German course

Lesson 39 of 240

New here? This is lesson 39 of a free 240-lesson German course.

Hurry up, no rush in German

Priya is back at Bäckerei Krause, but this morning she is late. The U1 will not wait, and she still needs her order.

Renate is already wrapping something at the counter. Anton is at the corner table, Milchkaffee untouched, in no hurry at all.

You'll ask someone to hurry, say you are in a rush, or tell them there is no rush.

Beeil dich is for friends. Keep it short at the counter.

By the end of this lesson

Ask someone to hurry, say you are in a rush, or tell them there is no rush.

  • Beeil dich bitte.Please hurry.
  • Ich habe es eilig.I'm in a hurry.
  • Keine Eile.No rush.
  • Lass dir Zeit.Take your time.
  • Wir müssen uns beeilen.We have to hurry.
  • Schnell, bitte!Quickly, please!

Scene — the wrapping

Priya pushes the bakery door too fast. Renate is already wrapping an order at the counter.

Anton sits at the corner table with two chairs. His Milchkaffee is still full. He does not stand up.

Priya pushes through the bakery door while Renate wraps an order and Anton stays seated with a full cup of coffee.

Learn — hurry and no rush

Six short lines cover hurry, no rush, and take your time.

You'll tell a friend to hurry, or say you are the one in a rush.

  1. Priya leans toward Renate at the counter, urging her to move faster.

    Beeil dich bitte.

    Please hurry.

    When to use it: Ask a friend to hurry, not a stranger or shop staff.

    Learn it as one piece when you need someone faster.

  2. Priya glances toward the street, still in a hurry.

    Ich habe es eilig.

    I'm in a hurry.

    When to use it: Say this when you have little time and must go.

    Learn it as one piece to say you are in a rush.

  3. Renate slowly folds the paper around an order at the counter.

    Keine Eile.

    No rush.

    When to use it: Tell someone they do not need to hurry.

    Learn it as one piece when there is no rush.

    Say it: Eile puts the stress on the first syllable.

  4. Anton sits at the corner table beside his still-full coffee.

    Lass dir Zeit.

    Take your time.

    When to use it: Tell a friend they can go slowly, with no rush.

    Learn it as one piece when you want them calm.

  5. Priya turns toward the door and gestures for Anton to get moving.

    Wir müssen uns beeilen.

    We have to hurry.

    When to use it: Say this when you and someone else have to hurry.

    Learn it as one piece when you both need to rush.

    Say it: Müssen has a rounded ü in the first syllable.

  6. Priya reaches toward the unfinished order as Renate continues folding the paper.

    Schnell, bitte!

    Quickly, please!

    When to use it: Call for speed at the counter when you cannot wait.

    Learn it as one piece for a short, urgent please.

    Say it: Schnell starts with sch, like English sh.

Story — he stays seated

Watch Priya at the counter. She is late, and Renate is already wrapping.

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

  1. Priya is out of breath. Renate is wrapping a bag.
  2. PriyaIch habe es eilig.I'm in a hurry.
  3. RenateLass dir Zeit.Take your time.
  4. PriyaZum Mitnehmen, bitte.To go, please.
  5. Renate still folds the paper slowly.
  6. PriyaSchnell, bitte!Quickly, please!
  7. Renate does not look up.
  8. PriyaBeeil dich bitte.Please hurry.
  9. She looks at the door.
  10. PriyaWir müssen uns beeilen.We have to hurry.
  11. Anton looks up. He does not stand.
  12. AntonKeine Eile.No rush.
  13. PriyaIch muss los.I have to go.
  14. He stays in the chair. The Milchkaffee is still full.

Practice — late or no rush

Ten short tasks check hurry and no rush. You'll hear one, fill a gap, and build a line.

Wrong picks sound polite, just not for this moment.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

    What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Beeil dich bitte.Drop the English here
    Keine Eile.Drop the English here
    Lass dir Zeit.Drop the English here

    English

  3. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    Your friend is slow. You need them to go faster.

  4. Fill the gap

    Fill the gap

    Take your time.

    Lass dir ____.

  5. What does it mean?

    What does it mean?

    Keine Eile.

  6. Swap the word

    Swap the word

    The wrapping is slow. You need it now.

    ____, bitte!

  7. Build the line

    Build the line

    We have to hurry.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  8. Pick the reply

    Renate says:

    Pick the reply

    Setz dich.

    Have a seat.

    And you reply with:

  9. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    You want the order in a bag to take with you.

  10. Find the mistake

    Find the mistake

Say it — say it at the counter

Now you're Priya, late for the U1. 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. RenateLass dir Zeit.Take your time.
  2. Priya (you)Tell her you are in a rush.

    Tell her you are in a rush.

    Ich habe es eilig.

    I'm in a hurry.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

Every line from this lesson
GermanEnglishPlay
Beeil dich bitte.Please hurry.
Ich habe es eilig.I'm in a hurry.
Keine Eile.No rush.
Lass dir Zeit.Take your time.
Wir müssen uns beeilen.We have to hurry.
Schnell, bitte!Quickly, please!
Next: lesson 40Coffee at the bakery

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps hurry and no-rush ready at the counter.

Open Yak Cards