New here? This is lesson 86 of a free 240-lesson German course.
Getting a table in German
Jule takes Priya to a café by the canal. Priya starts a long polite sentence, and the server only wants the number of people and the wait.
You'll ask if a table is free, name the size, give a booking name, ask about the wait, and ask to sit outside.
Keep Sie for the server. Jule already uses du with you.
By the end of this lesson
Ask for a table, a booking, and for the wait.
- Haben Sie noch einen Tisch frei?Do you still have a table free?
- Einen Tisch für ___, bitte.A table for ___, please.
- Wir haben reserviert.We have a reservation.
- Auf den Namen ___.Under the name ___.
- Wie lange müssen wir warten?How long will we have to wait?
- Können wir draußen sitzen?Can we sit outside?
Scene — the canal café
Saturday by the Landwehrkanal. Jule has booked a table at a small café, but every seat outside is already taken.
Priya starts a long sentence at the door. The server waits for two numbers: people, and minutes.
Learn — a table and a wait
Six lines cover a free table, a table for a number, a booking, a name, the wait, and a seat outside.
Sie stays with the server at the door.
Haben Sie noch einen Tisch frei?
Do you still have a table free?
When to use it: Ask staff if they still have a table free.
A server you have just met gets Sie, not du.
Einen Tisch für ___, bitte.
A table for ___, please.
When to use it: Tell the server the number of people for the table.
Einen is the masculine form used for the table you want.
Wir haben reserviert.
We have a reservation.
When to use it: Say this when you booked a table ahead of time.
In a main sentence, haben comes second.
Auf den Namen ___.
Under the name ___.
When to use it: Give the name on the booking after you say you reserved.
Use this phrase to give the name on a booking.
Say it: Namen puts the stress on the first syllable.
Wie lange müssen wir warten?
How long will we have to wait?
When to use it: Ask this when the café is full and you may have to wait.
In this question, müssen comes before wir; warten ends it.
Say it: For ü, round your lips while saying a close ee sound.
Können wir draußen sitzen?
Can we sit outside?
When to use it: Ask this when you want the seats outside.
Können starts this yes-or-no question; sitzen ends it.
Story — two people, please
Watch Priya at the café door. The server wants the number of people, then the wait.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- The café by the canal is busy. Every seat outside is taken.
JuleHier sehen die Tische gut aus.The tables look good here.- Priya starts too long at the door. The server is already listening.
PriyaGuten Tag, könnten Sie mir bitte vielleicht...Good afternoon, could you perhaps please...- ServerWillkommen.Welcome.
- PriyaHaben Sie noch einen Tisch frei?Do you still have a table free?
- ServerWie viele Personen?How many people?
- PriyaEinen Tisch für zwei, bitte.A table for two, please.
- JuleWir haben reserviert.We have a reservation.
- ServerAuf welchen Namen?Under which name?
- PriyaAuf den Namen Jule.Under the name Jule.
- ServerInnen ist es gerade voll.Inside is full right now.
- PriyaWie lange müssen wir warten?How long will we have to wait?
- ServerFünf Minuten. Draußen sitzt noch jemand.Five minutes. Someone is still sitting outside.
- Five minutes pass. Two guests at an outside table stand up.
- PriyaKönnen wir draußen sitzen?Can we sit outside?
- ServerJa, draußen. Setzen Sie sich.Yes, outside. Please sit down.
Practice — free or reserved
Eleven short tasks wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are two people at the door. Tell the server how many of you want a table.
Pick the reply
Server says:
Pick the reply
Haben Sie reserviert?
Do you have a reservation?
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
Your reservation is in Jule's name. Give that name to the server.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Wie lange müssen wir warten?
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want the seats outside, not inside.
Können wir ____ sitzen?
Build the line
Build the line
Do you still have a table free?
?
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
How long will we have to wait?
Wie lange müssen wir ____?
Match the pairs
German
Haben Sie noch einen Tisch frei?Drop the English hereWir haben reserviert.Drop the English hereKönnen wir draußen sitzen?Drop the English hereEnglish
True or false?
True or false?
Staff say this as a short welcome when you come in.
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
Say it — ask for a seat
Now you're Priya at the café with Jule. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- ServerGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
- Priya (you)Ask if a table is still free.
Ask if a table is still free.
Haben Sie noch einen Tisch frei?
Do you still have a table free?
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| German | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Haben Sie noch einen Tisch frei? | Do you still have a table free? | |
| Einen Tisch für ___, bitte. | A table for ___, please. | |
| Wir haben reserviert. | We have a reservation. | |
| Auf den Namen ___. | Under the name ___. | |
| Wie lange müssen wir warten? | How long will we have to wait? | |
| Können wir draußen sitzen? | Can we sit outside? |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these table lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your table lines ready at the door.
Open Yak Cards