{"id":93831,"date":"2023-10-30T11:43:50","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T15:43:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/polite-german-phrases\/"},"modified":"2025-06-02T07:59:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T11:59:04","slug":"polite-german-phrases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/polite-german-phrases\/","title":{"rendered":"Polite German Phrases and Words"},"content":{"rendered":"

Navigating the world of etiquette is difficult enough in our own native language. Little did we know, this is a set of skills that won’t necessarily transfer to other languages and cultures.\u00a0We all have our own definitions of what being polite means, so cultural misunderstandings can occur.<\/p>\n

That’s why learners need to become\u00a0familiar with German etiquette<\/a> and learn some key phrases. Read on to find some essential polite German phrases<\/strong>, plus some useful tips to become superpolite German speakers.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Make a Great First Impression: Meet and Greet in German<\/h2>\n

Whereas Hallo<\/em> (Hello), Tsch\u00fc\u00df\u00a0<\/em>(Bye) and Wie geht es dir?\u00a0<\/em>(How are you?) are common among friends<\/a>, you should make sure you remember the more formal greetings<\/a> too. And never forget the handshake!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
German<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Guten Morgen! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Good morning!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Guten Tag! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Good day!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Guten Abend! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Good evening!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wie geht es Ihnen? <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>How are you?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Auf Wiedersehen! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Goodbye! [in person]<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Auf Wiederh\u00f6ren! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Goodbye! [on the phone]<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Small Words That Make a Big Difference<\/h2>\n

Similar to English, the magic words bitte<\/em> (please) and danke <\/em>(thank you) are indispensable in formal and casual conversations.<\/p>\n

Bitte <\/em>also means “you’re welcome,”<\/a> which can sometimes sound a bit confusing to German learners.<\/p>\n

A: K\u00f6nntest du bitte<\/strong> ein Photo von mir machen?\u00a0<\/em>(Could you please take a photo of me?)<\/p>\n

B: Ja gerne! <\/em>(Yes, of course!)<\/p>\n

A: Danke!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(Thank you!)<\/p>\n

B: Bitte!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(You’re welcome!)<\/p>\n

Entschuldigung<\/em> is another useful word to add to your vocabulary list since you’ll need it a lot.<\/p>\n

Depending on the context, it can mean “Excuse me” or “I’m sorry” and is used in a range of different situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t
German<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Entschuldigung<\/strong>, k\u00f6nnten Sie mir sagen wie ich zum Bahnhof komme? <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the train station?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Entschuldigen<\/strong> Sie mich bitte f\u00fcr einen Moment. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Excuse me for a moment, please.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Entschuldigung<\/strong>, das wird nicht wieder vorkommen. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>I'm sorry, that won't happen again.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

The phrase “I’m sorry”<\/a> can also be translated as Es tut mir leid.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t
Es tut mir leid<\/strong>, das wird nicht wieder vorkommen. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>I'm sorry, that won't happen again.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Could You Repeat That, Please? Polite Ways to Get Clarification<\/h2>\n

There are a number of ways to express that you didn’t understand what someone just said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t
German<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Entschuldigung, ich habe das nicht verstanden. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Sorry, I didn't get that.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
K\u00f6nnten Sie das bitte wiederholen? <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Could you repeat that please?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
K\u00f6nnten Sie bitte etwas langsamer sprechen? <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Could you talk a bit slower, please?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

In less formal situations, you can simply use the phrase Wie bitte?<\/em>\u00a0(Sorry?)<\/p>\n

More Useful German Phrases for Casual Conversations<\/h2>\n

While in Germany, you never know when you might need assistance with your German studies or request your new friend’s phone number. Be ready with these phrases!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
German<\/strong><\/th>English<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
K\u00f6nnte ich bitte deine Handynummer haben? <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Could I have your phone number, please?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
H\u00e4ttest du morgen Nachmittag Zeit? <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Would you be free tomorrow afternoon?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
K\u00f6nntest du mir bitte bei den Deutsch-Hausaufgaben helfen? <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Could you please help me with my German homework?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ich gehe heute Abend auf eine Party, m\u00f6chtest du mitkommen? <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>I'd like to go to a party, would you like to join?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ich w\u00fcrde lieber ins Kino gehen. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>I would prefer to go to the movies.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Macht es dir was aus, wenn mein Freund mitkommt? <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Do you mind if my friend joins us?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Sounding Polite over the Phone<\/h2>\n

German phone conversations<\/a> can best be described as kurz und b\u00fcndig\u00a0<\/em>(short and concise). Again, unless you’re talking to a very good friend, you usually skip the small talk and get straight to the point.<\/p>\n

