Please check your email for further instructions. FluentU takes real-world videos—like music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into German learning experiences, download the FluentU app from the iTunes store, Summer Daze: 8 Dazzling German Summer School Programs, Learn German with Movies: 10 Great Movies for Learning Real German, Learn German through Music: 8 Modern Classics to Get Started, Learn German Through TV: 8 Great Shows for German Learners, 10 German Slang Phrases to Sound Like a Native. Generally, a native speaker will be understanding towards a person making an effort to speak a new tongue, and will be happy to oblige. The literal translation goes like this: “Here is Mrs. Beck on the telephone.” It may seem a little grandiose or pompous to speak of oneself in the third person, but you can give yourself permission to do so in German. German Phone Call Vocabulary Posted by Constanze on Apr 25, 2015 in Language In German, speaking on the phone is called telefonieren . Now that you know the rules, it’s time to pick up that telephone. But at least now you have the basics from which you can form a useful, insightful and challenging dialogue over the wire. It sounds more dramatic than it really is, which is just another reason to appreciate German. Just tap on any subtitled word to see an in-context definition, usage examples and a helpful illustration. The Goethe Institut is Germany’s most famous language school, with locations all over the world. Not likely. Typically, when you hear this sentence, it’s spoken by the automatic operator in a very woody tone. If the person that picks up the phone isn’t who you were hoping for, there’s no need to hang up or panic. Will 20 sentences be enough to complete every phone conversation in German? Each unit revolves around an entertaining exemplary dialogue that is complemented by numerous challenging exercises. For further help with the logistics of using the phone in Germany, check out “How to Make a Phone Call in Germany” by Just Landed. In this lesson, we are going to take a look at a common conversation that could take place in a restaurant. Now you can express your gratitude to the person on the line for their patience with your effort to speak German on the phone. I’m sure your mama raised a polite, courteous boy or girl. Having trouble finding a phone number? This is a brief and polite way to dismiss them and anyone else that you really don’t want to talk to. This sentence translates in a literal sense as “Can I pass on something?”, Just to make sure you’re prepared for all scenarios, here’s another way of asking to leave a message. our editorial process. Learning German becomes fun and easy when you learn with movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talks. In a country where formality reigns supreme, there’s a pre-existing social contract when it comes to picking up the telephone that it doesn’t hurt to be aware of. It’s probably an efficiency thing. On the phone it can be particularly hard to figure out what the other person is saying. © 2020 Enux Education Limited. - The Words . If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn German with real-world videos. Handwritten documents were composed in cursive using a type of script known as blackletter. Also, even though throwing out their surname comes across as kind of chummy, the same old Sie and du rules apply—namely, unless you know the person well or are of the same age, you must use Sie (the formal construction of “you”). Not likely. Just in case you’re wondering if that’s happening to you in German, here’s the sentence you’ll hear when you’re getting the cold shoulder. Now it’s time to dial away and let the ringtone resound! FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the German language and culture over time. Also not a bad sentence to have in your back pocket in case your flatmate’s mother or the police call looking for her. The person you’re calling may very well be out doing important things. in German studies. (Speak to you soon.) Click here to get a copy. She has a teaching degree and an M.A. Other sites use scripted content. It’s always useful to have a short, simple way to end the conversation. Notoriously difficult to read, the Fraktur form of blackletter has been giving German genealogy researchers fits for centuries. Learning German Online - Practicing Conversation This German learning website teaches you the most useful phrases and expressions for communication in German. You wouldn’t want the phone call to be over before it began due to a simple faux pas. We also participate in other affiliate advertising programs for products and services we believe in. Ingrid Bauer, who is fluent in German, has been teaching and tutoring the German language since 1996. Updated November 04, 2019 Greetings - Sei(d) Gegrüßt! Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s Learn Mode. For some people, speaking on the telephone can be awkward. When you’re trying to effectively negotiate phone calls or any other type of social situation in a foreign language, real-life examples can be a huge help. To help you avoid the pitfalls of dead silence or a sudden hangup, here’s an arsenal of simple and handy sentences that will come up again and again. Finally, it’s worth noting that when Germans give you their phone numbers, they usually do it in double digits. Goethe Instituts often run events where you can meet other German learners who might want to practice their speaking skills with you. Literally, you’re saying, “Are you it?” This may sound like an expression of disappointment to an English speaker, but it works fine in German. No “Mr.,” “Dr.” or “Sir” (in the case they might be knighted), but just their last name. When you hear these words, you know that you’re close to reaching your intended target. Whether it’s trying to get information from an agency, speaking to your distant cousin on your Handy (cell) or just practicing your verbal skills on Skype, having a conversation over the wire will eventually happen along the winding path to fluency. Ryan Dennis was a Fulbright Scholar and previously taught at Pädagogische Hochschule Schwäbisch Gmünd. But first, a few cultural notes on the German phone exchange. The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning, and it recommends examples and videos to you based on the words you’ve already learned. Without further delay, here’s 20 simple sentences to get you started on being a master of the phone lines. Auf Wiederhören. This way you can still get to him regardless. Note that if our Frau Beck was asked “Sprech ich mit Frau Beck?” (Am I speaking with Mrs. We’ve all experienced the frustration of not being able to get through to the person we need to speak to. 20. There’s no shame in asking them to say it again. In learning a new language, this is one of the most important (and most used) sentences you can have in your arsenal. Beck?) While in the age of smartphones such ambiguity is less common, you never know when you’ll have to call a landline and figure out who’s on the other end. In these situations, however, it never hurts to make sure you’re dialing the number correctly. Simply state who it is you need to speak with. It’s always useful to have a short, simple way to end the conversation. Will 20 sentences be enough to complete every phone conversation in German? Ingrid Bauer. All in all, however, it’s good to let people know that you didn’t purposely hang up on them. (Download). All Rights Reserved. At least now you know what she’s saying. Thanks for subscribing! Note: This is the informal version. Otherwise, it’s smooth sailing on this one…. German people will be understanding if you're struggling to get your message across or catch what they say.. At the same time, don't hesitate to use these expressions to help the conversation run smoothly if you don't understand something or need a little help. Having an idea of some of the social expectations and negotiating the formalities is half the battle in having a successful phone exchange in German.