German(Deutsch) is a language belonging to the West Germanic branch of the Germanic family of Indo-European languages. The formation of the common German standard language can be traced back to Martin Luther's Bible translation. German is the mother tongue spoken by more than 100 million people. It was initially used in Germany, Austria, northern Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, South Tyrol, Italy, a small part of Belgium, part of Poland, and part of Alsace in France. In addition, in the colonies of these countries, for example, Namibia has a large population of German-speaking people. In some countries in Eastern Europe, there are still a small number of German-speaking minorities.
German alphabet
In addition to the 26 letters of the Latin alphabet, German has four other letters:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Ä | Ö | Ü | (ẞ) |
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z | ä | ö | ü | ß |
Pronunciation guide
The pronunciation of German is not uniform. The following are mainly the standard German used in Germany.
stress
The accents of German words are not very regular. In most casesstemofsyllableAccented (such as'Spra-che, language), but sometimesPrefix(Prefix) (Like'Aus-spra-che, pronounced) orsuffix(Suffix) (Such as Bä-cke-'rei, bakery) is accented. If a word is composed of multiple words, then the first component of the word will be accented.foreign wordThe accent of is generally emphasized according to the word in its original language. The accented syllables are generally pronounced louder. If the syllable isLong toneIf this is the case, this syllable is often deliberately prolonged.
tone
German sentences have a falling tone, a rising tone and a flat tone. The falling tone is generally used in affirmative sentences. The rising tone is generally used in question sentences. Leveling is generally used inMain clausewithAdverbbetween.
Vowel (vowel)
Standard German has 8 vowel (vowel) letters and 15 vowel phonemes:[aː]、[a]、[iː]、[ɪ]、[oː]、[ɔ]、[uː]、[ʊ]、[eː]、[ɛ]、[øː]、[œ]、[yː]、[ʏ]with[ɛː],[ɛː]There is no short tone.
consonant
Standard German has 25 consonant phonemes.
Bilabial | Labialdental | Alveolar | Retrogingival sound | Hard palatal | Velar | Uvula | Glottis | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stop | p b | t d | k g | ʔ¹ | ||||
Affricate | p͡f | t͡s | t͡ʃ d͡ʒ | |||||
fricative | f v | s z | ʃ Ʒ | ç | x | χ ʁ | h | |
nasal | m | n | ŋ | |||||
Near tone | ʋ | l | j | |||||
vibrato | r | ʀ |
List of Conversational Terms
Basic terms
Common signs
|
- Hello.
- Guten Tag. (GOO-ten tahk)
- Hi.
- Hallo. (Hallo)
- Are you OK? (formal)
- Wie geht es Ihnen? (Vee gate s eenen?)
- How are you? (Informal)
- Wie geht's? (vee GATES?)
- fine thanks.
- Gut, danke. (goot, DAN-keh)
- What is your name? (formal)
- Wie heißen Sie? (vee HIGH-sun zee?)
- What is your name? (Informal)
- Wie heißt du? (vee HIGHST doo?)
- my name is______.
- Ich heiße ______. (eesh HIGH-suh _____.)
- happy to see you.
- Freut mich. ()
- Please.
- Bitte. (BEE-tuh)
- thanks.
- Danke. (DAN-kuh)
- You're welcome.
- Bitte schön! (BEE-tuh shurn )
- Yes.
- Ja. (yah)
- no.
- Nein. (nine)
- Excuse me. (Get attention)
- Entschuldigen Sie. (ent-SHOOL-dee-gun zee)
- excuse me. /Excuse me. (ask for forgiveness)
- Entschuldigung. (ent-SHOOL-dee-goong)
- sorry.
- Tut mir leid. (toot meer lite)
- goodbye.
- Auf wiedersehen. (owf VEE-dur-zane)
- goodbye. (Informal)
- Tschüss. (CHUS)
- I don't speak German. [Not well said].
- Ich kann nicht [so gut] deutsch sprechen. (eesh kahn nikht [zo goot] doytsh shprekhen)
- Do you speak Chinese?
- Sprechen Sie Chinesisch? ( ?)
- Does anyone here speak Chinese?
- Gibt es jemand, der Chinesisch sprechen kann? ( ?)
- Help!
- Hilfe! (HEEL-fuh)
- Beware!
- Vorsicht! ( !)
- Good morning.
- Guten Morgen. (GOO-tun MOR-gun)
- good evening.
- Guten Abend. (GOO-tun AH-bunt)
- Good night.
- Gute Nacht. (GOO-tuh nakht)
- I do not understand.
- Ich verstehe das nicht. (eesh fur-SHTAY-uh dahs nikht)
- Where is the toilet?