If you’re unfamiliar with the number that’s calling, it’s pretty common for Germans to answer their phone by simply stating their last name. Once more, it’s not an act of rudeness, it’s just the German way to pick up a phone.<\/a><\/p>\n

Again, don’t forget to address the people the right way and\u00a0use the subjunctive mood for polite requests.<\/a><\/p>\n

Here are two examples of short German phone conversations, one between friends and one between business associates:<\/p>\n

Informal conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Hallo, Paul. Na wie geht’s? <\/em>(Hello, Paul. How are you?)<\/p>\n

B: Mir geht’s gut, danke. Sag mal, ich glaub Lola schmei\u00dft heute Nacht ‘ne Party. Kommst du mit? <\/em><\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(I’m fine, thanks. So, I think Lola is throwing a little party tonight. Are you coming?)\u00a0<\/p>\n

A: Ich hab leider schon etwas vor! <\/em>(I’ve already got plans, unfortunately!)\u00a0<\/p>\n

B: Schade, dann ein anderes Mal. Tsch\u00fcss! <\/em>(That’s a shame. Well, another time! Bye!)<\/p>\n

A: Tsch\u00fc\u00df. <\/em>(Bye!)<\/p>\n

Formal conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Maier?<\/em><\/p>\n

B: Guten Morgen, Herr Maier. Hier spricht Christian Huber. Aufgrund unvorhergesehener Umst\u00e4nde muss ich unseren Termin heute leider absagen. W\u00e4re es m\u00f6glich, ihn auf n\u00e4chsten Dienstag zu verschieben?<\/em> (Good morning, Mr. Meier. Christian Huber speaking. Unfortunately, I will have to cancel our meeting today. Could we postpone it to next Tuesday?)<\/p>\n

A: Kein Problem, wie w\u00e4re es mit n\u00e4chstem Dienstag um 16:30 Uhr? <\/em>(No problem, how about next Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.?)<\/p>\n

B: Ich danke f\u00fcr Ihr Verst\u00e4ndnis. Ja, 16:30 ist f\u00fcr mich in Ordnung. Ich schicke Ihnen eine Best\u00e4tigung per Email. <\/em>Auf Wiederh\u00f6ren!<\/em><\/em> (Thank you for your understanding. Yes, 4:30 p.m. works for me. I’ll send you a confirmation via email. Goodbye!)<\/p>\n

A: Auf Wiederh\u00f6ren! <\/em>(Goodbye!)<\/p>\n

Tips to Get Started on the Right Foot<\/h2>\n

Here are some tips for being polite when communicating in German.<\/p>\n

1. Go ahead and skip the small talk<\/h3>\n

As a language student, you should always keep in mind that\u00a0behaviors considered right in one culture might be inappropriate in another one. With that in mind, getting to know a country’s customs should be a key part of your language studies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For example, Germans tend to be very direct and straight to the point.\u00a0They often skip the small talk, especially with strangers. Starting a conversation about the weather with the cashier in the supermarket is very uncommon and people might think you’re strange.<\/p>\n

2. Know when to use Du<\/em> or Sie<\/em><\/h3>\n

However, what Germans do place a lot of emphasis on is addressing people correctly<\/a>, especially in formal situations or when interacting with strangers or casual acquaintances.<\/p>\n

You can address people formally by Herr\/Frau <\/em>(Mr.\/Ms.) + their last name (e.g., Herr Maier<\/em>\u00a0or Frau Huber<\/em>). If they have a title (like “doctor” or “professor”), make sure you add this too (e.g., Herr Doktor M\u00fcller<\/em> or Frau Professor Reiter<\/em>).<\/p>\n

There’s also a formal and informal version of the word\u00a0“you.”<\/a><\/p>\n

Du<\/strong><\/em> is used to address friends, family and people of the same age or younger than you.<\/p>\n

Kommst du<\/strong> heute Abend zur Party? <\/em>(Are you coming to the party tonight?)<\/p>\n

Sie<\/strong><\/em> is used in more formal situations or when talking to people you don’t know well. It’s always capitalized and conjugated as a plural word.<\/p>\n

Nehmen Sie<\/strong> morgen am Meeting teil, Herr Maier? <\/em>(Are you attending the meeting tomorrow, Mr. Maier?)<\/p>\n

During recent years there’s been a tendency to reduce formality (especially among young people) and the use of\u00a0Du<\/em> has become more common. Listen to conversations between Germans and pay attention to how they use it.\u00a0For example, you could watch German movies<\/a>, or you could try an immersive language learning program like FluentU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\n \"FluentU\r\n

\r\n