In order to travel to a country, you do not need to be fluent in the language. But to know the main phrases that allow you to establish contact, non-verbal communication (communication without words) is necessary. In the German phrasebook for tourists, we put the most necessary (in our opinion) words and phrases for such communication.

Of course, it's worth taking a paper phrasebook with you. But we must remember that the phrasebook is not a universal tool. He can fail. In the dark, for example, it is useless.

I remember how one morning in Paris I went to the suburbs, walked, looked, enjoyed myself and ... got lost. I was walking an unfamiliar road, it got dark somehow sharply, there were no people. I found a supermarket at the sign. I walked around it, but I had to go home, - I began to look for a bright place to ask a question from the phrasebook. In such cases, it is better to ask the question on the street, so that the respondent can show with his hand where to go. In deserted places I choose a woman so that the man does not think that I am pestering.

I found a nice girl, opened a phrasebook and asked where the station is? I tried to pronounce it so that she a) understood b) was not afraid of my pronunciation. And, oh, joy, I did it.

The girl smiled and began to explain in detail how to get to the station. Worst of all, she turned out to be well-mannered and did not wave her hands. She answered in detail, did not turn her head, did not turn anywhere. I never thought, I never wondered that I would be so nervous because of someone's good manners.

We figured it out for a long time. And, of course, not in words. I just showed the direction and asked in Russian: there? She shook her head (finally!) And pointed to the other side.

Friends, now we are in Telegram: our channel about Europe, our channel about Asia... Welcome)

When looking for simple information, body movements, gestures help much more than a phrasebook.

Now imagine, I found out where to go, turned around and walked in silence. Stupid somehow. Where's the thanks?

These are the words that help to establish contact, thank, end communication, you need to know. Words and phrases that do not require long verbal explanations.

2 ways to learn German

Now let's go back to Germany and before continuing I will say that there are two ways to learn German:

1. Instead of learning a language, which is basically impossible to do quickly, you can master the language within 30 days. We advise you to watch the video course of I.I. Poloneichik is a polyglot and teacher of "Fast Entry into German". Ivan Ivanovich, using various methods, teaches to communicate in German. The course is paid, but you can feel confident and enjoy communication

UPD: Course is no longer for sale.

2. The way is to learn the simplest words for communication.

If for any reason you do not want to use the video course I.I. Poloneichik, I propose to study the necessary German words:

Greetings are important. The Germans are pedantic, thorough and unhurried people. If you have neighbors, then you must say hello.

Hey	Hallo!	Hello
Good morning	Guten morgen	Guten Morgen
good day	Guten Tag	Guten Tag
good evening	Guten abend	Guten Abend
Goodnight	Gute nacht	Gute Nacht

With the hostess of the hotel, a neighbor at a table in a cafe, you can talk with words that do not require an exact answer. By the expression on your face, you can understand what feelings the person is talking about. In response, it is enough to nod or shake your head in sorrow:

Think you shouldn't bother Warum? - can begin to explain, and yet Germany is a country of philosophy. Kant, Hegel, Marx, Spengler, Schopenhauer ... What if, in response, you have to listen to the whole Critique of Pure Reason? We do not ask the question "why".

Another thing is an understandable question

What is the price?	Was kostet?	Are you kostet?
I take it	Ich nehme es	Ikh neme es
Goodbye	Auf wiedersehen	Auf vIder zeen
Yes	Ja	Ya
No	Nein	Nine

German conversational hits:

Danke's words! and Bitte! Gotta talk always and everywhere! In any order. That is, if you were told "Danke" you answer "Bitte", if you hear the word "Bitte", then without hesitation, you blurt out "Danke". AND smile... Within two days you will feel lightness and great mood. Still, "thank you" and "please" magical the words. Yes?

To maintain a relationship, it is worth learning:

If you are not experiencing difficulties with tongue twisters, then it is worth learning the phrase:

To this phrase you need to carry a notebook and a pen.

When you want to address a person. On the street, for example:

Then the question - how much does it cost ... where is ...

To get your bearings:

You can find useful additions to the German phrasebook.

See you on our blog.

