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.
How the language is used
German is the official language of Austria, and it is what cafés, trams, and city offices use in Vienna.
In this city
- Language
- German
- Also heard
- Mostly German
- A local word
- Melange — A melange, please.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
Kaffeehaus
Einen Melange, bitte.
A melange, please.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
Bäckerei
Eine Semmel, bitte.
One roll, please.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Straße
Grüß Gott.
Hello.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
In conversation around Innere Stadt, Neubau, Leopoldstadt, you often hear Austrian German. Signs, news, and announcements stay in standard German.
A first day in Vienna can run on four lines: “Zurückbleiben, bitte.”, “Einen Melange, bitte.”, “Eine Semmel, bitte.”, and “Grüß Gott.”. 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 Vienna, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Melange. It means A melange, please..
Places you can see
- Schönbrunn — A baroque palace and formal gardens on the western edge of the city.
- St Stephen's Cathedral — The Gothic cathedral in the inner city, with a patterned tile roof and a tall south tower.
- Naschmarkt — A long market of produce, cheese, and food stalls just outside the Ring.
Food
Coffee houses serve a melange and cake, and sausage stands sell sausages on the street.
Getting around
Trams circle the Ring, and the U-Bahn reaches the outer districts.
Daily life
You linger in a coffee house while trams ring along the Ring outside.
A few everyday phrases
German
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hallo | Hello |
| Danke | Thank you |
| Guten Morgen | Good morning |
| Ich heiße… | My name is… |
