German course

Lesson 24 of 240

New here? This is lesson 24 of a free 240-lesson German course.

Start hereHow this works

I want in German

Priya needs something from Deniz's Späti. She starts a long polite line, then points.

Anton is already at the fridge wall. He is holding the bottle before she names it.

By the end, you'll say what you would like, what you need, and ask for that thing.

Deniz uses du. Keep Ich hätte gern for a polite want. Ich brauche is for a need.

By the end of this lesson

Say what you want and what you need.

  • Ich möchte ___.I would like ___.
  • Ich brauche ___.I need ___.
  • Ich hätte gern das.I'd like that.
  • Was möchtest du?What would you like?
  • Brauchst du das?Do you need that?
  • Kann ich das haben?Can I have that?

Scene — the Späti

Evening on Fliederstraße. Priya steps into Deniz's Späti. Crates of bottles sit by the door, and the fridge wall hums.

Deniz is behind the small counter. Anton is already at the fridges with a bottle in one hoof.

Priya enters Deniz’s Späti as Deniz looks up from the counter and Anton sits by the fridges with a bottle in one hoof.

Learn — I want and I need

Six short lines cover a polite want, a need, and asking for that thing.

You'll also ask a friend what they would like, and if they need that.

  1. Deniz asks Priya what she would like while she stands at the counter.

    Ich möchte ___.

    I would like ___.

    When to use it: Say this when you would like something in a shop.

    Learn it as one piece, then name the thing.

    Say it: The ö in möchte is a rounded eh sound.

  2. Priya considers a bottle on the shelf without pointing to it yet.

    Ich brauche ___.

    I need ___.

    When to use it: Say this when you need a thing, not just want it.

    Learn it as one piece when you need something.

    Say it: The ch in brauche is the ach sound.

  3. Priya points at one bottle on the shelf.

    Ich hätte gern das.

    I'd like that.

    When to use it: Say this when you point at the thing you want.

    Learn it as one piece when you point and want that.

    Say it: The ä in hätte is an open eh sound.

  4. Anton holds the bottle and turns toward the person who has indicated it, making a questioning gesture.

    Was möchtest du?

    What would you like?

    When to use it: Ask a friend what they would like.

    Learn it as one piece with a friend, not with staff.

  5. Priya confirms she needs the bottle and asks Anton for it while he still holds it.

    Brauchst du das?

    Do you need that?

    When to use it: Ask a friend if they need that thing.

    Learn it as one piece to check if a friend needs that.

  6. Anton holds the bottle out toward Priya, who reaches to accept it.

    Kann ich das haben?

    Can I have that?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want to take that thing.

    Learn it as one piece when you ask to take something.

Story — he already has it

Watch Priya at the Späti. She starts a polite want, then names a need.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The fridge wall hums. Deniz looks up from the counter.
  2. DenizHallo.Hello.
  3. PriyaHallo.Hello.
  4. DenizWas möchtest du?What would you like?
  5. PriyaIch möchte vielleicht das.I would like that, perhaps.
  6. Deniz waits. She has not pointed yet.
  7. PriyaIch hätte gern das.I'd like that.
  8. She points at one bottle on the shelf.
  9. PriyaIch brauche das.I need that.
  10. Anton is already holding that bottle.
  11. AntonBrauchst du das?Do you need that?
  12. PriyaJa.Yes.
  13. PriyaKann ich das haben?Can I have that?
  14. He holds the bottle out.
  15. PriyaDanke.Thank you.

Practice — want or need

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, swap a word, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Swap the word

    You would like something at the Späti, not need it.

    Ich ____ ___.

  3. What do you say?

    You need that bottle, not just want it.

  4. Fill the gap

    I'd like that.

    Ich hätte ____ das.

  5. What does it mean?

    Was möchtest du?

  6. Pick the reply

    Anton says:

    Brauchst du das?

    Do you need that?

    And you reply with:

  7. Build the line

    Can I have that?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  8. What do you say?

    A friend looks at a bottle. Check if they need it.

  9. What does it mean?

    Danke.

  10. Match the pairs

    German

    Ich möchte ___.Drop the English here
    Ich brauche ___.Drop the English here
    Ich hätte gern das.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

Say it — say what you want

Now you're Priya at the Späti. 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.

  1. DenizHallo.Hello.
  2. Priya (you)Say a short hello back.

    Hallo.

    Hello

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ich möchte ___.I would like ___.
Ich brauche ___.I need ___.
Ich hätte gern das.I'd like that.
Was möchtest du?What would you like?
Brauchst du das?Do you need that?
Kann ich das haben?Can I have that?
Next: lesson 25No thanks, that's enough

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these wants and needs handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your wants and needs ready at the shop.

Open Yak Cards