Essential German Phrases for Everyday Life

If you are learning German or aiming for the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 exam, this post is for you!

Today, we’ll cover some essential German phrases that you’ll find incredibly useful in everyday life in Germany. Let’s dive in!

Unlike English, German has two forms of address: Sie (formal) and Du (informal). Here are some common phrases for both in emails and letters:

Formal (Sie):

Greeting:
- Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, (Dear Sir or Madam)
- Sehr geehrte Frau [Last name], (Dear Mrs. [Last name])
- Sehr geehrte Herr [Last name], (Dear Mr. [Last name])
Closing:
- Mit freundlichen Grüßen (Sincerely)

Informal (Du):

Greeting:
- Lieber Herr [First name], (Dear Mr. [First name])
- Liebe Frau [First name], (Dear Mrs. [First name])
Closing:
- Liebe Grüße (Best regards)

A few notes on German letter writing:

Always put a comma after the greeting but not after “Grüße”.
Unlike English, German sentences typically start with a lowercase letter (except for proper nouns).

When you see someone in need or want to offer help such as colleagues or someone who looks having troubles in the town, these phrases are handy:

Formal:

Können Sie mir sagen, wie ich Sie erreichen kann? (Can you tell me how to reach you?)

Informal:

Kannst du mir sagen, wenn du Hilfe brauchst? (Can you tell me if you need help?)

When you’re ending a conversation or making a request, these phrases are useful:

Expressing anticipation:
- Ich freue mich darauf. (I look forward to it.) – Use this when you’re expecting something.
Thanking in advance:
- Vielen Dank im Voraus. (Thank you in advance.)
- Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe. (Thank you for your help.) – Use these when making a request.