Höflichkeitsphrasen — Polite Phrases
These phrases appear in every conversation. Learn them until they are automatic — you should not have to think before saying 'Danke'.
DeutschEnglish
Bitte
Please / You're welcome / Here you go (context-dependent)
Danke
Thank you
Danke schön
Thank you very much
Vielen Dank
Many thanks (more emphatic)
Bitte schön
You're welcome / Here you go
Gern geschehen
My pleasure / Happy to help
Entschuldigung
Excuse me / Sorry (to get attention or apologise)
Es tut mir leid
I'm sorry (for something more serious)
Kein Problem
No problem
Macht nichts
It doesn't matter / Never mind
Natürlich
Of course / Naturally
Ja / Nein
Yes / No
'Bitte' — One Word, Many Meanings
Bitte as 'please': Können Sie mir helfen, bitte? (Can you help me, please?)
Bitte as 'you're welcome': Danke! — Bitte! (Thanks! — You're welcome!)
Bitte as 'here you go': when handing something to someone.
Wie bitte? = Pardon? / Could you repeat that?
Im Gespräch — In Conversation
Entschuldigung,wo istdie Toilette?
ENExcuse me, where is the toilet?
Danke schön!—Bitte schön!
ENThank you! — You're welcome!
Es tut mir leid,ich verstehe nicht.
ENI'm sorry, I don't understand.
DeutschEnglish
Ich verstehe nicht.
I don't understand.
Ich weiß nicht.
I don't know.
Sprechen Sie Englisch?
Do you speak English? (formal)
Kannst du das wiederholen?
Can you repeat that? (informal)
Wie sagt man … auf Deutsch?
How do you say … in German?
💡 'Wie sagt man … auf Deutsch?' is one of the most useful phrases you can learn. It lets you build your vocabulary in real time by asking native speakers directly.
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