How to Make a Phone Call in German Posted by Larissa on Oct 26, 2021 in Language
Having a phone call in another language can be daunting. I remember when I first moved to Germany I avoided speaking on the phone in German, however in some situations you can’t avoid it. Here are some scenarios to help you prepare for your phone call. There is also another great post that you can find here for further vocabulary.
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Calling to make an appointment in German
Whether it is a doctors appointment, the dentist, the vet or to change your car tires to winter tires, here are some phrases to help you, also if you are making a doctors appointment, check out this post here so you can describe what is wrong.
Hallo, Elke Schmidt hier, ich möchte einen Termin machen
Hello, here is Elke Schmidt, I would like to make an appointment
Um was geht es genau?
What is it for?
Ich möchte meine Sommerreifen auf Winterreifen wechseln lassen
I would like to change my summer tires for my winter tires
Hätten Sie vormittags oder nachmittags Zeit?
Do you have time in the morning or afternoon?
Ja, der Termin am Freitag den 18ten um 11 Uhr passt gut. Vielen Dank
Yes, the appointment on Friday the 18th at 11 works well for me. Thank you
Reserving a table in German
Here are simple phrases to book a table at a restaurant:
Hallo, Elke Schmidt hier, ich möchte einen Tisch für zwei Personen für heute um 19 Uhr reservieren
Hello, here is Elke Schmidt, I would like to book a table for two people for today at 7pm
Drinnen oder draussen?
Inside or outside?
Um 19 Uhr sind wir ausgebucht, aber um 20 Uhr können wir Ihnen einen Tisch anbieten?
We are fully booked at 7pm, but we could offer you a table for 8pm?
Leider sind wir ausgebucht
Unfortunately we are fully booked
Calling a company when something has stopped working in German
Sometimes when the internet or electricity is down, all it needs is a quick phone call to the company to sort things out.
Hallo, Elke Schmidt hier, ich habe ein Problem, mein Internet funktioniert nicht mehr
Hello, here is Elke schmidt, I have a problem, my internet doesn’t work anymore
Hätten Sie ein Kundennummer?
Do you have a customer number?
Könnten Sie Ihre Internetbox ausschalten und wieder anschalten bitte?
Could you please turn your box off and on again?
Jemand wird morgen zwischen 10 und 11 Uhr vorbei kommen, sind Sie da zu Hause?
Someone will come round tomorrow between 10 and 11am, will you be at home?
Calling to ask a question in German
Here is what I say if I have a question:
Hallo, Elke Schmidt hier, ich hätte eine Frage, …
Hello here is Elke Schmidt, I have a question, …
Are there any other scenarios that you struggle with when on the phone to someone? Let me know in the comments below.
Thanks for reading,
Larissa
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About the Author: Larissa
Hello I'm Larissa. I live in Germany and I am half German and half English. I love sharing my passion for Germany with you through my posts! Apart from writing posts I teach fitness classes in Munich.
Comments:
Clive Greenwood:
Splendid stuff and very useful
Cheers (Prost)
Larissa:
@Clive Greenwood Thank you Clive,
Prost!
Constanze:
Elke Schmidt lolol
Gillian Resheff:
Dear Larissa,
Your blog is so helpful !
Just in case a non -native English speaker is reading it, I’d like to point out that in English we’d say :
“Elke Schmidt here”, or
” This is Elke Schmidt ”
( and not ” Here is Elke Schmidt ” ).
Once again,thanks for the blog !
Gillan
Larissa:
@Gillian Resheff Hello Gillian,
Thanks for reading my post, I’m glad you enjoy the blog! Yes I have literally translated “hier” to “here” to make it as transparent as possible with the translations, but you can of course say “this is”.
Larissa
Dave:
I don’t know if you are just translating the German to English literally, but in making a phone call, “This is Elke Schmidt” would be used, never “Here is Elke Schmidt.”
Larissa:
@Dave Hi Dave,
Thanks for reading the post! Yes I translated the “hier” directly, but of course “this is” is used in English.
Larissa
Dorcas:
What is the difference if l say “ich habe eine frage instead of ich hätte eine frage? Also haben sie instead of hätten sie. Which is which?
Larissa:
@Dorcas Hello,
Good question! Both are correct and you can say both. Using “hätte” is a way of softening your “demand” which makes it seem politer. So I would use “hätte” if on the phone to someone I have never met before or in a shop for example. This is the same for “haben Sie” and “hätten Sie”.
I hope this helps!
Larissa
Paschal Ukaegbu:
I would want you to put a write up about bookin appointment with a house doctor.Usually a stress for foreiners.Thank you.
Larissa:
@Paschal Ukaegbu Hello,
Thanks for your comment! Have you seen this post before: https://blogs.transparent.com/german/what-to-say-at-the-doctors-in-german/ you will find a part in it that says how to make an appointment. This post and the one I have linked should help you make the phone call and be able to explain what is wrong. Good luck!
Larissa