🇩🇪Essential German phrases for beginners
If you're starting German from zero, these are the phrases to learn first. They cover the moments you'll hit on day one — saying hello, being polite, asking for help, ordering food and finding your way. Each one is native-checked, with romanization to help you say it, and a tap through to usage and related phrases.
How to use this list: don't try to memorize all of them at once.
Learn the greetings and the courtesy phrases first — they're the ones you'll use every single day — then add
a few situational ones (directions, food, emergencies) before a trip. Say each out loud; reading silently
won't build the muscle. When you're ready, practice them with a real German speaker.
- 1 Ich habe heute einen heißen Sommer.How to say →
I had a hot summer today.
- 2 Heute ist ein schöner Tag fürs Spazierengehen.How to say →
It's a nice day for a walk outside.
- 3 Der Wind ist heftig, besser bleibst du zu Hause.How to say →
The wind is strong, better stay at home.
From phrasebook to real conversation
These essentials get you started. To actually speak German, practice them out loud — free with native-speaker peers, or 1-1 with a vetted tutor.