Survival phrases in German for your first day in Germany
Your first day in Germany can be exciting – and overwhelming.
Write your awesome label here.
Between finding your way, handling basic errands, and meeting new people, you’ll quickly realise that even knowing a handful of key phrases can make life much easier.
Here’s your essential “linguistic survival kit” for navigating Germany from the moment you land.
1. Greetings and politeness
First impressions matter, and Germans value polite, clear greetings.
· Hallo! – Hello! (informal, friendly)
· Guten Morgen! – Good morning (until about 11 a.m.)
· Guten Tag! – Good day (midday to early evening)
· Guten Abend! – Good evening
· Gute Nacht! - (late at night, when you go to sleep)
· Tschüss! – Bye (informal)
· Auf Wiedersehen! – Goodbye (formal)
· Bitte – Please / You’re welcome
· Danke (schön/vielmals) – Thanks (much)
Tip: When entering small shops, always greet the staff (Guten Tag / Auf Wiedersehen) – it’s considered rude not to.
2. Asking for help
· Entschuldigung… – Excuse me…
· Können Sie mir helfen? – Can you help me? (formal)
· Sprechen Sie Englisch? – Do you speak English? (formal)
· Ich spreche nur ein wenig Deutsch. – I speak only a little German.
3. Directions and transport
· Wo ist…? – Where is…?
…der Bahnhof – …the train station
…die Bushaltestelle – …the bus stop
...eine Apotheke - ...a farmacy.
· Wie komme ich zum/zur…? – How do I get to…?
· Eine Fahrkarte nach Berlin, bitte. – A ticket to Berlin, please.
If you’re new to public transport, download the DB Navigator app (for trains) or your city’s local transport app.
4. Shopping and food
· Was kostet das? – How much is that?
· Ich hätte gern… – I would like…
· Noch etwas? – Anything else? (you’ll hear this from shop staff)
· Nein, danke. – No, thank you.
5. Emergencies
· Hilfe! – Help!
· Rufen Sie bitte die Polizei! – Please call the police!
· Ich brauche einen Arzt. – I need a doctor.
· Die Notrufnummern: 110 (police) and 112 (fire/ambulance)
6. Cultural survival tips
- Germans often use formal “Sie” when speaking to strangers. If someone switches to du, it’s a sign of familiarity.
- When paying in cash, place the money on the small tray at the counter (common in bakeries and small shops).
- Be on time – lateness is considered disrespectful.
7. How to practise before you arrive
- Repeat each phrase aloud daily until it feels natural.
- Listen to native speakers saying these phrases (YouTube, podcasts, Forvo).
- Role-play scenarios – e.g., buying a ticket, asking for directions.
