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How to Say ‘May I buy you a drink?’ in German

Darf ich dich auf einen Drink einladen?

darf ikh dikh owf EYE-nen drink INE-lah-den

[darf ikh dikh owf EYE-nen drink INE-lah-den]

🇩🇪 In Germany: einladen "to invite" clearly means you're paying. Asking first like this is the polite norm. Sending a drink over unasked is less common in Germany and can feel pushy.

Phrase Breakdown

Darf ich dich

darf ikh dikh

May I ... you

A polite way to ask permission, using the informal 'dich'.

Example

Darf ich dich etwas fragen?

May I ask you something?

Words in this phrase

Darf

[darf]

may / am allowed to

A polite modal verb used to ask permission.

Example

Bevor ich nach der Unternehmenskultur frage, sage ich: Darf ich fragen?

Before I ask about company culture, I say: May I ask?

ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

dich

[dikh]

you

The pronoun 'dich' in accusative form.

Example

Ich habe ein Geschenk für dich.

I have a gift for you.

auf einen Drink

owf EYE-nen drink

to a drink

'Drink' is an English loanword and is masculine, so the accusative form is 'einen'.

Example

Gehen wir auf einen Drink?

Shall we go for a drink?

Words in this phrase

auf

[owf]

to / for

After freuen, auf introduces what someone is looking forward to.

Example

Wir freuen uns auf Ihren Besuch.

We are looking forward to your visit.

einen

[EYE-nen]

Indefinite article before a masculine accusative noun.

Example

Ich plane einen kurzen Austausch nächste Woche.

I am planning a short exchange next week.

Drink

[drink]

drink

A borrowed English word for an (often alcoholic) drink, used casually in bars.

Example

Der Drink ist sehr lecker.

The drink is very tasty.

einladen?

INE-lah-den

invite / buy?

'einladen' means 'to treat' or 'to invite'. Stress the first syllable: 'EYN-lah-den'.

Example

Darf ich euch einladen?

May I treat you all?

Words in this phrase

einladen

[INE-lah-den]

to invite / to treat

To invite someone; with 'auf' it means to pay for something for them.

Example

Ich möchte dich zum Essen einladen.

I'd like to treat you to dinner.

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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