Order anything by pointing in German
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. Play the ten German words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 German phrases in this lesson
- Ich hätte gern...ikh HET-teh GERN
- I would like...
- Dieses hierDEE-zes HEER
- This one
- Was kostet das?vas KOS-tet das
- How much is it?
- Die Rechnung, bittedee REKH-noong, BIT-teh
- The bill, please
- Mit Kartemit KAR-teh
- By card
- BarBAR
- In cash
- WasserVAS-er
- Water
- KaffeeKAF-ay
- Coffee
- Teetay
- Tea
- BierBEER
- Beer
- Ohne...OH-neh
- Without...
Literally "I would gladly have", the standard polite order.
Point at something and say this to indicate which item you mean. "Das da" (that there) works equally well for something further away.
Literally "what does that cost?" Works in any shop, market, or taxi. You can also simply say "Wie viel?" (how much?) in informal contexts.
Ask for the bill when you are ready to leave. In Germany, the waiter will not bring it automatically; you must ask. Tipping around 10% is customary.
Card acceptance has improved but many smaller German shops and restaurants are still cash-only. Always worth asking "Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?" before you sit down.
Germany has a strong cash culture. "Nur bar" means cash only, a sign you will still see in many independent businesses. Carrying coins and small notes is genuinely useful.
Specify "still" (still) or "mit Kohlensäure" (sparkling). Germans drink a lot of sparkling water and it is the default at restaurants unless you ask otherwise.
A plain Kaffee is filter coffee. "Ein Kaffee, bitte" orders one.
Ask for "ein Helles" in Bavaria and "ein Pils" in the north.
"Ohne Eis", without ice.