Germany is a civilized country, and therefore a lot of Germans not only understand, but can communicate freely in English. If you know even a little English, you shouldn't have any problems in German hotels, restaurants and shops. But, however, there is an exception to any rule, so even in well-known beer houses and guesthouses in the center of Munich, we have repeatedly come across waitresses who speak only their native language. In these and other situations, knowing a few words and phrases in German can come in handy. In this article I will try to outline the most basic expressions that can actually help a tourist in communicating with Germans in various situations. This article does not in any way draw on a textbook, manual or something like that - it's just a list of the most necessary phrases, selected based on our own travel experience.

I will also try to indicate the transcription in Russian letters for each German phrase, so that it is easier to read and pronounce.

First of all, it should be said that Germans are not as emotional as Italians or Russians. Therefore, an attempt by a tourist to say something in German is perceived by them as nothing more than an attempt at a communicative act. And if an Italian is sincerely happy when ragazzo russo speaks to him, and even tells something about himself, then for an ordinary German your speech is just a transfer of information.

The words "thank you" and "please" are most often used on a tourist trip.

Danke ("danke") - thanks
Bitte ("bitte") - please, and as in Russian, this word is used both to denote a request and as a response to words of gratitude.

The Germans are very polite, so they just say "Bitte" in cases, for example, when they transfer money to a cashier in a store. In the vast majority of other cases, it is better to say this:

Danke schön ("danke shyong ") - thank you very much
Bitte schön ("bitte shyon") - meaning great please.

Moreover, the word schön literally means "beautiful", that is, "beautiful thank you" and "beautiful please". The shorter expression is also popular Danke sehr, where sehr means "very," and the entire phrase literally means "thank you very much."

Greetings and goodbyes

Germans greet each other rather succinctly. For example, in every tutorial you can find the official expressions:

Guten Tag ("Guten Tag") - good day
Guten morgen ("good morning") - good morning
Guren abend ("guten abend") - good evening

But in practice, they simply say hello: Morgan(in the sense of "good morning"), Tag(in the sense of "good afternoon" or "hello") or Abend... That is, you are told Morgan in the morning, you answer Morgan. Nothing complicated. ;)
Moreover, there is a kind of "informal" greeting Hallo("halo", almost in English) - hello. It is believed that it is not used with strangers. No matter how it is! Regardless of the degree of acquaintance or age in Germany, "hallo" can be heard in a shop, on a train, in a museum or even in a philharmonic society.

For goodbye, a well-known phrase is most often used:

Auf wiedersehen ("aufvederseen") - goodbye, which is literally completely analogous to the Russian phrase.
You can also often hear this word:
tschüs ("chus") - while. As with Hallo, this informal phrase is actually very common.
Bis bald ("bis bald") - see you later.

Pronunciation. Fundamental rules

A few words about pronunciation. In general, German words are easy to read, but there are a few nuances.

"ch"- after the vowels i , e and consonants are pronounced as a cross between " SCH" and " NS"For example, the word Ich (i). The German language is rich in dialects, and even the pronunciation of the Germans themselves varies greatly, but still this sound is closer to" SCH".
"ch"- after the vowels a , o, u is pronounced " NS". Words machen, Buch
"ei"- pronounced like" ah"(eins -" ains ", zwei -" zwai ")
"sch"- pronounced like" NS"
"st ", "st"if at the beginning of a word also reads like" NS". For example," sprechen ".

Also in the German language there are so-called umlauts, such as " ä ", "ö " or " ü ". This is actually the same as the Russian" ё. "

"r"- this is a separate song. The Germans lisp. Learning to pronounce the German" r "is quite difficult for a Russian person, but it is possible. If you train long and hard, it will take about a month. the root of the tongue, the larynx.On YouTube and on the Internet you can find a lot of lessons showing how exactly this sound is pronounced. Yes, if "p" is at the end of a word, then it is almost not pronounced... Beginners are usually advised not to take a steam bath, and to pronounce the usual Slavic "r". Firstly, it allows you to concentrate not on pronunciation, but on the communication process itself, which is more important, and, secondly, the Germans perfectly understand the Russian "r". The thing is that, for example, in southern Germany, in Bavarian dialects "p" often sounds exactly the same as in our country. And I personally have more than once heard the speech of the Germans, who did not even think to lisp, but said "r" quite in our way.

