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How to Say ‘But not too bitter, please.’ in German

Aber nicht zu bitter, bitte.

AH-ber nicht tsoo BIT-ter BEE-tuh

[AH-ber nicht tsoo BIT-ter BEE-tuh]

💬 Usage Tip: bitter and bitte look almost the same but are unrelated: one means "bitter", the other "please". The extra r changes everything, so say it clearly.

Phrase Breakdown

Aber nicht

AH-ber nicht

But not

'Aber' means 'but' and sounds like AH-ber.

Example

Aber nicht heute.

But not today.

Words in this phrase

Aber

[AH-ber]

but

Used to introduce a contrast or objection.

Example

Aber die Strecke war kurz.

But the route was short.

nicht

[nicht]

not

Used to negate a sentence.

Example

Dieses Angebot gibt's nicht mehr.

This offer no longer exists.

zu bitter, bitte.

tsoo BIT-ter BEE-tuh

too bitter, please.

Keep 'bitter' and 'bitte' apart: 'bitter' ends in a soft 'a' sound, while 'bitte' ends in a short 'uh'.

Example

Nicht zu süß, bitte.

Not too sweet, please.

Words in this phrase

[tsoo]

too

Used with 'spät' to mean 'too late'.

Example

In Ich bin zu spät. verstärkt zu das Wort spät.

In I am too late., zu intensifies the word spät.

bitter

[BIT-ter]

bitter

Adjective for a sharp, strong taste, e.g. of hops or coffee.

Example

Der Kaffee ist sehr bitter.

The coffee is very bitter.

bitte

[BEE-tuh]

please

Bitte is used to make a polite request.

Example

Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?

Could you please help me?

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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