A little German goes a long way
Yes, many Germans speak English. But using even a few German phrases changes everything.
People smile more. They’re more patient. They appreciate the effort. And honestly, it just feels good to order a coffee in the local language.
You don’t need to be fluent. You just need a handful of phrases that cover the basics.
At the airport and train station
These get you from point A to point B:
- Wo ist…? (Where is…?) — “Vo ist…?”
- Wo ist die Toilette? (Where is the bathroom?)
- Ein Ticket nach Berlin, bitte. (One ticket to Berlin, please.)
- Welches Gleis? (Which platform?)
- Wann fährt der nächste Zug? (When does the next train leave?)
- Entschuldigung (Excuse me) — use this to get someone’s attention
Pro tip: German train stations (Bahnhof) have excellent signage. But knowing “Ausgang” (exit) and “Eingang” (entrance) saves you from walking in circles.
At a restaurant or café
- Ich hätte gerne… (I would like…) — polite and perfect for ordering
- Die Speisekarte, bitte. (The menu, please.)
- Ein Bier, bitte. (One beer, please.) — you’ll need this one
- Die Rechnung, bitte. (The bill, please.)
- Das schmeckt sehr gut! (That tastes really good!)
- Haben Sie etwas ohne Fleisch? (Do you have something without meat?)
Tipping in Germany: round up to the nearest euro or add 5-10%. You tell the server how much you want to pay, including tip.
Everyday essentials
- Danke (Thank you) / Danke schön (Thank you very much)
- Bitte (Please / You’re welcome — it does both)
- Ja (Yes) / Nein (No)
- Guten Morgen (Good morning)
- Guten Tag (Hello — formal)
- Tschüss (Bye — casual)
- Sprechen Sie Englisch? (Do you speak English?) — your emergency exit
When things go wrong
- Ich brauche Hilfe. (I need help.)
- Ich verstehe nicht. (I don’t understand.)
- Können Sie das wiederholen? (Can you repeat that?)
- Ich bin verloren. (I’m lost.)
- Rufen Sie bitte einen Arzt. (Please call a doctor.)
Hopefully you won’t need these. But knowing them gives you confidence to explore.
Shopping and numbers
- Was kostet das? (How much does that cost?)
- Das ist zu teuer. (That’s too expensive.)
- Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen? (Can I pay by card?)
Numbers 1-10: eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, sieben, acht, neun, zehn. Learn these and you can handle prices, platform numbers, and hotel floors.
How to practice before you go
Don’t try to memorize everything from a list. Your brain doesn’t work that way.
Instead, listen to these phrases spoken by a native voice and repeat them out loud. When you hear “Ich hätte gerne” ten times before your trip, it’ll come out naturally when you’re standing at a Berlin café counter.
Fluentra’s audio lessons let you practice travel phrases hands-free — on the bus to work, while packing your suitcase, or on the plane ride over.
The best souvenir
You’ll come home with photos and maybe a few Christmas market mugs. But the best souvenir from Germany? Knowing you could actually talk to people there.
Even a little bit counts. Start practicing a few phrases now. By the time you land, you’ll feel like you belong.