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Lesson 206 of 240

New here? This is lesson 206 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Post office and bank in German

Priya packed the jacket that was too big and walked to the post office near Görlitzer Bahnhof.

At the counter she uses Sie: she sends the parcel, asks about postage, and how long shipping takes.

Then she goes to the bank. She wants to change money and ask about her account, and whether she needs ID.

The clerk is warmer than Herr Schulze. You'll do the same errands in Sie.

By the end of this lesson

Send a parcel, change money, or ask about an account.

  • Ich möchte dieses Paket verschicken.I'd like to send this parcel.
  • Wie lange dauert der Versand?How long does shipping take?
  • Ich möchte Geld wechseln, bitte.I'd like to change some money, please.
  • Ich hätte eine Frage zu meinem Konto.I have a question about my account.
  • Muss ich meinen Ausweis vorzeigen?Do I need to show my ID?
  • Was kostet das Porto?How much is the postage?

Scene — the post office

The post office is a short walk from Fliederstraße. Priya has a padded envelope with the jacket that was too big.

A clerk waits at the counter. After the parcel, she still has a bank errand around the corner.

The bank clerk is warmer than Herr Schulze, but this is still Sie.

Priya waits in line at the post-office counter with a padded envelope.

Learn — parcels and the bank

Six lines cover a parcel at the post office, postage and shipping time, then money and an account at the bank.

Staff at both counters get Sie, not du.

  1. Priya presents the padded parcel to the post-office clerk.

    Ich möchte dieses Paket verschicken.

    I'd like to send this parcel.

    When to use it: Say this at the post office when you want to send a parcel.

    Counter staff get Sie, so keep this whole polite request as it is.

  2. The clerk directs Priya toward the scale with her parcel.

    Wie lange dauert der Versand?

    How long does shipping take?

    When to use it: Ask this after you hand in a parcel, before you leave the counter.

    In a main clause the verb stays second, so dauert comes after lange.

    Say it: Versand puts the stress on the second syllable.

  3. Priya passes money through the bank teller tray to exchange it.

    Ich möchte Geld wechseln, bitte.

    I'd like to change some money, please.

    When to use it: Say this at a bank when you need cash in another currency.

    The verb stays second: möchte comes right after ich.

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

  4. Priya leans toward the bank clerk to ask about her account.

    Ich hätte eine Frage zu meinem Konto.

    I have a question about my account.

    When to use it: Use this at the bank when you need help with your account.

    After zu the noun takes the dative: zu meinem Konto, not mein Konto.

    Say it: Hätte uses the ä sound in the first syllable.

  5. Priya holds up a blank identity card and checks whether she needs to show it.

    Muss ich meinen Ausweis vorzeigen?

    Do I need to show my ID?

    When to use it: Ask this at a bank or counter before you hand over ID.

    Meinen goes with Ausweis because the ID is the thing you show.

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

  6. Priya watches her parcel on the scale while asking about the postage.

    Was kostet das Porto?

    How much is the postage?

    When to use it: Ask this at the post office when you need the postage price.

    Porto takes das, like other neuter nouns you learn with the article.

Story — the jacket goes back

Priya posts the jacket first, then she asks at the bank about money and her ID.

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

  1. Priya stands in line with a padded envelope. The jacket that was too big is inside.
  2. PriyaEntschuldigen Sie.Excuse me.
  3. ClerkGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  4. PriyaGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  5. ClerkWie kann ich Ihnen helfen?How can I help you?
  6. PriyaIch möchte dieses Paket verschicken.I'd like to send this parcel.
  7. ClerkLegen Sie das Paket bitte auf die Waage.Please put the parcel on the scale.
  8. PriyaWas kostet das Porto?How much is the postage?
  9. ClerkSechs Euro fünfzig.Six euros fifty.
  10. PriyaWie lange dauert der Versand?How long does shipping take?
  11. ClerkZwei bis drei Werktage.Two to three working days.
  12. She walks around the corner. A bank clerk looks up, much warmer than Herr Schulze.
  13. ClerkGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  14. PriyaIch möchte Geld wechseln, bitte.I'd like to change some money, please.
  15. ClerkGern. Haben Sie noch eine Frage?Gladly. Do you have another question?
  16. PriyaIch hätte eine Frage zu meinem Konto.I have a question about my account.
  17. ClerkJa, klar. Das geht ganz schnell.Yes, of course. That will be really quick.
  18. PriyaMuss ich meinen Ausweis vorzeigen?Do I need to show my ID?
  19. ClerkJa, bitte. Nur ganz kurz.Yes, please. Only very briefly.

Practice — at the counter

Ten short exercises mix listening, gaps, swaps, and building a line.

You'll practise the parcel desk and the bank counter, including when to use Sie.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Ich möchte dieses Paket verschicken.Drop the English here
    Wie lange dauert der Versand?Drop the English here
    Was kostet das Porto?Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    You are at the post office with a parcel in your hands. Start the request to send it.

  4. Fill the gap

    How long does shipping take?

    Wie lange dauert der ____?

  5. What does it mean?

    Ich möchte Geld wechseln, bitte.

  6. Pick the reply

    Clerk says:

    Gern. Haben Sie noch eine Frage?

    Gladly. Do you have another question?

    And you reply with:

  7. Swap the word

    At the bank you need to ask if you have to show your ID.

    Muss ich meinen ____ vorzeigen?

  8. Fill the gap

    I have a question about my account.

    Ich hätte eine Frage zu meinem ____.

  9. True or false?

    Use this daytime hello with counter staff after morning.

  10. Fill the gap

    Excuse me

    ____ Sie.

Say it — your turn to send it

Now you're Priya at the post office, then at the bank. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. ClerkGuten Tag. Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?Good afternoon. How can I help you?
  2. Priya (you)Tell the clerk you want to send this parcel.

    Ich möchte dieses Paket verschicken.

    I'd like to send this parcel.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ich möchte dieses Paket verschicken.I'd like to send this parcel.
Wie lange dauert der Versand?How long does shipping take?
Ich möchte Geld wechseln, bitte.I'd like to change some money, please.
Ich hätte eine Frage zu meinem Konto.I have a question about my account.
Muss ich meinen Ausweis vorzeigen?Do I need to show my ID?
Was kostet das Porto?How much is the postage?
Next: lesson 207Taking a day off

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps postage and bank lines ready.

Open Yak Cards