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What should I expect as a English speaking traveler in Germany? Will I be able to navigate throughout the country?

Posted by
1117 posts

Absolutely. Most people speak at least some English, except for elderly people maybe in very rural areas.

However, the same thing goes like in any country you visit: You will make a great impression if you at least show some effort. Learn "Guten Tag", "bitte", "danke" and a couple of those words, and people will be so much more willing to get out their English for you.

I've seen German tourists in Crete addressing a waiter bluntly in German without so much as a try at a "kalimera", and I've seen American tourists in Heidelberg addressing salespersons without so much as a try at a "Guten Tag". I find neither of those to be very likable.

Posted by
19052 posts

Most people speak at least some English, except for elderly people maybe in very rural areas.

Although the Germans are the most bilingual of all the major language groups in Europe, almost 40% of Germans don't speak any other language. Most of the Germans that do speak a second language do speak English. But they are concentrated in touristic areas and in companies that do business internationally.

Although older Germans in small towns are the most likely not to speak English, it's not just them. A lot of Germans in small towns learned English in school, but have never had to use it, so don't remember.

Posted by
5835 posts

Having a phrase book and basic greeting vocabulary would be useful. My Gemman experience is limited with both trips including the former East Germany. My theory is that the Soviets did not want East Germans understanding English. Older Germans were not exposed to English.

The rural residents of the former East Germany seem to have been more limited in English. On a Mecklenburg-Vorpommern bike trip eight years ago, the most fluent English speaker in one small village were the Iraq immigrants running an Internet cafe.

On our second trip we were based in a small village in the Saxony region bordering the Czech Republic. The organizers used high school students to assist with registration because the students were at least exposed to school English. However when complex problems requiring resolution occurred, only the "A" students seemed to have an ability to understand complex problems expressed in English.

PS My guess is that a German who does not speak English would have the same language problems we experienced if you dropped them into the backwoods of Idaho.

Posted by
3985 posts

Take the time to learn the German translation to phrases and words said often like "thank you", "please", "hello", "goodbye", "where is the toilet" and you'll earn the appreciation of the locals you meet. Don't expect everyone to speak English; as you leave the big cities and go to small towns or villages, you'll find many who know as much English as you do German.

Posted by
8377 posts

English is a universal language of business, so signage often includes English. However, people all over the world who speak some English, don't always speak fluent English, idiomatic American English, understand complicated sentences, or have a complex vocabulary. So it helps to keep it simple and to make an effort. What they appreciate in Germany is visitors who are polite and respectful.

If you're traveling by car, note that there are many different signs and restrictions of which you need to be aware. For example you dont see much of highway signs that indicate North or South, but rather "to" a town.

Traveling by train, it really helps to be familiar with rail station terminology, and how to read a timetable. Many (most?) larger stations with manned ticket offices will have an English-speaking staff person.

Posted by
5687 posts

I've never worried about not knowing any non-English language when traveling in Europe. I mean, I certainly feel embarrassed about it, and I don't automatically expect locals to be fluent in English, but I don't let that stop me from traveling anywhere.

Sometimes I run into someone who doesn't speak English but we find a way to communicate. In Görlitz, Germany (lovely town by the way), when I arrived at a little no-frills B&B, the person who greeted me spoke not one word of English, but she managed to convey that I should wait for the owner to arrive. When he did, even he didn't speak much. No problem - we figured it out: I was there to check in. I needed a key, WiFi password, checkout time, etc. You just have to be patient - don't get flustered.

And these days, with a smart phone or tablet that has Google Translate on it, it's much easier to communicate at least a little. (Don't expect to have conversations that way.)

But would I have expected to have a serious conversation with these folks anyway. That wasn't why I visited Germany. Still, most other Germans I met spoke at least a little English and many were fluent, especially the younger people.

I do think it's polite to learn a few phrases of the local language.

Posted by
14481 posts

Hi,

What I've seen of tourists, American and other nationalities, ie Spanish-speaking, Asians, etc. is that everyone uses English at train offices, tourist souvenir shops, restaurants, grocery stores, museums, etc. Of the major countries (outside the UK) in Europe, Germany is the easiest for international tourists to get around, get information, etc. as English is so readily spoken. I'm talking about western Germany. Don't expect to be able to read the signs/announcements, instructions, etc in train stations, dept stores, and shops, kiosks, etc they're in German. If you go restaurants that also cater to tourists, chances are the places will have an English language menu, if you want one.

