First Phrases

First 48 hours · Deutsch

First 48 hours in German: 25 phrases for meeting people

Introduce yourself, say you are new here and ask for tips, ask to join a table, ask where people meet, leave politely, and swap contacts. Short, natural phrases for the first two days in a new country.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). In Germany use "Sie" with people you do not know. At meetups, hostels, sports clubs and among younger people "du" comes quickly: wait until they say "Wir können uns auch duzen" (we can use du) or use it when everyone else does. The "du" version is given in each note.

How to read the sounds: kh = the ch of Scottish 'loch' (after a, o, u) or a soft hiss like 'h' in 'huge' (after i, e). ue = ü (say 'ee' with rounded lips), oe = ö. z = ts, v = f, w = v. Stress is in CAPITALS.

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25 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Hallo, ich bin …. Freut mich!
    Say it like: HAH-loh, ikh bin … FROYT mikh
    Hi, I'm …. Nice to meet you!
    Register: Works with both "Sie" and "du". More formal: "Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen."
  2. 02Polite
    Wie heißen Sie?
    Say it like: vee HY-sen ZEE
    What's your name?
    Register: Du: "Wie heißt du?"
  3. 03Polite
    Woher kommen Sie?
    Say it like: voh-HEHR KOM-men ZEE
    Where are you from?
    Register: Du: "Woher kommst du?"
  4. 04Neutral
    Ich komme aus …. Und Sie?
    Say it like: ikh KOM-meh ows … oont ZEE
    I'm from …. And you?
    Register: Add your country or city. Du: "Und du?"
  5. 05Neutral
    Ich bin gerade erst angekommen.
    Say it like: ikh bin geh-RAH-deh ehrst AHN-geh-kom-men
    I've only just arrived.
    Register: Add "in der Stadt" (in the city) if you like.
  6. 06Neutral
    Ich bin neu hier und kenne mich noch nicht aus. Haben Sie Tipps?
    Say it like: ikh bin NOY heer oont KEN-neh mikh nokh nikht OWS. HAH-ben zee TIPS
    I'm new here and don't know my way around yet. Any tips?
    Register: "Sich auskennen" = to know your way around. Du: "Hast du Tipps?"
  7. 07Neutral
    Wohnen Sie hier in der Nähe?
    Say it like: VOH-nen zee heer in dehr NEH-eh
    Do you live around here?
    Register: Du: "Wohnst du hier in der Nähe?"
  8. 08Neutral
    Ist hier noch frei?
    Say it like: ist HEER nokh FRY
    Is this seat free?
    Register: The standard question for a seat. Answers: "Ja, klar" (yes, sure) or "Nein, besetzt" (no, taken).
  9. 09Neutral
    Darf ich mich dazusetzen?
    Say it like: DAHRF ikh mikh dah-TSOO-zet-sen
    May I sit down with you?
    Register: Works with "du" and "Sie" groups alike. Also "Stört es, wenn ich mich dazusetze?"
  10. 10Polite
    Möchten Sie sich zu uns setzen?
    Say it like: MUEKH-ten zee zikh tsoo OONS zet-sen
    Would you like to sit with us?
    Register: Du: "Willst du dich zu uns setzen?" or "Komm doch zu uns!"
  11. 11Neutral
    Wo treffen sich die Leute hier normalerweise?
    Say it like: voh TREF-fen zikh dee LOY-teh heer nor-mah-ler-VY-zeh
    Where do people usually meet up around here?
    Register: Casual: "Wo trifft man sich hier so?"
  12. 12Neutral
    Gibt es hier eine Gruppe oder ein Treffen für Neue in der Stadt?
    Say it like: gipt es heer EYE-neh GROOP-eh OH-der eyn TREF-fen fuer NOY-eh in dehr SHTAHT
    Is there a group or a meetup for people new to the city?
    Register: Search "Stammtisch" (regular table meetup) or "Sprachcafé" (language café) too.
  13. 13Polite
    Können Sie mir einen Ort in der Nähe empfehlen?
    Say it like: KUEN-nen zee meer EYE-nen ORT in dehr NEH-eh emp-FEH-len
    Could you recommend a place nearby?
    Register: Add what you want: "zum Kaffeetrinken" or "zum Essen". Du: "Kannst du mir ... empfehlen?"
  14. 14Neutral
    Entschuldigung, mein Deutsch ist noch nicht so gut.
