German - Asking For Help

Lesson 9 of 158

Learner asking for help in German with friendly phrases for everyday situations.

Goal: Quick, polite phrases to get assistance

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

Ready to ask for help with confidence? This short lesson gives you the key German phrases you need when something goes wrong or you need directions. A tiny Yak Yacker tip: say it clearly, then smile — people respond well!

Level A1: In this lesson you'll learn 13 useful phrases for asking for help, repeating information, and explaining problems (e.g., Hilfe, bitte! / Kannst du mir helfen?). These CEFR-aligned phrases will help you ask someone to show or do something, repeat instructions, or say that something doesn't work. We'll listen, practice with quizzes, and speak each phrase aloud.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Learn 13 common A1 phrases for asking for and giving help.
  • Practice polite requests, asking someone to show or repeat, and saying something doesn't work.
  • Use short dialogues to recognize when and how to ask for help.
Two people talking in a train station; the lesson focuses on asking for help and finding lost items.

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.

Hilfe, bitte!

Help, please.

Meaning: Help, please!

When to use: For immediate help. Say this when you need someone to assist you right away; in urgent danger, just „Hilfe!“ is most natural.

Hilfe, bitte! Jemand hat meine Tasche genommen.
Help, please! Someone took my bag.
Hilfe, bitte! Ich kann nicht atmen.
Help, please! I can't breathe.

Kannst du mir helfen?

Can you help me?

Meaning: Can you help me?

When to use: Ask another person for help. This is the familiar 'du' form; with strangers or formally use 'Können Sie mir helfen?'.

Kannst du mir helfen? Ich suche die Toilette.
Can you help me? I'm looking for the restroom.
Kannst du mir helfen, die Tasche zu tragen?
Can you help me carry the bag?

Ich brauche Hilfe.

I need help.

Meaning: I need help.

When to use: State a need for assistance in a simple, natural way.

Ich brauche Hilfe mit dem Formular.
I need help with the form.
Ich brauche Hilfe, bitte.
I need help, please.

Kannst du mir bei ___ helfen?

Can you help me with ___?

Meaning: Can you help me with ___?

When to use: Ask for help with a specific thing. Use 'bei' with activities or problems (dative), e.g. 'bei den Hausaufgaben'. For some objects you can also use 'mit'.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use the wrong case or say 'bei' with the wrong article; remember it's dative after 'bei'.

Kannst du mir bei den Hausaufgaben helfen?
Can you help me with the homework?
Kannst du mir bei dem Problem helfen?
Can you help me with the problem?

Kannst du mir das zeigen?

Can you show me?

Meaning: Can you show me?

When to use: Ask someone to show a thing, place, or solution. 'das' refers to the item or location you mean. Formal: 'Können Sie mir das zeigen?'.

Kannst du mir das zeigen, wo die U-Bahn ist?
Can you show me where the subway is?
Kannst du mir das zeigen? Ich finde den Eingang nicht.
Can you show me that? I can't find the entrance.

Kannst du mir zeigen, wie das geht?

Can you show me how?

Meaning: Can you show me how?

When to use: Ask someone to demonstrate a process or how something works.

Kannst du mir zeigen, wie das geht mit dem Ticket?
Can you show me how that works with the ticket?
Kannst du mir zeigen, wie das geht? Ich kenne die App nicht.
Can you show me how? I don't know the app.

Kannst du das noch mal sagen?

Can you say that again?

Meaning: Can you say that again?

When to use: Ask someone to repeat information. Add 'bitte' to be more polite: 'Kannst du das bitte noch mal sagen?'.

Tip: Leave out 'bitte' and it can sound abrupt; add 'bitte' to be polite.

Kannst du das noch mal sagen? Ich habe es nicht gehört.
Can you say that again? I didn't hear it.
Kannst du das noch mal sagen? Langsamer, bitte.
Can you say that again? Slower, please.

Ich finde ___ nicht.

I can't find ___.

Meaning: I can't find ___.

When to use: Say you cannot find something to invite assistance. The missing thing goes into the blank in accusative (e.g., 'den Schlüssel', 'die Tasche', 'das Handy').

