Yes, no and the essentials in Luxembourgish
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Luxembourgish words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Luxembourgish phrases in this lesson
- JoYO
- Yes
- NeeNAY
- No
- Okayoh-KAY
- Okay
- Ech verstinn dat netesh fer-SHTIN dat net
- I don't understand
- Schwätzt Dir Englesch?shvets deer ENG-lesh
- Do you speak English?
- Kënnt Dir dat widderhuelen?kent deer dat VID-er-hoo-len
- Can you repeat that?
- Méi lues, wann ech geliftmay LOO-es, van esh geh-LIFT
- Slowly, please
- Wat ass dat?vat as dat
- What is this?
- Ech brauch...esh BROWKH
- I need...
- Kënnt Dir mir hëllefen?kent deer meer HEL-ef-en
- Can you help me?
The standard Luxembourgish yes. It sounds like the German ja and is used in exactly the same way. A simple Jo with a nod is perfectly natural.
Straightforward and clear. Luxembourgers are generally direct, so a firm Nee is not considered rude. Pair it with Merci to soften a refusal.
Used exactly as in English. It is universally understood and very common in everyday speech. You can also say Jo, okay to sound more local.
Say this when someone speaks too quickly or uses words you do not recognize. Follow it with Schwätzt Dir Englesch? to ask if they speak English.
Almost all Luxembourgers speak English, especially in Luxembourg City. This phrase is rarely needed but shows cultural respect. The answer will almost certainly be yes.
Polite form.
Literally "more slowly, please".