Last time, we learned some vocabulary words about going by train.

Today: some phrases which are helpful when you’re going somewhere by train.

At the station:

Ich möchte bitte eine (einfache) Fahrkarte nach….kaufen

I would like to buy a (one-way) ticket to….please.

Wann fährt der Zug nach … ab?

When does the train to…. depart?

Wo muss ich umsteigen?

Where do I have to change trains?

On the train:

Entschuldigen Sie, ist dieser Platz besetzt?

Excuse me, is this seat taken?

Darf ich das Fenster öffnen / schließen?

May I open / close the window?

Ihre Fahrkarte, bitte!

Your ticket, please!

Hält dieser Zug in….?

Does this train stop in…. ?

Fährt dieser Zug nach….?

Does this train go to…?

Finally another post about travelling in Germany. Today, we’ll learn some general vocabulary that has to do with going by train.

der Hauptbahnhof (-höfe) = central station

das Gleis (-e) = platform (-s)

der Zug (Züge) = train (-s)

das Abteil (-e) = compartment (-s)

der Schaffner (“) = conductor (-s)

die Fahrkarte (-n) = ticket (-s)

die Abfahrt = departure

die Ankunft = arrival

Problems at the airport can occur every once in a while. So here are some phrases and vocabulary words for you.

die Sicherheitskontrolle = security check

Ich habe mein Gepäck verloren. = I lost my baggage.

Ich kann mein Gepäck nicht finden. = I cannot find my baggage.

Mein Gepäck ist beschädigt worden. = My baggage was damaged.

Ich habe meinen Flug verpasst. = I missed my flight.

Ihr Flug hat leider Verspätung. = Unfortunately the flight is delayed

Bitte kommen Sie zum Informationsschalter. = Please come to the information desk.

Wo ist der Informationsschalter? = Where is the information desk?

Here’s my at the airport 1 post.

Let’s have a look at some important phrases and vocabulary when you are at the check-in desk (der Abflugschalter) at the airport (der Flughafen).

Ich habe einen Flug nach… gebucht. / Ich möchte einen Flug nach…. buchen. = I booked a flight to… / I would like to book a flight to….

Kann ich das als Handgepäck mitnehmen? = Can I take this as a carry-on luggage?

Ich möchte einen Fensterplatz, bitte. = I would like to have a window seat, please.

Ich möchte einen Gangplatz, bitte. = I would like to have an aisle seat, please.

der Hinflug (Hinflüge) = outward flight (outward flights)

der Rückflug (Rückflüge) = return flight (return flights)

ohne Zwischenstopp / Zwischenlandung = non-stop

das Reiseziel (Reiseziele) = travel destination (travel destinations)

das Handgepäck = carry-on baggage

das Gepäck (Gepäckstücke) = baggage

die Bordkarte (Bordkarten) = boarding pass (boarding passes)

der Abflug = departure

die Ankunft = arrival

Phrases and vocabulary words concerning travelling are helpful when you plan a trip to Germany. I will introduce you to some important phrases and words in the next couple of posts. If there is anything you’d like to know or you need more information about, please let me know :)

Today - passports:

1.) Passport control (die Passkontrolle):

der Pass (Pässe) = passport (passports)

der Personalausweis (Personalausweise) = ID (IDs)

Ihren Ausweis / Pass, bitte! = Your passport / ID, please!

Ihr Ausweis / Pass ist abgelaufen = Your passport / ID has expired.

2.) General passport information:

der Vorname = first name

der Nachname = last name

der Familienstand = marital status

ledig =single

verheiratet =married

verwitwet = widowed

das Geburtsdatum = date of birth

der Geburtsort = place of birth

die Staatsangehörigkeit = citizenship

der Wohnort = place of residence

Today, we’ll learn some helpful phrases and vocabulary about:

das Telefon (Telefone) = telephone (telephones).

When you give a German a call, it’s very likely that they’ll identify themselves at once. Either with both their first and last name or just their last name. That way you know whom you’re talking to right away which is cool I think. Of course there are some people that will just say “hallo?” when they answer the phone. I do both. Depending on my mood ;)

Kann ich bitte mit … sprechen? = May I please speak to … ?

Wer spricht da bitte? = Who is this?

jmd anrufen (irregular) = (to) give sb a call

die Telefonnummer (Telefonnummern) = phone number (phone numbers)

“Auf Wiederhören!” is a very common way to say goodbye on the phone. Usually people use it when they talk to somebody they don’t really know or when they wanna be very polite. It’s basically the phone equivalent of “Auf Wiedersehen!”.

#German #phrases

This post will teach you how to talk about where you are from. :)

Question 1:

Woher bist/kommst du? / Woher sind/kommen Sie? = Where are you from? (informal / formal)

- Ich komme/bin aus… = I come / I’m from…

Question 2:

Wo wohnst du? / Wo wohnen Sie? = Where do you live? (informal / formal)

- Ich wohne in… = I live in…

Vocabulary:

Woher? = Where from?

kommen = (to) come

aus = from

Wo? = Where?

wohnen = (to) live

in = in

#phrases

Let’s continue learning a couple of small talk phrases. :)

Question 1:

Wie alt bist du? / Wie alt sind Sie? = How old are you? (informal / formal)

- Ich bin… Jahre alt. = I’m … years old.

Question 2:

Wann hast du Geburtstag? / Wann haben Sie Geburtstag? = When is your birthday? (informal / formal)

- Mein Geburtstag ist am… / Ich habe am … Geburtstag. = My birthday is on…

Vocabulary:

alt = old

das Jahr = year

Jahre = years

der Geburtstag = birthday

Wann? = when?

am = on (temporal)

#phrases

Question 1:

Wie heißt du? / Wie heißen Sie? = What’s your name? (informal / formal)?

(literally: How are you called?)

- Mein Name ist… / Ich heiße… = My name is… / I’m ….

Question 2:

Wie ist dein Nachname? / Wie ist Ihr Nachname? = What’s your last name (informal / formal)

- Mein Nachname ist… / Ich heiße… mit Nachnamen. = My last name is….

Vocabulary:

der Name = name

der Nachname = last name

der Vorname = first name

heißen = (to) be called

ich = I, me

Sie = you (formal)

Wie? = how?

#phrases

This is how we say “goodbye” in German:

The formal and mega polite way is “Auf Wiedersehen” = goodbye.*

“Tschüß” = “bye” - is very common and used among people who know each other well (e.g. friends, colleagues, relatives, neighbours etc.)

Other common possibilites are:

Bis bald / Mach’s gut = see you soon

* On the phone you don’t say “Auf Wiedersehen”. Why? Well, you don’t actually “see” the person you’re talking to and “sehen” means “(to) see”. Instead, you’d say “Auf Wiederhören” -> “hören” = “(to) hear”.