The Excellence Center has created this list of useful phrases for any visitor coming to Halle to help them get by and improve their language capabilities. These phrases show politeness, but also a greater feel for the language than you would have from reading the first few pages of a German textbook.
Basics you may know
How to say greet someone
- Hallo.
Hello!
Because this resembles English it’s easy to remember. - Guten Morgen, guten Tag, guten Abend, gute Nacht.
Good morning, good day, good afternoon/evening and good night
Just like in English. Notice that only the second word of each phrases depending on the time of day. - Wie geht’s?
How are you/What’s up?
A less formal way of saying hello and asking how someone is at the same time. Use this phrase to fool people into thinking that you might be fluent in German!
Beginners
- Ich lerne Deutsch.
I am learning German. - Sprichst du Englisch?
Do you speak English? - Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen?
Could you please repeat that?
If you are determined to engage in German conversation but didn’t quite catch what was said, this is a useful phrase.
Tourism
- Entschuldigung!
Sorry! Excuse me!
If you bump into someone on the street, say sorry! Though, as this is a bit of a mouthful, note saying “sorry” is also perfectly understood in Germany. It also means “excuse me” when you want to pass someone or get by. - Ich bin Besucher, oder Ich bin Besucherin
I am a visitor (male), or I am a visitor (female) - Wo ist…?
Where is…?
When you are fed up with Google Maps and want to ask someone where the opera is, “Wo ist die Oper?” will do. Ask if they speak English if you cannot understand the response. - Bitte und danke.
Please and thank you.
Note that it’s common to add “schön” to the German, “Bitte schön” and “Danke schön” for emphasis. Bitte can also be used to say please in many senses; “Bitte, komm rein – please come in”, “Please pass the bread – reich mir das Brot, bitte”, “Bitte, fangt zu essen an – please start eating!”
Everyday life and conversation
- Ja
Yes - Nein
No - Genau
Exactly
Is commonly used in conversation to express an agreement. - Kann ich helfen?
Can I help? - Angenehm/ Schön, Sie kennenzulernen
Nice to meet you.
Either option works, though both are formal. - Wie geht’s?
How is it going?
This is a frequently used phrase, so learn the response also…
Mir geht’s gut. Und dir?
I’m doing good. And you?
Different ways of saying goodbye
- Auf Wiedersehen
Goodbye
This is the most formal way of saying goodbye to someone. - Tschüss!
Bye - Bis bald
See you soon - Bis später
See you later
It’s nice to be able to vary how you say goodbye or hello to someone.
Host family vocabulary
- Danke für das Essen. Es schmeckt lecker!
Thanks for the food. It’s delicious! - Danke für die Einladung.
Thank you for having me.
It feels important to be able to thank your host family for all they do for you during your time in Germany and doing so in German is even more respectful.