- Wo ist die Toilette? (voh eest dee twah-LET-uh)
problem
- Do not bother me.
- Bitte nicht stören. ( .)
- Do not touch me!
- Nicht berühren! ( !)
- I am going to the police.
- Ich rufe die Polizei. ( .)
- police!
- Polizei! ( !)
- stop! There is a thief!
- Halt! Dieb! ( ! !)
- I need your help.
- Ich brauche deine Hilfe. ( .)
- It's an emergency.
- Es ist Notfall. ( .)
- I'm lost.
- Ich bin verloren. ( .)
- My bag is lost.
- Ich habe meine Tasche verloren. ( .)
- I lost my wallet.
- Ich habe meinen Geldbeutel verloren. ( .)
- I feel uncomfortable.
- Ich bin krank. ( .)
- I'm injured.
- Ich bin verletzt. ( .)
- I need a doctor.
- Ich brauche einen Arzt. ( .)
- Can I borrow your phone?
- Darf ich dein Handy benutzen? ( ?)
number
- 0
- null ()
- 1
- eins ()
- 2
- zwei ()
- 3
- drei ()
- 4
- vier ()
- 5
- fünf ()
- 6
- sechs ()
- 7
- sieben ()
- 8
- acht ()
- 9
- neun ()
- 10
- zehn ()
- 11
- elf ()
- 12
- zwölf ()
- 13
- dreizehn ()
- 14
- vierzehn ()
- 15
- fünfzehn ()
- 16
- sechzehn ()
- 17
- siebzehn ()
- 18
- achzehn ()
- 19
- neunzehn ()
- 20
- zwanzig ()
- 21
- einundzwanzig ()
- 22
- zweiundzwanzig ()
- 23
- dreiundzwanzig ()
- 30
- dreißig ()
- 40
- vierzig ()
- 50
- fünfzig ()
- 60
- sechzig ()
- 70
- siebzig ()
- 80
- achtzig ()
- 90
- neunzig ()
- 100
- (ein)hundert ()
- 200
- zweihundert ()
- 300
- dreihundert ()
- 1,000
- (ein)tausend ()
- 2,000
- zweitausend ()
- 1,000,000
- eine Million ()
- 1,000,000,000
- eine Milliarde ()
- 1,000,000,000,000
- eine Billion ()
- Line/Number_____ (train, subway, bus, etc.)
- Nummer/Linie _____ ()
- half
- halb ()
- less
- weniger ()
- More
- mehr ()
Ordinal
Written by adding a dot after the number
- 1.
- erster (ayr-stayr)
- 2.
- zweiter (tsvigh-tayr)
- 3.
- dritter (dri-tayr)
- 4.
- vierter (feer-tayr)
- 5.
- fünfter (fuunf-tayr)
- 20.
- zwanzigster (TSVAHN-tsikhs-tayr)
- 100.
- (ein)hundertster ([ighn]-HOON-dert-stayr)
- 101.
- (ein)hunderterster ([ighn]-HOON-dert-ayr-stayr)
time
- now
- ( jetzt)
- Later
- (danach, später, hinterher )
- Before
- (bevor )
- Morning/morning
- ( Morgen/ Vormittag)
- afternoon
- (Nachmittag )
- evening
- (Abend )
- night(Before going to bed)
- (Nacht )
Clock time
- 1 o'clock in the morning
- ()
- 2 o'clock in the morning
- ()
- noon
- (Mittag )
- 1 pm
- (Nachmittag 1 Uhr)
- 2pm
- (2 Uhr Nachmittag)
- midnight
- (Mitternacht )
period
- _____Minute
- (Minute)
- _____Hour
- ( Stunde)
- _____sky
- ( Tag)
- _____week
- ( Woche)
- _____moon
- ( Monate)
- _____year
- (Jahr)
day
- Nowadays
- (jetzt )
- yesterday
- ( gestern)
- tomorrow
- ( morgen)
- This week
- ( dieser Woche)
- Last week
- ( letzte Woche)
- next week
- ( nächste Woche)
- Sunday
- (Sonntag )
- Monday
- (Montag )
- Tuesday
- (Dienstag )
- Wednesday
- (Mittwoch )
- Thursday
- (Donnerstag )
- Friday
- (Freitag)
- Saturday
- (Samstag )
moon
- January
- (Januar)
- February
- ( Februar)
- March
- ( März)
- April
- ( April)
- May
- ( Mai)
- June
- ( Juni)
- July
- ( Juli)
- August
- (August )
- September
- ( September)
- October
- ( Oktober)
- November
- ( November)
- December
- ( Dezember)
Write time and date
colour
- black
- ( schwarz)
- White
- (weiß )
- Ash
- ( grau)
- Red
- (rot )
- Blue
- ( blau)
- yellow
- (gelb )
- green
- (grün )
- Orange
- (orange )
- purple
- (violett )
- Brown
- (braun )
transportation
Passenger car and train
- How much is a ticket to _____?