In eastern Germany expect to be addressed in German, whether you know the language or not, just as it was in the "old days" (1970s and '80s) Eastern Germany is the place to go linguistically if you don't want to run into English, be it in small towns and cities...Schwerin, Ludswigslust, Neuruppin, Magdeburg, Frankfurt an der Oder, Küstrin-Kietz, Angermünde, Cottbus, etc. Outside of going to Dresden, you won't see international tourists going to other cities in eastern Germany.

Posted by
1117 posts

almost 40% of Germans don't speak any other language

For one thing, I'd like to see a reliable source for that number. For another, I'd like to know what exactly you mean by "don't speak any other language". Are you asking for fluency?

It is true that pre-1989 East Germans have not had much opportunity to learn (much less speak) English, and neither have elderly people who went to school in rural areas before 1945.

It is also true that the vast majority of Germans speaks English much better than most tourists speak German. So what is your point?

Posted by
6590 posts

"Will I be able to navigate throughout the country?"

If this is the core question, then the answer is yes. People like Rick Steves (who utters a few German phrases now and then but admits he speaks no second languages at all) landed on the continent in the early '70s and traveled all over the place on his own, including Germany. Back then, there was no way you could count on the bus drivers or rental agents or train personnel or even hotel desk clerks to have a basic command of English. Even so, and without knowing any German, he was able to get around well enough to start his own company and become an authority on how to travel there.

All of Europe, including Germany, has become more fluent in English since then. The Dutch, the Luxembourgians, and the Scandinavian countries always rank at the top of the English-proficiency surveys, but the Germans are right behind them. The Spanish, the French, and the Italians appear much further down the list. You will find signage in English at airports and many train stations. Ticket machines offer an English-Language option. Germans have a hard time getting a job in the service industries these days if they can't speak English well enough to help visitors and immigrants (who usually know some English when they arrive but no German.)

At Frankfurt airport
At the train station

German is similar enough to English (and it borrows a lot of words from the English language as well) that you may be able to make some good guesses at the meaning of other signs around town.

Even so, as Lee has pointed out, you will probably find people in Germany who don't speak any English. A recent Allensbacher survey indicates that about 37% of Germans say they have very weak English skills or none at all. IME this is the case especially among the elderly and folks who live in smaller towns or work in occupations (like farming) that do not require English. I have spent a lot of nights in small towns and rural areas where foreign tourists don't usually show up, staying in family-run inns where all the guests are German-speaking - and English wasn't an option. But even that won't stop you from getting a room. The 80-year-old monolingual B&B owner I used to stay with in Cochem, Germany, explained to me (in German) that she rented regularly to Asian guests with no German skills using hand gestures and numbers on scratch paper.

Posted by
3514 posts

Millions do fine every year when visiting Germany, you should have no real issues.

If you are expecting every German you meet to be able to debate current world issues in depth in English, you probably will be disappointed. If you just expect shop and eat and sleep, more of the Germans you run into will be able to handle your needs in understandable English. But why should they be fluent in English any more than people in the US should be fluent in German? Learn a few basic words and sentences and everyone will be more happy.

Posted by
37 posts

I became obsessed with learning German after my trip to the country this summer. It felt strange because I had long condemned myself to a monolingual existence and yet was harassing my husband to take German language lessons alongside me :) I find German easy to retain because of its similarity to English (both West Germanic languages). At the very least, if you want people to help you, you should be able to say "Enschuldigung Sie, sprechen Sie Englisch?". We are planning to spend 3 weeks in Berlin next summer so we will put our German into practice!

Posted by
32517 posts

Well said, Russ.

and correct, by me.

If Megan J. Johnson follows the link to labelled At The Station, you might be interested in the only bit of the board not in three languages. It says that smoking is only allowed in the smoking areas. There are usually one or two smoking areas, loosely adhered to, on each platform, usually but not always some distance from the main congregating areas.

Posted by
3039 posts

Bitte, Danke, Guten Morgen, Guten Tag, Guten Abend - these are simple words.

I speak a little German. I've gotten by in German-only situations. But my speaking is usually better than my comprehension.

I usually try "Sprechen Sie etwas English, bitte?" before launching into English. As others suggest, when speaking English, it is best to speak a little slowly and use simple words. "How much?" while pointing is better then "How expensive is that little cerise tchotchke?"

I have found that some countries actually are a little more likely than Germans to have English. Croatians, Slovenians, Serbians IN THE TOURIST ECONOMY are usually English-speakers. People in regular shops, perhaps less so.

