92 Basic German Phrases To Survive Your First Conversation With A Native

Have you ever wanted to learn German?

Or are you planning a trip to a German-speaking country?

To get started and have your first basic conversations in German, you're going to need to learn some words!

In this post, you'll learn 92 basic German phrases and words that will help you on your travels or just at home. 

To make it easier for you, I've divided the phrases into different categories.

Whether you're going to Germany or Austria or Switzerland, chances are you can get by in English. But if you learn basic German too, you'll be able to connect more with German speakers. 

Having a few common German phrases will make you experience these countries in a completely different way.

And even at home, learning German will allow you to learn more about German culture and connect with native German speakers in your local community.

You don't need to have a natural flair for language learning. Learning a few key phrases and being able to use them is a great start. And German isn't as hard as its reputation suggests, especially for native English speakers. 

You never know, maybe learning these basic German phrases will motivate you to go on and learn to speak German fluently.

German Greetings & Introductions

If you want to make a good impression with German speakers, you'll need a few basic German phrases to meet and greet people.

After all, you're going to use greetings every time you have a conversation in German!

These phrases are simple, easy to remember and will help you make new German friends. 

#1 Hallo – Hello [any time of day]

#2 Hallo, wie geht’s? – Hello, how are you?

#3 Guten Morgen – Good morning

#4 Guten Tag [lit. good day] – Good afternoon

#5 Guten Abend – Good evening

#6 Gute Nacht – Good night

#7 Vielen Dank – Thank you very much

#8 Ich danke Ihnen auch – Thank you, too [in reply to “thank you” from someone else else]

#9 Tschüss, bis zum nächsten Mal – Goodbye, see you next time

#10 Schönes Wetter heute, nicht wahr? – It's lovely weather today, is not it?

#11 Mein Name ist _ – My name is _____

#12 Ich bin Amerikaner, Kanadier, Engländer (male) – I'm American / Canadian / English

#13 Ich bin Amerikanerin, Kanadierin, Engländerin (female) – I'm American / Canadian / English

#14 Woher kommen Sie? – Where are you from?

#15 Freut mich – Nice to meet you!

“I Do Not Understand!” – Getting Out Of Sticky Situations

It might seem a little intimidating to speak German, especially if you're new to the language. German people will be understanding if you're struggling to get your message across or understand spoken German.

At the same time, don't hesitate to use these expressions to help the conversation run smoothly if you don't understand something or need a little help.

#16 Es tut mir leid, aber ich verstehe nicht – I'm sorry, but I do not understand

#17 Ich spreche nicht gut Deutsch – I do not speak German very well

#18 Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? – Could you say that again please?

#19 Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? – Could you say that more slowly please?

#20 Schreiben Sie das bitte für mich auf – Please write that down for me

#21 Was bedeutet das? – What does that mean?

#22 Sprechen Sie Englisch? – Do you speak English?

#23 Es tut mir leid – I'm sorry

#24 Ich weiß nicht – I do not know

#25 In Ordnung – All right

#26 Macht nichts – never mind

Numbers In German

Whether you're at the supermarket, ordering in a restaurant, or just having a normal conversation, it's essential to know how to use German numbers. Eins, zwei, drei….let's get to it!

• null – zero
• eins – one
• zwei – two
• drei – three
• vier – four
• fünf – five
• sechs – six
• sieben – seven
• acht – eight
• neun – nine
• zehn – ten
• elf – eleven
• zwölf – twelve
• dreizehn – thirteen
• vierzehn – fourteen
• fünfzehn – fifteen
• sechzehn – sixteen
• siebzehn – seventeen
• achtzehn – eighteen
• neunzehn – nineteen
• zwanzig  – twenty
• einundzwanzig – twenty-one
• zweiundzwanzig – twenty-two
• dreiundzwanzig  – twenty-three
• vierundzwanzig – twenty-four
• fünfundzwanzig – twenty-five
• sechsundzwanzig – twenty-six
• siebenundzwanzig  – twenty-seven
• achtundzwanzig – twenty-eight
• neunundzwanzig – twenty-nine
• dreißig – thirty
• einunddreißig – thirty-one
• zweiunddreißig – thirty-two
• vierzig – forty
• fünfzig – fifty
• sechzig – sixty
• siebzig – seventy
• achtzig – eighty
• neunzig – ninety
• hundert – one hundred
• zweihundertfünfzig – two hundred and fifty
• fünfhundert – five hundred
• siebenhundertdreiundachtzig – seven hundred and eighty three
• tausend – one thousand

