🍹❓💰

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

Darf ich dich auf ein Getränk einladen?

darf ikh dikh owf ine geh-TRENK INE-lah-den

[darf ikh dikh owf ine geh-TRENK INE-lah-den]

💬 Usage Tip: einladen "to invite" also means "to treat someone" or pay for them. It splits in other sentences: Ich lade dich ein "It's on me".

🇩🇪 In Germany: Offering to buy a drink signals clear interest. Splitting bills is common in Germany, so a no is no big deal and isn't meant as rude.

Phrase Breakdown

Darf ich dich

darf ikh dikh

May I ... you

A polite opening that asks permission. 'dich' is the informal 'you' as an object.

Example

Darf ich dich fragen?

May I ask you?

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 (singular/informal, accusative/reflexive)

Used for one person informally, often as the object or in reflexive verbs.

Example

Ich sehe dich morgen.

I will see you tomorrow.

auf ein Getränk

owf ine geh-TRENK

to a drink

'jemanden auf etwas einladen' means 'to treat someone to something'. Stress 'Getränk' on the second syllable: 'ge-TRENK'.

Example

Komm auf ein Getränk vorbei.

Come by 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.

ein

[ine]

a; an

The article used before the masculine noun "Schuss."

Example

In „Wow, was für ein Schuss!“ steht „ein“ vor „Schuss“.

In "Wow, what a shot!", "ein" comes before "Schuss."

Getränk

[geh-TRENK]

drink

Neuter noun (das Getränk) for any beverage.

Example

Ein kaltes Getränk, bitte.

A cold drink, please.

einladen?

INE-lah-den

invite / buy?

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

Example

Ich möchte dich einladen.

I'd like to treat you.

Words in this phrase

einladen

[INE-lah-den]

to invite / treat

Separable verb; 'jemanden auf etwas einladen' means to buy someone something.

Example

Ich lade dich zum Essen ein.

I'm treating you to dinner.

Guides for German learners

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