German Language

First off, you shouldn't have any trouble getting by with just English, certainly not in Heidelberg at least. Nevertheless, it can be a little more pleasant to use some German words in local shops or restaurants, as well as to understand a few of the signs. So here's a minimal list of useful terms and phrases.

Special note: In signs or printed documents you may see the character "ß", but it is just a traditional way to write "ss" and has the soft s sound. So Schloß and Schloss are two different ways to write the German word for castle.

Abfahrt - departure(s)

Ankunft - arrival(s)

Arzt - (pronounced like "arts") - medical doctor

Ausfahrt - (pronounced like "mouse fart" without the "m") - exit for vehicles

Ausgang - (pronounced like "mouse gang" without the "m") - exit for pedestrians

Ausweis - (pronounced like "mouse vise" without the "m") - identification, for Americans this means your passport

Bier - (pronounced like "beer") - beer, this one is easy ;-)

Bitte - (pronounced like "bitter" without the "r", or "bittuh", note: for those from from Boston, it's exactly the way you say "bitter" ;-) ) - please

Dammen - (pronounced like "calm men" with a "d" instead of "c") - ladies, you'll often see this on the door to the bathroom, or, you might see just a D, or if you're lucky, a picture

Danke - (pronounced like "don cut" without the "t") - thank you

Einfahrt - (pronounced like "mine fart" without the "m") - entrance for vehicles

Eingang - (pronounced like "mine gang" without the "m") - entrance for pedestrians

Entschuldigung - (pronounced like "en shool dig oong") - excuse me, as in an apology for bumping into someone, or to get someone's attention (waiter, store clerk, etc.)

Frauen - (pronounced like "frowen") - women, if you see a "Frauen" designation on a parking spot, this means it is intended for women only, a common practice in German parking garages (one I like very much ;-) )

Frei - (pronounced like "fry") - free, normally as in available (often used to describe seating or parking)

Herren - (pronounced like "harem" with an "n" instead of "m") - men, you'll often see this on the door to the bathroom, or, you might see just an H, or if you're lucky, a picture

Ja - (pronounced like "yaw") - yes

Nein - (pronounced like "nine") - no

Parkhaus - (pronounced like "park house") - parking garage

Reispass - (pronounce like "rice pass") - passport

Reserviert - reserved (usually in terms of a seat). If you see this on a restaurant table or train seat, that means it's taken.

Tschüss - (pronounced like "choose") - bye, the less formal, more common, and easier to pronounce form of goodbye, you're sure to hear it at least a few times during your stay. It's polite to say when you leave a shop.

W.C. - (pronounced like "vay tsay") - This is a bathroom.