German - Politeness

Lesson 5 of 158

Smiling learners practicing polite German phrases like Bitte, Danke and Entschuldigung.

Goal: Short polite phrases for everyday situations

Free German lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome back — let’s practice the polite phrases you’ll actually use every day. This short lesson focuses on making requests, saying thanks, apologizing, and responding kindly.

Level A1: In this lesson you'll learn and practice common German polite chunks like Bitte, Danke, Entschuldigung and short polite questions (Kannst du bitte ...?). This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson helps you hear the phrases, try them in a short conversation, and speak them out loud.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use simple polite phrases in everyday situations.
  • Make polite requests and ask someone to repeat themselves (informal du).
  • Say thanks and respond kindly (Gern geschehen, Alles gut).
  • Practice short apologies and permissions.
Two people at a café practicing polite requests and replies in German.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Bitte ___ .

Please, ___ .

Meaning: Please, ___.

When to use: Use this to make a neutral polite request. You can also place bitte after the request (e.g., „Gib mir das bitte.“).

Tip: Beginners sometimes forget that 'bitte' can appear after the verb too.

Bitte gib mir das Buch.
Please give me the book.
Bitte setz dich.
Please sit down.

Danke

Thank you.

Meaning: Thank you.

When to use: Say this to thank someone in most everyday situations. For a warmer tone you can say ‚Danke schön.‘

Danke für das Wasser.
Thank you for the water.
Danke! Das war sehr hilfsbereit.
Thanks! That was very helpful.

Gern geschehen.

You're welcome.

Meaning: You're welcome.

When to use: Use this in response to 'Danke' to be polite. A shorter alternative is ‚Gerne.‘

—Danke! —Gern geschehen.
—Thanks! —You're welcome.
Gern geschehen, kein Problem.
You're welcome, no problem.

Entschuldigung.

Excuse me.

Meaning: Excuse me.

When to use: Use this to get someone's attention politely or to apologize briefly when you bump into someone.

Entschuldigung, wo ist die Toilette?
Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
Entschuldigung, ich habe Ihren Stift genommen.
Excuse me, I took your pen.

Sorry

Sorry.

Meaning: Sorry.

When to use: A casual apology used often in spoken German. For more formal apologies, use ‚Entschuldigung‘ or ‚Tut mir leid.‘

Tip: Learners sometimes overuse 'Sorry' in formal situations where 'Entschuldigung' is better.

Sorry, das war mein Fehler.
Sorry, that was my mistake.
Oh, sorry! Ich habe dich nicht gesehen.
Oh, sorry! I didn't see you.

Kannst du bitte ___?

Could you ___, please?

Meaning: Could you ___, please?

When to use: Use this informal question to ask someone to do something. For formal situations use: ‚Können Sie bitte …?‘

Tip: Don't forget the formal option 'Können Sie bitte…' when speaking to someone you should address formally.

Kannst du bitte das Fenster öffnen?
Could you please open the window?
Kannst du bitte das Licht ausmachen?
Could you please turn off the light?

Kannst du das bitte nochmal sagen?

Can you say that again, please?

Meaning: Can you say that again, please?

When to use: Ask this when you didn't understand or miss what someone said. It's a polite, common way to request repetition.

Kannst du das bitte nochmal sagen? Ich habe dich nicht verstanden.
Can you say that again, please? I didn't understand you.
Kannst du das bitte nochmal sagen? Langsamer bitte.
Can you say that again, please? Slower please.

Hilf mir bitte.

Please help me.

Meaning: Please help me.

When to use: Use this to ask for help politely. For formal situations use ‚Helfen Sie mir bitte.‘

Hilf mir bitte mit den Taschen.
Please help me with the bags.
Hilf mir bitte, das Formular auszufüllen.
Please help me fill out the form.

Sorry, ich kann nicht.

Sorry, I can't.

Meaning: Sorry, I can't.

When to use: Use this to politely say you cannot do something. For a slightly more formal phrase try: ‚Tut mir leid, ich kann nicht.‘

Sorry, ich kann nicht. Ich habe einen Termin.
Sorry, I can't. I have an appointment.
Sorry, ich kann nicht heute Abend.
Sorry, I can't tonight.

Das ist sehr nett von dir.

That's very kind of you.

Meaning: That's very kind of you.

When to use: Use this to acknowledge a favor or kindness. Informal 'dir' is used here; for formal say 'Ihnen'.

Oh, das ist sehr nett von dir. Danke!
Oh, that's very kind of you. Thanks!
Das ist sehr nett von dir, mir zu helfen.
That's very kind of you to help me.

Alles gut.

It's okay.

Meaning: It's okay.

When to use: Use this to reassure someone after a small problem or apology. It's casual but very common.

—Entschuldigung! —Alles gut, kein Problem.
—Sorry! —It's okay, no problem.
Mach dir keine Sorgen. Alles gut.
Don't worry. It's okay.

Nur zu

Go ahead.

Meaning: Go ahead.

When to use: Use this to give permission or encourage someone to proceed. It works in both informal and formal contexts.

Willst du anfangen? —Nur zu.
Do you want to start? —Go ahead.
Wenn du Fragen hast, frag nur. Nur zu.
If you have questions, just ask. Go ahead.

Nach dir.

After you.

Meaning: After you.

When to use: Say this when you let someone go first, for example at a door or when queuing. Formal: 'Nach Ihnen.'

Ich halte die Tür. —Nach dir.
I'll hold the door. —After you.
Du zuerst. Nach dir.
You first. After you.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

At a café, Anna asks for help and thanks David.

Anna and David use polite phrases in a short German conversation about asking for help and thanking each other.

What does Anna ask David to do?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Entschuldigung, kannst du das bitte nochmal sagen?

Excuse me, can you say that again, please?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Klar. Kannst du bitte den Weg zur U-Bahn wiederholen?

Sure. Could you please repeat the way to the subway?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Hilf mir bitte — ich finde die Station nicht.

Please help me — I can't find the station.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Nur zu. Geh geradeaus und dann links.

Go ahead. Go straight and then left.

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Danke! Das ist sehr nett von dir.

Thanks! That's very kind of you.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Gern geschehen!

You're welcome!

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

How do you say 'Thank you' in German?

What's a polite way to get someone's attention?

Which phrase asks someone to repeat themselves?

If someone lets you go first at a door, what can you say?

You would say 'Entschuldigung.' to apologize briefly.

You bump into someone on the street. You say: ___.

You say 'Danke.' to thank someone who gives you a seat.

Someone gives you their seat on the bus. You say: ___.

Use 'Sorry, ich kann nicht.' to politely decline.

You are invited but you can't go. You write: ___.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Bitte ___ .

Please, ___ .

Say this phrase out loud:

Danke

Thank you.

Say this phrase out loud:

Gern geschehen.

You're welcome.

Say this phrase out loud:

Entschuldigung.

Excuse me.

Say this phrase out loud:

Sorry

Sorry.

Say this phrase out loud:

Kannst du bitte ___?

Could you ___, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

Kannst du das bitte nochmal sagen?

Can you say that again, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

Hilf mir bitte.

Please help me.

Say this phrase out loud:

Sorry, ich kann nicht.

Sorry, I can't.

Say this phrase out loud:

Das ist sehr nett von dir.

That's very kind of you.

Say this phrase out loud:

Alles gut.

It's okay.

Say this phrase out loud:

Nur zu

Go ahead.

Say this phrase out loud:

Nach dir.

After you.