4. Then say the same sentence aloud in … Ja, ein bißchen: Do you speak a language other than German? It literally translates to “clear” in English, but it can also … “Ich glaub ich spinne” Literal translation: I think I spider. Here’s what you can say instead. When you’re learning German and you have the chance to talk with native German speakers, there’s a lot you might not understand at first. These German phrases will have you laughing for less stressful reasons. In German, you always have to change the word order this way when you use weil (because). For starters, you can use the all-purpose Hallo! While you wouldn’t need this one so much for a conversation, you will likely need to use it in sometime in crowded areas. (an informal phrase) 1. ... 1000 Most Common German Phrases in Conversation (with English voice) Last updated on 2020-05-10 lavender German Deutsch. Tips for Learning German Phrases . You can split it into different … May I help you? It’s easiest to use at the start of a sentence.‍. One of the best ways to learn German is to ease yourself into the language with interesting and easy-to-follow authentic content, like the videos on FluentU. So we’re here to offer 17 German conversation phrases that might not appear in your German textbooks. You could get fined for using the informal form of ‘you’ with them. All finished with the transaction? The German language is estimated to be made out of a total of 300000 words with the largest German dictionary having over 135000 words. When you go shopping for souvenirs or out to eat in Germany, you may find that English doesn’t get you that far, especially in small towns. But you might hear Was geht ab? If you find yourself in Austria it is always polite to say “Hi” every … There are a variety of ways to introduce yourself in German or to simply say... Out and About — Navigating Public Transportation and Getting Around. (Nothing, thanks.) This is a great way to begin a sentence when you’re not sure about something and are trying to work your way around something. … You can check out this post to learn more about how to use na in German.‍. Just as in English, you don’t need to say Gute Nacht (goodnight) unless you’re sending someone to bed. (frm) Sprichst du Deutsch? This means: What’s going on? The word ‘eyeblink’ also exists in some English dictionaries and likely dates from the 1830’s, but it’s fallen out of use in most circles. Literally: I’m quick and ready. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. The table below contains: German phrases, expressions and words in German, conversation and idioms, greetings and survival phrases. EVERYDAY PHRASES IN GERMAN. Better say thank you! Do you speak German? Wie bitte? Most of the sentences are used for the everyday life conversations, so they might come handy if you memorize them, if you don’t know how to say something in German then check the alphabet page, to get some help. Na is one of those things you could add to your German repertoire to sound more like a native German speaker. You can use these phrases to help you be more specific about what you’d like, and you can also use these adjectives later on in your German-speaking adventures. In this guide you will find some phrases in German that will be useful for you in such situations. FluentU takes real-world videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons. German phrases sorted into useful everyday topics, with sound and translations in English. Hyde Flippo taught the German language for 28 years at high school and college levels and published several books on the German language and culture. Part of this is because a lot of the textbook German you’ve been learning isn’t what the native speakers are using. Literally: That is not my beer. = Good morning. can take anywhere. [daŋkə gu:t] — Thanks, I’m fine. Nichts, danke. That’s fine! It’s no … [vi: ge:t ɛs di:r] — How are you? These are the absolute basic German phrases that every beginning learner needs to know, whether you’re sitting at home or are already living it up in Germany! A loanword is a word borrowed from a donor language and incorporated into a recipient language without translation. “Spinnen” … All right, now it’s time for a snack. All Rights Reserved. (inf) Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') 2. Basic phrases. So give it a go and pull your thumbs next time you want to cross your fingers and say:‍, This is a common German phrase to say, “just a moment, please” Augen are eyes. Sprechen Sie Englisch? Let's get started with how some polite conversations might begin when you meet somebody for the first time.‍, Nice to meet you. In this lesson there are lots of really useful expressions and common german phrases you can use when socializing with Germans. Literally this phrase means ‘all beginning is difficult’.‍, In any case. What? It literally translates to “once” or “twice.”. A basic knowledge of German will give you access to fascinating and welcoming countries in the heart of Europe. 1. Wie geht’s? 7 Fab Sites That Are Serving ‘Em Up, Fool the Locals! The best way to start small talk with a German-speaking person is to ask “How are you?” in German. It’s a more casual way to ask how somebody is.‍, As answer to Wie gehts? (I don’t speak much German.) Of course / Gladly: Natürlich / Gerne May I help you? Author: Jadranka Bokan. Well, yeah….To continue with na you can use it easily to show ambivalence as well. So this would be a polite way to do so. Then you overhear a conversation of two native speakers and only pick up one word: train station. There are three commonly-used responses to this question. Guten Morgen. How to ask for bill: Kann ich bitte zahlen?