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.
Leipzig
Germany
Leipzig is a Saxon city on the White Elster. The market square sits in the old centre, with the church of St Thomas a short walk away.
How the language is used
German is the language of the tram, the bakery, and the city office. 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
Café
Einen Kaffee, bitte.
One coffee, please.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Markt
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 Leipzig can run on four lines: “Zurückbleiben, bitte.”, “Ein Brötchen, bitte.”, “Einen Kaffee, bitte.”, 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 Leipzig, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Brötchen. It means One bread roll, please..
Places you can see
- Markt — The old market square, with the town hall on one side.
- St Thomas Church — Bach worked here. The building is still a working church.
- Gewandhaus — The concert hall on the ring, a short tram ride from the market.
Food
A bread roll and coffee at a bakery counter is the ordinary order. You ask for it in German.
Getting around
Trams cross the centre. Stop names and announcements are in German.
Daily life
The trade fair and the university share the same tram lines as the market. 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… |
