Basic phrases for learners: Basic Phrases

💬 [Sie] takes the same verb form as [sie] (they): [sprechen], not [sprichst]. You can reuse that pattern in other polite questions: [Kommen Sie?], [Verstehen Sie?].

🇩🇪 Use [Sie] with strangers in Germany unless they clearly switch to [du] first. Asking [Sprechen Sie Englisch?] is normal and polite in shops, hotels, or offices.

💬 [das] here means "that," not "the." In similar requests, German often uses [das] where English would point to the whole thing just said: [Können Sie das erklären?].

🇩🇪 This is a polite, everyday way to ask someone to repeat themselves. Adding [bitte] makes it softer, especially with service staff or officials.

💬 In this kind of request, the verb can come first: [Sprechen Sie langsam]. You can swap in other adverbs the same way, like [Sprechen Sie lauter] or [Sprechen Sie deutlicher].

🇩🇪 This is understandable but fairly direct. In many situations, [Können Sie bitte langsam sprechen?] sounds a bit more polite.