{"id":94092,"date":"2023-07-02T01:47:01","date_gmt":"2023-07-02T05:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/oktoberfest-sayings\/"},"modified":"2025-05-23T12:22:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T16:22:57","slug":"oktoberfest-sayings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/oktoberfest-sayings\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Oktoberfest Sayings in German and Bavarian"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Beer, barmaids and sausage.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the stereotypical German trio associated with Oktoberfest. However, there\u2019s a lot more to the famous German holiday than most people think.<\/p>\n<p>If you plan on attending Oktoberfest\u2014or if you&#8217;re just brushing up on your knowledge of German social life and culture\u2014there are some essential Oktoberfest phrases and sayings you should know.<\/p>\n<p>In this post, we&#8217;ve included traditional Bavarian sayings, colloquial expressions and some basic but essential <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/german-phrases\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-schema-attribute=\"\">German phrases<\/a> you&#8217;ll need for a fun and comfortable celebration.<\/p>\n<p>[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What Is Oktoberfest?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The first Oktoberfest was celebrated at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.muenchen.de\/int\/en\/events\/oktoberfest\/history.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wedding of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese<\/a>\u00a0on October 12, 1810.<\/p>\n<p>If you know a bit of German, you\u2019ll remember that <em>das Fest<\/em> means \u201ca celebration.\u201d And since the festivities took place in the month of October, it was decided that in subsequent years, the citizens of Munich would celebrate what would come to be known as <em>Oktoberfest<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>However, since October is usually a cold month, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rd.com\/article\/oktoberfest-starts-september\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">date was moved up to September<\/a>. The year 2010 marked the 200th anniversary of the first Oktoberfest.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll learn much more about Oktoberfest with these <strong>12 key phrases<\/strong>! You can also see these in action in German media clips on FluentU, a video-immersion program with built-in learning features.<p><strong>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><\/p>\r\n<p>You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/fluentu-learn-language-videos\/id917892175\">the iOS app<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.fluentflix.fluentu&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=US\">Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><i><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">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<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/NativeAd-German.jpg\" alt=\"FluentU Ad\" \/>\r\n  <p style=\"text-align: center\">\r\n    <button class=\"btn-blue\" style=\"border: none;font-size: 18px;text-align: center;padding: 0.75rem 1.5rem;cursor: pointer\">\r\n      Try FluentU for FREE!\r\n    <\/button>\r\n  <\/p>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\n<h2><strong>1. <em>Das ist mein erstes Oktoberfest.<\/em><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;This is my first Oktoberfest.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This one-use-only phrase might earn you a spot at the beer tent benches\u2014and a free round, if your peers are generous enough.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>2.<em> Ist hier noch frei?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;Is this spot taken?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">It\u2019s always polite to ask<\/a> if you can sit down next to someone. Introduce yourself while you\u2019re at it!<\/p>\n<p>Just don\u2019t save seats, because any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigboytravel.com\/europe\/germany\/munich\/oktoberfest\/how-to-get-table-reservations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free seats that haven&#8217;t been reserved<\/a> are first come, first served.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>3.<em> Wo is\u2019ns Haisl?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;Where is the bathroom?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Smart Oktoberfest-goers will know how to ask this question well before it\u2019s time to relieve themselves of the vast amounts of beer they\u2019re likely to consume.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>4.<em> O\u2019zapft is!<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;It\u2019s tapped!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after the first keg of the year\u2019s Oktoberfest is breached, this Bavarian phrase follows. It\u2019s a bit like saying, \u201cCut the cake!\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>5.<em> Oans, zwoa, g\u2019suffa!<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;One, two, drink!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This phrase is like a cheer or a chant. The first hours of Oktoberfest might start out with this phrase, but by the time you\u2019re a few beers in, you\u2019ll probably be voicing the next phrase aloud a lot more often.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>6.<em> Noch ein Bier, bitte!<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;Another beer, please!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Attending Oktoberfest is an experience all its own, but <em>serving<\/em> at Oktoberfest can be very rewarding as well. You get to meet a lot of great people, make them happy serving them beer and dress up for the occasion!<\/p>\n<h2><strong>7.<em> Wo haben Sie ihre Dirndl\/ihren Lederhosen gekauft?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;Where did you buy your Dirndl\/Lederhosen?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The traditional clothes of Oktoberfest, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-therese.de\/bavarian-attire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dirndl and Lederhosen<\/a>, are what most people associate with Germany. If you think about it, Oktoberfest is really an homage to the first few celebrations as much as it&#8217;s about reveling and consuming local beer.<\/p>\n<h2>8.<em> <strong>Trinken Sie Hacker Pschorr, Hofbr\u00e4u, Paulaner, Spaten, Lowenbrau oder Augustiner<\/strong><strong>?<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;Are you drinking Hacker Pschorr, Hofbr\u00e4u, Paulaner, Spaten, Lowenbrau or Augustiner?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In America, we have our well-known beer brands. So does Germany.<\/p>\n<p>Some of these brewers even have their own tents, with an Oktoberfest experience all their own.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>9.