101 Vocabulary Words to Know When Traveling in German-Speaking Countries

Whether you want to learn German to the point of fluency, or you just want to be able to ask basic travel questions and use simple phrases, this article will help you learn the basic words and phrases you need to travel.

Germany may be the most populous German-speaking country, but it is far from being the only country where it is spoken, or even the only one where German is the official language. An estimated 90 million people are native German speakers. It shouldn’t be surprising that roughly 80 million native speakers are German.

German Speaking Countries

Besides Germany, five other countries have German as an official language. It’s an important language in the European Union, with an estimated 16% of people in the EU speaking it. The following are the countries where German is the official language (some do have more than one official language):

• Austria
• Belgium
• Germany
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Switzerland

There are many other countries in the EU where a large percentage of the population speaks German. As a result, German is considered a minority language in the following countries:

• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• France
• Hungary
• Italy
• Poland
• Russia
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Vatican City

Outside of Europe, there are several countries where a larger percentage of the population speak German:

• Australia
• Brazil
• Chile
• Kazakhstan
• Mexico
• Namibia
• Norway
• Paraguay
• Uruguay
• United States
• South Africa
• Venezuela

That means that you have a chance to use the language when you go abroad, even if you don’t go to Germany. It’s great to be able to practice the language whenever you get a chance, especially in personal exchanges.

The problem is that you need the right vocabulary to make the most out of the opportunity. Let’s take a look at 101 of the words you’ll probably use when traveling in countries where you’re likely to find German speakers.

The Basics

All of the stuff you learn in the first few German classes are absolutely essential when you are traveling. Here's what you should master before arriving in a German speaking country.

How to say 'Hello' and 'Goodbye' (and other greetings) in German

The best place to start is with the basics. Like most other languages, there are many ways to greet people in German. There are fewer ways of saying goodbye, but still, there are about a half dozen ways. These are words and phrases you’ll definitely be using. Remember, you’ll also need to be more formal when you are conversing in German,

While many German-speaking countries know English, you’ll probably encounter some people who don’t. It’s best to be able to at least greet people in their native tongue. Since it’s an easy thing to do, greetings are a great way to get comfortable speaking to people in a language that isn’t your first.

If you are going to Germany, there are even more potential greetings. Here are a few other ways to greet people based on region and dialect.

Good Manners – Words You Need to Know

Odds are you are going to need to talk to people without actually wanting to engage in conversation. “Please” and “Thank you” are phrases you will almost certainly need to use when traveling.

Here are the phrases you should know to make sure you can show you have good manners, even if you aren’t fluent in German.

Making Your Introductions

While they aren’t known for being particularly warm, and they really aren’t big on small talk, Germans often enjoy getting to know new people. As an English speaker, they will probably be more than happy to have a language exchange with you, especially since far fewer people learn German compared to the number of people who learn Spanish and French.

To start a conversation, you need to be able to introduce yourself.

Asking Questions

It’s also very likely you will need to be able to ask basic questions. This is a bit trickier because the responses will be much more varied and hard to predict. However, knowing the question words can help to clue in the other person that you need a few more details, and the person will more than likely realize they need to slow down and work with you.

Phrases for Starting Basic Conversations

The following are basic conversation starter phrases.

How to Count Numbers in German

You almost certainly aren’t going to need to be able to count aloud while you are in a German-speaking country. However, you will definitely need to use numbers, such as for street numbers, payment details, and times. Numbers are used all the time, so it’s a good idea to make sure you know the basics so you won’t miss important information. Numbers are probably the easiest thing to memorize and to catch when people are talking to you.

Things That Will Likely Come in Handy

This section covers phrases and vocabulary that you may not use, but most people do when traveling to German speaking countries.

Shopping Phrases In German

You may not need to do any shopping when you are abroad, so there's a chance that you won't need these phrases. However, most people do end up stopping by a shop or two for trinkets and souveniers. The following terms are probably ones you’ll use at least a couple of times while traveling around German-speaking countries.

Dining with German Phrases

German cuisine is unique, and it is often a pleasant surprise just how good it can be to people who are less familiar with German foods.

There’s a lot to know about dining in Germany, so it’s worth your time to study etiquette and some of the more difficult phrases. After all, you will certainly be dining out often while you are there.

Accommodations, Transportation, and Asking for Directions in German

Wherever you go, you know that you are going to need to discuss your accommodations and the available transportation to get there. That means knowing how to ask for and receive directions.

The following are basic terms and phrases to help you get started. Do take time to go over the other blogs to learn more.

Asking for Help in German

The problem with emergencies is that they are always unexpected. Being able to communicate and ask for help is important at all times. When going to a place where there is a different primary language, you need to learn the basics so that you can ask for help.

All of the European countries that have German as a primary language are a part of the European Union. That means that you can call the emergency number 112 in any of those countries to reach an emergency dispatch.
Take the time to learn some of the basic medical terms and phrases so that you can communicate a little more easily.

Continuing to Learn German

This will help you to get started so that you can handle basic communications, but there’s still a lot more for you to learn. Hopefully, you feel inspired to delve into more that the German language has to offer so you can have a more authentic experience when you travel. There’s so much to learn, and the more you know before you reach your destination, the more you can enjoy your time abroad.