Posted by
14481 posts

I agree with the accurate observations and analysis given my Russ, my observations and experiences too. Linguistically traveling in Germany has become so very tourist friendly, Tons of international tourists (Indians, Asians, Spanish-speakers) come to Germany now....look at the train stations, Reisezentrum offices, etc

Posted by
14481 posts

On the Asian guests negotiating for the room: I have never seen Indians or Asians (Korean, Japanese, Chinese) in France or Germany at check-in/out, or train station ticket counters, the Reisezentrum, restaurants, speak any European language other than English....never French or German, unless they live there. English is the only language these tourists know.

Posted by
996 posts

As a guest in someone else's country, I always make a point of learning a few words and phrases in the language of that country before I arrive. I do not expect them to know my language if I haven't made a stab at learning theirs.

Having said that, we found most of Germany to be a little disappointing because so many people in tourist areas and tourist shops DO speak English. But I did encounter one instance at a train station where nobody spoke English. I had the same experience at multiple restaurants. So I was able to use my limited phrases and words there.

If you download the German pack for Google Translate before you leave, you'll have a host of words/phrases available to you even without a cellular/wifi connection. While that didn't help me in Germany, it DID help enormously in Italy when I could not think how to say that I needed one more towel.

Posted by
32171 posts

megan,

I've had few problems when traveling in Germany and using only English. Many of the people you'll be dealing with as a tourist will be able to function to some extent in English, and some will be completely fluent. I always try to learn the "basics" such as "good morning / evening, Please, Thankyou" etc. and that has worked well.

" I have never seen Indians or Asians (Korean, Japanese, Chinese) in France or Germany at check-in/out, or train station ticket counters"

I did encounter one train official several years ago that didn't speak any English. A girl sitting near me on the train helped translate, and it turned out she was from China and living in Germany to learn the language. She spoke Chinese, English and German.

Posted by
14481 posts

It would have been interesting to hear whether she spoke Mandarin to translate. Obviously, I have met Asians living/working in Germany, (and Vienna too); with them I always use German, such as those working at a food vendor in a train station or Chinese restaurants in Germany. I was referring to Asian tourists not those Asians living/working or students in Germany.

Posted by
6590 posts

aquamarinesteph wrote, "Having said that, we found most of Germany to be a little disappointing because so many people in tourist areas and tourist shops DO speak English."

For those looking to try out their rudimentary German skills, Germany's tourist shops and tourist towns - especially those that cater to international tourists - can be disappointments. In Rothenburg ob der Tauber (pop. 11,000) for example, 2.5 million visitors trample through the town annually. Roughly half of those are tourists from countries that don't speak German, and that makes all the difference in R'burg's shops and restaurants... the German service personnel must know English to do their jobs... and most of the Japanese, USA, Dutch, and Chinese tourists are counting on their English to get a meal and ask about their souvenirs. As a result you cannot walk into a Rothenburg gift shop and back out again without having heard English spoken in a variety of interesting accents. My guess is that most servers and clerks address customers with English first (which of course most German customers will understand too.)

Is "most of Germany" like this? For most of us North Americans - especially those using Rick's books or Rick's tours - Germany may seem like some English-speaking territory of the USA or Britain. IME most forum posters adopt Rick's advice wholeheartedly, making plans to visit/stay in places like Rothenburg, Füssen, Bacharach, and/or Rüdesheim... these big-name small towns (and a few others) are especially impacted by foreign guests using guidebook advice to plan their trips. Local innkeepers and shopkeepers in these places are forced into English routinely - it's a snap for them to sniff us out as a foreign tourists, and they know that about 99% of us speak no German (or German that's weaker than their English.) So they tend to skip the German lesson and get down to business in English.

I find it much easier to use my German with a "back-door" strategy (nod to Rick for this term.) It's no trickier to catch a train to a town like Pappenheim or Iphofen (scroll down for photos) than it is to Füssen. I stepped off the train in Pappenheim once for a couple nights' stay and found a room at the zum Hirschen - didn't hear a word of English anywhere until the 2nd morning, when another American showed up in the breakfast room. The owners (who claimed not to speak much English) explained how very odd it was that two of us were there at the same time - and that American guests are quite rare.

So I think the trick for the "I-wanna-speak-German" crowd is really not a trick at all - just give much less itinerary space for the tourist enclaves.

Posted by
20 posts

As everyone has noted, many people in Germany do speak at least some English. However, I did download some Pimsleur courses and learned some rudimentary German before we went. I found that even people who said that they didn't speak English or only spoke a little were a lot friendlier and willing to try after I tried some German. And, in a few places, they really didn't speak English or their English was as limited as my German - however, between the two of us, we were able to conduct business.

