German · Real conversations
Meeting people: useful German phrases
Start a friendly exchange and find a connection.
Start with the essentials
Start with the essential words and expressions below. Next, learn the five specific phrases in the reference table. Finally, read both sides of the exchange and try the linked rehearsal before revealing its sample replies. This collection connects to the broader vocabulary topic.
- Hello
hallo
Hello
- Nice to meet you
freut mich
Nice to meet you
- What's your name?
Wie heißt du?
What's your name?
- Where are you from?
Woher kommst du?
Where are you from?
Make the conversation more specific
| What you want to say | German |
|---|---|
| Hello | hallo Hello |
| Nice to meet you | freut mich Nice to meet you |
| What's your name? | Wie heißt du? What's your name? |
| Where are you from? | Woher kommst du? Where are you from? |
| What brings you here? | Was führt dich hierher? Show English translationWhat brings you here? |
| How do you know ...? | Woher kennst du …? Show English translationHow do you know …? |
| Is this your first time here? | Bist du zum ersten Mal hier? Show English translationIs this your first time here? |
| I've heard a lot about you. | Ich habe viel von dir gehört. Show English translationI've heard a lot about you. |
| Have we met before? | Haben wir uns schon einmal getroffen? Show English translationHave we met before? |
Read the other side of the exchange
Partner
Hallo, ich bin aus einer anderen Stadt zu Besuch.
Hello, I'm visiting from another town.
You
Was führt dich hierher?
What brings you here?
Partner
Anna hat mich eingeladen. Sie ist eine alte Freundin.
Anna invited me. She's an old friend.
You
Woher kennst du Anna?
How do you know Anna?
Meeting people in other languages
A note on speaking German
Use Sie for formal address and du with people you address informally. Könnten Sie …? is a useful polite request. Keep noun capitals and the verb position shown in each complete sentence.
The examples preserve German accents and ß. Read a full sentence before replacing a detail: a subordinate clause can move the verb to the end, and case can change an article or pronoun.