Visiting A German Restaurant

One of the most enjoyable cultural experiences you can have in a German-speaking country is visiting a restaurant and trying out some of the delicious local dishes.

The following basic German phrases cover all the questions and statements you need to make when eating out, from asking for a table to paying the bill!

#27 Ein Tisch für eine Person bitte – A table for one, please

#28 Ein Tisch für zwei Personen, bitte – A table for two, please

#29 Haben Sie schon auf? – Are you open yet?

#30 Können wir (auf einen Tisch) warten? – Can we wait (for a table)?

#31 Können wir dort sitzen? – Can we sit over there?

#32 Entschuldigung! – Excuse me! [Calling a waiter]

#33 Was empfehlen Sie? – What do you recommend?

#34 Was ist das beliebteste Gericht? – What's your most popular dish?

#35 Was ist das? – What is this?

#36 Was für Bier haben Sie? – What type of beer do you have?

#37 Ein kleines Bier bitte – A small beer, please

#38 Ein großes Bier bitte – A large beer, please

#39 Bringen Sie mir bitte eine Auswahl von leckeren Sachen – Please bring me a selection of nice things

#40 Bitte wählen Sie etwas – It's up to you / You can decide

#41 Die Rechnung, bitte – The bill, please

#42 Kann ich bitte die Speisekarte haben? – Can I have the menu, please?

By the way, if you're interested in food and drink as it relates to German culture, take a look at this post about Oktoberfest, the world-famous Bavarian beer festival. 

Transport – Getting Around In Germany

There are lots of practicalities to consider when taking a trip to Germany, including finding your way around. Finding the right train or bus on time isn’t always easy and you don’t want to end up being the ‘foreigner’ who is holding up the ticket queue!

In this section, you’ll learn some key German travel phrases that will help you quickly and easily navigate your way around any German-speaking city or country.

#43 Ich möchte nach _____ – I want to go to

#44 Wann fährt der nächste Zug / Bus nach _____? – What time is the next train/bus to __?

#45 Was kostet das? – How much is it?

#46 Einmal/ zweimal (nach _____), bitte – 1 ticket / 2 tickets (to _____), please

#47 Wie lange dauert das? – How long does it take?

#48 Wohin muss ich jetzt gehen? – Where should I go now?

#49 Wann fährt er ab? – When does it leave?

#50 Wie spät ist es (jetzt)? – What time is it (now)?

#51 Hält der Zug/ Bus in _? – Does this train/bus stop in _____?

#52 Entschuldigen Sie, ist dies _____?– Excuse me, is this _____ ? [Useful when you're on the bus / train and are not sure when to get off]

#53 Können Sie das bitte für mich aufschreiben? – Can you write that down for me?

#54 Zeigen Sie mir das bitte auf der Karte? – Can you show me on the map?

#55 Wo ist _____ auf der Karte? – Where is _____  on the map?

Asking For Directions In German 

Public transport in Germany is notoriously excellent, but there are some places you'll need to walk or drive to yourself. And for most of us, that means occasionally getting lost and asking for directions!

Here are the phrases you need to ask and receive directions in German:

#56 Entschuldigung, darf ich Sie etwas fragen? – Excuse me, could I ask you something?

