Can You Translate All of These Simple German Phrases?

The German phrase "Es tut mir leid" is used when apologizing. It translates to "It causes me sorrow" and is used to express the sorrow or regret felt for some wrongdoing.

"Vielen Dank" is an expression of gratitude. Regularly, "Dank," meaning "thank you," is used. However, to express extreme gratitude, "vielen" is added to the phrase to mean "thank you very much."

As in English, the phrase "no problem" is often used in place of "you're welcome." In German, this is said as "kein Problem." It is used in response to "Dank," "Dank schön" and "vielen Dank."

"Entschuldigung" can be used both to request pardoning and to request someone's attention. The more polite form of this expression is "Entschuldigung Sie."

"Ich weiß nicht" directly translates to "I know not." However, in English, it means "I don't know." It is used when someone lacks the knowledge or is not well informed on a topic.

"Ich spreche Englisch" is a German phrase which means "I speak English." It lets others know that you are familiar with the English language. The expression can be adjusted to indicate knowledge of other languages by simply changing the end. For example, "Ich spreche Franzosisch" means "I speak French."

The words "bitte" and "schön" separately mean "please" and "beautiful." When placed together, however, they mean "you're welcome." The phrase can be used in response to "thank you."

"Wohin gehen Sie?" is used to ask someone where they are going. "Gehen" here is the conjugated form of the verb gehen (going) for the second person formal. "Wohin" is the interrogative word for "where."

"Guten Morgen" is a form of greeting. It means "good morning" and can be used until noon. Another way of greeting someone during the day is "Guten Tag."

"Ich verstehe nicht" translates into "I understand not." This phrase is used to express a lack of understanding. The German verb for "understand" is "verstehe." It is followed by the adverb "nicht," which means not.

This is a very important expression for tourists and foreign visitors to German-speaking countries. The phrase "Ich brauche Hilfe" means "I need help" and can be used to request assistance if you're confused or helpless.

"Wie heißen Sie?" is used to ask someone what their name is. It is a formal expression and so uses "Sie," which is the German formal pronoun for you. In a more friendly setting, the phrase "Wie heißt du?" can be used.

"Wie geht's?" is a shortened form of the phrase "Wie geht es?" The expression is used to ask someone how they are doing. The response may be "Mir geht's gut" or simply "gut," which means "I am ok."

"Bitte wiederholen Sie?" is a formal question, requesting someone to repeat themselves. "Wiederholen" is the verb "to repeat," while "bitte" is the German word for "please."

The expression "Ich spreche nicht viel Deutsch" is used to let someone know that you are not very fluent in the German language. It translates into "I don't speak much German."

"Könnnen Sie langsamer sprechen?" is a phrase used to formally ask someone to speak slower. The first verb "können" (could) is conjugated, while the second, "sprechen" (speak) remains in the infinitive form.

"Bis später" is a phrase used in place of "goodbye." It means "see you later" and is often used between individuals who are sure of crossing paths again at a later date. Other greetings used in place of "goodbye" or "see you later" are "bis bald" and "bis dann."

"Sprechen Sie Englisch?" is the formal way of asking someone whether they are familiar with the English language. This question comes in handy for tourists and foreigners visiting German-speaking countries.

"Ich habe mich verlaufen" directly translates into "I have lost my way." It is used when you are physically lost and unaware of your location. By letting someone know that you are lost, you can receive help in the form of directions.

This German phrase is commonly used when shopping. "Wie viel kostet das?" is used to ask how much an item costs. "Wie" here is the interrogative word for "how," and "kostet" is the conjugated form of the verb "kosten," which means to cost.

When directly translated into English, "Wo kommst du her?" becomes "Where come you here?" The actual meaning is "Where are you from?" It is used to inquire about someone's background and is most often used to ask for someone's country of origin.

"Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen" is an expression which means "nice to meet you." It is a polite response, used after being introduced to someone new. "Kennenzulernen" is the verb "to know" (somebody).

"Was möchten Sie?" translates into "What would you like?" in English. This phrase can be used to inquire about someone's choice at a restaurant, store or in general.

The German expression "Darf ich mir einen Stadtplan ansehen?" is used to request a map. This could be a very useful phrase for tourists when they become lost or don't know where something is located.

"Auf Wiedersehen" is a formal way of saying "goodbye." Directly translated, it means "at the next seeing." It can be used interchangeably with the phrase "tschuss," which means "bye."

"Was brauchen Sie?" is used to formally ask someone what they need. The verb for "need" here is "brauchen," while "was" is the interrogative word for "what."

Another useful phrase for tourists, "Wo ist die Bank?" means "Where is the bank?" "Wo" is the interrogative word for "where" in German.

"Ja, bitte" is the German expression meaning "yes, please." It is the formal response when responding positively to an offer. Simply saying "ja" comes off as being impolite.

This expression is used to inquire about the location of the nearby bathrooms. "Wo ist die Toilette?" means "Where is the bathroom?" "Toilette" here should not be confused with "Dusche," which is the shower.

"Kann ich bitte die Speisekarte sehen?" is an expression most heard in restaurants. It is used to politely request a menu.

The German expression "Glückwünsche" means "congratulations." It can be used to congratulate someone on an achievement or event, such as a graduation, pregnancy or marriage.

This German phrase is used when someone is bothered or irritated and is asking someone else to go away. "Lassen Sie mich in Ruhe" means "Leave me alone" or "Leave me in peace."

The German word "Achtung" on its own means "attention." It can be used as a call for attention or as a warning to be careful. It can be seen in danger zones.

"Was suchen Sie?" means "What are you looking for?" It is a simple structured sentence using a pronoun and verb. The verb "suchen" means "to look" and "was" means "what."

The phrase "Ich brauche Auskunft" is used to request information or to let someone know that you are in need of information. It directly translates into "I need information" and can be a very useful phrase for tourists.