Small talk
The words that carry a chat at the door, in the lift, at the bakery.
40 words · Level A1
| German | Translation | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| hallo | hello | |
| Moin | hello | |
| Tschüss | bye | |
| bitte | please; you're welcome | |
| danke | thanks | |
| gern | gladly, with pleasure | |
| die EntschuldigungEntschuldigungen | apology; excuse me | |
| das WetterWetter | weather | |
| das WochenendeWochenenden | weekend | |
| der FeierabendFeierabende | quitting time | |
| das HobbyHobbys | hobby | |
| die FreizeitFreizeiten | leisure time | |
| die FamilieFamilien | family | |
| das KindKinder | child | |
| das HaustierHaustiere | pet | |
| der NachbarNachbarn | neighbour | |
| die HeimatHeimaten | home | |
| der UrlaubUrlaube | vacation | |
| reisen | to travel | |
| kochen | to cook; to boil | |
| der SportSportarten | sport | |
| der FußballFußbälle | football | |
| die MusikMusiken | music | |
| lesen | to read | |
| spazieren | to walk, to stroll | |
| gemütlich | cozy, comfortable | |
| langweilig | boring | |
| spannend | exciting | |
| lustig | funny | |
| nett | nice; kind | |
| freundlich | friendly | |
| müde | tired | |
| gestresst | stressed | |
| genau | exact, precise; exactly, precisely; exactly, that's right | |
| eigentlich | actually; actual | |
| ehrlich | honest | |
| übrigens | by the way, incidentally | |
| der QuatschQuatsch | nonsense | |
| siezen | to address formally | |
| duzen | to address informally |
How these words get used
Most chats in Germany open with Hallo and close with Tschüss. In the north you will hear Moin at any hour, not only in the morning, so answer with Moin at six in the evening and nobody blinks. bitte does three jobs: please, you're welcome, and "here you go" when someone hands you something. A short Gern! is the usual reply to danke.
The real trap is siezen and duzen. Adults who don't know each other start with Sie, and the older or more senior person is the one who offers du. If you are unsure, stay with Sie and wait.
genau is how people nod out loud. eigentlich softens what follows, close to "actually". Schönen Feierabend! is what colleagues and shop staff say when the working day ends.
Translations are written with AI and checked as I go. If one looks wrong, reply to any email and tell me.