Basic German words to get you started

The basic German words page is aimed at individuals who need to learn some quick German phrases before traveling to Germany. If you are looking for a more interactive lesson try browsing our selection of free German language lessons.

Some of the best German language lessons have been created by Learn German with GermanPod101.

Try the German word challenge and learn 125 German words in an hour.

These German vocabulary lessons will get you up and running quickly. They are absolutely free and have everything you need to start learning.

Each lesson is about five minutes long, providing hours of learning from beginners upto advanced German. They are fun and very effective.

Only German language videos are a great option for building your vocabulary. Each lesson concentrates on a single area so you get to grips with real life situations rather than random words. Having structure to your lessons will help you learn words faster by building associations and memory patterns.

Basic German words for everyday conversation

Here's a list of common phrases that will help you communicate during your travels around Germany. Having a basic vocabulary with a handful of important words will make your trip much more enjoyable and the locals will appreciate your efforts.

Yes

Ja

yar

No

Nein

niyn

Yes, please

Ja, bitte

yar bitt-er

No, thank you

Nein, danke

niyn dang-ker

Please

Bitte

bitt-er

Thank you

Danke

dang-ker

You're welcome

Bitte

bitt-er

Here is

Hier ist

heer ist

Here are

Hier sind

heer zint

Hello

Hallo

hal-lo

Good morning

Guten Morgen

goot-en mor-gen

Good afternoon

Guten Tag

goot-en targ

Good evening

Guten Abend

goot-en ar-bent

Goodbye

Auf Wiedersehen

owf vee-der-zay-en

Good night

Gute Nacht

goot-er naxht

How are you?

Wie geht es Ihnen?

vee gayt ess een-en

Very well, thanks

Danke, gut

dang-ker goot

Excuse me

Entschuldigen Sie mich

ent-shool-dig-en zee mixh

Do you speak English?

Sprechen Sie Englisch?

shprexh-en zee eng-lish

Can you help me?

Können Sie mir behilflich sein?

kern-en zee meer be-hilf-lixh ziyn

I don't understand

Ich verstehe nicht

ixh fair-shtay-er nixht

I don't know

Ich weiß nicht

ixh viyss nixht

Please write it down

Bitte schreiben Sie es auf

bitt-er shriy-ben zee ess owf

Sorry

Entschuldigung

ent-shool-dig-oong

Leave me alone!

Lassen sie mich in ruhe!

lass-en zee mixh in roo-er

Where?

Wo?

voe

When?

Wann?

van

How?

Wie?

vee

Why?

Warum?

va-room

Who?

Wer?

vair

Which?

Welches?

vel-shes

Where is...?

Wo ist...?

voe ist...?

How much?

Wie viel?

vee-feel

How many?

Wie viele?

vee feel-er

What's that?

Was ist das?

vass ist dass

I'd like...

Ich würde gerne...

ixh ver-der gairn...

I want...

Ich möchte...

ixh merxht-er

I like it

ich mag das

ess mug dus

I don't like it

Ich mag es nicht

ess mug es nixht

OK

In Ordnung

in ord-noong

Agreed

Einverstanden

iyn-fer-shtan-den

That's fine

Das ist gut

dass ist goot

I want...

Ich möchte...

ixh mer-ish-ter...

We want...

Wir wollen...

veer voll-en...

I am...

Ich bin...

ixh bin...

We are...

Wir sind...

veer zint...

I have...

Ich habe...

ixh har-ber...

We have...

Wir haben...

veer har-ben...