Phrases
20 essential German phrases for beginners
The most useful German phrases for travel and daily life — greetings, politeness, and getting help — each with native audio.
If you only learn a handful of phrases before your first trip or conversation, make it these. They cover greetings, politeness and asking for help.
Greetings & politeness
Guten MorgenGood morning
Guten AbendGood evening
TschüssBye
BittePlease / you're welcome
EntschuldigungExcuse me / sorry
Getting help
Sprechen Sie Englisch?Do you speak English?
Ich verstehe nichtI don't understand
Wo ist die Toilette?Where is the toilet?
Wie viel kostet das?How much does this cost?
Practise saying each one out loud until it feels automatic — that's when a phrase becomes truly yours.
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