The most essential phrases

Entschuldigung ("entshuldigung") - sorry! It sounds, of course, intimidating, but the interlocutor will definitely understand that you are apologizing.
Ja ("I am") - Yes
Nein ("nin") - No
Ich verstehe nicht ("Looking for misery") - I do not understand
Noch ein Bier!("noh ain bia") - More beer!
Well, traditionally the most important question of a tourist
Wie viel? ("Wee fil") - How many?

But now, in order to correctly understand the answer, you should remember how numbers sound in German

German numbers

eins ("aynes") - one
zwei ("zwai") - two
drei ("dry") - three
vier ("fia") - four. Pronunciation is difficult to give an accurate transcription. If you remember, the "r" at the end is hardly pronounced, but gives the vowel a subtle shade. In extreme cases, you can say "fir".
fünf ("funf") - five
sechs ("zex", not sex!) - six
sieben ("Sieben") - seven
acht ("akht") - eight
neun ("noyne") - nine
zehn("tsein") - ten

But, as you understand, prices in shops and markets are rarely limited to ten euros, so you should know how numbers over 10 euros are formed.
By the way, " Euro"in German it sounds like this" oiro".
So,
elf ("elf") - eleven
zwölf ("zwolf") - twelve
The rest of the numbers "thirteen", "fourteen" and others are formed by the ending " zehn" ("chain"), that is " dreizehn" ("dryzein" - thirteen), " vierzehn" ("fiatsein" -fourteen)...
The same with tens, where the ending is added " zig" ("cisches").
zwanzig ("tsvantsisch") - twenty
dreißig ("drive") - thirty
vierzig ("fiatcisch") - Fourty
fünfzig ("funftsish") - fifty
"g"at the end is pronounced like a cross between Russian sounds" SCH" and " f"

Curiously, numbers like 25, 37, etc. are formed in German. First, the second number is pronounced, and then the first, denoting ten.
25 - fünfundzwanzig ("funfundzwanzisch") - literally five and twenty
36 - sechsunddreißig ("zeksunddrisisch")

In general, Germans like to compose huge words from several small ones. In such words, a huge number of letters and from the outside it may seem that it is impossible to pronounce, but as soon as you understand that these are just a few words put together without a space, it becomes much easier.

With hundreds (and I hope your restaurant bill doesn't reach that high), it's also easy. Add at the end hundert "hundert").
einhundert ("einhundert") - hundred
zweihundert ("zweichundert") - two hundred

In the shop

Well, since we went shopping, I will immediately give a few more useful phrases:

Kann Ich mit kreditkarte zahlen? ("Kahn looking for a mit credit card is valuable") - Can I pay by credit card?
zahlen ("valuable") - to pay
Ich ("looking for") - I am
Kann ("kan") - I can, remember how in English "can"

Ich möchte zahlen ("Seeking a Vengeance is Valuable") - I would like to pay. Here " möchte"-" I would like to. That is, a polite, subjunctive mood.
Sometimes Germans say not zahlen, but bezahlen ("bezalen"). The meaning is the same and the difference is about the same as ours between "pay" and "pay".

So to the question "can I pay by credit card" you can get the answer either "Ja" - yes, or ...
Nein, nur Bargeld ("Nine, noah bargeld") - cash only. Bargeld- cash. Easy to remember because Geld means money.

Kleingeld ("kleingeld") is a trifle. Literally "little money".
Haben Sie Kleingeld? ("haben zi kleingeld?") - do you have a trifle?

Ich brauche ... ("looking for brauche ..") - I'm looking, I need ..

Pronouns

Here it is worth giving a few more basic words. First, personal pronouns
Ich ("looking for") - I am
du ("doo") - you. Yes, unlike English, in German there is a distinction between "you" and "you".
Sie ("zi") - You. As in Italian, the polite form of the personal pronoun is the same as "she"
sie ("zi") - she
er ("ea") - he. Again I want to make a note that "r" is not readable, although "ea" is heard - not quite the correct transcription, but it is much closer to reality than "er"
es ("it") - surprise! German has a neuter gender. For example, Das mädchen"madschen" - a girl, a girl. A neuter word ...
wir ("via") - we

