German phrases and common sentences
From travel to work and friendship, there are countless benefits to learning German. Find out how Babbel can help you to leverage them, one word at a time.
Reasons to speak German
Open up the world German is the country of science, innovation, architecture, poetry, modern film and art and - of course - hipster culture if you travel to Berlin! It's a vibrant and young country with a powerful position on the world stage. What better reason to expand your horizons than by learning the language? Even a few German phrases will enhance your CV and enable you to make friends as you explore the world around you.
Enrich your interests Perhaps the German wine-growing regions are of particular interest, or you are fascinated by the emerging digital scene? Maybe you've realised that there are over 100 million German speakers and a vast German presence on the internet, with interesting content and new communities to discover simply by gaining the key to friendship - the language!
Learn effectively Who has time to attend summer school lessons? Fixed classes lack flexibility and are slow. Online content may be free but it is often riddled with errors and filled with advertising. Books are great when you read German well but tend to be useful as a learning adjunct as you progress, much like conversational practice with another motivated learner. But for serious speed in your German language progression, an app like Babbel is likely to be the best way forward!
Test first lesson of every course for free
Useful German phrases for beginners?
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Wie geht’s? | How are you? |
| Vielen Dank | Thank you very much |
| Mein Name ist | My name is _____ |
| Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? | Could you say that again please? |
| Es tut mir leid | I'm sorry |
Introductions in German
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Willkommen | Welcome |
| Hallo | Hello |
| Guten Tag | Hello |
| Guten Abend | Good evening |
| Lange nicht gesehen! | Long time no see! |
Common phrases in German
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich weiß nicht. | I don't know. |
| Verstehst du? | Do you understand? |
| Können Sie das wiederholen? | Please say that again. |
| Können Sie das bitte aufschreiben? | Please write that down. |
| Sprechen Sie Deutsch? | Do you speak German? |
Best/helpful German travel phrases
Get your German skills holiday ready: Learn the most useful phrases before your feet hit the ground, so you can easily navigate your surroundings, chat to the locals and get the most out of your trip.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Wo ist die Touristeninformation? | Where can I find the tourist information office? |
| Wie komme ich zum Strand? | How do I get to the beach? |
| Können Sie mir helfen? | Can you help me? |
| Wann fährt der nächste Bus? | When is the next bus leaving? |
| Ich möchte etwas bestellen. | I would like to order a... |
| Die Rechnung, bitte. | Could I get the bill please? |
| Schön, dich kennenzulernen. | Nice to meet you! |
| Vielen Dank! | Thank you! |
Features of Babbel
- Language skills you can apply immediately in daily life
- Interactive review dashboard shows individual progress
- Lessons designed for each level, created by 150+ language experts
- 15 hours of Babbel equates to a full semester of classes at university
- Voice-recognition technology grows your ability to pronounce German words
Master German, one word at a time
Whatever your personal motivation for learning German, the Babbel app makes it easy to progress at your own pace and to go from language zero to hero fast! Whenever you have a spare few minutes just open up the app and do your latest class. Learn on the train, on your lunch break or at home when you have a quiet moment. You'll be amazed at your progress. Even better, the first lesson is completely free. Download the app, choose your level and try it out. If you like it, you can just choose to upgrade your membership and access the entire course at your own speed. A bigger world and a chance to be a true global citizen is just at your fingertips when you start to learn a new language with Babbel, the award-winning language learning app.