<em> Ein Prosit der Gem\u00fctlichkeit.<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;A toast to cheer and good times.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This is actually both a phrase and a song that accompanies beer drinking. With only four words to memorize, it\u2019s a pretty simple tune to add to your repertoire.<\/p>\n<p>At Oktoberfest, you&#8217;ll often hear the similar, shorter expression: <em>prost\u00a0<\/em>(cheers)!<\/p>\n<h2><strong>10.<em> Wollen Sie mit mir auf dem Riesenrad fahren?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;Do you want to ride on the Ferris wheel with me?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>There are a lot of amusement rides you can go on with your friends\u2014new and old. Oktoberfest isn\u2019t just about the beer!<\/p>\n<h2><strong>11.<em> Ich lade euch ein.<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;This one\u2019s on me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Oktoberfest is a great place to meet new people. If you\u2019re feeling particularly generous, try this phrase. Just make sure you\u2019ve got some cash on hand to not only pay your waiter\/waitress, but also to tip them. It\u2019s not easy carrying all those beer mugs.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>12.<em> Pfiat Eich!<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;Goodbye!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Yes, you could say \u201c<em>Auf Wiedersehen<\/em>,\u201d but a special occasion demands <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/casual-informal-german-slang\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a unique phrase.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Use this short saying to end the night with a flair of dialect. Native German revelers will appreciate the sentiment!<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why Learn Oktoberfest Sayings?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Whether or not you\u2019re able to attend the true Oktoberfest in Germany, knowing some Oktoberfest sayings is a great way to build your German.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you visit Germany during Oktoberfest, you\u2019ll want to have a few phrases memorized. <strong>The local German population will appreciate that you\u2019ve invested time<\/strong> in understanding Oktoberfest.<\/li>\n<li>Learning more about Oktoberfest and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/german-holidays\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">other German celebrations<\/a>\u00a0<strong>benefits your overall fluency.<\/strong> Alongside grammar and your typical everyday phrases, knowing what to say around Oktoberfest means you\u2019re rounding out your knowledge of the language.<\/li>\n<li>Some of the above phrases are in <strong>Bavarian<\/strong>, which is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/different-types-of-german\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dialect of German.<\/a> This is <strong>great for your cultural knowledge<\/strong> and can help you go well beyond textbook German. Try to focus more on pronunciation and the &#8220;gist&#8221; of what they mean. This will fast-track your communication abilities if you&#8217;re planning to use these phrases in real life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There you have it! Pick from any of these 12 phrases the next time you find yourself at an Oktoberfest celebration.<\/p>\n<p>And if you&#8217;re able, attend the proper Oktoberfest in Germany to see what all the hype is about. <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<h2>And One More Thing...<\/h2>\r\n<p>\r\nWant to know the key to learning German effectively?\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nIt's using the right content and tools, <strong><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">like FluentU has to offer<\/a><\/strong>! Browse hundreds of videos, take endless quizzes and master the German language faster than you've ever imagine! \r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2005\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/German-5.jpg\" alt=\"learn-german-with-videos\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nWatching a fun video, but having trouble understanding it? <strong>FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive subtitles.<\/strong>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2006\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/German-2.jpg\" alt=\"learn-german-with-interactive-videos\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nYou can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don't know, you can add it to a vocabulary list.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2007\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/German-6.jpg\" alt=\"learn-conversational-german-with-subtitled-dialogue\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nAnd FluentU isn't just for watching videos. It's a complete platform for learning. It's designed to effectively teach you all the vocabulary from any video. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you're on.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2008\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/German-7.png\" alt=\"practice-german-with-adaptive-quizzes\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nThe best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you're learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it\u2019s time to review what you\u2019ve learned.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nStart using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. <a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Beer, barmaids and sausage. That\u2019s the stereotypical German trio associated with Oktoberfest. However, there\u2019s a lot more to the famous German holiday than most people think. If you plan on&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":525,"featured_media":249940,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"12 Oktoberfest Sayings in German and Bavarian | FluentU German Blog","description":"Looking for popular Oktoberfest sayings to prepare for the next celebration? Read on to learn about 12 essential and well-known German and Bavarian sayings for the occasion. This includes everything from how to ask for another drink to giving a toast and saying goodbye!"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[525,526],"tags":[],"coauthors":[565],"class_list":["post-94092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-german","category-resources"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/525"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94092"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94092\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":253680,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94092\/revisions\/253680"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/249940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94092"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=94092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}