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How to Say ‘Excuse me, do you have a second?’ in German

Entschuldigung, hast du kurz eine Sekunde?

ent-SHOOL-dee-goong hahst doo koorts EYE-nuh zeh-KOON-deh

[ent-SHOOL-dee-goong hahst doo koorts EYE-nuh zeh-KOON-deh]

🇩🇪 In Germany: Opening with Entschuldigung plus du is the normal casual way to approach someone your own age. With someone clearly older, haben Sie would be safer.

Phrase Breakdown

Entschuldigung,

ent-SHOOL-dee-goong

Excuse me,

A polite way to get someone's attention. Stress the second syllable: ent-SCHUL-di-gung.

Example

Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?

Excuse me, where is the train station?

Words in this phrase

Entschuldigung

[ent-SHOOL-dee-goong]

excuse me / sorry

Used to get attention politely or to apologize for a small mistake.

Example

Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?

Excuse me, where is the train station?

hast du kurz

hahst doo koorts

do you briefly have

Informal 'du' form. 'kurz' makes the request sound light and quick.

Example

Hast du kurz Zeit?

Do you have a moment?

Words in this phrase

hast

[hahst]

have

The verb 'haben' in second person singular form.

Example

Hast du Hunger?

Are you hungry?

[doo]

the informal 'you' (du form)

As a noun, 'das Du' means the informal way of addressing someone.

Example

Wir sind jetzt per Du.

We now use first names / informal 'you'.

kurz

[koorts]

briefly, for a moment

Means short; as an adverb, for a short time.

Example

Kann ich kurz telefonieren?

Can I make a quick call?

eine Sekunde?

EYE-nuh zeh-KOON-deh

a second?

Feminine noun with 'eine'. Stress: se-KUN-de.

Example

Nur eine Sekunde!

Just a second!

Words in this phrase

eine

[EYE-nuh]

a / one

The feminine accusative form of the indefinite article, used before 'Frage.'

Example

Ich habe eine Frage zur Zusammenarbeit im Team.

I have a question about teamwork.

Sekunde

[zeh-KOON-deh]

second

The smallest everyday unit of time; feminine noun.

Example

Das dauert nur eine Sekunde.

That only takes a second.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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