Getting around
S-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.
Frankfurt
Germany
Frankfurt am Main is a riverside business city, with a small rebuilt old town under the bank towers.
How the language is used
German runs the streets and the offices, and English shows up in international business without replacing everyday German.
In this city
- Language
- German
- Also heard
- English
- A local word
- Schoppen — A glass of apple wine.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
Food
Sachsenhausen
Ein Schoppen, bitte.
A glass of apple wine.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The counter
Büro
Guten Tag.
Good day.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
Bäckerei
Ein Brötchen, bitte.
One bread roll, please.
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 Sachsenhausen, Bornheim, Bahnhofsviertel, you also hear English.
A first day in Frankfurt can run on four lines: “Zurückbleiben, bitte.”, “Ein Schoppen, bitte.”, “Guten Tag.”, and “Ein Brötchen, bitte.”. 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 Frankfurt, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Schoppen. It means A glass of apple wine..
Places you can see
- Römer — The old city hall on Römerberg, a stepped-gable building facing the rebuilt square.
- Main riverbank — A riverside walk under the museum embankment, with the skyline of bank towers opposite.
- Palmengarten — A botanical garden in the Westend, with palm houses and outdoor beds.
Food
Green sauce and cider taverns are local, and the Kleinmarkthalle sells cheese and produce.
Getting around
U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and trams run under the bank towers and out toward the airport.
Daily life
You pass the bank towers in the morning and the river promenade once the offices empty.
A few everyday phrases
German
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hallo | Hello |
| Danke | Thank you |
| Guten Morgen | Good morning |
| Ich heiße… | My name is… |