- (Wieviel kostet eine Karte?)
- A ticket to ..., please.
- (Geben Sie mir eine Karte, bitte!)
- Where does this train/bus go?
- ( Wohin fährt der Zug/Bus?)
- Where is the train/bus to _____?
- (Wo ist der Zug/Bus nach_____?)
- Does this train/bus stop at _____?
- ()
- What time does the train/bus to _____ leave?
- (Wann fährt der Zug/Bus ab?)
- When can this train/bus arrive at _____?
- (Wann fährt der Zug/Bus an?)
position
- How do I get to _____?
- (Wie kann ich nach _____________?)
- ...train station?
- (Bahnhof)
- ...bus station?
- (Busbahnhof)
- ...Airport?
- ( Flughafen)
- ...city center?
- (Stadtzentrum)
- ...Youth Hotel?
- ( Jungendsherberg)
- ..._____hostel?
- ( Hotel)
- ...Macau/Taiwan/Hong Kong/Singapore/Chinese Embassy/Office?
- ()
- Where are there more...
- ()
- ...hostel?
- ( Hotel)
- ...Restaurant?
- (Restaurant)
- ...bar?
- ( Bar)
- ...Sightseeing spots?
- ( Sehenswürdigkeit)
- Can you show me on the map?
- ( Können Sie dort mir auf der Karte zeigen? )
- Street
- (Straße)
- Turn left.
- ( links abbiegen)
- Turn right.
- (Rechts abbiegen)
- Left
- (Links)
- right
- ( rechts)
- straight
- (Geradeaus)
- near_____
- (Neben)
- go through_____
- (Durch)
- Before _____
- ( vor)
- Please note_____.
- ()
- crossroads
- ( kreuzung)
- North
- (Norden )
- South
- (Süd )
- East
- (Osten )
- West
- (Westen )
- Uphill
- (Bergauf )
- downhill
- (Bergab )
taxi
- taxi!
- ( Taxi!)
- Please take me to _____.
- (Bringen Sie mir nach_____, bitte!)
- How much is it to _____?
- ( Wieviel kostet?)
- Please take me there.
- ( Bringen Sie mir dort, bitte!)
stay
- Do you have any rooms available?
- ( Haben Sie ein Zimmer?)
- How much is a single/double room?
- ()
- The room has...
- ()
- ...The sheets?
- ()
- ...To the toilet?
- ()
- ...Phone?
- ()
- ...TV?
- ()
- Can I take a look at the room first?
- ()
- Is there a quieter room?
- ()
- ...Bigger...
- ()
- ...Cleaner...
- ()
- ...cheaper...
- ()
- Okay, I want this room.
- ()
- I stay _____ night.
- ()
- Can you recommend another hotel?
- ()
- Do you have a safe?
- ()
- ...A locker?
- ()
- Does it include breakfast/dinner?
- ()
- What time is breakfast/dinner?
- ()
- Please clean up the room.
- ()
- Can you wake me up at _____?
- ()
- I want to check out.
- ()
currency
- Can MOP/HKD/Renminbi/Singapore Dollar/New Taiwan Dollar be used?
- ()
- Can USD/EUR/GBP be used?
- ()
- Can RMB be used?
- ()
- Can I use a credit card?
- ()
- Can you exchange foreign currency for me?
- ()
- Where can I exchange foreign currency?
- ()
- Can you exchange traveler's checks for me?
- ()
- Where can I redeem traveler’s cheques?
- ()
- What's the exchange rate?
- ()
- Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
- ()
Dining
- One-person/two-person table, thank you.
- ()
- Can I see the menu?
- ()
- Can I go into the kitchen and have a look?
- ()
- Do you have any signature dishes?
- ()
- Do you have any local specialties?
- ()
- I am a vegetarian.
- ()
- I don't eat pork.
- ()
- I don't eat beef.
- ()
- I only eat kosher food.
- ()
- Can you make it lighter? (Require less vegetable oil/butter/lard)
- ()
- Fixed price package
- ()
- Order according to the menu
- ()
- breakfast
- ()
- Lunch
- ()
- afternoon tea
- ()
- dinner
- ()
- I want_____.
- ()
- I want dishes with _____.
- ()
- Chicken/chicken
- ()
- beef
- ()
- fish
- ()
- Ham
- ()
- sausage
- ()
- cheese
- ()
- egg
- ()
- salad
- ()
- (fresh vegetables
- ()
- (fresh fruits
- ()
- bread
- ()
- Toast
- ()
- Noodle
- ()
- rice
- ()
- beans
- ()
- Can you give me a glass _____?
