First Phrases

Making plans with new friends · Deutsch

Making plans with new friends in German: 15 phrases

Invite someone for a coffee or an event, suggest a time and a place, swap numbers, say you are new in town, decline politely, follow up after meeting at an event, and say nice to meet you and see you next time. Short, natural phrases for making friends in a new town. Pair them with Meet & Mint: find an event to go to together.

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: Informal (friendly). Among younger people and at events and hobby groups, "du" is the normal form in Germany and Austria, also with someone you have just met. Use "Sie" with an older stranger or in a formal setting, until they offer "du". Many people swap WhatsApp numbers. "Treffen wir uns" and "Lass uns..." are everyday ways to make plans. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

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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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Informal
    Hast du Lust, diese Woche einen Kaffee trinken zu gehen?
    Say it like: hast doo loost, DEE-zeh VOKH-eh Y-nen KAH-feh TRING-ken tsoo GAY-en
    Do you fancy going for a coffee this week?
    Register: "Lust haben" = to feel like it.
  2. 02Informal
    Kommst du am Samstag zur Veranstaltung? Wir könnten zusammen hingehen.
    Say it like: komst doo am ZAMS-tahg tsoor fer-AN-shtal-toong. veer KURN-ten tsoo-ZAH-men HIN-gay-en
    Are you coming to the event on Saturday? We could go together.
    Register: "Veranstaltung" = event; "Event" is also used.
  3. 03Informal
    Sollen wir uns um sieben zum Abendessen treffen?
    Say it like: ZOL-len veer oons oom ZEE-ben tsoom AH-bent-ESS-en TREF-fen
    Shall we meet at seven for dinner?
    Register: "Sich treffen" = to meet up.
  4. 04Informal
    Passt dir die Innenstadt? Ich kenne ein nettes Café.
    Say it like: passt deer dee IN-nen-shtat? ikh KEN-neh yn NET-tes ka-FAY
    Does the city centre suit you? I know a nice café.
    Register: "Passt dir...?" = does it suit you?
  5. 05Informal
    Welcher Tag passt dir am besten?
    Say it like: VEL-kher tahg passt deer am BES-ten
    Which day suits you best?
    Register: With Sie: "passt Ihnen".
  6. 06Informal
    Gibst du mir deine Nummer? Dann schreibe ich dir.
    Say it like: gipst doo meer DY-neh NOO-mer? dan SHRY-beh ikh deer
    Can you give me your number? Then I'll message you.
    Register: Often simply "Hast du WhatsApp?".
  7. 07Neutral
    Ich bin neu in der Stadt und lerne gerade Leute kennen.
    Say it like: ikh bin noy in dair shtat oont LAIR-neh gay-RAH-deh LOY-teh KEN-nen
    I'm new in town and I'm getting to know people.
    Register: "Leute kennenlernen" = to meet people.
  8. 08Neutral
    Danke für die Einladung, aber diesmal kann ich leider nicht.
    Say it like: DAHN-keh fewr dee YN-lah-doong, AH-ber DEES-mahl kan ikh LY-der nikht
    Thanks for the invitation, but I can't this time, unfortunately.
    Register: Clear and polite; no reason needed.
  9. 09Informal
    Heute passt es mir nicht, wollen wir ein andermal etwas ausmachen?
    Say it like: HOY-teh passt es meer nikht, VOL-len veer yn AN-der-mahl ET-vas OWS-makh-en
    Today doesn't suit me, shall we arrange something another time?
    Register: "Etwas ausmachen" = to arrange something.
  10. 10Informal
    Super, da bin ich dabei!
    Say it like: ZOO-per, dah bin ikh dah-BY
    Great, count me in!
    Register: "Ich bin dabei" = I'm in.
  11. 11Neutral
    Es war schön, dich gestern bei der Veranstaltung kennenzulernen.
    Say it like: es vahr shurn, dikh GES-tern by dair fer-AN-shtal-toong KEN-nen-tsoo-LAIR-nen
    It was nice meeting you yesterday at the event.
    Register: With Sie: "Sie kennenzulernen".
  12. 12Informal
    Ich schicke dir die Details per Nachricht.
    Say it like: ikh SHI-keh deer dee deh-TYS per NAKH-rikht
    I'll send you the details in a message.
    Register: "Per WhatsApp" works too.
  13. 13Informal
    Wollen wir das mal wiederholen? Es hat mir gut gefallen.
    Say it like: VOL-len veer das mahl vee-der-HOH-len? es hat meer goot geh-FAL-len
    Shall we do this again some time? I really liked it.
    Register: "Mal" softens the suggestion.
  14. 14Neutral
    Freut mich, dich kennenzulernen.
    Say it like: froyt mikh, dikh KEN-nen-tsoo-LAIR-nen
    Nice to meet you.
    Register: With Sie: "Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen."
  15. 15Informal
    Bis zum nächsten Mal! Man sieht sich.
    Say it like: bis tsoom NEKH-sten mahl. man zeet zikh
    Until next time! See you around.
    Register: "Man sieht sich" is a casual goodbye among friends.

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Quick answers

How do you invite someone for a coffee in German?

Say: "Hast du Lust, diese Woche einen Kaffee trinken zu gehen?" (Do you fancy going for a coffee this week?)

Should I use informal or formal German with new friends?

Among younger people and at events and hobby groups, "du" is the normal form in Germany and Austria, also with someone you have just met. Use "Sie" with an older stranger or in a formal setting, until they offer "du". Many people swap WhatsApp numbers. "Treffen wir uns" and "Lass uns..." are everyday ways to make plans. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

How do I say I'm new in town in German?

Say: "Ich bin neu in der Stadt und lerne gerade Leute kennen." (I'm new in town and I'm getting to know people.)

How do I decline an invitation politely in German?

Say: "Danke für die Einladung, aber diesmal kann ich leider nicht." (Thanks for the invitation, but I can't this time, unfortunately.)

Making plans phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

German, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market Post office and parcels Registering at the town hall

All survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you live in.
  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 an event to go to together: see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group before you meet. Or try a phrase card for tonight first.

firstphrases.app/survival/making-plans-with-new-friends/de/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint