ikh HE-te GERN DRAI BRÖT-khen, BI-te · “I’d like 3 bread rolls, please.”Why:Plural: Brötchen → Brötchen. -chen words never change in the plural. Hätte gern is the polite Konjunktiv II form, like “I would like”.
BÄCKEREI SCHMIDT
3 × Brötchen0,45 €
SUMME1,35 €
Das macht ein Euro fünfunddreißig.das MAKHT … · “That comes to …” Euro stays singular; the cents follow with no “and”.
der Kassenbon · the receipt
Short answer: order politely with Ich hätte gern… (“I would like…”) or Ich nehme… (“I’ll take…”). Quantities come straight before the food, with no word for “of”: ein Kilo Äpfel, eine Flasche Wasser. Prices are said zwei Euro fünfzig. You will be asked Bar oder mit Karte? (cash or card?). Most shops close on Sundays, and bottles carry a deposit, das Pfand.
Kinds of shop
Bäckerei, Metzgerei, Späti
Many shop names end in -erei and are all feminine: die Bäckerei (bakery) from backen (to bake). You go zur Bäckerei and buy something in der Bäckerei. Tap to hear each one.
Quantities
Ein Kilo Äpfel, eine Flasche Wasser
German puts the quantity straight before the food, with no “of” and no article. Units of measure stay singular after a number: zwei Kilo, drei Liter; containers take the plural: zwei Flaschen.
At the till
Bar oder mit Karte? Zusammen oder getrennt?
Cash is still common in Germany, so small shops may ask before you pay. In a café, the waiter asks whether you are paying together or separately.
Kassiererin
Haben Siehave youeineaKundenkarte?loyalty-card
HAA-ben zee AI-ne KUN-den-kar-te · “Do you have a loyalty card?”Asked at almost every supermarket till.
Sie
Nein,nodanke.thanks
nain, DAN-ke · “No, thanks.”
Kassiererin
Barcashoderormit Karte?with card
BAAR OH-der mit KAR-te · “Cash or card?”Mit Karte zahlen: to pay by card.
Sie
Mit Karte,with cardbitte.please
mit KAR-te, BI-te · “By card, please.”
Kellner
Zusammentogetheroderorgetrennt?separately
tsu-ZA-men OH-der ge-TRENT · “Together or separately?”In cafés each person often pays for their own order.
Sie
Stimmtis-rightso.so
SHTIMT zoh · “Keep the change.”Literally “it’s right like that”: how you add a tip.
How German shopping works
Pfand, Ladenschluss and the Späti
Three things surprise visitors. Most bottles and cans carry a deposit you get back at a machine; shops close on Sundays; and in Berlin and some cities the late-night corner shop, the Späti, fills the gap.
25 ctdas PfandA deposit of 25 cents on most plastic bottles and cans. Return them to the machine in any supermarket for a voucher.
IstisdatherePfanddepositdrauf?on-it
ist DAA PFANT DRAUF · “Is there a deposit on it?”
Soder LadenschlussMost shops close on Sundays and public holidays. Stations, airports, bakeries in the morning and petrol stations are the exceptions.
Sonntagson-Sundaysistisalleseverythingzu.closed
ZON-taaks ist A-les TSOO · “On Sundays everything is closed.”
24 hder SpätiThe Spätkauf (late shop) sells drinks, snacks and basics until late; in other regions it is called a Kiosk or a Trinkhalle.
Der Spätithe late-shophathasnochstillauf.open
dair SHPAY-tee hat NOKH AUF · “The corner shop is still open.”
At the weekly market
Auf dem Wochenmarkt
Most German towns have a Wochenmarkt one or two mornings a week. Fruit and vegetables are sold by weight, often by the Pfund (500 g).