Top 20 German Words You Need to Know
These basic German words and phrases cover greetings, politeness, questions and small talk. You may know some of them already, but there is usually one or two you can still add. The bonus tip explains bitte, which has many different meanings.
The Basic Words
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Hallo | Hello |
| Guten Morgen / Guten Tag / Guten Abend | Good morning / good day, good afternoon / good evening |
| TschĂŒss / Auf Wiedersehen | Bye / goodbye (more formal) |
| Ja / Nein | Yes / no |
| Ja, bitte. / Nein, danke. | Yes, please. / No, thanks. |
| und, aber, oder | and, but, or |
| Danke / Vielen Dank / Danke schön | Thanks / thanks a lot / thanks a lot |
| Bitte / Bitte sehr / Bitte schön / Keine Ursache / Sehr gerne / Kein Problem | You are welcome (sehr gerne is a little more polite) |
| Wie bitte? | Pardon? Use it when you did not understand and want the person to repeat. |
| Entschuldigung / Verzeihung | Excuse me (voice goes up), or sorry (voice goes down) |
| Tut mir leid | I am sorry |
| Viel SpaĂ | Have fun |
| Viel GlĂŒck | Good luck, for example before an exam |
| Guten Appetit | Enjoy your meal, before you start eating |
| Prost | Cheers |
Yes/No Questions: Answer in Full Sentences
Questions without a question word are answered with ja or nein. As a beginner, try to make complete sentences, because it helps you speak and memorise words:
- Hast du Hunger? Ja, ich habe Hunger.
- Hast du Hunger? Nein, ich habe keinen Hunger.
Asking for Help Politely
Start every question to a stranger with Entschuldigung:
- Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof? Excuse me, where is the train station?
- Entschuldigung, wie spÀt ist es? Excuse me, what time is it?
- Verzeihung, wo ist der Bahnhof? The same with Verzeihung.
Bonus Tip: The Many Meanings of Bitte
| Meaning | Example |
|---|---|
| Pardon? (same as wie bitte) | Bitte? |
| Please, at the end of a sentence or question | Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte. |
| Go ahead | Bitte, bitte. (when you give way to somebody or invite them to speak) |
| Here you go | Bitte. (when you give somebody something) |
| You are welcome (the most common one) | Danke. Bitte. |
| Not at all | Bitte, bitte, kein Problem. |
| Disbelief, with a rising voice | Bitte?! (you cannot believe what you just heard, usually nothing positive) |
Question of the Day
Findest du diese Videos hilfreich? There is no question word, so answer with ja or nein in a full sentence.
What to Learn Next
Continue with How to Introduce Yourself in German and Basic German Question Words. Then learn the most important verbs in Top 10 Most Common German Verbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important basic German words?
Greetings such as Hallo and Guten Tag, ja and nein, danke and bitte, and polite phrases such as Entschuldigung and Tut mir leid.
How do I say you are welcome in German?
Say Bitte, Bitte schön, Keine Ursache, Sehr gerne or Kein Problem.
What does Wie bitte mean?
It means pardon. Use it when you did not understand something and want the other person to repeat it.
How do I get someone's attention politely in German?
Start with Entschuldigung or Verzeihung, followed by your question: Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?
What does bitte mean?
It can mean please, you are welcome, here you go, go ahead, pardon, or even disbelief when you say it with a rising voice.
Want to build a solid base of everyday German? Our A1 German online course teaches it step by step.
