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

Entschuldigung, haben Sie kurz Zeit?

ent-SHOOL-dee-goong hah-ben Zee koorts tsayt

[ent-SHOOL-dee-goong hah-ben Zee koorts tsayt]

🇩🇪 In Germany: Asking first shows respect for the recruiter's time, and Germans appreciate that at busy career fairs. Expect a direct yes or no rather than a vague answer.

Phrase Breakdown

Entschuldigung,

ent-SHOOL-dee-goong

Excuse me,

Polite way to get attention. Stress the second syllable: 'ent-SHUL-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 lightly.

Example

Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?

Excuse me, where is the train station?

haben Sie

hah-ben Zee

do you have

The verb comes first in a yes/no question, followed by the formal 'Sie'.

Example

Haben Sie ein Auto?

Do you have a car?

Words in this phrase

haben

[hah-ben]

have

To possess or hold something.

Example

Ich habe ein Buch.

I have a book.

Sie

[Zee]

You (formal)

Used when addressing someone politely.

Example

Akzeptieren Sie Kreditkarten?

Do you accept credit cards?

kurz Zeit?

koorts tsayt

a moment?

'kurz Zeit haben' means to have a moment. The 'Z' sounds like 'ts'.

Example

Ich habe nur kurz Zeit.

I only have a moment.

Words in this phrase

kurz

[koorts]

briefly / short

Adverb or adjective meaning for a short time or in a short way.

Example

Können wir nur kurz über den Preis sprechen?

Can we just briefly talk about the price?

Zeit

[tsayt]

time

Refers to the concept of time.

Example

Ich habe keine Zeit.

I have no time.

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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