First Phrases

Padel & pickleball · Deutsch

Padel & pickleball in German: 10 phrases for tonight

Games are played in fours, so open sessions often need one more person. Turn up, say hello, say you are happy to be matched, and the court does the rest.

Register: Informal (friendly). "Du" is standard in sport groups in Germany. Say "Padel" with stress on the first syllable: PAH-del.

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
    Hallo! Fehlt euch noch jemand zum Spielen?
    Say it like: HAH-loh! faylt oykh nokh YAY-mahnt tsoom SHPEE-len
    Hi! Are you missing a player?
  2. 02 · Saying you're new
    Ich bin neu in der Gruppe und allein hier.
    Say it like: ikh bin noy in dair GROOP-eh oont ah-LINE heer
    I'm new to the group and here alone.
  3. 03 · Asking how it works
    Wie organisiert ihr das? Wechselt man die Partner?
    Say it like: vee or-gah-nee-ZEERT eer dahs? VEK-selt mahn dee PART-ner
    How do you organise things? Do you swap partners?
  4. 04 · Small talk
    Spielst du schon lange Padel?
    Say it like: shpeelst doo shohn LAHNG-eh PAH-del
    Have you been playing padel long?
  5. 05 · Small talk
    Seid ihr immer auf diesem Platz?
    Say it like: zite eer IM-er owf DEE-zem plats
    Are you always on this court?
  6. 06 · Small talk
    Und woher kommst du?
    Say it like: oont voh-HAIR komst doo
    And where are you from?
  7. 07 · Being a beginner
    Ich bin Anfänger/Anfängerin, ist das okay?
    Say it like: ikh bin AHN-fen-ger/AHN-fen-geh-rin, ist dahs oh-KAY
    I'm a beginner, is that okay?
  8. 08 · Cheering a shot
    Guter Schlag! Super Ball!
    Say it like: GOO-ter shlahk! ZOO-per bahl
    Good shot! Great ball!
  9. 09 · Calling the ball
    Meiner! / Sorry, der war deiner.
    Say it like: MINE-er / SOR-ee, dair var DINE-er
    Mine! / Sorry, that one was yours.
  10. 10 · Leaving & keeping in touch
    Danke für das Spiel. Kannst du mich in die WhatsApp-Gruppe holen?
    Say it like: DAHN-keh fuer dahs shpeel. kahnst doo mikh in dee WAHTS-ahp GROOP-eh HOH-len
    Thanks for the game. Can you add me to the WhatsApp group?

3 things you will probably hear

  1. H1 · You may hear
    Wir sind zu dritt, uns fehlt einer.
    Say it like: veer zint tsoo drit, oons faylt INE-er
    There are three of us, we need one more.
  2. H2 · You may hear
    Hast du einen Schläger? Ich leihe dir einen.
    Say it like: hahst doo INE-en SHLAY-ger? ikh LIE-eh deer INE-en
    Do you have a racket? I'll lend you one.
  3. H3 · You may hear
    Wir wechseln die Seiten.
    Say it like: veer VEK-seln dee ZY-ten
    We're switching sides.

Go and try it

Find padel and pickleball sessions on Come Alone

Quick answers

What do I say when I arrive alone at a padel or pickleball session in German?

Start with: "Hallo! Fehlt euch noch jemand zum Spielen?" (Hi! Are you missing a player?). Then say you are new: "Ich bin neu in der Gruppe und allein hier." (I'm new to the group and here alone.)

Should I use informal or formal German at a padel or pickleball session?

"Du" is standard in sport groups in Germany. Say "Padel" with stress on the first syllable: PAH-del.

How do I ask to meet again after a padel or pickleball session in German?

Try: "Danke für das Spiel. Kannst du mich in die WhatsApp-Gruppe holen?" (Thanks for the game. Can you add me to the WhatsApp group?)

Same evening, another language

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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/padel/de/ · Meet & Mint