72 Basic German Phrases for Your Next Trip to Austria 🇦🇹

Grüß Gott! 👋 That's how Austrians greet each other, and it literally means "May God greet you." Isn't that a charming way to say hello? 😊 Austrian German is a unique dialect that sets itself apart from the German spoken in Germany. It's like a secret code that will make you feel like a true insider when exploring the stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, and delicious cuisine of Austria. 🏰🌿🍽️

In this ultimate guide, we'll dive into 72 essential German phrases that will help you navigate your way through Austria like a pro. From ordering a classic Wiener Schnitzel 🍽️ to flirting with that cute Austrian at the bar 😉, we've got you covered. Let's get started on this linguistic adventure! 🎒🗺️

Greetings and Basic Phrases 🙌

1. Grüß Gott! (grooss got) - Hello! (formal)
2. Servus! (sair-voos) - Hi! / Bye! (informal)
3. Guten Morgen! (goo-ten mor-gen) - Good morning!
4. Guten Tag! (goo-ten tahk) - Good day!
5. Guten Abend! (goo-ten ah-bent) - Good evening!
6. Auf Wiedersehen! (owf vee-der-zay-en) - Goodbye!
7. Tschüss! (chooss) - Bye! (informal)
8. Bitte (bi-te) - Please
9. Danke (dahn-ke) - Thank you
10. Bitte schön (bi-te shurn) - You're welcome
11. Entschuldigung (ent-shul-di-gung) - Excuse me / Sorry
12. Ja (yah) - Yes
13. Nein (nine) - No
14. Vielleicht (fee-laikht) - Maybe
15. Ich verstehe nicht (ikh fer-shtay-e nikht) - I don't understand
16. Sprechen Sie Englisch? (shprekh-en zee eng-lish) - Do you speak English?
17. Wie heißen Sie? (vee hice-en zee) - What's your name? (formal)
18. Ich heiße... (ikh hice-e) - My name is...
19. Freut mich! (froyt mikh) - Nice to meet you!
20. Wie geht's? (vee gayts) - How are you?
21. Mir geht's gut (meer gayts goot) - I'm doing well
22. Nicht schlecht (nikht shlekht) - Not bad
23. Prost! (prohst) - Cheers!

Dining and Food 🍽️🍺

When in Austria, you absolutely must indulge in the country's mouthwatering cuisine. From savory Wiener Schnitzel to sweet Apfelstrudel, Austrian dishes are a true delight for the taste buds. Here are some useful phrases to help you order like a local:

24. Ich hätte gerne... (ikh he-te gair-ne) - I'd like...
25. Die Speisekarte, bitte (dee shpy-ze-kar-te, bi-te) - The menu, please
26. Ich bin Vegetarier/in (ikh bin ve-ge-tah-ree-er/in) - I'm a vegetarian
27. Ich habe eine Allergie gegen... (ikh hah-be i-ne a-ler-gee gay-gen) - I'm allergic to...
28. Was empfehlen Sie? (vas emp-fay-len zee) - What do you recommend?
29. Noch ein Bier, bitte! (nokh ain beer, bi-te) - Another beer, please!
30. Die Rechnung, bitte (dee rekh-nung, bi-te) - The bill, please
31. Das schmeckt gut! (das shmekt goot) - That tastes good!
32. Mahlzeit! (mahl-tsait) - Enjoy your meal!
33. Ein Wiener Schnitzel, bitte (ain vee-ner shni-tsel, bi-te) - A Wiener Schnitzel, please
34. Ich hätte gerne einen Apfelstrudel (ikh he-te gair-ne i-nen ap-fel-stroo-del) - I'd like an apple strudel

Getting Around 🚶‍♀️🚋

Austria is a country of stunning landscapes, from the majestic Alps to the charming streets of Vienna. To fully explore its beauty, you'll need to know how to get around. These phrases will help you navigate public transportation and ask for directions:

35. Wo ist die U-Bahn? (voh ist dee oo-bahn) - Where is the subway?
36. Wie komme ich zum Stephansdom? (vee ko-me ikh tsoom ste-fahns-dohm) - How do I get to St. Stephen's Cathedral?
37. Ich möchte zur Oper (ikh merkh-te tsoor oh-per) - I'd like to go to the opera
38. Gibt es hier eine Bushaltestelle? (gipt es heer i-ne boos-hal-te-shte-le) - Is there a bus stop here?
39. Wo kann ich eine Fahrkarte kaufen? (voh kan ikh i-ne fahr-kar-te kow-fen) - Where can I buy a ticket?
40. Wann fährt der nächste Zug nach Salzburg? (van fayrt dair naykh-ste tsook nahkh zalts-boork) - When does the next train to Salzburg leave?
41. Ist das der richtige Weg zum Schloss Schönbrunn? (ist das dair rikh-ti-ge vayk tsoom shloss shurn-broon) - Is this the right way to Schönbrunn Palace?
42. Links (links) - Left
43. Rechts (rekhts) - Right
44. Geradeaus (ge-rah-de-ows) - Straight ahead