Just a little grammar

Now for a few important verbs.
haben ("haben") - have
sein ("to be") - to be

As in many European languages, these are fundamental verbs that are very important in the language.
Verbs are conjugated, that is, they change their form depending on the pronoun. For a traveler, mainly you need to remember how certain verbs sound with the pronouns "I, we, and you".
haben- have
Ich habe ("looking for a hub") - I have, I have
wir haben ("via haben") - you have
Sie haben ("zi khaben") - it helps a lot that often the verbs in the infinitive and when used with the pronouns "we" and "you" have the same form.
Haben Sie Tee? ("khaben zi tee") - do you have tea?

sein- to be
Ich bin ("Seek bin") - I am
wir sind ("via zind") - we're
Wir sind aus Russland ("via zind aus russland") - we are from Russia. Please note, not Russland, but Russland.

In the restaurant

Now, as soon as we got acquainted with the verb "to have", remember a very useful phrase. It will come in handy when going to evening restaurants.
Haben Sie einen freien Tisch? ("haben zi ainen fryen Tishch?") - do you have a small table?
frei ("fry") - free
Tisch ("tish") - table
Wir möchten essen ("via mochten essen") - we would like to eat
Kann Ich dort drüben sitzen ("kahn isch dort dryben sitzen") - can I network over there?
Ich möchte eine Bestellung aufgeben ("looking for revenge aine Beshtellung aufgeben") - I'd like to place an order
Etwas zu trinken? ("etwas tsu trinken") - Anything to drink? This is the first question that a waiter usually asks in German restaurants.
Ich hätte gerne etwas zu trinken ("ish hatte gerne etwas tsu trinken") - I would like a drink.

Question words

Well, let's go further on the list of the most necessary and necessary phrases?
Wo ist das nächste Hotel / Restaurant / Supermarkt / Bank ("vo ist das nekhste wanted / restaurant / supermarket / bank") - Where is the nearest hotel / restaurant / supermarket / bank here?
Generally the word " nächste" ("nekhste") means" next "but is used as" closest "in such matters.
Question words
Wo ("in") - where?
Wo ist die Toilette? ("in ist di Toylette") - where is the toilet
Wer ("wea") - who?
Was ("you") - what?
Wie ("in and") - how?
Warum ("varum"- not Angelica) - why?
Wann ("baths") - when?

Simple dialogue

Wie geht "s ("wee gates") or Wie geht "s Ihnen ("vi gates inan") - How are you? Literally "how's it going?" In general, Germans are not very emotional and sociable people, especially with strangers, so you are unlikely to hear this question in a store or restaurant. But you should know - they usually answer simply:
Gut! Und Ihnen ("gut! und inen") - Good. And your?

Wie heißen sie? ("wee heissen z") - what is your name?
Wie ist Ihre Name? ("vi ist ire name") - What is your name?
Ich heiße ... ("looking for haise ...") - my name is...
Woher kommen Sie? ("vohea commen zi") - where are you from?
Ich bin aus Russland ("isch bin aus Russland") - I'm from Russia.
Ich bin im Urlaub ("looking for bin im urlaub") - I'm on vacation

Könnten Sie mir helfen - could you help me?

Other useful words and phrases

Schade! ("shade") - What a pity!
Natürlich ("still life") - of course!
Was für eine Überraschung - what a surprise!

ARTICLE IN DEVELOPMENT ... TO BE CONTINUED!

Meine Ehre heißt Treue!
Loyalty is my honor!

Gott mit uns.
God is with us.

Jedem das Seine.
To each his own.

Wer sich tief weiß, bemüht sich um Klarheit; wer der Menge tief scheinen möchte,
bemüht sich um Dunkelheit.
One who knows a lot strives for clarity; the one who wants to show
that knows a lot, strives into darkness.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Überzeugungen sind gefährlichere Feinde der Wahrheit als Lügen.
Translation is a more dangerous enemy of truth than lies.
Friedrich Nietzsche