– Can I pay, please? © 2021 Enux Education Limited. If you go out for a night on the town in Germany, you might end up breit, dicht, or in other … (a formal phrase) 1. Das ist nicht mein Bier. Ich spreche nicht viel Deutsch. Download: Breit/Dicht. One chocolate ice cream, but no whipped cream. If somebody says something that you don’t agree with but you don’t wish to directly argue with them about it, you can also start your response with na ja….and state your views on the issue.‍, This is a useful word to use when you neither agree nor disagree on an issue. vielleicht. Learning English becomes fun and easy when you learn with movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talks. [vi: ge:ts] — How’s it going? Germany is full of excellent bakeries and cafes, but the problem is that most of the bread and pastries have long names that you probably don’t know as a beginner. (informal) Kannst du mir helfen? Can you help me? If you want to say maybe about something then you can use the word jein. This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you However, many jobs have male versions (with no ending) and female versions (with an -in ending). kommt schon vor = it h. WHAT WE LEARN AND WHAT WE REALLY NEED Vol. Können Sie das übersetzen? Say this last one with a smile and see what kind of response you get: Are you surprised to see this topic on the list? – I would like … In other words: ‘Fed up’. You can ask if they have it, for starters. Speaking – conversation topics. 3. Meaning: I think I’m going crazy. It’s not perfect, but it’ll get the job done without any English. Wie geht es dir? So literally it means a blink of an eye. 1. Danke, gut. ja. ). 1 Tips and Notes 1.1 Simple German Present Tense 1.2 Wie geht's? 6. If you’d like, you can up the ante by saying how long you’ve been learning. yes. How to Improve Your German Accent with Audio Clips, How to Hear Real German Conversations, Anywhere (with English Translations! Germans actually have a specific sentence pattern for ordering things at a bakery or similar shop. A German expression in English is a German loanword, term, phrase, or quotation incorporated into the English language. But if you substitute Lust with Bock haben you’ll be sounding like you have idiomatic fluency in German. The 9 Best Websites to Learn German Through Immersion Online, Want Online German Lessons? 5. Your submission has been received! Jein is another good one to use for ambivalent situations. The audio was recorded in a professional studio by native speakers. I’ve been learning German for three months. This video covers some essential topics like greetings, self-introduction, asking for other’s opinions, talking about feelings and hobbies, etc. The basic German words page is aimed at individuals who need to learn some quick German phrases before traveling to Germany. Here are some basic German phrases which you can use in everyday conversation, as well as some common words you will see on signs. ‍, This is a German idiom that literally means ‘I only understand train station.’ Can you imagine when you learn a new language and you learn the word train station in the first lesson. If you’re nailing your pronunciation and grammar, you might also have a quick exchange about your language ability. By now you've gone beyond the basic German words that beginners should know and you're ready for some real German conversations. After all, you're going to use greetings every time you have a conversation in German! FluentU is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Klar is a versatile word in German. In English it’s used to say an instant, or a brief period of time.‍. By watching videos with FluentU’s interactive German subtitles, you’ll actually end up hearing and seeing the same beginner phrases over and over again—until you naturally remember them, without effort. German, with almost 100 million people worldwide, is the most widely spoken native language in the European Union. The next step is to begin talking about yourself. It contains fourlessons teaching common phrases that are used in everyday language. You really want to do something and you feel like doing it. Ich bin fix und fertig. You can have voll Bock and null Bock as well to really show that you’re either really enthusiastic about something or that you are not at all interested in something.Here is another example of how to use it:  Ich habe Bock auf’s trinken, which means, “I really want to drink.”‍, Keep your fingers crossed. Try out these phrases when you’re having a little trouble understanding, and the person you’re speaking with will respect your effort to keep talking in German. You might also hear the following: And now, where do you come from originally? Perhaps you’ve been in Germany for a while? Because my husband / my wife comes from Germany. Suddenly you hear your friend’s voice from across the room. This is a useful phrase to say to anybody starting out a new endeavour, learning something new, getting a new job or learning a new language. Most textbooks teach you things that native speakers rarely use. The phrases I’ve put together aren’t just for impressing people at parties, either. It’s a useful word to put at the front of a sentence. Click here to get a copy. It sounds like you need a little grab-bag of German phrases! Sign up for a free FluentU trial today to continue practicing phrases while watching fun German videos! Get our language hacking book for free ($19 value) and learn 5x faster. Then you only understood ‘Bahnhof’ right? Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Have you been trying to learn German for a while now but still don’t feel comfortable trying to speak it? If you are looking for a more interactive lesson try browsing our selection of free German language lessons.. Pardon me? maybe. Oops! Ich möchte bitte zahlen. Meet jumpspeak. (Download). German is interesting, everobody! With these phrases up your sleeve, you’re all set to try out your language skills! Includes 100 must learn German words with English translations. The Art of Conversation: 60+ Useful German Phrases for Beginners German Greetings and Take things even further by adding beginner German phrases to FluentU’s flashcard sets or vocabulary lists or by practicing them with quizzes. