Packing Your Mental Suitcase: German Phrases for Traveling
Every major vacation requires preparation. Headed to Germany? You’ll want to stuff your suitcase with plenty of clothes, personal items…you know, the usual stuff.
And you’ll want to have a few essentials stored away in your brain, as well – in the form of common German phrases!
Germany’s cultural heritage, diverse landscape, and famous cuisine make it one of the most visited countries in Europe. And since many Americans have German ancestry – as many as 40 million, in fact – it draws thousands of English speakers every year.
In order to make the most of your trip, it helps to learn basic German travel phrases before you leave.
Why Learn German Phrases for Your Trip?
You can’t always count on finding a competent English speaker in Deutschland, especially if your travels take you into the idyllic German countryside, away from the bustling cities of Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, and other major metro areas.
You’ll need some helpful German phrases for travel – at least enough to communicate basic directions, greetings, and the like.
What’s more, learning core German phrases is a launch pad for additional education. Many people start to learn German by acquiring common German travel phrases! So that trip you’re about to take might just be the start of another type of journey – an educational one!
Essential German Phrases Every Traveler Should Know
| Polite German Phrases for Casual Introductions & Greetings | |
|---|---|
| Hello. | Hallo |
| Goodbye. | Auf Wiedersehen. |
| German | Deutsch |
| English | Englisch |
| Thank you. | Danke. |
| You’re welcome. | Bitteschön. |
| Pardon me. | Bitte. |
| Yes. | Ja. |
| No. | Nein. |
| My name is… | Ich heiße… |
| What is your name? | Wie heißen Sie? |
| I don’t understand. | Ich verstehen nicht. |
| Can you repeat that, please? | Bitte wiederholen? |
| Useful German Phrases for Directions & Travel Scenarios | |
|---|---|
| Where is… | Wo ist … |
| Bus station | die Bushaltestelle |
| Train station | der Bahnhof |
| Restroom | die Toilette |
| National highway | Autobahn |
| Taxi | Taxi (if only all German phrases were this easy!) |
| Help me find this address. | Bringen Sie mich bitte zu dieser Adresse. |
| Please stop here. | Halten Sie bitte hier an. |
| To the left / on the left | Nach links |
| To the right / on the right | Nach rechts |
| Common German Phrases for Travel – Dining, Shopping, etc. | |
|---|---|
| Can I have the bill, please? | Ich möchte bitte die Rechnung? |
| I made a reservation. | Ich habe eine Reservierung? |
| I would like to buy this. | Ich möchte das kaufen. |
| When is checkout? | Um wie viel Uhr muss man auschecken? |
| Can you recommend another hotel? | Können Sie mir ein anderes Hotel empfehlen? |
| Do you sell souvenirs? | Haben Sie Andenken? |
| How much does this cost? | Wie viel kostet das? |
| I can pay in euros. | Ich kann nur…Euro zahlen. |
| I can pay in cash. | Darf ich mit Bargeld bezahlen. |
| I can pay with a credit card. | Darf ich mit Kreditkarte bezahlen. |
| A glass of water, please. | Ein Glas Wasser, bitte. |
| I’ll take the receipt. | Darf ich eine Quittung haben, bitte. |
| Is there something cheaper? | Haben Sie etwas Billigeres? |
| German Phrases for Travel Emergencies | |
|---|---|
| Where is… | Wo ist … |
| Hospital | Krankenhaus |
| Police | Polizei |
| Emergency number | Notrufnummer |
| I’m having an emergency! | Ich habe einen Notfall! |
| Where is the pharmacy? | Wo ist die Apotheke? |
| I don’t feel well. | Mir geht’s schlecht. |
| I need the police. | Ich brauche die Polizei. |
Take Your German Phrases for Travel to the Next Level: Conversational Speaking!
Keep these German phrases close by while you’re away, and keep the stress level at a minimum. Nobody wants to waste a vacation to Germany literally lost in translation – and no matter what situation you’re in, these basic German phrases for travel will help ensure you’ll spend more time enjoying German culture and less time trying to find someone who speaks English.
Want to expand your vocabulary beyond a few helpful German phrases for travel? Pimsleur can help you learn to speak German conversationally. And our intuitive, collaborative approach, informed by the Pimsleur Method, gets you speaking German with a proven combination of aural and oral skills (listening and speaking) to ensure you reach conversational capability.
Want to make your next trip to Germany even more memorable, interesting, and unforgettable? Sign up with a Premium (German only) or All Access (every language in our catalog) subscription today and start learning German!