German phrases for tattoos

Nicht dass du mich belogst sondern, dass ich dir nicht mehr glaube, hat mich erschüttert.
It was not that you were deceiving me that shocked me, but that I no longer believe you.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Wer von seinem Tag nicht zwei Drittel für sich selbst hat, ist ein Sklave.
Anyone who does not have two-thirds of the time for himself is a slave.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Wenn man ein Wozu des Lebens hat, erträgt man jedes Wie.
Anyone who has a “Why” to live will endure any “How”.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Was aus Liebe getan wird, geschieht immer jenseits von Gut und Böse.
What is done out of love is always on the other side of good and evil.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Dem wird befohlen, der sich nicht selber gehorchen kann.
They are ordered to those who do not know how to obey themselves.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Die Hoffnung ist der Regenbogen über den herabstürzenden Bach des Lebens.
Hope is a rainbow over the falling stream of life.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Weltkind (German) - a man absorbed in earthly interests

Ohne Musik wäre das Leben ein Irrtum.
Without music, life would be foolish.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Phantasie haben heißt nicht, sich etwas ausdenken; es heißt, sich aus den Dingen etwas machen.
To have imagination does not mean to invent something; it means making something new out of things.
Paul Thomas Mann

Religion ist Ehrfurcht - die Ehrfurcht zuerst vor dem Geheimnis, das der Mensch ist.
Religion is reverence - first of all for the mystery that a person represents.
Paul Thomas Mann

Wenn man jemandem alles verziehen hat, ist man mit ihm fertig.
If you have forgiven a person everything, then it is finished with him.
Sigmund Freud

German phrases for tattoos

In dem Augenblick, in dem ein Mensch den Sinn und den Wert des Lebens bezweifelt, ist er krank.
The moment a person doubts the meaning and value of life, he is sick.
Sigmund Freud

Wir streben mehr danach, Schmerz zu vermeiden als Freude zu gewinnen.
We strive more to avoid pain than to experience joy.
Sigmund Freud

Der Mann ist leicht zu erforschen, die Frau verrät ihr Geheimnis nicht.
A man is easy to recognize, but a woman does not betray her secret.
Immanuel Kant

Schön ist dasjenige, was ohne Interesse gefällt.
What you like is fine, even without arousing interest.
Immanuel Kant

Habe Mut, dich deines eigenen Verstandes zu bedienen.
Have the courage to use your own mind.
Immanuel Kant

Man muß denken, wie die wenigsten und reden wie die meisten.
You need to think like a few and speak like the majority.
Arthur Schopenhauer

German phrases for tattoos

Der Wechsel allein ist das Beständige.
Only changes are permanent.
Arthur Schopenhauer

Die Freunde nennen sich aufrichtig. Die Feinde sind es.
They call themselves friends. They are enemies.
Arthur Schopenhauer

Vergeben und vergessen heißt kostbare Erfahrungen zum Fenster hinauswerfen.
Forgiving and forgetting is throwing valuable experience out the window.
Arthur Schopenhauer

Wir denken selten an das, was wir haben, aber immer an das, was uns fehlt.
We rarely think about what we have, but always about what we lack.
Arthur Schopenhauer

All unser Übel kommt daher, dass wir nicht allein sein können.
All our troubles come from the fact that we cannot be alone.
Arthur Schopenhauer

Die Grenzen der Sprache sind die Grenzen der Welt.
The boundaries of language are the boundaries of the world.
Ludwig Wittgenstein

Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muß man schweigen.
About what you can't talk about, you need to keep silent.
Ludwig Wittgenstein

Es ist selten, daß ein Mensch weiß, was er eigentlich glaubt.
Rarely does a person know what he really believes in.
Oswald Spengler

1. Phrases in German (circulation)

Lord	Herr ...
Madam (+ last name)	Frau / Fräulein ... (+ Familienname)
Gentlemen!	Meine Herren! / Meine Herrschaften!
Ladies and Gentlemen!	Meine Damen und Herren!
Master!	Mein Herr!
Madam!	Meine Dame!
Young woman!	Junge Frau / Fräulein!
Young man!	Junger Mann!
Mr. Director!	Herr Direktor!

Replies

2. German expressions for greetings

3. German expressions accompanying the greeting

How are you doing?	Wie geht es Ihnen?
Glad to see you!	Es freut mich, Sie zu sehen.
How are you studying?	Was macht das Studium?
What's new?	Was gibt es Neues?
Good?	Geht's gut?
Are you alright?	Ist alles in Ordnung?

Replies to the question "How (are you) doing?"