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe, Get regular language learning tips, resources and updates, starting with the "Complete Guide to Foreign Language Immersion" e-book, Sign up for our weekly blog newsletter for a chance to win a free FluentU Plus subscription (value $240), Expert Advice on Learning German: Our Top 7 Tips on How to Learn the German Language Outside of the Classroom, Dive In! This free German language lesson is not to be missed - just a few minutes with the Rocket German team and you'll know a range of basic German phrases to use when socializing with German people. But if it’s somebody you know well enough, then go for it! Geil is a word used to describe anything you feel is cool, tasty or an interesting surprise. Anytime to meet somebody for the first time, it is a polite phrase to you to begin a conversation in German.‍, Most German textbooks seem to teach students to say Wie gehts? Those words have their own use. You will not want to use it with the authorities though. If you have some snappy responses ready, you’ll come off as quite impressive! These phrases are simple, easy to remember and will help you make new German friends. The best way to learn these is to read each sentence to yourself and immediately read the English equivalent. Plus, you can continue learning by clicking on any words or phrases in the subtitles to see them used in example sentences and additional authentic videos. bitte. When you want to be specific about things to avoid with your order, you can use the word kein (no, none) or ohne (without). Â, ‍Na is something like the English words: well, so, then, well then. Use this to say things such as: I agree, count me in. Hey, I know someone who’s learning German!” he says. Excellent! [vi: ge:t ɛs i:nən] — How are you?  Blikk is a blink. A Bock is a buck, a male goat or a ram. Don’t be—it’s something that learners hear a lot! This is pretty informal and casual, but you still hear it often. In German, the word for “thank you” is actually the same as “here you are.”. © Copyright 2021 Rype, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 100+ Common German Phrases and Expressions to Sound Like a Native Speaker Introducing Yourself and Saying Hello. German idioms are a constant source of hilarity, especially when directly translated into English. (Hello!). Some examples of expressions are: ich bin ja schon dabei, which means “I’m already in” and ich bin auch dabei which means “I’m also in”. You’re at a party, looking for people to chat with. German is a prominent language of both business and culture in the EU and beyond. This sentence, while true, is relatively complicated for a beginner. Include it to make your German conversations flow more naturally. And now, it’s time to learn some beginner phrases that will take your German to the next level. Try to use these words in your daily life and it will help you to remember them – it won’t hurt your friends and family to … So as you can imagine it’s a useful, versatile word. no. There are some phrases that are particularly helpful to international travelers. Of course, here it’s polite to shake hands and say: In German, when you talk about what job you do, you don’t need an article (ein/eine). (a friendly expression used for people you know well) Now it’s time to remember some German phrasesto answer this question depending on your mood: 1. Some of the best German language lessons have been created by Learn German with GermanPod101.. The expression you learn in your German textbooks is likely lust haben. You’ll note that ist (is) is at the end of the sentence. We’ve known that the six question word (what, who, where, when, why, and how) have their own meaning in German, but in German, there are some particular question words whose meaning literally have no synonym in English, such as: worauf, woran, worüber, wovon, wozu, etc. For teachers: if you are looking for interesting texts which could be used as stimulation for free speaking and discussion for your students, feel free to use the selected texts below. Check out these others, though—they count as greetings even though they might not directly translate as such. Entschuldigung! We also participate in other affiliate advertising programs for products and services we believe in. [as in may I have your attention].) Either way, these common German expressions are essential for your German survival kit. You will be able to … In southern Germany or in Austria, you’re likely to hear two other phrases: And in the north, especially around Hamburg, you may also hear: Even if you can only manage a simple “Hello” in German, it’ll still go a long way. Menu. Geil. (frm) Sprichst du eine andere Sprache als Deutsch? The German language is the official (or co-official) language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, South Tyrol (Italy) and Liechtenstein. (inf) Sprechen Sie eine Sprache außer Deutsch? These are all excellent phrases. Although nobody likes to admit it, there are times when communication starts to break down and you need to be able to ask for clarification. After English, German is the most widely spoken language of the European Union, and is an official language in numerous countries— including Austria, Belgium, Germany, parts of Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Poland, and Switzerland. But it’s … So we’re here to offer 17 German phrases that might not appear in your German textbooks. Also called 'Common Phrases', Phrases is the fourth (assuming left to right)skillin the Germanlanguage tree. Try the German word challenge and learn 125 German words in an hour. Of course when you are occupied with something and