🙏🪑

How to Say ‘Please have a seat.’ in German

Nehmen Sie bitte Platz.

NAY-men zee BIT-eh plats

[NAY-men zee BIT-eh plats]

🇩🇪 In Germany: Officials often say this as you walk in. Wait to be invited rather than sitting straight down; it's the expected politeness in an office.

Phrase Breakdown

Nehmen Sie

NAY-men zee

Take (formal)

A formal command from 'nehmen' (to take). The 'eh' is a long 'ay' sound.

Example

Nehmen Sie das Formular.

Take the form.

Words in this phrase

Nehmen

[NAY-men]

take

To choose or accept something.

Example

Wir nehmen das Menü.

We'll take the set menu.

Sie

[zee]

you

The formal 'you' used in polite professional conversations.

Example

Ich freue mich, Sie hier auf der Jobmesse zu sehen.

I am pleased to see you here at the job fair.

bitte Platz.

BIT-eh plats

a seat, please.

'Platz nehmen' means to take a seat. 'Platz' ends in a 'ts' sound.

Example

Hier ist noch Platz.

There's still room here.

Words in this phrase

bitte

[BIT-eh]

please

Polite word for requests.

Example

Einen Moment, bitte.

One moment, please.

Platz

[plats]

seat

A place to sit, e.g. a chair at a table.

Example

Dieser Platz ist besetzt.

This seat is taken.

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.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Berlin bureaucracy requires real German. This app got me from zero to handling my Anmeldung appointment in three weeks. My coworkers couldn’t believe it.”

Emma L., 27, UX Researcher

“Relocated to Munich with my family. The everyday scenarios — grocery shopping, doctor visits, school meetings — are exactly what we needed to settle in.”

Marcus J., 40, Engineer

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer