Here are the German phrases a beginner needs most, one page each: hello and goodbye, please and thank you, excuse me and sorry, ordering, paying and asking for help. Every page gives Germany German pronunciation, the du and Sie forms, the usual reply, and Austrian or Swiss variants where they differ. Learn Bitte early: it does several jobs.
- German taught
- Germany German, with Austrian and Swiss notes
- Level
- A1
- On each page
- Pronunciation, du and Sie forms, replies, regional variants
- You
- Sie for strangers, staff and most adults at work; du for friends, family and children
- Real usage
- Most pages quote a line from a Contos story chapter
- How to say beautiful in GermanSchön, wunderschön or hübsch? How to say beautiful in German, why schön changes its ending, and how to pay a compliment with du or Sie.
- How to say cheers in GermanProst or zum Wohl? How to say cheers in German, toast with du and Sie, and the eye-contact rule every German expects when glasses clink.
- How to say delicious in GermanLecker, köstlich or das schmeckt gut? How to say delicious in German, compliment a cook with du or Sie, and the mealtime phrases around it.
- How to say do you speak English in GermanSprechen Sie Englisch? or sprichst du Englisch? How to ask if someone speaks English in German, the answers you'll hear, and how to keep practising.
- How to say excuse me in GermanEntschuldigung, Entschuldigen Sie or Darf ich mal? How to say excuse me in German to get attention, get past someone, or ask them to repeat.
- How to say good morning in GermanGuten Morgen, Morgen or Moin? How to say good morning in German, when to switch to Guten Tag, and what Austrians and Swiss say.
- How to say good night in GermanGute Nacht, schlaf gut or Guten Abend? How to say good night in German, wish someone sweet dreams, and avoid the evening-greeting mix-up.
- How to say goodbye in GermanTschüss, Auf Wiedersehen or Bis bald? How to say goodbye in German, from casual to formal, on the phone, in emails and in the south.
- How to say happy birthday in GermanAlles Gute zum Geburtstag or herzlichen Glückwunsch? How to say happy birthday in German, why you never say it early, and what to write in a card.
- How to say hello in GermanHallo, Guten Tag, Servus or Grüezi? How to say hello in German to friends and strangers, on the phone, and in Austria and Switzerland.
- How to say "How are you?" in GermanWie geht's, Wie geht es dir or Wie geht es Ihnen? How to ask how someone is in German, how to answer, and why Ich bin gut is wrong.
- How to say how much is it in GermanWie viel kostet das? or was macht das? How to ask prices in German, understand the answer in euros and cents, and pay at the till.
- How to say I don't understand in GermanIch verstehe nicht, wie bitte or ich verstehe nur Bahnhof? How to say you don't understand in German and ask people to repeat or slow down.
- How to say I love you in GermanIch liebe dich or Ich hab dich lieb? How to say I love you in German to a partner, family and friends, plus pet names and how to reply.
- How to say I miss you in GermanIch vermisse dich or Du fehlst mir? How to say I miss you in German, how the two verbs work, and how to say you miss home.
- How to say my name is in GermanIch heiße, ich bin or mein Name ist? How to introduce yourself in German, ask someone's name with du or Sie, and avoid the classic mistakes.
- How to say nice to meet you in GermanFreut mich, angenehm or schön, Sie kennenzulernen? How to say nice to meet you in German, reply to it, and say goodbye after a first meeting.
- How to say please in GermanBitte, könnten Sie or ich hätte gern? How to say please in German, where bitte goes in a sentence, and how to ask politely with du and Sie.
- How to say see you later in GermanBis später, bis bald or bis dann? How to say see you later in German, choose the right bis phrase, and pair it with Tschüss or Auf Wiedersehen.
- How to say sorry in GermanEntschuldigung or Es tut mir leid? How to say sorry in German, apologise for something specific, show sympathy and accept an apology.
- How to say thank you in GermanDanke, Danke schön or Vielen Dank? How to say thank you in German, thank someone for something, and why danke can mean no.
- How to ask for the bill in GermanDie Rechnung, bitte or zahlen, bitte? How to ask for the bill in German, answer zusammen oder getrennt, and tip the German way with stimmt so.
- How to ask where the toilet is in GermanWo ist die Toilette? How to ask for the toilet in German, Toilette vs WC vs Klo vs Bad, the signs to look for, and asking at a friend's home.
- How to say yes and no in GermanJa, nein and the famous doch: how to say yes and no in German, politely or casually, and how nein differs from nicht and kein.
- How to say you're welcome in GermanBitte, gern geschehen or kein Problem? How to say you're welcome in German, which reply fits where, and the regional answers.
What are the first German phrases to learn?
Start with these five. Together they get you through a bakery, a ticket office or a lost-in-the-station moment:
- Hallo, or Guten Tag in an office, a surgery or on the phone to a company.
- Bitte, the most hard-working word in German: please, you're welcome, here you are, and in Wie bitte?, pardon?
- Danke. Careful: said in reply to an offer, a plain Danke can mean no, thanks.
- Entschuldigung to get attention or get past; the same word covers a small apology.
- Ich verstehe nicht, or ask straight away: Sprechen Sie Englisch?
Next, learn Wie viel kostet das? for shops and Die Rechnung, bitte for restaurants, where the waiter will not bring the bill until you ask.
Should you say du or Sie?
Default to Sie with adults you don't know, in shops and with anyone you would call Herr or Frau. Du is for friends, family, children and, increasingly, colleagues in relaxed workplaces. People usually offer du explicitly; until they do, stay with Sie.
Sie is always written with a capital S and takes the same verb form as "they", which makes polite German easier than it looks: Entschuldigen Sie, Sprechen Sie…?, Können Sie…?. In this A1 Contos chapter, a man on a park bench apologises to a stranger when his dog drops a ball at her feet. She answers Kein Problem:
"Oh, entschuldigen Sie", sagt Jonas und wird rot.Frequently asked questions
What are the most common German phrases?
Hallo, Guten Morgen, Tschüss, Danke, Bitte, Entschuldigung, Wie geht's?, Wie viel kostet das? and Ich verstehe nicht. With those you can greet, thank, apologise, shop and ask for help.
Do Germans really say Guten Tag?
Yes, but mostly in formal or semi-formal settings: offices, doctors' surgeries, phone calls and shops in some regions. Among friends Hallo is far more common, and in southern Germany and Austria you will hear Grüß Gott and Servus.
Why is German pronunciation easier than it looks?
Because spelling and sound match closely. Once you know that w sounds like English v, ei like "eye" and ie like "ee", you can read most phrases aloud. The German pronunciation guide covers umlauts and the two ch sounds.
Where can I see these phrases used naturally?
In stories written for learners. Contos chapters from A1 to B2 have characters greeting neighbours, apologising and arguing in everyday German. Tap any word to see its meaning and save it as a flashcard.