The German phrases a traveler needs most are Guten Tag (hello), bitte (please), danke (thank you), Entschuldigung (excuse me) and Sprechen Sie Englisch? (do you speak English?). Learn those five, add the tables below, and you can handle greetings, meals and transport in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland.
Three Sound Rules That Unlock Most Words
German spelling is more regular than English. The letter w sounds like an English v, so Wein (wine) is said like vine. The combination ei sounds like the English word eye, so nein (no) is said nine. The letter ß is simply a double s. For ü, round your lips as if saying oo while trying to say ee; a plain oo is still understood.
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Greetings and Politeness
| Situation | Phrase | Pronunciation hint | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arriving | Hallo / Guten Tag | HAH-loh / GOO-ten TAHK | Guten Tag is safe in any shop or hotel |
| Morning, evening | Guten Morgen / Guten Abend | GOO-ten MOR-gen / GOO-ten AH-bent | Use morning until about late morning |
| Leaving | Auf Wiedersehen / Tschüss | owf VEE-der-zay-en / chooss | Tschüss is casual |
| Thanks | Danke / Danke schön | DAN-kuh / DAN-kuh shurn | Schön makes it warmer |
| Please, you are welcome | Bitte | BIT-uh | Also means pardon when said as a question |
| Getting attention | Entschuldigung | ent-SHUL-dee-goong | Excuse me or sorry |
| Language | Sprechen Sie Englisch? | SHPREKH-en zee ENG-lish | Greet first, then ask |
Eating and Drinking
| Situation | Phrase | Pronunciation hint | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Table | Einen Tisch für zwei, bitte | EYE-nen tish fuer tsvy | Often you wait to be seated |
| Ordering | Ich hätte gern... | ikh HET-uh gairn | Polite way to say I would like |
| Water | Ein Wasser, ohne Kohlensäure | eyn VAH-ser, OH-nuh KOH-len-zoy-ruh | Sparkling is common, so ask for still |
| Paying | Zahlen, bitte | TSAH-len BIT-uh | Staff come to your table; do not wait at a till |
| Allergies | Ich bin allergisch gegen... | ikh bin ah-LAIR-gish GAY-gen | Add the food word after it |
In most German restaurants the check does not arrive until you ask for it, so do not read slow service as rudeness. Bread or other extras placed on the table may be charged, so ask if you are unsure. Pay each person separately by saying Getrennt, bitte (guh-TREN-t BIT-uh), or together with Zusammen, bitte (tsoo-ZAM-en BIT-uh).
Getting Around and Getting Help
| Situation | Phrase | Pronunciation hint | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Station | Wo ist der Bahnhof? | voh ist dair BAHN-hohf | Hauptbahnhof means main station |
| Ticket | Eine Fahrkarte nach Berlin, bitte | EYE-nuh FAR-kar-tuh nahkh | Swap in your destination |
| Platform | Gleis | glyss | Shown on every departure board |
| Directions | Links / rechts / geradeaus | links / rekhts / guh-RAH-duh-ows | Left, right, straight ahead |
| Price | Wie viel kostet das? | vee feel KOS-tet dahs | Point at the item |
| Not understanding | Ich verstehe nicht | ikh fer-SHTAY-uh nikht | Follow with Können Sie das wiederholen?, meaning can you repeat that |
| Emergency | Hilfe! | HIL-fuh | Means help |
Before a long journey, our tips for international flights cover the airport side of the trip. For urgent situations where exact wording matters, read about German translation services for emergencies in advance. If you are also visiting France, our common French phrases follow the same approach.
Etiquette Worth Knowing
- Use Sie (formal you) with strangers, staff and anyone older. Du is for friends, children and people who offer it.
- Greet when you enter a small shop or waiting room and say Tschüss or Auf Wiedersehen when you leave.
- Tipping is usually done by rounding up when you pay, and you say the total you want to hand over.
- Card acceptance varies by business, so carry some cash.
- Shops are often closed on Sundays in Germany and Austria, so plan groceries and gifts for Saturday.
- Say Guten Tag with eye contact at a counter before you ask for anything. It is a small step that changes the tone of the whole exchange.
Mistakes Travelers Actually Make
- Saying w as in water. Wein and wo start with a v sound.
- Using du with a stranger. It can sound too familiar.
- Ordering plain water. You may get sparkling, so say ohne Kohlensäure.
- Opening in English. A Guten Tag first usually gets a warmer answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do people in Germany speak English?
In big cities, hotels and tourist areas, many people do. In small towns and with older speakers you will meet less English, so a few German phrases help.
What is the difference between Sie and du?
Sie is the formal word for you and is the safe choice with strangers. Du is informal and used with friends, family and children.
Is German the same in Austria and Switzerland?
The phrases here work in all three. Pronunciation and some everyday words differ by region, and Swiss speakers use a dialect in daily speech, but standard German is understood.