’t speak English/German. |
| Ein bisschen. | A little bit. |
| Das macht nichts. | That’s ok. |
| Wo ist die Toilette? | Where is the restroom? |
| Das tut mir leid | I am sorry |
| Können sie bitte langsamer sprechen? | Could you speak more slowly please? |
| Und | and |
| Kein Problem | No Problem |
| Guten Tag! | Have a good day! |
| Auf Wiedersehen! | Good-bye! |
| Tschüss | Bye-bye |
Dialog:
Mary: Entschuldigung! Guten Morgen, sprechen Sie Englisch?
Thomas: Nein, tut mir leid. Ich spreche kein Englisch.
Mary: Ich spreche nur ein bisschen Deutsch.
Thomas: Das macht nichts. Ich verstehe Sie. Kann ich Ihnen helfen?
Mary: Ja, bitte. Wo ist die Toilette?
Thomas: Die Toilette ist da drüben.
Mary: Super! Und das Schloss Hotel? Wo liegt das?
Thomas: Das Schloss Hotel liegt hinter diesem Gebäude.
Mary: Was haben sie gesagt? Können sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
Thomas: Das Schloss Hotel liegt hinter diesem Gebäude.
Mary: Vielen Dank! Guten Tag noch! Auf Wiedersehen!
Thomas: Kein Problem! Tschüss!
Mary: Excuse me! Good morning. Do you speak English?
Thomas: No, I’m sorry. I don’t speak any English.
Mary: I only speak a little German.
Thomas: That’s ok. I understand you. Can I help you?
Mary: Yes, please. Where is the restroom.
Thomas: The toilet is over there.
Mary: Great! And the Castle Hotel? Where is that?
Thomas: The Castle Hotel is behind this building.
Mary: What did you say? Could you speak more slowly.
Thomas: The Castle Hotel is behind this building.
Mary: Thank you! Have a good day! Good day!
Thomas: No problem! Bye!
Grammar Note:
As we’ve discussed in the section about nouns, they are always capitalized in German.
When you first meet people in Germany, it is polite to address them as “Sie” which is the formal version of “you.” Once you get to know people a little better, it is ok to “Du” them, which means to use the informal version of you, “Du.” Once you get to know a person better, you can ask them whether or not it would be ok to use a less formal version by saying: “Können wir uns dutzen?”
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