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How to Say ‘Unfortunately I've hardly got any cash on me.’ in German

Ich hab leider kaum Bargeld dabei.

ikh hop LY-dair kowm BAR-gelt dah-BY

[ikh hop LY-dair kowm BAR-gelt dah-BY]

🇩🇪 In Germany: Cash is still common in Germany, and some drivers expect it. Mentioning this when you get in avoids an argument at the end.

Phrase Breakdown

Ich hab leider

ikh hop LY-dair

Unfortunately I have

'leider' means 'unfortunately'. Its 'ei' sounds like English 'eye'.

Example

Ich hab leider keine Zeit.

Unfortunately I have no time.

Words in this phrase

Ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

hab

[hop]

have

To own, hold, or possess.

Example

Ich hab' einen Luftballon aus dem Fest.

I have a balloon from the festival.

leider

[LY-dair]

unfortunately

Adds mock regret. In playful flirting, it often sounds dramatic rather than serious.

Example

Leider bist du gerade interessant genug geworden, dass ich bleiben muss.

Unfortunately, you’ve just become interesting enough that I have to stay.

kaum Bargeld dabei.

kowm BAR-gelt dah-BY

hardly any cash on me.

'kaum' means 'hardly'. 'Bargeld' means cash, and 'dabei' completes 'dabei haben'.

Example

Er hat kaum Bargeld dabei.

He has hardly any cash on him.

Words in this phrase

kaum

[kowm]

hardly

Means barely or hardly, useful when saying you cannot hear well.

Example

Kaum verständlich bei dieser Musik.

Hardly understandable with this music.

Bargeld

[BAR-gelt]

Cash

Money in the form of coins or banknotes.

Example

Ich habe kein Bargeld mit mir.

I don't have cash with me.

dabei

[dah-BY]

with you; on you

Used when asking if a person has something in their possession.

Example

Hast du deinen Pass dabei?

Do you have your passport with you?

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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