
Planning a trip to a German-speaking country? Or perhaps you are starting to learn German? You’ll need a list of the most basic German words and phrases.
From the simplest German words to the phrases you need to get by, here’s the list you need together with:
At the end of each section, you can also take the mini quizzes to make sure the words stick to your memory.
Ready? Let’s begin!
I. The Very Basics
Let’s start with the basic German words and phrases. With just these in your arsenal, you can already survive the simplest conversations!
German word / phrase | English translation | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
hallo | hello | hello |
Ja | Yes | ya |
Nein | No | niyn |
Bitte | Please | bi-te. |
Danke | Thank you | dân-ke |
Bitte schön. | you're welcome | bi-te shurn |
Entschuldigen Sie. | Excuse me (getting attention) | ent-SHOOL-dee-gun zee |
Entschuldigung! | Excuse me (sorry, asking pardon) | ênt-shool-dee-goong |
Wie heißen Sie? | What’s your name? | vee hays-en zee? |
Ich heiße…. | My name is… | iH hays-e…. |
Freut mich | Pleased to meet you | froyt miH |
Mini Quiz 1
1. What does bitte schön mean?
Click to reveal the answer
2. Entschuldigen Sie and Entschuldigung both mean excuse me. But what makes them different from each other?
Click to reveal the answer
3. To say “pleased to meet you”, you say:
Click to reveal the answer
You can learn more German greetings in this article: A Quick Guide to German Greetings
II. Simple Questions
Now let’s talk about the simplest German questions. There’s another article here in this website that talks about this with more detail.
You can check it out here: Basic German Questions Every Traveler Should Know
For now let’s just run through the most simple ones that you can memorize quickly.
Wo? | Where? | vo |
Wann? | When? | van |
Wie? | How? | vee |
Warum? | Why? | va-room |
Wer? | Who? | vair |
Welches? | Which? | vel-shes |
Wo ist...? | Where is...? | vo ist |
Wie viel? | How much? | vee feel |
Wie viele? | How many? | vee feel-e |
Was ist das? | What's that? | vass ist dass |
Mini Quiz 2
1. How do you ask “why?” in German?
Click to reveal the answer
2. What does “wo ist..?" mean
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3. True or false: wie in German means who
Click to reveal the answer
Expressing likes or dislikes
In daily life, you’ll always be faced with different choices. Which one should you take? Which one do you like? Do you hate the one in front of you? Speak your mind with these simple German phrases!
Ich hätte gern... | I'd like... | ixh hett-er gairn... |
Ich möchte... | I want... | ixh merxht-er |
Es gefällt mir. | I like it. | ess ge-felt meer |
Es gefällt mir nicht. | I don't like it. | ess ge-felt meer nixht |
In Ordnung/Einverstanden. | OK/Agreed. | in ord-noong/iyn-fer-shtan-den |
Das ist gut. | That's good / That’s fine. | dass ist goot |
Ich will/Wir wollen... | I want/We want... | ixh vill/veer voll-en |
Ich bin/Wir sind... | I am/We are.... | ixh bin/veer zint |
Ich habe/Wir haben... | I have/We have... | ixh har-ber/veer har-b |
Mini Quiz 3:
1. To say “I want...” in German, you say:
Click to reveal the answer
2. Das ist gut means
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3. When you like something, you say:
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Speaking Difficulties
When you’re in a place where you don’t speak the language that well, there’s bound to be some conversational hiccups. Solve any speaking difficulties you might have with the help of these useful phrases.
Sprechen Sie Englisch? | Do you speak English? | shprêH-en zee êng-lish? |
Ich kann nicht [so gut] Deutsch sprechen. | I can't speak German (well). | eesh kahn nikht [zo goot] doytsh shpreH-en |
Ich verstehe nicht. | I don’t understand. | ixh fair-shtay-er nixht |
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? | Can you repeat that please? | kern-en zee dâs bi-te vee-der-hoh-len? |
Könnten Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? | Would you be able to speak slower please? | kern-en zee bi-te lâng-zâm-er shprêH-en? |
Needing Help
Need help finding your way around? Or perhaps it’s a different type of emergency? Here are some basic German phrases to help get you un-stuck!
Würden Sie mir bitte helfen? | Would you help me please? | vuer-den zee meer bi-te hêl-fen? |
Ich weiß nicht | I don't know | ixh viyss nixht |
Ich habe mich verirrt. | I'm lost. | eesh HAH-buh meesh fer-EERT |
Kannst du/Können Sie mir das auf der Karte zeigen? | Can you show me on the map? | kahnst doo/KOON-en zee meer dahss ouf dayr KAHR-tuh TSIGH-gen? |
Ich kenne mich hier nicht aus. | I don’t know my way around here. | iH kên-e miH heer niHt ous. |
Mini Quiz 4
1. Ich verstehe nicht means
Click to reveal the answer
2. How do you say “I’m lost” in German?
Click to reveal the answer
3. Würden Sie mir bitte helfen? Means
Click to reveal the answer
Conclusion
There you go with the most basic survival words and phrases in German. With these in your back pocket, you’re ready to take on a few conversations in German--with correct pronunciation, too!
To expand your vocabulary and boost your reading and listening skills, check out German short stories below!

A FUN AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN GERMAN