First Phrases

Book club · Deutsch

Book club in German: 10 phrases for tonight

One book, one evening, a table of people who like talking about it. You do not need perfect language: an opinion, a question and a polite request for no spoilers will carry you.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). In a German book club, many groups use "du" from the start, but with older members or a new group "Sie" is the safe choice. Wait to be offered the "du".

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.

10 phrases, door to goodbye

  1. 01 · Arriving
    Guten Abend, ist das hier der Lesekreis?
    Say it like: GOO-ten AH-bent, ist dahs heer dair LAY-zeh-krice
    Good evening, is this the reading circle?
  2. 02 · Saying you're new
    Ich bin neu in der Stadt und kenne noch niemanden.
    Say it like: ikh bin noy in dair shtaht oont KEN-eh nokh NEE-mahn-den
    I'm new in town and don't know anyone yet.
  3. 03 · Asking how it works
    Wie wählen Sie das Buch für jeden Monat aus?
    Say it like: vee VAY-len zee dahs bookh fuer YAY-den MOH-naht ows
    How do you choose the book for each month?
  4. 04 · Small talk
    Wie hat Ihnen das Buch gefallen?
    Say it like: vee haht EE-nen dahs bookh geh-FAHL-en
    How did you like the book?
  5. 05 · Small talk
    Haben Sie schon andere Bücher von diesem Autor gelesen?
    Say it like: HAH-ben zee shohn AHN-deh-reh BUE-kher fon DEE-zem OW-tor geh-LAY-zen
    Have you read other books by this author?
  6. 06 · Small talk
    Was lesen Sie gerade?
    Say it like: vahs LAY-zen zee geh-RAH-deh
    What are you reading at the moment?
  7. 07 · No spoilers
    Ich habe es noch nicht zu Ende gelesen. Bitte keine Spoiler!
    Say it like: ikh HAH-beh es nokh nikht tsoo EN-deh geh-LAY-zen. BIT-eh KINE-eh SPOY-ler
    I haven't finished it. Please, no spoilers!
  8. 08 · The ending
    Wie fanden Sie das Ende?
    Say it like: vee FAHN-den zee dahs EN-deh
    How did you find the ending?
  9. 09 · Next book
    Was lesen wir nächsten Monat?
    Say it like: vahs LAY-zen veer NEKH-sten MOH-naht
    What are we reading next month?
  10. 10 · Leaving & keeping in touch
    Es hat mich gefreut. Gibt es eine WhatsApp-Gruppe?
    Say it like: es haht mikh geh-FROYT. gipt es INE-eh WAHTS-ahp GROOP-eh
    It was a pleasure. Is there a WhatsApp group?

3 things you will probably hear

  1. H1 · You may hear
    Heute sprechen wir über die ersten Kapitel.
    Say it like: HOY-teh SHPREKH-en veer UE-ber dee ERS-ten kah-PIT-el
    Today we're talking about the first chapters.
  2. H2 · You may hear
    Wer möchte anfangen?
    Say it like: vair MOEKH-teh AHN-fahng-en
    Who would like to start?
  3. H3 · You may hear
    Ich leihe Ihnen das Buch gern.
    Say it like: ikh LIE-eh EE-nen dahs bookh gern
    I'm happy to lend you the book.

Go and try it

Find book clubs on Come Alone

Quick answers

What do I say when I arrive alone at a book club in German?

Start with: "Guten Abend, ist das hier der Lesekreis?" (Good evening, is this the reading circle?). Then say you are new: "Ich bin neu in der Stadt und kenne noch niemanden." (I'm new in town and don't know anyone yet.)

Should I use informal or formal German at a book club?

In a German book club, many groups use "du" from the start, but with older members or a new group "Sie" is the safe choice. Wait to be offered the "du".

How do I ask to meet again after a book club in German?

Try: "Es hat mich gefreut. Gibt es eine WhatsApp-Gruppe?" (It was a pleasure. Is there a WhatsApp group?)

Same evening, another language

Español Français Deutsch Português Italiano Suomi

German, another evening

Pub quiz Padel & pickleball Run club Sauna Book club Dinner with strangers Language café

All 7 × 6 cards · Phrases for a specific event near you

How it works

  1. Pick the evening and the language people will speak.
  2. Read the ten phrases in order: they follow the evening from the door to goodbye. Tap the speaker to hear each one in your device's voice.
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending; a "check" mark flags a phrase we are least sure of.
  4. Find the event on Come Alone, open it in Meet & Mint to see who else is going, and say the first phrase for real.

firstphrases.app/tonight/book/de/ · Meet & Mint