Top 50 phrases to get by Germany: Essential communication
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Key Phrases
Hallo
Hello
Danke
Thank you
Ich verstehe nicht
I don't understand
Skills You'll Learn
Greeting people
Leute grüßen
Expressing gratitude
Dankbarkeit ausdrücken
Expressing non-understanding
Nicht-Verstehen ausdrücken
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Hallo
hah-loh
Hello
Danke
dahn-kuh
Thank you
🇩🇪 [danke] alone when something is offered often reads as declining. Say [ja, bitte] if you want it.
See breakdown →Bitte
bit-tuh
You're welcome/Please
Entschuldigung
ent-shool-dee-goong
Sorry/Excuse me
🇩🇪 Use [Entschuldigung] to get a stranger's attention politely too, not just to apologize. It's the natural opener before asking something in public.
See breakdown →Auf Wiedersehen
owf vee-der-zey-en
Goodbye
🇩🇪 This is the standard polite goodbye in most situations. [Tschüss] is much more casual.
See breakdown →Ja
yah
Yes
Nein
nyn
No
Ich verstehe nicht
ikh fer-shtey-uh nikht
I don't understand
Sprechen Sie Englisch?
shpreh-khen zee eng-lish
Do you speak English?
💬 [Sie] takes the same verb form as [sie] (they): [Sprechen Sie ...?], not [sprichst du ...?]. You'll see the same pattern in [Kommen Sie?] and [Haben Sie ...?].
🇩🇪 This is the safe default with adults you don't know. Starting with [du] can feel too familiar unless the other person clearly invites it.
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
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