Learn how to use essential social expressions
Get this lesson’s key vocab, their translations and pronunciations. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.
Unlock Lesson Notes and Transcripts for every single lesson. Sign Up for a Free Lifetime Account and Get 7 Days of Premium Access.
| Let’s take a closer look at these three conversations. |
| First, do you remember how Ben Lee says, |
| "Excuse me." |
| Entschuldigung. |
| In this context, Entschuldigung is used to get someone's attention, and translates as "Excuse me." Entschuldigung. |
| Entschuldigung. |
| This is a formal expression. Ben uses it because he’s speaking with someone he doesn’t know. |
| Note: This expression can also be used as a mild apology, but here Ben uses it to get the attention of the person he’s chasing after. |
| Do you remember how the passenger acknowledges Ben by saying, |
| "Yes?" |
| Ja? |
| Ja? "Yes?" Ja?. |
| Ja? |
| The second part of the conversation takes place after Ben returns the passenger’s wallet. |
| Do you remember how the passenger says, |
| "Thank you." |
| Danke! |
| Danke! "Thank you!" Danke! |
| Danke! |
| To add more emphasis to your appreciation, you could say, Vielen Dank, literally, "many thanks," but translates as "thanks a lot." Vielen Dank. This is an idiomatic expression used throughout all of Germany. |
| Do you remember how Ben says, |
| "You’re welcome." |
| Bitte. |
| "You're welcome." |
| Bitte. Bitte. |
| Bitte literally means "please." |
| “You’re welcome” is one of the most common translations, but this is a versatile phrase that can be used in multiple situations with many translations. So you will come into contact with it a lot. |
| After the train doors shut and Ben misses his train, do you remember how the passenger apologies to Ben by saying, |
| "I’m sorry…" |
| Entschuldigung... |
| In this context, Entschuldigung..., means "I’m sorry…" |
| Entschuldigung... |
| The passenger feels responsible for Ben missing his train and is apologizing. |
| The meaning of Entschuldigung depends on context. |
| Do you remember how Ben replies, |
| "No Problem." |
| Kein Problem. |
| This starts with Kein, which means "no." Kein. Kein. |
| Next is Problem, "problem." Problem. Problem. |
| All together, kein Problem. "No problem." |
| Kein Problem |
| This is a common phrase used to express that things are alright. |
| Entschuldigung is a universal form which can be used in formal and informal situations. |
| In informal situations, you may hear your peers saying entschuldige, and for formal situations Entschuldigen Sie. |
| Another equally common expression for apologizing is tut mir leid. Literally it means "does me sorrow," but translates as "I'm sorry." Tut mir leid. |
Comments
Hide