Scott Tepper: Say What?!?

Spiel, the largest tradeshow for boardgames in the world, which takes place in Essen, Germany, is just over two weeks away.  As the show gets bigger, and more people attend, there’s a chance that you, dear reader, may be attending for the first time this year.  Even though most Germans speak some English, you may find they’ll be more receptive to you if you can speak a little German.  So I have made up a cheat sheet of some phrases that might help you in some common situations for attending a game trade show in Germany.

In each instance below, I’ve first listed the phrase in English, and then the equivalent German phrase.  After that, in parenthesis, I’ve sounded out a phonetic version.  Keep in mind that my phonetics are just an approximation of the correct pronunciation.  I hope you will find these useful.

Hello
Guten Tag (goot-en tahk)

My name is…
Ich Heisse… (ihkh Hai-seh…)

Thank you
Danke (dahn-kuh)

Thank you for the explanation
Danke für die Erklärung (dahn-kuh fir dee air-clair-unk)

No thank you.
Nein, danke (Nine dahn-kuh)

Too bad!
Schade!  (shah-duh!)

Please
Bitte (bit-tuh)

Excuse me, where is XXXXX
Entschuldigung Sie, wo XXXXX ist?  (ent-shool-dig-en zee, vo ist XXXXX ?)

How much does that cost?
Wieviel Costet das?  (vee-feel cost-et dahs?)

That is too expensive
Das ist zu teuer.  (dass ist tsu toy-yer)

How much is that all together?
Wie viel macht das alles zusammen? (vee feel macht dahs ah-less tsu-zah-men?)

Can you do better?…
Können sie mir einen besseren Preis machen?  (kern-en zee meer aye-nen bess-er-en price mahkh-en?)

How many people does it play? 
Für wie viele Spieler ist das?  (fir vee feel-uh schpeel-er ist das?)

It’s your turn
Sie sind dran (zee zint drahn)

Is it complete?  (Is it missing anything?)
Fehlt es etwas?  (failt ess et-vas?)

I’m just browsing, thank you.
Ich sehe mich nur um, danke.  (eech zay-uh mikh noo-er oom, dahn-kuh)

Can I have a bag please?
Haben sie einen Beutel?  (ha-ben zee eye-nen boy-tell?)

Where is the bathroom?
Wo ist die Toilette?  (Voh ist dee twa-let-tuh?)

Where can I find something to eat? (where is there something to eat?)
Wo gibt es etwas zu essen?  (vo geept ess et-vas tsu ess-en?)

Can you help me?
Können Sie mir helfen?  (kern-en zee meer hell-fen?)

Do you speak English?
Sprechen Sie English?  (shprech-en zee ang-lish?)

Can you explain in English?
Konnen Sie auf Englisch erklären? (kern-en zee owf ang-lish air-clair-en?)

I’m sorry, I don’t speak German
Tut mir leid, ich spreche kein Deutsch (toot meer leit, ikh shprech-eh kine doych)

Good Luck
Viel Glück!  (feel gloock!)

That looks neat.
Das sieht gut aus.  (dahs zeet goot ows)

Can I watch?
Kann ich Ihnen zugucken?  (kahn ikh ee-nen tsoo kooken?)

I need to get more money. 
Ich muss mehr Geld holen.  (ikh moose mayer gelt ho-len)

Can you hold this for me?
Können sie das fur mich zurück legen.  (kern-nen zee dahs fyoor mikh tsu-roook lay-gen?)

I’m coming back in a half hour. 
Ich komme in einer halben stunde zurück.  (ich come-eh in eye-nair hahl-ben shtun-deh tsu-roook)

It was nice to meet you.
Hat mich gefreut (haht mikh gay-froyt)

Excuse me
Entschuldigen Sie (ent-shool-dig-en zee)

I’m sorry
Es tut mir leid.  (es toot meer lite)

Can I have your email address
Kann ich deine email adresse haben.  (kahn ikh die-neh email ah-dress-eh hah-ben?)

Do you have a business card?
Haben sie eine visiten karte?  (hah-ben zee eye-neh vi-see-ten car-the?)

The next phrase is submitted by my friends, Heidi and Tony.  Hopefully you’ll never find yourself in a situation where you would need to use it, but, better to be on the safe side…

(Please) stop cheating (you asshole/ you bastard), this is no fun!
(Bitte) hoeren Sie auf zu schummeln (Sie Arschloch/ Sie Bloedmann), das macht keinen Spass! 

And the last phrase is something I’m throwing in for the more advanced German speakers.  While its use might be a little more obscure than the previously listed phrases, it just may come in handy for you someday…

All I carry in my purse is a tube of lipstick and a revolver
Alles, was ich in meiner Handtasche habe, ist Lippenstift und eine Pistole.

Now you should have all you need for your trip to Essen!

© 2007 Scott Tepper

---

Comments:

You must register with BGN in order to comment. Registration is free, but if you appreciate the news, previews, reviews and other material posted on Boardgame News, please consider becoming a member to keep the info flowing to your screen!

Mein Luftkissenfahrzeug ist von den Aalen voll! :) Posted by Jim Cote on Oct 1, 2007 at 02:37 AM | #

"Guten Tag (goot-en tahk)” Maybe you should note that “tahk” is with an “A” like in “hi” (say hi and don’t pronounce the h or the short i at the end). It’s a sound that you don’t come across a lot in the English language, and it seems to be hard to explain in writing. Posted by Surya Van Lierde on Oct 1, 2007 at 03:10 AM | #

I still remember my first trip to Germany, when I was 11 - my friends gave me a phrase book which included such beauties as “Are you a prostitute?” and “Do you come here often?”. A useful list - non-German-speakers might want to make some flashcards, so they can show the written text (and answers!) in case of communication problems. Posted by Melissa Rogerson on Oct 1, 2007 at 03:53 AM | #

Don’t forget that “bachelor” in German is “Junggeselle” and “stud” is actually “Hengst.” I learned the difference recently :) Actually, I just watched “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” with my parents who just returned from Greece, and I thought it would have been funnier for you to include misleading translations in the same way Ian’s soon-to-be inlaws did in order to embarrass him. Posted by Jeff Allers on Oct 1, 2007 at 06:56 AM | #

Also important to remember… “Hummer” means “Lobster”. Posted by David Fair on Oct 1, 2007 at 07:34 AM | #

Maybe I should have included that a Gift is actually poison. Posted by Scott Tepper on Oct 1, 2007 at 07:38 AM | #

*clears throat and speaks in German* “I will not buy this record, it is scratched.” “My hovercraft is full of eels.” Hey! I’m getting the hang of this! Posted by Kevin Wood on Oct 1, 2007 at 07:57 AM | #

< Back Home