World City Guide

Language

The national language is German, but locals also speak Frankfurterisch – a dialect related to Hessisch. Frankfurters’ speech is direct and uncluttered with elaborate phrasing or subtleties, revealing a pragmatic and sometimes sceptical view of life that has no doubt assisted them in the business world. The city’s international importance means that most people involved in business and tourism will speak good English. However, a few words of German by visitors are always well received. A good phrase to remember is ‘Stffche petze’, which means to drink apple wine – a regional speciality.

Phrases

Yes - Ja
No - Nein
Hello - Guten Tag / Hallo
Goodbye - Auf Wiedersehen / Tschs (informal)
Please - Bitte
Thank you - Danke
My name is & - Mein Name ist &
How are you? - Wie geht es Ihnen? (polite) / Wie geht es dir? (informal)
I’m very well - Mir geht es gut
I feel ill - Ich fhle mich unwohl
How much does it cost? - Wieviel kostet das?
Do you speak - Sprechen Sie English? Englisch? (polite) / Sprichst du Englisch? (informal)
I don’t understand - Ich verstehe nicht
Where is &? - Wo befindet sich &?
Entrance - Eingang /Einfahrt (vehicles)
Exit - Ausgang / Ausfahrt (vehicles)
Danger - Gefahr / Vorsicht
Open - Geffnet
Closed - Geschlossen
Toilets - Toiletten / WC
Doctor - Arzt / rztin (female)
Hotel - Hotel
Restaurant - Restaurant
Beer - Bier
Wine - Wein
Menu - Spreisekarte
Today - Heute
Tomorrow - Morgen
Monday - Montag
Tuesday - Dienstag
Wednesday - Mittwoch
Thursday - Donnerstag
Friday - Freitag
Saturday - Samstag
Sunday - Sonntag
One - Eins
Two - Zwei
Three - Drei
Four - Vier
Five - Fnf
Six - Sechs
Seven - Sieben
Eight - Acht
Nine - Neun
Ten - Zehn
Twenty - Zwanzig
Thirty - Dreissig
Forty - Vierzig
Fifty - Fnfzig
Sixty - Sechzig
Seventy - Siebzig
Eighty - Achtzig
Ninety - Neunzig
One Hundred - Hundert
One Thousand - Tausend