How to Say ‘May I ask you for a small favor?’ in German
Darf ich Sie um einen kleinen Gefallen bitten?
darf ikh zee oom EYE-nen KLY-nen guh-FAL-len BIT-ten
[darf ikh zee oom EYE-nen KLY-nen guh-FAL-len BIT-ten]
💬 Usage Tip: A very polite full sentence before your actual request. Great softener.
🇩🇪 In Germany: In Germany, asking clearly but politely is appreciated more than being overly indirect.
Phrase Breakdown
Darf ich Sie
darf ikh zee
May I ask you
Polite way to introduce a request.
Darf ich Sie etwas fragen?
May I ask you something?
Words in this phrase
Darf
[darf]
may / am allowed to
Used politely to begin a request.
Darf ich Sie um einen kleinen Gefallen bitten, Herr Weber?
May I ask you for a small favor, Mr. Weber?
ich
[ikh]
I
The first-person singular pronoun.
Darf ich Sie um einen kleinen Gefallen bitten, wenn Sie kurz Zeit haben?
May I ask you for a small favor if you have a moment?
Sie
[zee]
you (formal)
Polite form used to address a neighbor respectfully.
Darf ich Sie um einen kleinen Gefallen bitten, Frau Meier?
May I ask you for a small favor, Ms. Meier?
Um einen kleinen Gefallen bitten
oom EYE-nen KLY-nen guh-FAL-len BIT-ten
to ask for a small favor
Fixed expression for making a polite request.
Ich möchte Sie um einen kleinen Gefallen bitten.
I would like to ask you for a small favor.
Words in this phrase
um
[oom]
for
Used with bitten to express what you are asking for.
Darf ich Sie um einen kleinen Gefallen bitten, nur für morgen?
May I ask you for a small favor, just for tomorrow?
einen
[EYE-nen]
a
Accusative masculine form of the indefinite article.
Darf ich Sie um einen kleinen Gefallen bitten, um einen Moment Ihrer Zeit?
May I ask you for a small favor, for a moment of your time?
kleinen
[KLY-nen]
small
Shows that the favor is minor and not a big burden.
Darf ich Sie um einen kleinen Gefallen bitten, es dauert nicht lange.
May I ask you for a small favor, it won’t take long.
Gefallen
[guh-FAL-len]
favor
Something helpful you ask another person to do.
Darf ich Sie um einen kleinen Gefallen bitten wegen eines Pakets?
May I ask you for a small favor about a package?
bitten
[BIT-ten]
to ask
Verb used for asking or requesting politely.
Darf ich Sie um einen kleinen Gefallen bitten, bevor ich gehe?
May I ask you for a small favor before I go?
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