    Say it like: ent-SHUL-dee-goong, myn DOYTSH ist nokh nikht zoh GOOT
    Sorry, my German isn't very good yet.
    Register: People usually slow down or switch to simpler words.
  15. 15Polite
    Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen?
    Say it like: KUEN-ten zee dahs BIT-teh vee-der-HOH-len
    Could you repeat that, please?
    Register: Du: "Kannst du das bitte wiederholen?"
  16. 16Polite
    Könnten Sie bitte etwas langsamer sprechen?
    Say it like: KUEN-ten zee BIT-teh ET-vahs LAHNG-zah-mer SHPREH-khen
    Could you please speak a bit more slowly?
    Register: Du: "Kannst du bitte etwas langsamer sprechen?"
  17. 17Neutral
    Hätten Sie Lust, mal einen Kaffee trinken zu gehen?
    Say it like: HET-ten zee LOOST, mahl EYE-nen kah-FAY TRIN-ken tsoo GAY-en
    Would you like to go for a coffee sometime?
    Register: Friendly, low pressure. Du: "Hast du Lust, mal einen Kaffee trinken zu gehen?"
  18. 18Neutral
    Vielen Dank für die Tipps, das hilft mir sehr.
    Say it like: FEE-len DAHNK fuer dee TIPS, dahs hilft meer ZEHR
    Thank you for the tips, that helps a lot.
    Register: Casual: "Danke dir für die Tipps!"
  19. 19Polite
    Es war schön, mit Ihnen zu sprechen.
    Say it like: es vahr SHOEN, mit EE-nen tsoo SHPREH-khen
    It was nice talking to you.
    Register: Du: "Es war schön, mit dir zu reden."
  20. 20Neutral
    So, ich muss langsam los. Bis bald!
    Say it like: zoh, ikh moos LAHNG-zahm LOHS. bis BAHLT
    Right, I should get going. See you soon!
    Register: Natural exit. "Ich muss langsam los" = I should be going.
  21. 21Neutral
    Entschuldigung, ich bin gleich verabredet. Hat mich gefreut!
    Say it like: ent-SHUL-dee-goong, ikh bin glykh fer-AHP-reh-det. haht mikh geh-FROYT
    Sorry, I'm meeting someone shortly. Nice to have met you!
    Register: "Verabredet sein" = to have arranged to meet someone. A polite, honest reason.
  22. 22Neutral
    Können wir Nummern austauschen?
    Say it like: KUEN-nen veer NUM-mern OWS-tow-shen
    Can we swap numbers?
    Register: Mutual and casual. Direct: "Darf ich Ihre Nummer haben?" (du: "deine")
  23. 23Neutral
    Haben Sie WhatsApp?
    Say it like: HAH-ben zee WOTS-ep
    Do you have WhatsApp?
    Register: Du: "Hast du WhatsApp?" Some people prefer Signal; ask "Auch Signal?"
  24. 24Neutral
    Bleiben wir in Kontakt!
    Say it like: BLY-ben veer in kon-TAKT
    Let's stay in touch!
    Register: Neutral for both "Sie" and "du".
  25. 25Neutral
    Noch einen schönen Abend!
    Say it like: nokh EYE-nen SHOE-nen AH-bent
    Enjoy the rest of your evening!
    Register: Earlier in the day say "Noch einen schönen Tag!"

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Quick answers

How do you introduce yourself in German?

Say: "Hallo, ich bin …. Freut mich!" (Hi, I'm …. Nice to meet you!)

Should I use informal or formal German with people I have just met?

In Germany use "Sie" with people you do not know. At meetups, hostels, sports clubs and among younger people "du" comes quickly: wait until they say "Wir können uns auch duzen" (we can use du) or use it when everyone else does. The "du" version is given in each note.

How do I ask to join a table in German?

Try: "Darf ich mich dazusetzen?" (May I sit down with you?)

How do I say I am new here in German?

Try: "Ich bin neu hier und kenne mich noch nicht aus. Haben Sie Tipps?" (I'm new here and don't know my way around yet. Any tips?)

First 48 hours in another language

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How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you have just moved to.
  2. Read the phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Then open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

firstphrases.app/survival/first48/de/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint