In town: places and asking the way
Name the main places in a town, stop a stranger politely with Entschuldigung, ask where something is and understand the answer: straight ahead, left, right, at the traffic light, opposite the post office.
Out and about · Start from zero · 18 min · 20 exercises · Start from zero, Living in Germany, Goethe A1
A new town, no data on your phone, and a train to catch: this is when you need Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof? This lesson gives you the names of the places you look for most (station, town hall, post office, pharmacy, bus stop), the question to ask and the words you will hear in the answer: geradeaus, links, rechts, an der Ampel, gegenüber. With these, and a thank you, you can find anything.
Places in town
- der Bahnhofdie Bahnhöfetrain station
- das Rathausdie Rathäusertown hallRat means council, nothing to do with rats
- die Postpost officeyellow sign and yellow mailboxes
- die Bankdie Bankenbankdie Bank also means bench
- die Apothekedie Apothekenpharmacy
- die Schuledie Schulenschool
- der Parkdie Parkspark
- die Bibliothekdie Bibliothekenlibrary
- die Haltestelledie Haltestellenbus or tram stop
- die Straßedie Straßenstreet
- die Ampeldie Ampelntraffic light
- das Museumdie Museenmuseum
- der Marktplatzdie Marktplätzemarket squarethe heart of most German towns
- das Krankenhausdie Krankenhäuserhospital
Inside the platform every word is read aloud by a German voice.
Asking and giving directions
- Entschuldigung, wo ist ...?Excuse me, where is ...?
- Ich suche ...I am looking for ...
- geradeausstraight ahead
- linksleft
- rechtsright
- die erste Straße linksthe first street on the left
- die zweite Straße rechtsthe second street on the right
- an der Ampelat the traffic light
- gegenüber vonopposite, across from
- nebennext to
- weitfar
- nahnear, close
- zu Fußon footzehn Minuten zu Fuß = a ten-minute walk
- Vielen Dank!Thank you very much!the answer is Gern geschehen or Bitte
Inside the platform every word is read aloud by a German voice.
Asking the way
Ayşe has just arrived in Münster and needs the train station.
Entschuldigung, wo ist ...?
Stop a stranger with Entschuldigung (excuse me), then ask Wo ist + the place with its article: Wo ist die Post? Wo ist das Rathaus? Or say what you are looking for with Ich suche: Ich suche die Apotheke, Ich suche das Museum, Ich suche den Bahnhof (der becomes den after suche; die and das do not change). The answer usually starts with Gehen Sie (go) + a direction: Gehen Sie geradeaus, Gehen Sie links, Gehen Sie an der Ampel rechts. End with Vielen Dank!
Understanding the answer
| German | English | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| geradeaus | straight ahead | keep walking |
| links / rechts | left / right | turn |
| die erste Straße links | the first street on the left | take the next street on your left |
| an der Ampel rechts | right at the traffic light | turn right at the lights |
| gegenüber von der Post | opposite the post office | look across the street |
| neben der Bank | next to the bank | look right beside it |
| fünf Minuten zu Fuß | a five-minute walk | it is close |
| Das ist weit. | That is far. | consider the bus |
Where is it?
- Die Post ist neben der Bank.The post office is next to the bank.neben der: a fixed phrase, copy it
- Die Apotheke ist gegenüber vom Rathaus.The pharmacy is opposite the town hall.gegenüber vom for der and das places, gegenüber von der for die places
- Gehen Sie an der Ampel links.Turn left at the traffic light.
- Das ist nicht weit, zehn Minuten zu Fuß.It is not far, a ten-minute walk.
- Ich suche die Haltestelle.I am looking for the bus stop.
- Die Bibliothek ist am Marktplatz.The library is on the market square.am Marktplatz: at the square
Marktplatz, Rathaus and the pedestrian zone
Almost every German town is built around a Marktplatz with the Rathaus on it, and the weekly market is still held there. The streets around it are usually a Fußgängerzone (pedestrian zone): no cars, lots of shops and cafés, and often the tourist office. Watch for the bike lane (Radweg), usually marked in red or with a painted bicycle: pedestrians who walk on it will hear a bell, or an angry Vorsicht! (watch out). The Bürgeramt for your paperwork is often in or near the Rathaus.
Red means wait
Germans wait at a red pedestrian light (rote Ampel) even when the street is empty, and they expect you to do the same, especially when children are watching. Crossing at red is a traffic offense: the fine is small, 5 €, or 10 € if you cause danger, but the disapproving looks are free. If you are lost, asking a passerby with Entschuldigung works well: most people will help, and many switch to English if you need it, so try your German first.
After hearing the directions, repeat them back as a question: Also geradeaus und dann links? (So straight ahead and then left?). The person will confirm or correct you, and you get the words a second time. If it is too fast, say Langsam, bitte or Noch einmal, bitte, two phrases from the survival lesson that work everywhere.
Two false friends. Die Bank is both the bank and a bench, so in a park Wo ist die Bank? may get you a seat; in town everyone will understand the money kind. Das Rathaus has nothing to do with rats: Rat means council, and Rathaus is the town hall. And do not say Ich suche der Bahnhof: after suche, der becomes den: Ich suche den Bahnhof.
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.