Useful Phrases

I don't speak German - Ich sprech nicht Deutsch / ikh shpray-khe nikht doytsch

Do you speak English? - Sprechen Sie Englisch? / shpray-khen zee eng-lish

I don't understand - Ich verstehe nicht / ikh fair-shtay-e nikht

Can you repeat that? - Konnten Sie das wiederholen? / kurn-ten zee dus vee-der-ho-len

What's that? - Was ist das? / vus ist dus

My name is - ich heire / ikh hye-se

This is - Das ist / dus ist

Can you help me? - Konnen sie mir helfen? / kur-nen zee mir hel-fen?

Where is/are...? - Wo ist/sind...? / vo ist/zint...?

How do i get to...? - Wie komme ich zum / vee kom-me ikh tsoom

I would like... - Ich mochte / ikh murkh-te

How much is this? - Wie viel kostet das? / vee-feel kos-tet dus

Greetings -

Hello - Guten Tag / gooten tahk

Good Evening - Guten Abend / goo-ten ah-bent

Goodnight - Gute Nacht / goo-te nakht

Goodbye - Auf Wiedersehen / owf vee-der-zayen

Hi/Bye - Tshuss / tschews

See you soon! - Bis bald! / bis bahlt

Yes - Ja / Yah

No - Nein / nine

Please - Bitte / bit-te

Thank you - Danke / dun-ke

You're welcome - Gern geschehen / gairn ge-shay-en

How are you - Wie geht es ihnen / vee gayt es ee-nen

Fine, thanks - Danke, gut / dun-ke goot

Pardon? - Wie bitte / Vee bit-te

Excuse me - Entshuldigung / ent-shool-dee-gung

Sorry - Tut mir leid / toot mir lite

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Do's and Don'ts

Communication -

• Germans normally address each other with their surnames and "Sie". Only young people and those who know each other very well would address each other by their first names and "Du". If you have English conversation with Germans, it is o.k. to call them by their first name even if you're not on a first name-basis with them in German, because there is no such distinction in English. Talking German, however, you should always ask before you decide to take this step.
• Germans are great hand-shakers, and they like to do so both when arriving and when departing. Even small children are taught to shake hands because it is simply thought to be very polite. Only young people and good friends may substitute hand-shaking with another ritual. However, kissing is generally considered inappropriate in a business setting.
• Be prepared to listen to a longer discourse, when you ask somebody "how are you?" Germans normally use this as a literal question that expects a literal answer, in contrast to the common English usage of "How's it going?" simply meaning "Hi". It may, therefore, be considered strange or superficial to ask the question and keep on moving without waiting for an answer. Many people, when asked, will, in fact, give you a very detailed answer, including why they are not doing well at that moment!
• Moreover, the German Culture is highly fact-oriented. "Small talk" with strangers does not have a significant social function in German culture.

Restaurants -

• You generally seat yourself unless you see a hostess. Water is served as mineral water and charged accordingly – same price as a coke for instance. It is not a common practice to ask for tap water in a restaurant. Also, there are no refills in Germany: When you ask for a second cup of coffee in a restaurant you pay full price for the second cup; same with pop, no refills. Do not ask for a ‘doggy bag’ either. Most restaurants won’t accommodate your request.

Table Manners -

• If you practice good table manners at home, they will suffice in Germany. Do not worry about how to hold your fork or where to place your napkin. However, there are a few things that you should keep in mind: It is polite to wish 'Guten Appetit!' before starting your meal. During the meal, Germans place their hands visibly on the table. Chewing with open mouth as well as belching after a good meal will rather embarass Germans at the the table. Furthermore, if we come to dinner with others, we leave with them also.

Fun-facts...

There are over 82 million people in Germany. It is the most densely populated country in the world.

You can be hit by a supermodel on a bike several times a day!

There are more than 150 castles in Germany! There are a few that contain aristocrats but most are hotels, restaurants and ruins.

Germany has over 300 kinds of bread!

Germans answer the phone with their surname instead of “Hello.”

Germans are nosey about their employers. They want to know if they are married and see their photos!

Schools in Germany finish at 1.pm.

Dogs are treated like kings. They can go anywhere. They even have their own pools!

Watch out for the toilet paper. It feels like paper towel!

There is a German artist who turns dried cow manure into wall clocks and small sculptures! Wow…that is recycling!

In World War II, a German sub was sunk by a broken toilet!

Adolf Hitler helped create the Volkswagen Beetle!