How to Say ‘I would like...’ in German
Ich hätte gern...
ikh HET-tuh ghern
[ikh HET-tuh ghern]
💬 Usage Tip: A very natural and polite ordering phrase. Literally, 'I would gladly have...' It sounds softer than just naming the drink.
🇩🇪 In Germany: This is one of the safest phrases for foreigners in Germany. Polite, common, and bartender-approved.
Phrase Breakdown
Ich
[ikh]
I
First-person singular pronoun.
Beim Bestellen sagt man: Ich hätte gern...
When ordering, you say: I would like...
hätte
[HET-tuh]
would have
Polite subjunctive form used to mean 'would like' in orders.
Im Café sagt man oft: Ich hätte gern...
In a café one often says: I would like...
gern
[ghern]
gladly / would like
In this phrase it helps express a polite wish: 'would like.'
Sehr höflich klingt: Ich hätte gern...
Very polite is: I would like...
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