FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the German language and culture over time. At least now you know what she’s saying. This is a brief and polite way to dismiss them and anyone else that you really don’t want to talk to. Every country has telemarketers, even Germany. Some people (like me) find telephone calls a bit scary and intimidating. Ingrid Bauer. Just tap on any subtitled word to see an in-context definition, usage examples and a helpful illustration. Will 20 sentences be enough to complete every phone conversation in German? can take anywhere. If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn German with real-world videos. Note that this is an informal construction, best used among friends and family. Each unit revolves around an entertaining exemplary dialogue that is complemented by numerous challenging exercises. Nevertheless, for those living in Germany or doing business with those in the country, having to use the language on the phone is eventually unavoidable. There’s no shame in asking them to say it again. We’ve all experienced the frustration of not being able to get through to the person we need to speak to. 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”). On the phone it can be particularly hard to figure out what the other person is saying. Finally, it’s worth noting that when Germans give you their phone numbers, they usually do it in double digits. German Phone Call Vocabulary Posted by Constanze on Apr 25, 2015 in Language In German, speaking on the phone is called telefonieren . Will 20 sentences be enough to complete every phone conversation in German? It’s always useful to have a short, simple way to end the conversation. I’m sure your mama raised a polite, courteous boy or girl. Other sites use scripted content. In this lesson, we are going to take a look at a common conversation that could take place in a restaurant. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can skip adding the Herr (Mr.) or Frau (Mrs.) when constructing your greeting. First of all, Germans tend to introduce themselves on the phone by using their last name. 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. Now it’s time to dial away and let the ringtone resound! in German studies. It sounds more dramatic than it really is, which is just another reason to appreciate German. Learning German Online - Practicing Conversation This German learning website teaches you the most useful phrases and expressions for communication in German. But first, a few cultural notes on the German phone exchange. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe, Get regular language learning tips, resources and updates, starting with the "Complete Guide to Foreign Language Immersion" e-book, Sign up for our weekly blog newsletter for a chance to win a free FluentU Plus subscription (value $240). Note that if our Frau Beck was asked “Sprech ich mit Frau Beck?” (Am I speaking with Mrs. This way you can still get to him regardless. Also not a bad sentence to have in your back pocket in case your flatmate’s mother or the police call looking for her. Ryan Dennis was a Fulbright Scholar and previously taught at Pädagogische Hochschule Schwäbisch Gmünd. she could simply answer “Am Apparat” (On the telephone). Handwritten documents were composed in cursive using a type of script known as blackletter. Thanks for subscribing! 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 learning a new language, this is one of the most important (and most used) sentences you can have in your arsenal. (Download). Goethe Instituts often run events where you can meet other German learners who might want to practice their speaking skills with you. 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. For situations that call for a more formal approach to determining who is on the other end, this sentence will help pave the way for the discourse to follow. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. 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. Updated November 04, 2019 Greetings - Sei(d) Gegrüßt! Click here to get a copy. For additional information on how to call Germany from abroad, check out this site. You’ll learn German as it’s actually spoken by real people. When you’re still learning a language, it can be terrifying. 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. Note: This is the informal version. Having trouble finding a phone number? When you hear these words, you know that you’re close to reaching your intended target. 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. But at least now you have the basics from which you can form a useful, insightful and challenging dialogue over the wire. 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. In situations where you can keep it informal, you can also keep it simple. our editorial process. Sounding close to its English equivalent, this is an easy one to remember. FluentU brings German to life with real-world videos. Typically, when you hear this sentence, it’s spoken by the automatic operator in a very woody tone. The person you’re calling may very well be out doing important things. It might seem a little intimidating to speak German, especially if you're new to the language. Just something to keep in mind to sound a little bit more native. Please check your email for further instructions. Before the 1940s, most records in German-speaking areas (as well as surname books, newspapers, journals and gazetteers) used a Gothic font called Fraktur. 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. Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes store or Google Play store. No “Mr.,” “Dr.” or “Sir” (in the case they might be knighted), but just their last name. For some people, speaking on the telephone can be awkward. Beck?) Not likely. If saying it to someone who’s your social superior, it would read like this: “Haben Sie ihre Nummer?” When needed, you can also replace ihre (her) with seine (his). Without further delay, here’s 20 simple sentences to get you started on being a master of the phone lines. Otherwise, it’s smooth sailing on this one…. Now you can express your gratitude to the person on the line for their patience with your effort to speak German on the phone. 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. Notoriously difficult to read, the Fraktur form of blackletter has been giving German genealogy researchers fits for centuries. Very well be out doing important things ’ ll learn German with real-world videos its affiliates these... Addition to hating ketchup, British spelling and violence, he writes the Milk House—the only literary column about farming... Interactive transcripts participate in other affiliate advertising programs for products and services german conversation script believe.! 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