❓🏠🆚🌿🪑

How to Say ‘Would you prefer to sit inside or outside on the terrace?’ in German

Möchten Sie lieber drinnen sitzen oder draußen auf der Terrasse?

MURKH-ten zee LEE-ber DRIN-nen ZIT-sen OH-der DROW-sen owf dair teh-RAS-seh

[MURKH-ten zee LEE-ber DRIN-nen ZIT-sen OH-der DROW-sen owf dair teh-RAS-seh]

Phrase Breakdown

Möchten Sie lieber

MURKH-ten zee LEE-ber

Would you rather

A polite question about preference. Round your lips for 'ö' in 'möchten'.

Example

Möchten Sie lieber Wasser?

Would you rather have water?

Words in this phrase

Möchten

[MURKH-ten]

would like

Polite form of 'mögen', used to express wishes or offer choices.

Example

Möchten Sie einen Platz mit Blick aufs Meer?

Would you like a seat with a view of the sea?

Sie

[zee]

you (formal)

Formal pronoun Sie used to address one person politely.

Example

Kommen Sie bitte herein.

Please come in.

lieber

[LEE-ber]

rather / preferably

Expresses a preference between options.

Example

Ich trinke lieber Tee.

I'd rather drink tea.

drinnen sitzen

DRIN-nen ZIT-sen

sit inside

'Drinnen' means inside. 'Tz' in 'sitzen' sounds like 'ts'.

Example

Es ist kalt, wir sitzen drinnen.

It's cold, so we're sitting inside.

Words in this phrase

drinnen

[DRIN-nen]

inside / indoors

Located inside a building.

Example

Wir essen heute drinnen.

We're eating indoors today.

sitzen

[ZIT-sen]

to sit

To be seated somewhere.

Example

Wir sitzen gern am Fenster.

We like sitting by the window.

oder draußen

OH-der DROW-sen

or outside

Your voice rises slightly here for an 'or' question. 'Draußen' sounds like 'DROW-sen'.

Example

Drinnen oder draußen?

Inside or outside?

Words in this phrase

oder

[OH-der]

Conjunction connecting two alternatives.

Example

Innen oder außen?

Inside or outside?

draußen

[DROW-sen]

outside / outdoors

In the open air, outside a building.

Example

Die Kinder spielen draußen.

The children play outside.

auf der Terrasse?

owf dair teh-RAS-seh

on the terrace?

Dative after 'auf' for a location. Stress 'Ter-RAS-se' and let your voice rise at the end of the question.

Example

Ist noch Platz auf der Terrasse?

Is there still room on the terrace?

Words in this phrase

auf

[owf]

Used to denote a position above something.

Example

Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch.

The book is on the table.

der

[dair]

the

Feminine article in the dative case, used after 'in' for location.

Example

Das steht in der Zeitung.

That's in the newspaper.

Terrasse

[teh-RAS-seh]

terrace / patio

An outdoor seating area of a restaurant.

Example

Die Terrasse ist sehr schön.

The terrace is very nice.

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