4. Phrases in German for dating

I would like to introduce myself to you.	Ich möchte mich vorstellen.
My name is Klaus.	Ich heiße Klaus.
My surname is Weiss.	Mein Name ist Weiß.
What is your name?	Wie heißen Sie?
What's your last name?	Wie ist Ihr Familienname?
Please meet c ...!	Machen Sie sich bitte mit + (Dat.) Bekannt.
Let me introduce you ... / (introduce you): ...	Darf ich Ihnen vorstellen:…
Where are you from?	Woher kommen Sie?
I am from Russia (from Rostov).	Ich komme aus Russland (aus Rostow).
What do you do?	Was machen Sie beruflich?
What is your profession)?	Was sind Sie (von Beruf)?
I AM…	Ich bin ...
… engineer.	... Ingenieur.
…businessman.	… Geschäftsmann.
…director of the firm.	… Geschäftsführer.
… The owner of the company.	… Untemehmenbesitzer.
…economist.	... Okonome.
Where do you work?	Wo arbeiten Sie?
I am working…	Ich arbeite ...
… At the enterprise (plant).	… In einem Betrieb.
… At the company (in the store).	… In einem Geschäft.
…in the company "…".	... bei der Firma "...".
What foreign languages ​​do you speak?	Welche Fremdsprachen beherrschen Sie?
I speak German a little bit.	Ich spreche etwas deutsch.

Replies

I am glad!	Sehr erfreut.
Very nice!	Sehr angenehm.
I am very glad to meet you.	Ich freue mich sehr, Sie kennen zu lernen / Ihre Bekanntschaft zu machen.
And me too.	Ganz meinerseits.
We already know each other.	Wir kennen uns schon.

5. German expressions (congratulations)

Replies

6. Wishes

I wish you health and long life!	Ich wünsche Ihnen Gesundheit und ein langes Leben.
I wish you all the best /	Ich wünsche Ihnen alles Gute /
all the best / all the best /	alles Beste /
happiness / success / good luck!	viel Glück / großen Erfolg!
I wish you success in ...	Ich wünsche viel Erfolg bei (in) ...
Bon Appetit!	Guten Appetit!
For your health!	Auf Ihr Wohl!
Cheers!	Prosit! / Prost!
Bon Appetit!	Mahlzeit. / Guten Appetit!

Replies

7. Farewell

Goodbye!	Auf Wiedersehen!
Till tomorrow!	Bis morgen!
See you soon! /Bye!	Bis bald / nachher / dann / später / gleich!
All the best! / All the best!	Alles Gute!
Bye! Hey!	Tschüs!

German expressions accompanying parting

If you are going to visit Germany on a friendly visit, you need to prepare in advance. You can start learning German on your own, buy a phrasebook, memorize basic phrases, or ask a teacher for help. If you have a lot of time left, then it is worth getting down to business seriously, in a foreign country it is not easy without knowing the language.

Where to start learning

So, it is wise to start with the following points:

• Acquaintance with the German alphabet and the rules of pronunciation of sounds and words;
• Learning basic verbs and frequently used words;
• Acquaintance with grammar and rules for constructing sentences;
• Pronunciation training, getting used to the sound of German speech, using music, films and programs;
• Reading books, magazines and adapted material from translations;
• Communication with native speakers and other students to consolidate the results obtained.

Begin! The first successes can be made after 2-3 weeks of training, and talk to a German and exchange a couple of phrases by the end of the first month. The main thing is to start practicing so that before the trip there is time to systematize the information received in your head!

With intensive and regular practice, you can start talking and understanding the interlocutor after a couple of months. Of course, at first there will be banal everyday simple phrases: greetings, questions, requests, words to keep the conversation going. Then the vocabulary will expand to 1000-1500 concepts, you can even discuss some events. In everyday life, excluding highly specialized terms at work, the average person in Germany uses about 2000-2500 different words.

To travel to the country in order to see the sights and relax, the basic groups of words are enough:

Greetings and goodbyes;

Phrases for finding a road: directions, street names;

Essential phrases for airport, train stations and public transport;

Essential phrases for cafes or shopping in stores;

Emergency phrases;

Words to express regret and gratitude;

Expressions to keep the conversation going.

