Getting around
Straßenbahn
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.
Erfurt
Germany
Erfurt is the capital of Thuringia. The old centre sits on the Gera, with the cathedral hill above the merchants' bridge.
How the language is used
German is the language of the market, the tram, and the state offices. You use it for an ordinary errand.
In this city
- Language
- German
- Also heard
- Mostly German
- A local word
- Brötchen — One bread roll, please.
- 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
Anger
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.
A first day in Erfurt 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 Erfurt, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Brötchen. It means One bread roll, please..
Places you can see
- Krämerbrücke — A bridge lined with lived-in houses. Shops open onto the walkway.
- Erfurt Cathedral — The Gothic church on the hill, with a long flight of steps from the square.
- Anger — The long square where the tram lines meet the shops.
Food
Thuringian dumplings and a grilled sausage are the local plate. You order them in German.
Getting around
Trams cross the centre. Stop names and announcements are in German, and you follow those.
Daily life
Students, the state government, and the market share the same streets. A short question in German gets you through a shop.
A few everyday phrases
German
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hallo | Hello |
| Danke | Thank you |
| Guten Morgen | Good morning |
| Ich heiße… | My name is… |
