Ein gutes neues Jahr!
This post is for the German students of Lindin High School from the USA and their teacher Herr Pac. When I was learning German at school we learnt a lot about German Politik (politics), Geschichte (history) and the Umwelt (environment). Although we could speak a lot about those particular subjects they didn’t really help me when I first moved to Germany, as they don’t usually come up in everyday conversation. Here is some helpful vocab that could come in handy if you ever visit or move to Germany:
Phone calls:
Take a trip to Germany! – Munich, Marienplatz. Own photo.
“Hallo hier ist Larissa Arnold”.
“Hello Larissa Arnold here”
“Ich habe eine Frage über meine Internet/Strom/Rechnung”
“I have a question about my internet/electricity/bill”
(I always need this sentence every time there’s a problem with something and I have to ring the company up.)
How to make an appointment – on the phone or in person:
“Hallo ich möchte bitte einen Termin”
“Hello I would like to make an appointment please”
“Ich würde gerne einen Tisch um neun Uhr reservieren für zwei Personen “
“I would like to book a table at 9 o clock for two people”
For any dietary requirements:
“Ist es vegatarisch/vegan?”
“Is it vegetarian/vegan?”
“Sind Nüsse drin? Ich habe eine Nussallergie”
“Are there nuts in it? I have a nut allergy”
(Nusse can be swapped with whatever the allergy is such as Milch, Eier, Fisch)
Shopping questions
“Wie viel kostet das?”
“How much does it cost?”
“Gibt es das noch in grösse S/M/L?”
„Is there still a size S/M/L available? “
When you need help:
“Entschuldigen Sie”
“Excuse me”
(Note the use of Sie as you are asking a stranger and therefore it is formal)
“Ich habe mich verlaufen”
“I am lost” / “I have got lost”
(Another common mistake is saying Ich bin verloren which does literally translate to “I am lost” but isn’t completely correct. In German there are two words for “lost”: Verlaufen is for when you are lost and verloren tends to be when you lose an object for example “Ich habe meine Kette verloren.” (I have lost my necklace).
“Können Sie mir sagen wie ich zu Garmischer Strasse komme?”
“Could you tell me the way to Garmischer street?”
At the airport:
“Ist mein Flug pünktlich?”
“Is my flight on time?”
“Wie komme ich zu Gate acht?”
“How do I get to Gate eight?”
Helpful words
Tageskarte
Daycard – this lets you travel on all trains (S bahn, U bahn), trams and buses in the area for the whole day.
Handy Rechnung
Mobile phone Bill
Steuer Wohnung
Tax Flat
Flughafen Verspätung
Airport Delay
This is some of the vocabulary that I use every day; the hardest part I found was when speaking German on the phone. It took me a long time to get used to having to call people, especially with people I didn’t know to make appointments and so on. If you have any helpful words in German or if you need help translating a word or sentence then please leave a comment below!
Larissa
Comments:
Baccalaureus:
Actually, ich bin verloren means, I am doomed.
Larissa:
@Baccalaureus Thanks for your input Baccalaureus! I did want to write that Ich bin verloren can also be meant in a metaphorical way but couldn’t think of the English translation of it – “doomed” fits it perfectly.
I’m glad you found it helpful Nacho Delgado and Frank Koniges! 🙂
Larissa
Frank Koniges:
Thanks, this is very helpful.
Nacho Delgado:
Such a usefully post! Viele Dank!!
Constanze:
This is a great post! ^_^
Spanish school Costa Rica:
This is really a useful Vocabulary for Everyday Life in Germany. Learning a new language is best done when our memory retains the information absorbed. Also, showing interest in doing the task makes it easier to learn new language as well, so try to expand what you want to learn and set goals and reasons why you want to learn the language.
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Larissa:
@motivation Thank you for the lovely comment!! I’m glad you liked the article 🙂
Larissa
Transparent Language:
Comment via email:
Hola, can U help me please with this phrase, I speak spanish, but english for me is good. “Scafft ihr noch eine Runde? Na dann, ab geht die Lutzie! I love Deutchsprechen but its not easy! Saludos desde México.
Larissa:
@Transparent Language Hello!
The literal translation for this sentence would be “Can you manage another round? Well then, let’s go!”
The end part of the sentence “ab geht die Lutzie” is a German proverb/saying. “Lutzie” (also known as Luzi) is a females name, or can be seen as the devils name Luzifer.
I hope this helps 🙂
Larissa