How to Ask for Directions in German: Phrases & Pronunciation
Asking for directions in German is straightforward; the trick is following the answer and knowing your transit options. Here are the phrases to ask politely, the words you'll hear in the reply, and the lifelines for when it comes too fast.
Formal Sie with strangers
Use the formal Sie when stopping someone you don't know — Entschuldigung to open, Können Sie…? to ask. The reply often includes transit words (U-Bahn, S-Bahn), so it helps to know those before you need them.
Asking
Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?
ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, voh ist dair BAHN-hohf
Excuse me, where is the train station?
Wie komme ich zum Zentrum?
vee KOM-muh ikh tsoom TSEN-troom
How do I get to the center?
Ist das weit von hier?
ist dass vait fon HEER
Is it far from here?
Können Sie mir helfen?
KUR-nen zee meer HEL-fen
Can you help me?
Understanding the answer
Gehen Sie geradeaus.
GAY-en zee guh-RAH-duh-ows
Go straight ahead.
Biegen Sie rechts ab.
BEE-gen zee rekhts ap
Turn right.
Biegen Sie links ab.
BEE-gen zee links ap
Turn left.
Es ist gleich um die Ecke.
ess ist glaikh oom dee EK-uh
It's just around the corner.
Lifelines
Langsamer, bitte.
LANG-zah-mer, BIT-tuh
Slower, please.
Können Sie das wiederholen?
KUR-nen zee dass vee-der-HOH-len
Can you repeat that?
Können Sie es mir auf der Karte zeigen?
KUR-nen zee ess meer owf dair KAR-tuh TSAI-gen
Can you show me on the map?
Tips to sound natural
- Open with Entschuldigung (excuse me) and use Sie with strangers.
- Key words: geradeaus (straight ahead), rechts/links (right/left), abbiegen (to turn off).
- "To the" changes with gender: zum Bahnhof (m/n), zur Post (f). When unsure, people will still understand you.
- Know your transit: U-Bahn (subway), S-Bahn (city rail), Straßenbahn (tram), Bus.
Now practice it out loud
Reading phrases isn't speaking them. Rehearse this exact scene with an AI partner in German, at your level — and get feedback after.
Practice German free