I would recommend at least learning some transactional German so you can greet people, order food, and pay for things. The Pimsleur courses are good, but not cheap. You can also learn some basic phrases from the Duolingo app and it's free!

All in all, even though most people spoke English, I felt good about knowing some German and not just expecting everyone to speak English. It was definitely appreciated, especially in that little local bar where the bartender did not speak any English.

Posted by
14481 posts

Some years ago there was debate in Berlin "official circles" whether all those wanting to be hired as a taxi driver should speak a certain level of English, ie, English was to be listed as a mandatory requirement (among others) in order for the driver applicant to qualify for the job. Presumably, there were still taxi drivers in Berlin with no English or very limited levels. In the end English was made an official requirement to be hired.

On all Germans knowing English, a smattering or at fluency level? I find that a myth. They may know more than a smattering but will they be willing to use it with you? The proprietor at the Pension in Berlin told me point blank (I didn't dare ask her) that she didn't speak English. She told me that several years back she had wanted to take up learning a new language. She chose Polish, which definitely she is now proficient in that language.

Posted by
19052 posts

"almost 40% of Germans don't speak any other language"

For one thing, I'd like to see a reliable source for that number. For
another, I'd like to know what exactly you mean by "don't speak any
other language". Are you asking for fluency?

Anna, my reliable source for "that number" was a Eurobarometer language report from about 10 years ago - the last one I read, until now. The Eurobarometer is a survey taken for the European Union of it's members on various subjects and published periodically on the EU website. I doubt that the edition I quoted is available online anymore, since there is a more recent report, from 2012. I just found the most recent one to show you since, although I have my own copies of previous reports, we can't put "attachments" on this website.

By "able to speak" they use able to hold a conversation in that language. I don't think it has to be at a UN translator level - just a basic conversation. I consider myself marginally fluent in German because I have had simple conversations, in German, on various subjects with non-English-speaking Germans.

The latest report says 66% of German speak one additional language (not necessarily English) in addition to their mother tongue. So 34% don't speak any other language. Not quite the "under 40% number" from the report I saw, but close. The same report says that only 56% of Germans speak English well enough to hold a conversation, so over 40%, overall, don't "speak" English.

Anna, I'm not trying to put down the Germans (I, myself, am of mostly German ancestry). Of all the major language groups (English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German), the Germans speak other languages far more often. Of course, small language groups, like Dutch, speak other languages at a far greater rate. There are only about 20 million of them. If they want to speak to very many other people, they have to learn other languages.

It's just that the common American misconception that everyone in Europe speaks lots of languages is just that, a misconception.

Posted by
135 posts

Apart from a few exceptions (e.g. students living in the Rhine valley between Basel and Karlsruhe) almost everybody in Germany learns English for at least five years. But learning a foreign language is like learning to play a musical instrument. You have got to practise, practise, practise and practise again. Otherwise all your skills get lost. I, for instance, took piano lessons for nine years decades ago. Afterwards, as an adult, I didn't practise and that is why nowadays all my skills have gone. Theoretically I know everything but I can't play. The same problem applies to foreign languages.
There are a few more problems. 1) Up to 1990 students in the DDR (GDR, East Germany) learnt Russian at school. That means most people older than about 37 didn't learn English. After the breakdown of the communist regime many young people migrated to West Germany to live and work there. If they haven't learnt English in the meantime they still can't speak it. 2) Most teachers of English at German schools speak British English. As there is a considerable difference between British and American English, especially when spoken, many Germans have difficulties understanding American English spoken fast and indistinctly. My advice: When talking to Germans talk slowly and distinctly. That will considerably increase the chances of Germans understanding you. 3) Many Germans are afraid of making mistakes when speaking English. Perfectionism probably belongs to Germany's national character. When being asked "Do you speak English?" many Germans will say "A little". After a while you realise their skills are quite good. They will make mistakes but they are able to get their message across.

Posted by
8377 posts

What demag says is right. Learning some language in school doesn't provide permanent fluency. Where I live, just about everyone under the age of forty had at least one or two years of Spanish while in school. As adults, most can't order a taco without major help. Use it or lose it.

Posted by
37 posts

Megan, you can sign up for a Duolingo account and start learning German right away! It's fun and interactive, and weirdly addictive.

Posted by
5697 posts

Actually, I find the similarities between English and German can be misleading -- you "think" you know what something means. I saw doors marked "notausgang" --'ausgang' means 'exit', I knew from seeing it in countless U-bahn stations so therefore 'notausgang' must be telling me 'no exit', right ? Turns out, it means 'emergency exit' Luckily, I didn't need to know that (and have learned it since.) Let's hear it for Google Translate!

