German Phrases
from "German Phrase Book" November 30, 1943
TM 30-606
Special Points
Here are a few points to note:
AI |
as in aisle, ice, right. Example: "NAIN" meaning "no." |
EE |
when underlined, as in bee, need, feel but said with the lips rounded. Example: "G'MEE-az" meaning "vegetables." |
I |
when underlined, as in hit, lick, dim but said with the lips rounded. Example:"tsoo-RIK" meaning "back" or "backward." |
ER |
when underlined, something like the sound in her, serve, fern but said with the lips rounded. Example: "TSVERLF" meaning "twelve." |
a |
when in italics, as in sofa, vanilla, china. Example: "HIL-fa" meaning "help." |
KH |
like the sound you make when you
clear your throat to spit. |
In each section you will find a number of questions, each one so phrased that the German speaker will answer Yes or No, point out the direction, give you a number, etc. If you don't get an answer you can understand, use one of the following expressions:
English |
Pronunciation |
German Spelling |
Answer Yes or No |
AHNT-varwr-ten zee YA o-der NAIN |
Antworten Sie Ja oder Nein |
Show me |
TSAI-gen zee meer |
Zeigen Sie mir |
Write it |
SHRAI-ben zee ess OUF |
Schreiben Sie es auf |
Write the nubmer |
SHRAI-ben zee dee TSAHL OUF |
Schreiben Sie die Zahl auf |
The word for"please" is "BIT-a." For example |
||
Please show me |
BIT-a TSAI-gen zee meer |
Bitte zeigen Sie mir |
Asking Help
English |
Pronunciation |
German Spelling |
Help! |
HIL-fa! |
Hilfe! |
Help me |
HEL-fen zee meer |
Helfen Sie mir |
Bring help! |
Ho-len zee HIL-fa! |
Holen Sie Hilfe! |
I want to eat |
ish mersh-ta ESS-en |
Ich möchte essen |
I want water |
ish mersh-ta VA-ser |
Ich möchte Wasser |
Where can I get water? |
Vo kahn ish et-vahss tsoo ESS-en B'KAWM-en? |
Wo kann ich etwas zu essen bekommen? |
I am wounded |
ist bin fer-VOON-det |
Ich bin verwundet |
Take me to a doctor |
BRING-en zee mish tsoo ai-nem ARTST |
Bringen Sie mich zu einem Arzt |
Bring a doctor |
HO-len zee ai-nen ARTST |
Holen Sie einen Arzt |
Do you understand? |
fer-SHTAY-en zee? |
Verstehen Sie? |
Yes |
YA |
Ja |
No |
NAIN |
Nein |
I don't understand |
ish fer-SHTAY nisht |
Ich verstehe nicht |
Speak slowly |
SHPRESH-en zee LAHNK-zahm |
Sprechen Sie langsam |
Say it again |
vee-der-HO-len zee |
Wiederholen Sie |
Please |
BIT-a |
Bitte |
Finding Your Way
English |
Pronunciation |
German Spelling |
I am lost |
ish HA-ba mish fer-LOU-fen |
Ich habe mich verlaufen |
I am an American |
ish bin ah-may-ree-KA-ner |
Ich bin Amerikaner |
We are American Soldiers |
veer zint ah-may-ree-KA-nish-a zawl-DA-ten |
Wir sind amerikanische Soldaten |
Where are American soldiers? |
VO zint ah-may-ree-KA-nish-a zawl-DA-ten? |
Wo sind amerikanische Soldaten? |
How can I get there? |
VEE kahn ish dawrt HIN-kawm-en? |
Wie kann ich dort hinkommen? |
You will be rewarded |
