First Phrases

New Year phrases · Deutsch

New Year phrases in German: 20 phrases

Wish people a happy new year, raise a glass, ask to join a table, find out who is watching the fireworks and where, ask for the last metro, and say thank you, you too. Short, common phrases for New Year's Eve and the winter holidays; secular greetings only.

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). In Germany New Year's Eve is called "Silvester", and "du" is normal with people your age at a party; use "Sie" with older people and staff you do not know. Greetings: "Frohes neues Jahr!" from midnight on, "Frohe Weihnachten!" and "Schöne Feiertage!" before and after Christmas.

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.

Your recording stays on your device.

20 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Frohes neues Jahr!
    Say it like: FROH-es NOY-es yahr
    Happy New Year!
    Register: Said from midnight on. "Ein gutes neues Jahr!" works too.
  2. 02Neutral
    Alles Gute für 2027!
    Say it like: AH-les GOO-teh fuer tsvy-TOW-zent-ZEE-ben-oont-TSVAN-tsikh
    All the best for 2027!
    Register: Say the year as one long word: zweitausendsiebenundzwanzig.
  3. 03Neutral
    Prost!
    Say it like: prohst
    Cheers!
    Register: "Zum Wohl!" is a little more formal.
  4. 04Neutral
    Frohe Weihnachten!
    Say it like: FROH-eh VY-nakh-ten
    Merry Christmas!
    Register: The standard greeting, also in writing.
  5. 05Neutral
    Schöne Feiertage!
    Say it like: SHOE-neh FY-er-tah-geh
    Happy holidays!
    Register: Covers the days around Christmas and New Year.
  6. 06Neutral
    Danke, gleichfalls!
    Say it like: DAHN-keh GLYKH-fahls
    Thank you, you too!
    Register: The usual reply to any good wish.
  7. 07Neutral
    Darf ich mich dazusetzen?
    Say it like: DARF ikh mikh dah-TSOO-zet-sen
    Can I join you?
    Register: Works with "du" and "Sie" groups alike.
  8. 08Informal
    Was hast du an Silvester vor?
    Say it like: vahs hahst doo ahn zil-VES-ter fohr
    What are your plans for New Year's Eve?
    Register: Polite: "Was haben Sie an Silvester vor?"
  9. 09Informal
    Wo schaust du dir das Feuerwerk an?
    Say it like: voh showst doo deer dahs FOY-er-verk ahn
    Where are you watching the fireworks?
    Register: Polite: "Wo schauen Sie sich ...".
  10. 10Neutral
    Ist das die Schlange für …?
    Say it like: ist dahs dee SHLAHNG-eh fuer
    Is this the queue for …?
    Register: Add what you are queueing for, for example "für den Glühwein".
  11. 11Neutral
    Es ist eiskalt!
    Say it like: es ist ICE-kahlt
    It's freezing!
    Register: Literally "ice cold".
  12. 12Informal
    Weißt du, wo heute Abend noch etwas geöffnet hat?
    Say it like: vyst doo voh HOY-teh AH-bent nokh ET-vahs geh-OEF-net haht
    Do you know a place that's open tonight?
    Register: Polite: "Wissen Sie, wo ...".
  13. 13Neutral
    Wann fährt die letzte U-Bahn?
    Say it like: vahn fairt dee LETS-teh OO-bahn
    What time is the last metro?
    Register: For a bus say "der letzte Bus" ("dair LETS-teh boos").
  14. 14Polite
    Könnten Sie ein Foto von uns machen?
    Say it like: KOEN-ten zee ine FOH-toh fon oons MAH-khen
    Could you take a photo of us?
    Register: Polite; with friends: "Kannst du ein Foto von uns machen?"
  15. 15Informal
    Nächstes Jahr wieder!
    Say it like: NAIKH-stes yahr VEE-der
    Same time next year!
    Register: Literally "next year again".
  16. 16Neutral
    Ist hier noch frei?
    Say it like: ist heer nokh fry
    Is this seat free?
    Register: Said at a table or on a bench.
  17. 17Informal
    Soll ich dir etwas zu trinken holen?
    Say it like: zol ikh deer ET-vahs tsoo TRIN-ken HOH-len
    Shall I get you a drink?
    Register: Friendly and casual.
  18. 18Informal
    Gleich ist Mitternacht!
    Say it like: glykh ist MIT-er-nakht
    It's almost midnight!
    Register: Literally "soon it is midnight".
  19. 19Neutral
    Schönen Abend noch!
    Say it like: SHOE-nen AH-bent nokh
    Have a good rest of your evening!
    Register: A friendly way to leave.
  20. 20Informal
    Hattest du schöne Feiertage?
    Say it like: HAT-test doo SHOE-neh FY-er-tah-geh
    Did you have a nice holiday?
    Register: Use it after the holidays; polite: "Hatten Sie ...".

Local custom

New in town?

More tools for people who just moved: converters, checklists and country guides.

Open Newcomer Kit

Quick answers

How do you say Happy New Year in German?

Say: "Frohes neues Jahr!" (Happy New Year!)

Should I use informal or formal German at a New Year's Eve party?

In Germany New Year's Eve is called "Silvester", and "du" is normal with people your age at a party; use "Sie" with older people and staff you do not know. Greetings: "Frohes neues Jahr!" from midnight on, "Frohe Weihnachten!" and "Schöne Feiertage!" before and after Christmas.

How do I ask to join a table in German?

Try: "Darf ich mich dazusetzen?" (Can I join you?)

New Year phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Suomi Türkçe

German, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market

All survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you are celebrating 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 events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

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