you’ll get to somebody soon, it will take a few blinks of an eye before you get back to them. Your 24/7 personal AI language coach, at a fraction of the price. This German phrase means you’re in the mood for something. It is distinguished from a calque, or loan translation, where a meaning or idiom from another language is translated into existing words or roots of the host language. Below are several phrases that might come in handy during your stay in a German-speaking country. Learn German by reading interlinear translations in English . Frequency list of 1000 most common words in German language. If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn German with real-world videos. Try it risk-free for 30 days. But if you really want to sound natural at first, you should figure out exactly which kind of “hello” that should be. So literally you have a buck. Expand Menu. Ich spreche Englisch. (formal) Kann ich Ihnen helfen? 1.3 Willkommen 2 Lessons 2.1 Lesson 1 … Here is how you can do that: 1. Sprechen Sie eine andere Sprache als Deutsch? LanguageDaily.com - Language Daily. Something went wrong while submitting the form. You look over and see him gesturing toward you. You can split it into different expressions by adding an adverb before dabei. No wonder this is the German way of saying ‘it’s all Greek to me’.‍, It’s always tough at the beginning. Common German Phrases It's always a good idea to have a handy arsenal of friendly expressions and phrases that you can use to keep the conversation flowing. with English translation. This German phrase is very common and easy to incorporate into your German conversations where appropriate. Even better would be adding “Goodbye” to your language repertoire. The first thing that comes out of your mouth in German is probably going to be some sort of hello. Can I please get through? They are fun to use when you are excited about something and want to share in somebody else’s success.‍, This literally means to have the nose full. This is a good one to know. The expression can change depending on what you place before dabei. (informal) Kann ich dir helfen? ... but they can all be used in everyday conversations. Ja, ich bin dabei. Learn most used German articles, nouns, verbs, prepositions, adjectives and other vocabulary terms. For example, if you said ich bin heute voll dabei it would mean “Today I’m doing well.”‍, Relax! That’s fine! FluentU brings English to life with real-world videos. Meaning: I’m not interested; I don’t like it. Use this to say things such as: I agree, count me in. Language Learning Resources Toggle Child Menu. Do you know the name of the thing you want? Germany is getting more and more casual over time! Did your blood go cold at the thought of hearing this? One coffee, please (literally once coffee, please). Thank you! There are over 229 million German speakers worldwide. could be: Es geht. So, in honour of native speakers and German language students , I thought I’d share this extensive list of common German phrases that most native speakers use regularly but probably didn’t even realise were all that funny…until now. nein. Can you help me? (Do you speak English?)  German pronouns can be tricky, so we wrote an introduction to German pronouns to help you review.‍, Awesome! This lesson is not concerned with grammar; it acts as a very simple phrasebook for beginners in this language. This literally means: ’It’s going’ and the implication is that it’s going well or at least there aren’t any major problems.‍, You probably already know alles klar as an expression to say ‘ready’ but what about the na in the front? (I speak English.) Literally the Daumen are your thumbs, and drücken means to pull. (Excuse me. But no matter the difficulty you’re having, just remember these words of encouragement: Hopefully, after reading this list, you won’t feel so intimidated the next time someone wants you to speak in German.  Use this phrase anytime you hear a stressed-out German. Get insightful tips on language learning, productivity, building habits, and more. instead. You can use it to show interest, speculation, accusation. I’m an American (man), but I live in Berlin now. Every language is an odyssey. English Equivalent: I’m wiped out or I’m exhausted. Wie geht es Ihnen? Sehr gut… With these 17 German expressions, next time you're conversing with native German speakers, you can experiment with these German expressions and see how the conversation can flow more naturally as you become more engaged.‍. This can seem a really big and frightening number to someone wanting to start learning German, but here's the good news: you only need to know roughly 5% of the total words to be fluent in German. Many Germans are surprised when they hear that others, particularly native English speakers, are learning their language. It is a compound of yes + no. It must feel uncomfortable to have your nose full of anything, so this should be an easy one to remember next time your fed up with something and you need say it in German to let others know about it.‍.  These expressions both mean the same thing. Obviously, if you’re a good talker, this could go on for quite some time! How do you say ___ in German? If you still haven’t decided about something yet and you want to look into something further, then na ja…is an easy way to show your indecision and request extra time to think something through. #1 Hallo – Alles klar? Going to Berlin and meeting German people could be difficult. You might be at a dinner party and need to get through the room to the other side. (formal) Können Sie mir helfen? Lust (auf etwas) haben. Even after reading through this list of German phrases, you might still feel like you need more confidence before you can use them. “German? All Languages Basic German Learn the German Alphabet German Vocabulary 1000 Most Common German Words German Words 51-100 …