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How to Say ‘I would like...’ in German

Ich hätte gern...

ikh HET-uh gairn

[ikh HET-uh gairn]

🇩🇪 In Germany: This is the polite standard at bakeries and counters. Ich will "I want" sounds blunt, like a demand.

Phrase Breakdown

Ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

hätte

[HET-uh]

would have

A conditional phrase indicating possibility.

Example

Er hätte es besser machen können.

He could have done it better.

gern

[gairn]

gladly (with hätte: would like)

Used with 'hätte' to politely say what you would like.

Example

Ich hätte gern einen Tee.

I would like a tea.

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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