ish vayr-da een-en GELT gay-ben |
Ich werde Ihnen Geld geben |
Warnings
English |
Pronunciation |
German Spelling |
Danger! |
G'FAR! |
Gefahr! |
Don't smoke! |
nisht ROUKH-en! |
Nicht rauchen! |
Careful! |
FOR-zisht! |
Vorsicht! |
Look out! |
OUF-pa-sen! |
Aufpassen! |
Lie down! |
HIN-lay-gen! |
Hinlegen! |
Down! |
NEE-der! |
Nieder! |
Take cover! |
DEK-oong nay-men! |
Deckung nehmen! |
Don't shoot! |
nisht SHEE-sen! |
Nicht schiessen! |
Don't move! |
kai-na B'VAY-goong! |
Kein Bewegung! |
Don't try any tricks! |
MA-khen zee kai-na G'SHISH-ten! |
Machen Sie keine Geschichten! |
Obey or I'll fire! |
ven zee nisht G'HAWR-shen, SHEE-sa ish! |
Wenn Sie nicht gehorchen, schiesse ich! |
Commands
English |
Pronunciation |
German Spelling |
Wait here! |
VAR-ten zee HEER! |
Warten Sie hier! |
Stand up! |
OUF-shtay-en! |
Aufstehen! |
Quiet! |
ROO-a! |
Ruhe! |
Come forward! |
FOR-tray-ten! |
Vortreten! |
Quickly! |
SHNEL! |
Schnell! |
Right away! |
zo-FORT! |
Sofort! |
Move back! |
tsoo-RIK! |
Zurück! |
Turn around! |
ROOM-dray-en! |
Rumdrehen! |
Go ahead! |
FOR-vayrts! |
Vorwärts! |
Follow me! |
FAWL-gen zee meer! |
Folgen Sie mir! |
Follow him! |
FAWL-gen zee eem! |
Folgen Sie ihm! |
Go slow! |
LAHNK-zahm gay-en! |
Langsam gehen! |
Hurry! |
RAHSH! |
Rasch! |
Stop! or Halt! |
HAHLT! |
Halt! |
Who's there? |
VAYR DA? |
Wer da? |
Advance! |
FOR-tray-ten! |
Vortreten! |
Identify yourself! |
TSAI-gen zee meer ee-ren OUSS-vaiss! |
Zeigen Sie mir Ihren Ausweis! |
Surrender! |
er-GAY-ben zee zish! |
Ergeben Sie sich! |
Throw down your arms! |
VA-fen nee-der-lay-gen! |
Waffen niederlegen! |
Raise your hands! |
HEN-da hoakh! |
Hände hoch! |
Line up! |
AHN-tray-ten |
Antreten! |
Greetings
English |
Pronunciation |
German Spelling |
Hello |
HA-lo |
Hallo |
Good morning |
goo-ten MAWR-gen |
Guten Morgen |
Good day or Good afternoon |
goo-ten TAHK |
Guten Tag |
Good evening |
goo-ten AH-bent |
Buten Abend |
Good night |
goo-ta NAHKHT |
Gute Nacht |
How are you? |
vee GAYT ess ee-nen? |
Wie geht es Ihnen? |
I am well |
ess gayt meer GOOT |
Es geht mir gut |
Thank you |
DAHN-ka |
Danke |
You're welcome |
BIT-a |
Bitte |
Please |
BIT-a |
Bitte |
Pardon me |
fer-TSAI-oong |
Verzeihung |
Sir |
main HAYR |
Mein Herr |
Madam |
G_NAY-dig-a FROW |
Gnädige Frau |
My name is ___ |
ish HAI-sa ___ |
Ich heisse ___ |
Glad to meet you |
ZAYR AHN-g'naym |
Sehr angenehm |
Come in |
hay-RAIN |
herein |
Sit down |
ZET-sen zee zish |
Setzen Sie sich |
Make yourself comfortable |
MA-khen zee ess zish B'KVAYM |
Machen Sie es sich bequem |
Will you have a cigarette? |
VAWL-en zee ai-na tsig-ah-RET-a? |
Wollen Sie eine Zigarette? |
Do you have a light? |
HA-ben zee FOY-er |
Haben Sie Feuer? |
Are you ___? |
HA-ben zee ___? |
Haben Sie ___? |
See you tomorrow |
ouf MAWR-gen |
Auf morgen |
See you soon |
ouf BAHLT |
Auf bald |
Good luck |
