Survival phrases: I do not understand, please repeat, how do you say
Keep any conversation going when you are lost: say that you do not understand, ask for a repeat, and ask for the German word for something.
First words · Start from zero · 18 min · 20 exercises · Start from zero, High school, College
You will not understand everything in your first weeks, and that is normal. What matters is being able to say so, politely, and to keep the conversation going. The phrases in this lesson are your emergency kit in class, in a shop and at the Bürgeramt: I do not understand, slower please, once more, how do you say... Learn them before anything else.
Survival phrases
- Ich verstehe nicht.I do not understand.nicht at the end
- Ich verstehe.I understand.
- Wie bitte?Pardon?polite; never a bare Was?
- Noch einmal, bitte.Once more, please.
- Langsamer, bitte.Slower, please.
- Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?Can you please repeat that?formal, with Sie
- Wie sagt man ... auf Deutsch?How do you say ... in German?
- Was bedeutet ...?What does ... mean?
- Was heißt ... auf Englisch?What is ... in English?
- Ich weiß nicht.I do not know.
- Ich habe eine Frage.I have a question.
- Sprechen Sie Englisch?Do you speak English? (formal)
- Moment, bitte.One moment, please.
- Alles klar.Got it. / All right.
Inside the platform every word is read aloud by a German voice.
In the classroom
- das Buchdie Bücherbook
- das Heftdie Heftenotebook, exercise book
- der Stiftdie Stiftepen
- die Seitedie Seitenpage
- die Tafeldie Tafelnboard
- die Hausaufgabedie Hausaufgabenhomework
- die Fragedie Fragenquestion
- die Pausedie Pausenbreak
- richtigcorrect, right
- falschwrong, false
- Bitte öffnen Sie das Buch.Please open the book.
- Hören Sie bitte zu.Please listen.
- Lesen Sie bitte.Please read.
- Schreiben Sie bitte.Please write.
Inside the platform every word is read aloud by a German voice.
Lost in class
Mei is on her second day in the German course in Leipzig.
Two questions that get you any word
When you do not know a German word, ask Wie sagt man ... auf Deutsch? (How do you say ... in German?) and put the English word in the gap. When you hear a German word you do not know, ask Was bedeutet ...? or Was heißt ...? The answer often uses heißt as well: Heft heißt notebook. And to say you do not understand, put nicht at the end: Ich verstehe nicht.
What to say when
| Situation | Say | English |
|---|---|---|
| you did not hear it | Wie bitte? | Pardon? |
| it was too fast | Langsamer, bitte. | Slower, please. |
| you want to hear it again | Noch einmal, bitte. / Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? | Once more, please. / Can you please repeat that? |
| you need a German word | Wie sagt man ... auf Deutsch? | How do you say ... in German? |
| you do not know a German word | Was bedeutet ...? | What does ... mean? |
| you do not know the answer | Ich weiß nicht. | I do not know. |
| you need English | Sprechen Sie Englisch? | Do you speak English? |
| you need a second | Moment, bitte. | One moment, please. |
In class
- Wie bitte? Noch einmal, bitte.Pardon? Once more, please.
- Langsamer, bitte. Ich verstehe nicht.Slower, please. I do not understand.
- Wie sagt man pen auf Deutsch? Der Stift.How do you say pen in German? Der Stift.
- Was bedeutet Pause? Pause heißt break.What does Pause mean? Pause means break.
- Ich habe eine Frage. Ja, bitte!I have a question. Yes, go ahead!
German courses and classroom manners
Adult German courses are everywhere in Germany: the Volkshochschule (VHS) in every town offers evening classes at low prices, and newcomers can join an Integrationskurs. In class, address the teacher with Sie and Herr or Frau plus the last name. Asking is welcome, but say Wie bitte?, never a bare Was?, which sounds rude. Many Germans speak English and will switch as soon as they hear you struggle; a friendly Bitte auf Deutsch keeps the practice going.
Point and ask. Wie sagt man das auf Deutsch? plus a finger pointing at the thing works in a classroom, a bakery or a hardware store, and Germans like being asked. Write the answer in your Heft right away with its article: das Heft, der Stift, die Tafel.
Nicht goes at the end: Ich verstehe nicht, never Ich nicht verstehe. When you did not hear something, say Wie bitte?, not a bare Was?, which sounds rude. And keep the Sie forms with your teacher: Sprechen Sie Englisch?, Können Sie das wiederholen?; the du forms are for classmates only.
The exercises of this lesson
20 corrected exercises in two sessions (discovery, practice), including listening items read aloud by a German voice: multiple choice (4), fill in the gap (5), matching (3), sorting (2), word order (1), translation (3), find the mistake (1), gap text (1). Every answer is corrected immediately, with the rule that applies.