- ()
- Can you give me a glass of _____?
- ()
- Can you give me a bottle of _____?
- ()
- coffee
- ()
- Tea
- ()
- juice
- ()
- (Bubbles) water
- ()
- (Normal) water
- ()
- beer
- ()
- Red/white wine
- ()
- Can you give me some _____?
- ()
- Salt
- ()
- Black pepper
- ()
- butter
- ()
- Is there water? (Get the attention of the waiter)
- ()
- I'm finished.
- ()
- Really delicious.
- ()
- Please clean up these plates.
- ()
- Pay the bill.
- ()
bar
- Do you sell alcohol?
- ()
- Is there a bar service?
- ()
- A glass of beer or two, please.
- ()
- Please have a glass of red/white wine.
- ()
- Please have a pint.
- ()
- Please have a bottle.
- ()
- Please come _____(Spirits)add_____ (Cocktail drink)。
- ()
- whisky
- ()
- Vodka
- ()
- rum
- ()
- water
- (wasser )
- soda water
- ()
- Tonic Water
- ()
- Orange juice
- ()
- Cola(Soda)
- ()
- Do you have any snacks?
- ()
- Please have another glass.
- ()
- Please have another round.
- ()
- When does business end?
- ()
- cheers!
- (Prost )
Shopping
- Do you have the size I wear?
- ()
- how much is this?
- ()
- That's too expensive.
- ()
- You can accept_____(price)?
- ()
- expensive
- ()
- Cheap
- ()
- I can not afford it.
- ()
- I don't want it.
- ()
- You are deceiving me.
- ()
- I'm not interested in.
- ()
- Okay, I bought it.
- ()
- Can you give me a bag?
- ()
- Do you deliver goods (to overseas)?
- ()
- I need to...
- ()
- ...toothpaste.
- ()
- ...A toothbrush.
- ()
- ...Tampons.
- ()
- ...Soap.
- ()
- ...shampoo.
- ()
- ...painkiller. (Such as aspirin or ibuprofen)
- ()
- ...Cold medicine.
- ()
- ...Gastrointestinal medicine.
- ... ()
- ...The razor.
- ()
- ...An umbrella.
- ()
- ...Sunscreen.
- ()
- ...A postcard.
- ()
- ...stamp.
- ()
- ...Battery.
- ()
- ...stationery.
- ()
- ...A pen.
- ()
- ...Chinese book.
- ()
- ...Chinese magazine.
- ()
- ...A Chinese newspaper.
- ()
- ...A Chinese dictionary.
- ()
drive
- I want to rent a car.
- ()
- Can I get insurance?
- ()
- stop(Road sign)
- ()
- one way lane
- ()
- Yield
- ()
- No Parking
- ()
- Speed limit
- ()
- Gas station
- ()
- gasoline
- ()
- diesel fuel
- ()
authorities
Most police officers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland speak English. Even if you have some functions in Germany, you may still have to stick to English just in case you make a mistake.
- I did nothing bad.
- Ich habe nichts getan. (eesh HAH-buh nikhts guh-TAHN)
- That is a misunderstanding.
- Das war ein Missverständnis. (dahs vahr ighn MEES-fayr-shtand-nees)
- Where are you taking me?
- Wohin bringen Sie mich? (VOH-hin BRING-uhn zee meekh?)
- Am I arrested?
- Bin ich verhaftet? (been eekh fayr-HAHF-tut?)
- I am a citizen of Macau/Taiwan/Hong Kong/Singapore/China.
- Ich bin Macao/Taiwan/Hongkong/Singapur/China Staatsbürger. (eekh been Ma-cao/Tai-wan/Hong-kong/Sing-a-pur/Chi-na SHTAHTS-buur-gurr)
- I want to contact Macau/Taiwan/Hong Kong/Singapore/Chinese Embassy/Office.
- Ich will mit Macao/Taiwan/Hongkong/Singapur/China Sprechen/Büro. (eekh veel meet dayr/dame Ma-cao/Tai-wan/Hong-kong/Sing-a-pur/Chi-na SHPREKH-uhn/Buu-ro)
- I want to talk to a lawyer.
- Ich will mit einem Anwalt sprechen. (eekh veel meet IGH-nem AHN-vahlt SHPREKH-uhn)
- Can I just pay the fine now?
- Kann ich jetzt einfach eine Strafe zahlen? (kahn eekh yetst IGHN-fakh igh-nuh SHTRAH-fe TSAH-len?)
- Notice: To be sure, trying to bribe officials will get you into real trouble.