Getting around
U-Bahn
Zurückbleiben, bitte.
Stand back, please.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Berlin
Germany
Berlin sits on the Spree in the north-German plain, a capital stitched back together after the Wall.
How the language is used
German is the official and everyday language, and many residents also use other languages at home and at work.
In this city
- Language
- German
- Also heard
- Turkish, Arabic and English
- A local word
- Späti — A corner shop.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
Bäckerei
Ein Brötchen, bitte.
One bread roll, please.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
Imbiss
Mit scharf, ohne Zwiebel.
Spicy, no onion.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Hof
Guten Abend.
Good evening.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
German is the language of the ride, the shop, and the street.
In Kreuzberg, Neukölln, Prenzlauer Berg, you also hear Turkish, Arabic and English.
A first day in Berlin can run on four lines: “Zurückbleiben, bitte.”, “Ein Brötchen, bitte.”, “Mit scharf, ohne Zwiebel.”, and “Guten Abend.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- With friends you hear du. With strangers and in offices, Sie is still normal.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Berlin, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Späti. It means A corner shop..
Places you can see
- Brandenburg Gate — A neoclassical gate on the old east-west axis, between the park and the government quarter.
- Museum Island — A Spree island of museum buildings, including the Pergamon and the Neues Museum.
- Tempelhofer Feld — The open runways of the former Tempelhof airport, now a public field for walking and cycling.
Food
Döner shops, currywurst stands, and bakeries are everyday food, and many kitchens are vegetarian.
Getting around
U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses cover the city, and bikes are common on the avenues.
Daily life
You bike across a former airfield on the weekend and buy bread in a courtyard shop the next morning.
A few everyday phrases
German
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hallo | Hello |
| Danke | Thank you |
| Guten Morgen | Good morning |
| Ich heiße… | My name is… |
