58 Common German Phrases for Travel & Everyday Conversation (with Audio)
German rewards precision, which makes it all the more frustrating when a phrase you definitely learned refuses to show up at the ticket machine. Memory works that way: without well-timed review, even simple sentences slip away.
Below are 58 German phrases organized around real situations: greetings, small talk, transport, restaurants, shopping, and emergencies, all in the polite Sie form you'll want with strangers. Read them free, download the PDF, or study the same deck in Repetra with native audio and spaced repetition so they're there when you need them.
Greetings & Courtesy
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Hallo. | Hello. |
| Tschüss. | Goodbye. |
| Danke. | Thank you. |
| Bitte. | Please. |
| Entschuldigung. | Excuse me. |
| Freut mich. | Nice to meet you. |
| Wie geht's? | How's it going? |
| Schönen Tag noch! | Have a nice day! |
| Vielen Dank. | Thank you very much. |
| Darf ich Sie etwas fragen? | Can I ask you something? |
| Es tut mir leid. | I'm sorry. |
Small Talk
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Woher kommen Sie? | Where are you from? |
| Ich komme aus den USA. | I'm from the United States. |
| Was machen Sie beruflich? | What do you do? |
| Wohnen Sie hier in der Nähe? | Do you live around here? |
| Ich bin zum ersten Mal hier. | This is my first time here. |
| Es gefällt mir hier. | I like it here. |
| Schönes Wetter heute! | Nice weather today! |
Communication
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich verstehe nicht. | I don't understand. |
| Langsamer, bitte. | More slowly, please. |
| Noch einmal, bitte. | Again, please. |
| Sprechen Sie Englisch? | Do you speak English? |
| Wie sagt man das auf Deutsch? | How do you say this in German? |
| Was bedeutet dieses Wort? | What does this word mean? |
| Schreiben Sie es bitte auf. | Please write it down. |
| Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch. | I speak a little German. |
| Ich lerne noch Deutsch. | I'm still learning German. |
Directions & Transport
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Wo ist die Toilette? | Where is the bathroom? |
| Wie komme ich zum Bahnhof? | How do I get to the train station? |
| Ist es weit von hier? | Is it far from here? |
| Ich habe mich verlaufen. | I'm lost. |
| Können Sie es mir auf der Karte zeigen? | Can you show me on the map? |
| Wo kann ich eine Fahrkarte kaufen? | Where can I buy a ticket? |
| Wann fährt der Bus ab? | What time does the bus leave? |
| Links, dann geradeaus. | Left, then straight ahead. |
| Gibt es hier ein Restaurant? | Is there a restaurant nearby? |
At the Restaurant
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Einen Tisch für zwei, bitte. | A table for two, please. |
| Die Speisekarte, bitte. | The menu, please. |
| Was empfehlen Sie? | What do you recommend? |
| Einen Kaffee, bitte. | A coffee, please. |
| Ich bin Vegetarier. | I'm vegetarian. |
| Guten Appetit! | Enjoy your meal! |
| Die Rechnung, bitte. | The check, please. |
| Lecker! | Delicious! |
Shopping
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Was kostet das? | How much is this? |
| Nehmen Sie Kreditkarten? | Do you take credit cards? |
| Ich schaue nur, danke. | Just looking, thanks. |
| Kann ich das anprobieren? | Can I try it on? |
| Ich nehme es. | I'll take it. |
Emergencies & Health
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich brauche Hilfe. | I need help. |
| Rufen Sie bitte einen Krankenwagen! | Call an ambulance, please! |
| Ich fühle mich nicht wohl. | I don't feel well. |
| Ich brauche einen Arzt. | I need a doctor. |
| Wo ist die Apotheke? | Where is the pharmacy? |
Everyday Essentials
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Wie spät ist es? | What time is it? |
| Einen Moment, bitte. | One moment, please. |
| Ja. | Yes. |
| Nein. | No. |
Want the PDF version?
All 50 German phrases on a clean sheet you can print or keep on your phone.
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