Tip: Beginners sometimes forget the correct accusative article—check 'den' vs 'die' vs 'das'.

Ich finde meinen Schlüssel nicht.
I can't find my key.
Ich finde die Fahrkarte nicht.
I can't find the ticket.

Arbeitest du hier?

Do you work here?

Meaning: Do you work here?

When to use: Use to identify a possible helper. This is 'du' form; with customers or strangers use 'Arbeiten Sie hier?'.

Arbeitest du hier? Ich suche einen Mitarbeiter.
Do you work here? I'm looking for a staff member.
Arbeitest du hier oder bist du ein Kunde?
Do you work here or are you a customer?

Wer kann mir helfen?

Who can help me?

Meaning: Who can help me?

When to use: Ask who can provide assistance. 'mir' is dative and used to say who can help you.

Wer kann mir helfen? Ich brauche jemanden mit einem Schraubenzieher.
Who can help me? I need someone with a screwdriver.
Wer kann mir helfen, bitte?
Who can help me, please?

Kann ich dich etwas fragen?

Can I ask you a question?

Meaning: Can I ask you a question?

When to use: Open a request for assistance politely. This is 'du' form; for strangers, use 'Kann ich Sie etwas fragen?'.

Kann ich dich etwas fragen? Wo ist der Bahnhof?
Can I ask you a question? Where is the train station?
Kann ich dich etwas fragen? Kennst du diese Stadt?
Can I ask you a question? Do you know this city?

Das funktioniert nicht.

This doesn't work.

Meaning: This doesn't work.

When to use: Say this when a device, app, or machine is not functioning.

Das funktioniert nicht. Der Drucker druckt nicht.
This doesn't work. The printer won't print.
Das funktioniert nicht, ich bekomme eine Fehlermeldung.
This doesn't work; I'm getting an error message.

Das schaffe ich nicht.

I can't do this.

Meaning: I can't do this.

When to use: Say you cannot manage a task. Natural spoken form when something is too difficult or you need help.

Das schaffe ich nicht. Kannst du mir helfen?
I can't do this. Can you help me?
Das schaffe ich nicht allein.
I can't manage this alone.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna asks David for help finding a lost item.

Anna asks David for help finding something; the scene shows polite, short requests in German.

What does Anna ask David for?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Kann ich dich etwas fragen?

Can I ask you a question?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Wer kann dir helfen?

Who can help you?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Ich finde mein Portemonnaie nicht. Kannst du mir helfen?

I can't find my wallet. Can you help me?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Arbeitest du hier?

Do you work here?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Nein. Ich brauche Hilfe, bitte.

No. I need help, please.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Okay. Kannst du mir das zeigen?

Okay. Can you show me that?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

How do you say 'Help, please!' in German?

Which phrase asks someone to repeat what they said?

Which German sentence would you use if a machine is broken?

How do you ask 'Do you work here?' informally?

The ticket machine isn't working, so you say 'Das funktioniert nicht.'

The ticket machine won't give my ticket. I would say: __

If you cannot manage the task, say 'Das schaffe ich nicht.'

You tried to assemble a shelf but it is too hard. You say: __

To ask someone to repeat, say 'Kannst du das noch mal sagen?'

You did not hear the instructions and want repetition: __

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:

Hilfe, bitte!

Help, please!

Say this phrase out loud:

Kannst du mir helfen?

Can you help me?

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich brauche Hilfe.

I need help.

Say this phrase out loud:

Kannst du mir bei ___ helfen?

Can you help me with ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Kannst du mir das zeigen?

Can you show me?

Say this phrase out loud:

Kannst du mir zeigen, wie das geht?

Can you show me how?

Say this phrase out loud:

Kannst du das noch mal sagen?

Can you say that again?

Say this phrase out loud:

Ich finde ___ nicht.

I can't find ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Arbeitest du hier?

Do you work here?

Say this phrase out loud:

Wer kann mir helfen?

Who can help me?

Say this phrase out loud:

Kann ich dich etwas fragen?

Can I ask you a question?

Say this phrase out loud:

Das funktioniert nicht.

This doesn't work.

Say this phrase out loud:

Das schaffe ich nicht.

I can't do this.