🧍⏳

How to Say ‘Please stand for a moment’ in German

Stellen Sie sich bitte kurz

SHTEL-len zee zikh BEE-tuh koorts

[SHTEL-len zee zikh BEE-tuh koorts]

💬 Usage Tip: stellen "to put" needs sich "yourself" here: you are literally putting yourself somewhere. Setzen Sie sich "Sit down" works the same way.

Phrase Breakdown

Stellen Sie sich

SHTEL-len zee zikh

Stand / place yourself (formal)

'sich stellen' means to go and stand somewhere. 'St' at the start of a word sounds like 'sht'.

Example

Stellen Sie sich hierhin.

Stand over here.

Words in this phrase

Stellen

[SHTEL-len]

stand (yourself)

With 'sich', means to go and stand somewhere.

Example

Stellen Sie sich an die Wand.

Stand against the wall.

Sie

[zee]

You (formal)

Formal second-person pronoun.

Example

Denken Sie, dass Netzwerken wichtig ist?

Do you think networking is important?

sich

[zikh]

yourself

A reflexive pronoun meaning 'yourself' or 'oneself.'

Example

Wie sehen Sie sich in der Zukunft?

How do you see yourself in the future?

bitte kurz

BEE-tuh koorts

please, briefly

'kurz' means short or briefly. It softens the request. Say 'BIT-te koorts'.

Example

Warten Sie bitte kurz.

Please wait a moment.

Words in this phrase

bitte

[BEE-tuh]

please

Bitte is used to make a polite request.

Example

Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?

Could you please help me?

kurz

[koorts]

briefly; short

Kurz means short or briefly, depending on context.

Example

Bitte antworten Sie kurz.

Please answer briefly.

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.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Berlin bureaucracy requires real German. This app got me from zero to handling my Anmeldung appointment in three weeks. My coworkers couldn’t believe it.”

Emma L., 27, UX Researcher

“Relocated to Munich with my family. The everyday scenarios — grocery shopping, doctor visits, school meetings — are exactly what we needed to settle in.”

Marcus J., 40, Engineer

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer