Learning German

Learning German: Saying what you like, dislike and prefer 

Whether you’re visiting galleries and museums, sampling German cuisine or simply chatting to your German-speaking friends, you’ll probably want to talk about what you like and dislike. There are several different ways to do this in German. To say what you like, use ich mag (I like) and ich mag…… Read More

Learning German: Wining and dining  

If you want to sample German food and drink, be it at a more traditional Gasthaus (inn/pub), a fancy restaurant, a Café (good for coffee and cake/snacks) or a Bar, learning some key phrases in German will give you the confidence to chat to the waiter and prepare you for… Read More

Learning German: Shopping in Germany  

German’s capital city Berlin is a centre of fashion and hosts its famous Berlin Fashion Week every year. Other well-known shopping cities are Munich, Cologne and Hamburg. For those who want to splash their cash and pick up some souvenirs or simply shop for groceries, this blog will give you… Read More

Learning German: Wishing others well 

When you want to wish someone all the best, you’ll need to know what to say and when in your conversations with German-speaking friends. This blogpost covers some of the phrases that might come in handy when wishing others well.  Some German phrases aimed at wishing others a good… Read More

Gute Besserung! – Get well soon! 

Trips to the doctor’s or the hospital are not on anyone’s itinerary while travelling abroad. However, if you do happen to fall ill or need medical advice in Germany, this blog will give you the confidence to talk to a doctor, dentist or pharmacist to help you get what you… Read More

Learning German: Making sure you’ve understood

When learning a language, our understanding of what’s being said normally comes before our ability to be able to speak the language and become confident enough to contribute to the conversation. The use of gestures and visual clues often allow us to get the gist of a sentence. That said,… Read More

Apologizing and attracting someone’s attention in German

Most of us know when we have to say sorry, but when we’re not speaking our own language, it’s important to know how to do it. In German, different circumstances call for different words and expressions for apologizing. The most common way of saying I’m sorry is Es tut… Read More

Learning German: Common courtesies

If you’re visiting a German-speaking country, you’ll want to be able to chat to people and get to know them better. The nuts and bolts of conversations revolve around common courtesies, such as asking people how they are, and saying please and thank you. As in English, in German there… Read More

Hallo! Meeting and greeting in German

Conversational German Creating a good first impression is important, so you’ll want to say hello to people properly. It’s not just about what you say, though, it’s making sure you know the correct etiquette when meeting people. German people are quite formal when initially introduced, shaking hands upon meeting and… Read More