German,  Languages

60 Essential German Phrases Every Traveler Needs

Are you planning a trip to Germany or a German-speaking country? A simple please and thank you can go a long way in a foreign country. Get to grips with these 60 essential German phrases every traveler needs.

Learn Some Basic German Phrases

Did you know that German is spoken by 95 million people worldwide? German is the official language of Germany, Austria, and Lichtenstein. German is also part of the four languages spoken in Switzerland. The quality of your trip will be improved and you will have so much fun if you already know some of the basic language phrases!


Basic Greetings

GermanEnglishPronunciation
  HalloHelloha-llo
Guten TagGood daygoo-ten targ
Guten MorgenGood morninggoo-ten morg-en
Guten AbendGood eveninggoo-ten ah-bent
Auf WiedersehenGoodbyeowf veeder-sehn
TschüssByech-oo-s
ich heiße…I am called…ichh hye-se
Wie heißen Sie?What is your name?vee hye-sen zee
DankeThanksdan-ke
BittePleasebi-uh
Vielen DankThank you very muchfeelen dank
Wie gehts? How are you? (informal)vee gates
Mir geht es gutI am wellmeer gate es goot

Getting Around

GermanEnglishPronunciation
EntschuldigungExcuse meent-shuld-i-gung
Wo ist… Where is… vo ist
…das Hotel…the hotelda-s ho
…die Toilette…the toiletdee toy-lette
…die Bank…the bankdee b-ank
…der Bahnhof…the train stationdare bahn-hof
Linksleftlinks
Rechtsrightrechhts
Geradeausstraight aheadgerader-aus
Um die Eckearound the cornerum dee Eke
NordNorthnor-d
SüdSouthsued
OstEasto-st
WestWestvest
Halten Sie bitte hier anplease stop herehalten zee bit-uh here an

Travel Emergencies

GermanEnglishPronunciation
Hilfe!Help!hil-fe
Rufen Sie einen Krankenwagen!Call an ambulance!roofen zee eye-nen krank-en-vagen
Ich brauche die PolizeiI need the policeich brow-ke dee pol-its-eye
Ich habe … verlorenI have lost my…ich ha-be… fer-lo-ren
…mein Handy……phone…mine handie
mein Portemonnaie…wallet…mine porte-monnay
…meinen Pass……passport…mine-n pass
Lassen Sie mich in RuheLeave me alonelassen zee mi-ch in roo-he
Es ist ein NotfallIt is an emergencyes ist eye-n note-fal
Ich bin verlorenI am lostich bin fer-loren

Days of the Week

GermanEnglishPronunciation
MontagMondaymon-targ
DienstagTuesdaydeans-targ
MittwochWednesdaymit-voch
DonnerstagThursdaydonners-targ
FreitagFridayfry-targ
SamstagSaturdaysams-targ
SonntagSundaysonn-targ
HeuteTodayhoy-te
MorgenTomorrowmorgen
ÜbermorgenDay after tomorrowueber morgen
GesternYesterdayguest-ern
VorgesternDay before yesterdayfor-guest-ern
Die WochenendeThe weekenddee voken-end-e

Key German Words

GermanEnglishPronunciation
Wer?Who?ver
Was?What?vas
Wann?When?vann
Zu welcher Zeit?At what time?tsu velcher ts-eye-t
Wo?Where?vo
Wie?How?vee
Wie viele?How many?vee feel-e
Wie viel?How much?vee feel
Wie oft?How often?vee oft

You’re all set!

I hope these 60 essential German travel phrases help you to navigate your way around the German speaking countries. Gute Reise! (have a good trip).

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60 Essential German Phrases Every Traveler Needs
20 Essential German Phrases Every Traveler Needs

60 Essential German Phrases Every Traveler Needs