AH-less GOO-ta |
Alles Gute |
Questioning
English |
Pronunciation |
German Spelling |
Show your identification |
TSAI-gen zee ee-ren OUSS-vaiss |
Zeigen Sie Ihren Ausweis |
What is your rank? |
VEL-shen RAHNG ha-ben zee? |
Welchen Rang haben Sie? |
What is your outfit? |
VEL-shess ist ee-ra AIN-hait? |
Welches is Ihre Einheit? |
What is your regiment? |
VEL-shess is eer rayg-ee-MENT |
Welches is Ihr Regiment? |
Radio
English |
Pronunciation |
German Spelling |
Calling ___ |
___ KAW-men |
___ kommen |
Over (go ahead) |
KAW-men |
Kommen |
Wait |
VAR-ten |
Warten |
Correction |
EE-roong |
Irrung |
Break |
TREN-oong |
Trennung |
Verify |
BIT-a PREE-fen |
Bitte prüfen |
Numbers
Numbers |
Pronunciation |
1 |
AINSS |
2 |
TSVAI |
3 |
DRAI |
4 |
FEER |
5 |
FINF |
6 |
ZEKS |
7 |
ZEE-ben |
8 |
AHKHT |
9 |
NOYN |
10 |
TSAYN |
11 |
ELF |
12 |
TSVERLF |
13 |
DRAI-tsayn |
14 |
FEER-tsayn |
15 |
FINF-tsayn |
16 |
ZESH-tsayn |
17 |
ZEEP-tsayn |
18 |
AHKH-tsayn |
19 |
NOYN-tsayn |
20 |
TSVAHN-tsik |
21 |
AIN-oont-tsvahn-tsik |
22 |
TSVAI-oont-tsvahn-tsik |
30 |
DRAI-sik |
40 |
FEER-sisk |
50 |
FINF-tsik |
60 |
ZESH-tsik |
70 |
ZEEP-tsik |
80 |
AHKH-tsik |
90 |
NOYN-tsik |
100 |
HOON-dert |
1000 |
TOUZ-ent |
1,000,000 |
ai-na meel-YOAN |
Amounts
English |
Pronunciation |
German Spelling |
A few |
AI-nig-a |
Einige |
Several |
MAY-ra-ra |
Mehrere |
Many |
FEE-la |
Viele |
Not many |
NISHT FEE-la |
Nicht viele |
Very many |
ZAYR FEE-la |
Sehr viele |
Weapons & Ammunition
English |
Pronunciation |
German Spelling |
Ammunition |
moo-nits-YOAN |
Munition |
Antitank gun |
PAHK-g'sheets |
Pakgeschütz |
Bayonet |
ZAI-ten-g'vayr |
Seitengewehr |
Bomb |
BAWM-ba |
Bombe |
Cannon |
ka-NO-na |
Kanone |
Carbine |
ka-ra-BEE-ner |
Karabiner |
Cartridge |
pa-TRO-na |
Patrone |
Gas |
GAHSS |
Gas |
Grenade |
|
|
Gun |
G'SHEETS |
Geschütz |
Howitzer |
HOW-bit-sa |
Haubitze |
Machine gun |
ma-SHEE-nen-g'vayr |
Maschinengewehr |
Mine |
MEE-na |
Mine |
Mortar |
gra-NAHT-vayr-fer |
Granatwerfer |
Pistol |
piss-TO-la |
Pistole |
Rifle |
G'VAYR |
Gewehr |
Shell |
gra-NA-ta |
Granate |
Submachine gun |
ma-SHEE-nen-piss-TO-la |
Maschinepistole |
Weapon |
VA-fa |
Waffe |
Fire |
FOY-er |
Feuer (F) |
Safe |
ZISH-er |
Sicher (S) |
Important Signs
German |
English |
Halt |
Stop |
Langsam |
Go Slow |
Umleitung |
Detour |
Vorsich |
Caution |
Gefahr |
Danger |
Einbahnstrasse |
One-way Street |
Keine Durchfahrt |
No Thoroughfare |
Sackgasse |
Dead End |
Rechts fahren |
Keep to the Right |
Kurve |
Dangerous Curve |
Eisenbahn |
Railroad |
Kreuzung |
Crossroad |
Hochspannungsleitung |
High Tension Lines |
Männer or Herren |
Men |
Frauen or Damen |
Women |
Toilette |
Lavatory |
Rauchen verboten or Nichtraucher |
No Smoking |
Nicht ausspucken |
No Spitting |
Parken verboten |
No Parking |
Zutritt verboten |
Keep Out |
Offen |
Open |
Geschlossen |
Closed |