The first thing you need to be aware of when trying to speak politely to German speakers is that there may be a few cultural differences between your own culture and German culture.
Therefore the definition of being polite can vary between different places. Saying this, German’s customs and culture should be a vital part of your language learning.
It is important to try to address people correctly, especially in formal situations. Of course the first thing you should be aware of is the formal version of “du” which is “Sie”. “Du” is used to address friends, family and younger people. “Sie” is used in more formal situations and when addressing people you don’t know or generally for your elders. If you’re not sure, call a person by their name or use the “Sie” form until offered “du”. You can also address people formally by using Herr or Frau.
The subjunctive II mode is very useful for speaking in a more polite way. It can be used to express wishes and form polite requests. It is the difference between “I want” and “I would like”. You could make it even more polite by adding words such as “bitte”. Here are some examples showing the difference it makes to your manners:
As you can see, small words such as “bitte” make a big difference. “Bitte” can mean “please” but may also mean “you’re welcome”. Other words that can make you sound more polite include “danke” which means thank you and “gern” or “gerne” which translates to gladly or with pleasure. “Entschuldigung” is also a very useful word which means excuse me or I’m sorry. “Es tut mir leid” is another phrase that means I’m sorry and can be very useful.
It’s vital to be polite if you are getting clarification on something. Here are some useful phrases that you can use:
You may be wondering how you can sound more polite on the phone? If you don’t recognise the phone number that is calling then it is quite common to just state your own last name. Remember the tips given above! When saying goodbye on the phone, use “Auf Wiederhören”.
Try to use them as much as you possibly can so that they become second nature to you.
“Bitte” can mean “please” but may also mean “you're welcome”.Other words that can make you sound more polite include “danke” which means thank you and “gern” or “gerne” which translates to gladly or with pleasure. “Entschuldigung” is also a very useful word which means excuse me or I'm sorry.
The most common meaning of bitte in the German language is “please.” It's a polite way to make a request less direct, reflecting good manners and politeness. It's important vocabulary for you if you're looking to learn German and interact in a polite and formal manner.
The answer to the question of how to say “please” in German is simple: all you need to know is the magic word “bitte.” “Bitte” is one of the most important words in the German language.
It's one of the first words you'll probably learn when starting German. Besides you're welcome, common meanings include “please,” “pardon?” and “May I help you?” The meaning changes depending on the context of the conversation.
“Please” in German is Bitte.“Thank you” is Danke (schön).And finally, “you're welcome” in German is bitte (schön) again (the schön is optional, but often added as discussed in our list below). So, as you can see there is a bit of a pattern there that goes Bitte➝Danke➝Bitte.
1. Purzelbaum. The German word Purzelbaum can sound particularly aggressive if the “r” is rolled and followed by pronouncing the “z” as a sharp “t” combined with a hissing sound. Its meaning doesn't quite match its sound.
A slightly more formal version of “danke,” the phrase “danke schön” means “thank you very much.” You can use “danke schön” as a response when someone does something nice for you, or when you simply want to be polite.
In German, the most common response to "Danke" is "Bitte," which means "you're welcome." However, there are other variations such as "Gern geschehen" or "Kein Problem." It's always polite to respond to "Danke" with one of these phrases to show your appreciation for the person's gratitude.
Schon literally means “yet” or “already,” such as, Hast du schon gegessen? meaning “Have you eaten yet?” or Es ist schon spät, “It's already late.” It's a really common German expression. Idiomatically, it's often used to make a statement friendlier or to add emphasis.
Schön is a German surname, which means handsome or beautiful, from the Middle High German schoene, meaning "beautiful", "friendly", "nice". Schon means "already" and "yet". Alternative spellings include Schon and Schoen.
Bitte. Want to say “you're welcome” after someone thanks you? Bitte. But the German word bitte means so much more than “please” or “you're welcome.” It's a go-to word that can also mean “pardon” or be used as a word of approval, like “go ahead” in English.
This phrase is considered one of the most offensive things you can say in German. It is used to express extreme anger, frustration, or contempt. It is not used in casual conversation and should only be used with people you know very well.
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