For a comfortable stay, 100 phrases are enough - that's about 300-500 words. It is not enough to learn them, to practice pronouncing them correctly so that the interlocutor understands you. You also need to prepare for the expected answers - asking for directions and not understanding the answer will be a very unpleasant discovery. As a safety net, you can take a phrasebook to find the right phrase, but you should not rely on it, it is difficult to maintain a conversation and look for information in a book.

Phrases for greetings and goodbyes

Germans are kind and polite people, slightly closed, and they need good reasons for close communication or an invitation to visit. On the street or in a public place, they will gladly come to the aid of someone in need. To get started, you need to learn the phrases for greeting and starting a conversation.

It is customary to say "Hello" and "Goodbye" to people who are close to friends and peers. In German, the phrases will look like this: "Hallo!" and "Tschüs!", and they sound "Halo!" and "Chus!" When talking to a stranger or interlocutor who is clearly older than you, you should use a standard courtesy phrase:

• Grüss Gott!(gryus goth) - Hello!
• Guten Morgen / Tag / Abend!(guten morgen / so / abent!), which means Good morning / afternoon / evening!
• Auf Wiedersehen!- the most common phrase when saying goodbye, an analogue of our "Goodbye!" and it reads "auf Wiederzein".
• Bis bald / morgen / später!(bis balt / morgen / spate) - "See you soon / tomorrow / meet!"

Phrases are appropriate in any situation, whether you are familiar with the interlocutor or not, they will be a manifestation of politeness.

• Gute Nacht!(gute nakht!) literally translates "Good night!", sometimes used by familiar people when parting.
• Alles Gute!(ales gute!) The meaning of the phrase is "Good luck!" or “All the best!”, and the intonation does not change its meaning, as in Russian.

Understand! Germans speak very emotionally, as opposed to their coldness and stiffness. Sometimes it seems that they are expressing resentment or angry, but in most cases it turns out that this is the sound of the words in German. It is necessary to understand that the Germans are quite cultured and will not be rude to a stranger without a reason.

There is one more phrase, it can also be used at the end of a conversation, it is hardly suitable for communicating with strangers - “Viel Glück!”. Literally translated as a wish of good luck, or "Happy!"

What you need to keep the conversation going

Germans are polite and cultured, after greeting you will most likely be asked how you are doing or ask about your health. The phrase sounds like this:

• Wie geht es Ihnen? (vi gate es inen?), In response, they thank and ask counter questions. Like that:
• Danke, gut Und Ihnen? (danke, gut und inen?), which means “Thank you, everything is fine! And you?"

There are 2 forms of the word "Sorry" in German. To attract the attention of the interlocutor, it says "Entschuldigung", it looks difficult, but it sounds "entshuldigung". And if you want to apologize for the inconvenience, then the phrase will sound slightly different - Entschuldigen Sie "entshuldigen zi".

Remember! The complexity of the German language is word formation, sometimes a word can consist of several parts. This approach is difficult to remember and will take time.

If it is still difficult for you to speak German, you can tell the interlocutor that you do not understand him well and ask if he speaks another language. "Spreche ich deutsch nicht" is translated as "I do not speak German." You can find out about other languages ​​with the phrase:

• Sprechen Sie Russisch / Englisch? (shrehen zi russish / english?), if the interlocutor answers "I" (Ja), you can safely switch to a language that is more familiar to you.

The right words at the airport and train station

Arriving in Germany involves going through customs control at the border or at the airport. As in any other country, here it is better to clearly answer the left questions and try not to say too much. Customs officers may not understand Russian humor, and it will be quite difficult to overcome the language barrier in case of misunderstanding with the authorities.

For your information! At every airport in Germany, as well as at major railway stations, it is possible to ask for help if the problem gets out of control and you and the employee no longer understand each other. “Ich brauche einen übersetzer” means you need a translator.

You may be asked about the purpose of the visit, whether you have all the necessary documents, whether you have filled out a declaration, have a permit to import items of baggage, and so on. If you memorize phrases from the plate, then it will be easy for you to go through customs control.

At the railway station, questions may arise regarding the location of the luggage, orientation in the room, calling a taxi, and the like. Even without knowing the correct wording of the desired phrase, you do not need to panic and get upset. Template expressions will come to your aid, using them you can easily explain the problem to the station representatives. At the information desk, you can find out the information you need: about train timetables, necessary documents, ticket prices, location of lockers, taxi ranks and exits to the city.