#57 Ich möchte nach _____ – I want to go to _ [If you know the name of your destination]

#58 Ich möchte dahin – I want to go here [Pointing to your destination on the map]

#59 Ich habe mich verlaufen – I'm lost (on foot)

#60 Ich habe mich verfahren – I'm lost (by car)

#61 Wie komme ich dahin? – How can I get there?

#62 Geht es hier lang? – Is it this way? [Useful for checking if you're walking in the right direction]

#63 Zeigen Sie mir das bitte auf der Karte? – Can you show me on the map?

#64 Wo ist __?– Where is _ ?

Shopping And Grabbing A Bargain In German

Whether you're at the supermarket, the shopping centre or the local farmer's market you're going to buy things at some point or another!

And even haggle a bit –  just like you would in English. Grab a bargain with these German sentences. 

#65 Das gefällt mir – I like this

#66 Was kostet das? – How much is this?

#67 Bitte wiederholen Sie das – Can you say that again please?

#68 Schreiben Sie das bitte für mich auf? – Can you write that down for me?

#69 Und wenn ich das alles kaufe? – If I buy these together? [A useful way to knock the price down]

#70 Das ist mir zu teuer – it's too expensive for me

#71 Geben Sie mir einen Rabatt? – Can you give me a discount?

#72 Ich suche nach _____ – I'm looking for a _____

#73 Ich schaue mich nur um – I'm just looking around

#74 Danke, ich suche noch weiter – Thank you, I'll keep looking [if you're getting hassled to buy something]

#75 Moment, bitte – Just a moment

#76 Ja, bitte – Yes, please

#77 Nein, danke – No, thanks

Dealing With Medical Emergencies In German 

Hopefully, you'll never need the basic German phrases in this section! Nonetheless, it's always good to know some basic medical vocabulary so that you can handle an emergency if you're unwell or have an accident.

#78 Können Sie mir bitte helfen? – Can you help me, please?

#79 Ich brauche einen Arzt – I need to see a doctor

#80 Es geht mir nicht gut – I do not feel well

#81 Es geht ihm/ihr nicht gut – he / she does not feel well

#82 Gibt es ein Krankenhaus in der Nähe? – Is there a hospital near here?

#83 Fahren Sie mich bitte zum Krankenhaus – Take me to the hospital [To a taxi driver]

#84 Es tut hier weh – It hurts here [pointing to body part]

#85 Ich brauche Medizin – I need some medicine

Finding Hidden Gems In German-Speaking Countries 

Finally, let's learn a few more basic German phrases that don't fall into any particular category. These final examples of basic vocabulary will allow you to sound more polite and natural.

I've included a couple of questions you can ask the locals, so you can find the hidden gems in their cities and have a more authentic German experience!

#86 Es tut mir leid, Sie zu stören, aber… – I'm sorry to bother you, but …

#87 Kann ich Sie schnell etwas fragen? – Could I ask you something quickly?

#88 Ich suche ein Restaurant mit gutem Essen hier in der Nähe – I'm looking for a place with good food around here

#89 Ich suche ein nettes Café in der Nähe – I'm looking for a nice cafe in the area

#90 Wissen Sie etwas über _____? – Do you know anything about _____ ?

#91 Gibt es hier in der Nähe etwas Interessantes zu sehen? – Is there anything interesting to see in this area?

#92 Trotzdem danke – Thank you anyway [if the person can not help you]

FAQs About Basic German Phrases

Your Next Steps In German

So there you have it: a collection of basic German phrases to help you get started on your new adventure!

With these basic German phrases in your back pocket, you'll soon find yourself having your first conversations and getting excited about continuing to improve your German.

So now that you've learned the basics, are you ready to take the next step in your German adventure?

I'm a big believer in the power of story to enable you to learn a language. That's why I've created an entire beginner course to help you learn German online by immersing yourself in a compelling story.

It's my German Uncovered course, and it's designed to take you from beginner to B1 Intermediate level.

Click here for more information on the course and how it'll help you.

Olly Richards

Creator of the StoryLearning® Method

Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearning® method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.

Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.

When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preaches—he speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.