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How to Say ‘Could you’ in German

Könnten Sie

KURN-ten zee

[KURN-ten zee]

💬 Usage Tip: könnten is a softer "could" than können "can". It turns a demand into a polite request, and the main verb goes to the end: Könnten Sie das vorbereiten?

Phrase Breakdown

Könnten

[KURN-ten]

could (you)

Polite conditional form of 'können', used for courteous requests.

Example

Könnten Sie uns bitte helfen?

Could you please help us?

Sie

[zee]

you (formal)

Formal pronoun Sie used to address one person politely.

Example

Kommen Sie bitte herein.

Please come in.

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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