Posted by
8293 posts

In the 90’s my husband and I drove from Paris to Frankfurt/Oder, on the Polish Border, to visit friends, booking rooms on the fly as we went. I knew about 20 words in German but I was delegated to do all the negotiating. It worked for us and since it was the month of May I learned the German word for asparagus, which we ate every day. Never had any further use for the word “spargel”.

PS Until now.

Posted by
19052 posts

I find the similarities between English and German can be misleading

How true.

Ausgeben, in German, means to spend money. Spenden means to donate. Never tell someone you have 100 euro to spend!

Werden, in German, means to become. Bekommen means to receive or get something. If you want to know what something cost in a shop in Germany, you'd say, "Was bekommen Sie für _________?"

I was once skiing in Coloado with a German girl who had limited English fluency, who said she was a ski instructor in Germany. We got on the triple chair, and the guy next to her was wearing an instructor's parka. I mentioned to her that he was a ski instructor at the area.

She turned to him and said, "What do ski instructors become here?" (She wanted to know how much they're paid.)

The instructor looked puzzled. I laughed so hard I almost feel off the lift.

Posted by
328 posts

Also something that I learned from our German family at a reunion. My husband was about to give a talk on our American Branch of the family. We were advised to speak slowly and clearly as they grew up learning British English and were not used to the American accent. I thought that was interesting, with all of Hollywood's influence. Then I remembered, that TV shows and Movies are dubbed. In fact we were asked at the airport in Hamburg where were from b/c we had a strange accent.

But like the above posters advise, short/simple sentences are the best. Think of it if you were learning a language. If that person used flowery, long 50 cent words, you would have a hard time understanding too.

Don't be afraid to try the simple phrases either. I was really worried about speaking my rusty German. Everyone was really gracious with me even if it wasn't correct.

Posted by
389 posts

Reminds me that I wanted to buy postage stamps in Italy a couple times, and asked for "stampe." (Cringe). Only later did I learn that "stampe" means "presses" and the Italian word for postage stamps is "francobolli." But the vendors knew what I meant.

Posted by
14481 posts

There have been a few Germans I met over the years in Germany, both in the west and eastern areas, whose English I would rate as fluent. Most I would say range from a smattering to proficient. Then there are those with basically zero level in English or they admit to you not being able to speak English. If you need to ask for directions, etc, most I would assume would have the rudimentary level to assist you

How do I define fluent? If they can talk about politics, the weather, travel, current events, daily life, history, etc with all the subject jargon needed with proper grammar, then they are fluent, likewise for Americans speaking German, French, Italian, etc, ie if you can write everything you express on the Forum in the foreign language, then you're fluent in that language.

That Germans want to practice their English with you once you identify yourself as American or being from here in the conversation is a myth. Never has happened over there.

Posted by
3039 posts

So on our last trip to Germany, when we told our friends "We brought you a gift", we did get a funny look. I guess I see why now ...

Posted by
19 posts

I am heading over for the first time in September so I am trying to learn as much as I can since it would be nice to know another language. I think that as long as you attempt to make an effort to know the basics even if you butcher it people will generally be understanding and like that you are trying much like if someone came to the states and learned some English ahead of time, it might just make things smoother but I would keep a translation app on hand as a back up and learn basic signage since you never know what you might encounter and as Rick Steves says it might help you open up that back door to see things that might not have otherwise.

Posted by
8377 posts

If you make it through a trip abroad without having to communicate with someone that doesn't speak English, you're not trying hard enough.

Posted by
81 posts

As a translator, I suppose that language is a very sensitive issue with me and the fact that North Americans are probably the least likely people to speak a second language (with the exception of French Canadians) of any industrialized society. Basically because everyone else seems to learn OUR language. But I'm with Rick and a number of others: learn some basic phrases in the language of the country you're visiting, be polite and be flexible. Also, don't be afraid to guess! A great part of travel is getting out of your comfort zone, right? It may take a little extra planning as it won't be as easy to read signs; machines may work differently; the English that a North American will find may well be British and therefore slightly different terminology from what we're used to. But English is widely spoken so if you're in a terribly tight spot, you'll probably be able to get help from a 3rd person.
Get a good phrase book and familiarize yourself with it before you go so you know where to find things.
Then go and enjoy your trip - and you'll probably come home with a few phrases that AREN'T in the book!
Sharon