Shopping and Money 💰🛍️

From traditional markets to high-end boutiques, Austria offers a diverse shopping experience. Here are some phrases to help you navigate the world of Austrian commerce:

45. Wo ist der nächste Bankomat? (voh ist dair naykh-ste bank-oh-mat) - Where is the nearest ATM?
46. Kann ich mit Kreditkarte zahlen? (kan ikh mit kre-deet-kar-te tsah-len) - Can I pay with a credit card?
47. Ich suche ein Souvenir (ikh zoo-khe ain soo-ve-neer) - I'm looking for a souvenir
48. Haben Sie das in meiner Größe? (hah-ben zee das in my-ner grur-se) - Do you have this in my size?
49. Was kostet das? (vas kos-tet das) - How much does this cost?
50. Können Sie den Preis etwas reduzieren? (kur-nen zee dayn pryse et-vas re-doo-tsee-ren) - Can you reduce the price a bit?
51. Ich schaue mich nur um (ikh show-e mikh noor oom) - I'm just browsing

Emergencies and Health 🚑💊

While we hope your trip to Austria is incident-free, it's always good to be prepared for emergencies. These phrases will help you communicate with medical professionals and authorities:

52. Ich brauche einen Arzt (ikh brow-khe i-nen artst) - I need a doctor
53. Rufen Sie einen Krankenwagen! (roo-fen zee i-nen kran-ken-vah-gen) - Call an ambulance!
54. Ich habe Schmerzen in der Brust (ikh hah-be shmer-tsen in dair brust) - I have chest pain
55. Ich bin allergisch gegen Penicillin (ikh bin a-ler-gish gay-gen pe-ni-tsi-leen) - I'm allergic to penicillin
56. Wo ist die nächste Apotheke? (voh ist dee naykh-ste a-po-tay-ke) - Where is the nearest pharmacy?
57. Ich möchte die Polizei rufen (ikh merkh-te dee po-li-tsai roo-fen) - I want to call the police

Flirting and Romance 😘💕

Austrians are known for their charm and sophistication, so why not try your hand at some flirtatious German phrases? Who knows, you might just find your Austro-soulmate!

58. Du hast wunderschöne Augen (doo hast voon-der-shur-ne ow-gen) - You have beautiful eyes
59. Kann ich dir einen Drink ausgeben? (kan ikh deer i-nen drink ows-gay-ben) - Can I buy you a drink?
60. Willst du tanzen? (vilst doo tan-tsen) - Do you want to dance?
61. Ich finde dich sehr attraktiv (ikh fin-de dikh zayr a-trak-teef) - I find you very attractive
62. Hast du Lust, mit mir auszugehen? (hast doo lust, mit meer ows-tsoo-gay-en) - Would you like to go out with me?
63. Du bist süß (doo bist zoos) - You're cute

Slang and Colloquialisms 😎🗣️

To really impress the locals and sound like a true Austrian, sprinkle some of these slang terms and colloquialisms into your conversations:

64. Leiwand! (lai-vant) - Cool! / Awesome!
65. Mahlzeit! (mahl-tsait) - Hi! / Bye! (informal, used around mealtimes)
66. Geh bitte! (gay bi-te) - Come on! / No way!
67. Oida! (oy-da) - Dude! / Oh man!
68. Schau ma mal (show ma mahl) - Let's see / We'll see
69. Das ist ein Blödsinn (das ist ain blurd-zin) - That's nonsense
70. Ich bin schon gspannt (ikh bin shohn gshpant) - I'm excited / I can't wait

Things to Watch Out For ⚠️👀

While Austrians are generally friendly and welcoming, there are a few things to keep in mind to avoid any cultural faux pas:

• Austrians value punctuality, so try to be on time for appointments and meetings
• When entering shops or restaurants, always greet the staff with "Grüß Gott" or "Guten Tag"
• Tipping is expected in Austria, typically around 5-10% of the bill
• Avoid discussing World War II or making any Nazi-related jokes, as it's a sensitive topic
• Be respectful in churches and religious sites, and dress modestly when visiting them

FAQs ❓

Q: How do I say "I don't speak German" in German?A: "Ich spreche kein Deutsch" (ikh shpre-khe kine doysh)

Q: What's a typical Austrian greeting?A: "Grüß Gott" is the most common formal greeting, while "Servus" is used in more informal situations.

Q: How do I ask for the Wi-Fi password?A: "Wie lautet das WLAN-Passwort?" (vee low-tet das vlan-pass-vort)

Q: What's a must-try Austrian dish?A: Wiener Schnitzel, a breaded and fried veal cutlet, is a classic Austrian dish that you shouldn't miss!

With these 72 essential German phrases, you're well-equipped to navigate the beautiful country of Austria. Remember to practice your pronunciation, be respectful of local customs, and most importantly, have fun! Austria is a country full of surprises, and with a little bit of German up your sleeve, you're sure to have an unforgettable adventure. Viel Glück und gute Reise! 🍀🛫