Essential German Phrases and Survival Vocabulary

Learn Common German Phrases

Whether you’re planning to travel to Germany, or you’re actively learning the language, you need to know the most common German phrases. Having these phrases handy will make your vacation smoother and much more comfortable.

And if you’re learning German to reach fluency, knowing common phrases is a must. Since 80% of everyday speech is from 20% of the vocabulary, these German expressions is how the locals talk. So, the fastest way to fluency is by mastering the following German phrases.

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160 Everyday German Phrases

These 160 phrases are exactly what you need for travel, or to get around in Germany. We divided them into different categories to help you find the phrase that suits your situation best. In the end, you’ll find a list of emergency German phrases that are a must-have in case of illness or an accident. Though we sure hope you never have to use them, it’s best to have them just in case.

The Most Common German Greetings

Asking for Help and Directions in Germany

Phrases to Introduce Yourself in German

Wishing Someone Well in German

German Phrases for Clarifications and Questions

German Expressions, Single Word Sentences, and Slang

Essential German Travel Phrases

German Phrases for Dining Out

German Phrases in Case of an Emergency

Why Learn Common German Phrases

When you’re preparong for your travels, the last thing you want to do is study. And 160 phrases seems like a LOT. But, these phrases can (sometimes literally) save your life. These are just a few of the reasons why you should get familiar with most of these German phrases:

• Navigate in Germany: If you’re lost, you can always ask for directions with these German phrases.
• Have an authentic German experience: Germans are always delighted to hear that you’re learning their language. If you ask in German, they can show you hidden gems in their locals area that normal tourists don’t even know about. So, you can have way more opportunities if you speak a little bit of German.
• Get better customer service: A server or bartender will definitely appreciate it if you try to order in German. That extra bit of effort is not just polite, it’s also very flattering. You’ll receive better customer service than other visitors.
• Be prepared for an emergency: Although no one likes to think of it, but accidents do happen sadly. And when they do, it’s best to be prepared. Have a few German emergency phrases handy in case you need to use them on your trip.
• Google Translate isn’t reliable: As amazing as Google Translate is, it’s not the real deal. Besides, what do you do if you don’t have Wifi or data? You’d be lost without it. Learning a few of these German phrases by heart can make your journey much more comfortable.
• Fall in love with the language: Hopefully, this is only the beginning of your German language learning journey. These phrases are the most common in German, but there’s a lot more to this exciting language. By learning these phrases, you get a great head start, and you can also fall in love with German for further learning.

How Do You Learn These German Phrases

Hopefully, by now you’re convinced of how important it is to know these German phrases by heart. Now the real “work” begins. But, don’t worry, it’s actually very easy to learn these common German phrases. Here’s a step by step guide on how to commit them to your long term memory:

1. Don’t cram: First and foremost, let’s discuss what not to do. Don’t try to cram, you’ll only make yourself miserable. And in the end, you won’t actually be able to say any of these German phrases out loud. Instead of sitting down and studying, try the following method to learn effectively:
2. Try chunking: 160 phrases in German is a little too much. Break them up into smaller categories, and learn them one by one. Or have a goal of 5-10 new phrases a day. Having a smaller workload is easier to manage.
3. Use spaced repetition: This is the trick for language learning. Spaced repetition means that you train your brain to store relevant information. You need to review the phrases periodically to remind your brain. This is how you don’t forget these German phrases.
4. Write them down: After reading through these phrases, it’s worth writing them down as well. Handwriting is linked to tactile learning, so you’ll remember this lesson better.
5. Say them out loud: The only way to fluency is through speaking practice. These phrases are awesome, but when you use them, you’ll have to say them out loud. Let yourself get comfortable with German by saying these phrases.
6. Practice them often: And finally, plenty of practice is how you reach fluency. Don’t just go through these phrases once. Come back again to practice them. A little bit every day can go a long way.

Learn More German Phrases

Hungry for more? 160 German phrases are a great start, but you need a lot more to be completely fluent and proficient in German. If you want to unlock the full list of the most useful and common German phrases, all you have to do is download OptiLingo.

This app includes every German word and phrase to get you to fluency. This vocabulary is especially useful because it’s the same on German locals use. Don’t waste time learning unnecessary German words. Go straight to success when you download OptiLingo!