By the way, the Germans are friendly people, when they understand that you are a foreigner and you need help, they will gladly help, and with the presence of translators in smartphones and tablets, you can even start a conversation that is understandable to both.

If you need to order or buy something in a store

In a cafe or restaurant where you need to place an order, you will need a few basic phrases to ask for a menu and a bill, as well as find out the cost of dishes:

• Wir hätten gern die Karte- we would like to receive a menu.
• Können Sie mir etwas empfehlen?- Can you recommend something to me?
• Das habe ich nicht bestellt!- this is not my order / I did not order this dish.
• Wir möchten bitte bezahlen! / Die Rechnung bitte!- We would like to pay! / Bring the bill, please!
• Stimmt so!- Change is not necessary!

By the way, recently it is customary to call waiters simply - "Entschuldigung!" (Sorry!), But more often than not they come up on their own and address visitors with the phrase:

• Was kann ich Ihnen anbieten?- What can I offer you?
• Or, Was nehmen Sie?- What will you order?

When buying something in a store, you will need to find out the cost, expiration date, change and other little things. Trying on clothes will require you to know the sizes in translation into German or European.

On the street - German phrases for finding a way

If you are traveling in a German city by taxi or public transport, you will sometimes have to ask for directions or correct directions for the driver. You need to learn the phrases to address people on the street and the police. The basis for all expressions of this kind:

• Wo befindet sich ... / Ich suche ...(in befindet zikh ... / ih zukhe ...) - where is ... / I'm looking for ...
• die Apotheke(di apoteke) -… pharmacy;
• die Kaufhalle(di kauf-halle) -… shop;
• polizeirevier(policeman revier) -… police station;
• eine Bank(aine bank) -… bank;
• mein Hotel(main hotel) -… hotel;
• das Postamt(das stamp) -… mail.

All the necessary phrases for communicating with drivers of public transport and taxis, the following phrases will be enough for you:

For tourists in large cities in Germany, there are many explanatory and guiding signs, on which you can read the information you need, for example, where the toilet is located, or in which side the square is located. Warning signs in public places are duplicated similar in English. It is more familiar to our eyes, but German designations should be well known.

Phrases for hotel or hotel

Upon arrival in the country, you will need to stay somewhere, most likely you will need a hotel or hotel. Large and eminent establishments have a translator, but medium and cheap ones will meet you with German staff. And you will have to explain your wishes in their native language or gestures. It is unlikely that everyone will get what they want.

For productive communication with staff, 15-20 phrases will be enough for you:

German emergency phrases

On good trips and good travels, such phrases do not have to be used. But situations are different and you need to know them. At least in order not to search in a phrasebook, how to call a doctor if someone urgently needs help. It is enough to learn a few things to be able to call the police or doctors at the right time.

Important! Each country has special services phone numbers that you can call even if you do not have access to a mobile network. These can be found at the hotel reception, customs or information desk.

Situations with money in an exchange office or a bank also require understanding so that an incident does not turn out due to misunderstanding with employees.

What you need to visit a foreign country

In addition to a camera, money and personal belongings, you will definitely need:

• Detailed city map;
• Russian Embassy phone numbers;
• Special services numbers and codes for calling them from a cell phone;
• Russian-German phrasebook in case of an unforeseen situation;
• Positive attitude and good mood;
• "Reinforced concrete" knowledge of basic words of courtesy and the ability to apply them.

• Nice retreat! Declaring love in German is quite simple, the phrase is simple - "Ich liebe dich", sounds like "Ich liebe dich".

Summing up, let us recall the main words for communication in any country and in any language:

• "Thanks!" in German it sounds "Danke" or "Danke schön!"
• "Please!" will be "Bitte" or "Bitte schön!"
• "I'm sorry!"Can be expressed by the words" Es tut mir leid! "
• "Nice to meet you!" in German sounds important and weighty - "Schön, Sie kennenzulernen!"
• "Be healthy!"- "Gesundheit!", Regardless of nationality and traditions, the wish of health from the heart will always be accepted by the interlocutor with pleasure.

It is these little things that often help tourists out on the streets of a foreign city, and complete with common sense, a well-developed route and learned basic phrases will allow you to get the most out of your trip.