Lower German Phrases

Trying to find some Lower German phrases? Below we have listed many useful expressions including: Greeting Phrases | Farewell Expressions | Holidays and Wishes | How to Introduce Yourself | Romance and Love Phrases | Solving a Misunderstanding | Asking for Directions | Emergency Survival Phrases | Hotel Restaurant Travel Phrases | Daily Expressions | Cuss Words (Polite) | Writing a Letter | Short Expressions and words

Also don't forget to check the rest of our other lessons listed on Learn German. Enjoy the rest of the lesson!

Lower German Phrases

Enjoy these Lower German expressions, but don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference.


English

Lower German Phrases

Greeting

Gruten

Hi!/Good Morning/Good Evening/Good Afternoon/Hello

Moin(also „Moin Moin“, a kind of universal greeting)

àOrigin: “

Welcome! (to greet someone)

Willkamen!

Hello my friend!

Moin, mien fründ! (to male)
Moin, miene fründin! (to female)

(note: you would usually use “moin” without those additions)

 

How are you? (friendly)

Wo geiht?
or:
Allens in de Reeg?
(„Everything clear?“/”Everything okay?”)

Or:
Büst up Stee? [“are you okay/healthy/”]

I'm fine.

Jo, mütt jo. (“Yeah, has to.”)

or:
Jo, allens in de Reeg. [“Everything’s fine”]

or:

Jo, bün goot to weg. (just fine)
or:
Mi ok. (I’m fine, too; note: only as answer to “un di?”)

And you? (friendly)

un di?

Not so good

Nich all goot.

or:
Ne, vundaag is nich goot nich. („No, today isn’t good“)
or:
Vundaag is de worm in. (“There’s something very wrong with this day”, note: idiom)

 

Long time no see

Heff di lang nich mehr sehn.

I missed you

Du hest mi fehlt.

What's new?

Wat niet? (“Something new”/”what new”)

Nothing new

Nix niet.

Thank you (very much)!

(Schöön-)dank!

You're welcome! (for "thank you")

Dor nich för.

Come in! (or: enter!)

Kümm in!

Make yourself at home!

Mak di dat kommodig!

Farewell Expressions

Verafscheeden

Have a nice day!

Holl de Oorn steif!/Munterhollen
(„Keep your pecker up“; note: idiom)

Good night!

Slap goot (“Sleep Well”

Good night and sweet dreams!

Slap got un dröm moi(”Sleep well and dream nice”)

See you later!

Bit denne, nech?

See you soon!

Wi snacken („We’ll talk“)
Wi sehn us(“We’ll see us”)

See you tomorrow!

Bit morjen

Good bye!

Tschüß.

Have a good trip!

Hebb ‘n gooten törn

I have to go

Ik mütt nu gohn./Ik mutt denn mol.

I will be right back!

Ik bün all wedder in.

Holidays and Wishes

Fierdaag un Wünsche

Good luck!

Veel Lück!

Happy birthday!

Hartlik Lückwunsch to dien Gebursdaag!

Happy new year!

Moie nie johr!

Merry Christmas!

Moie Wiehnacht!

Happy Easter!

Moie Oostern!

Happy mother's day!

Allens leve to’t modderdaag!

Congratulations!

Hartlik Lückwunsch!

Enjoy! (bon appetit)

Gooten Aptiet!

Cheers! (or: to your health)

Proost!

How to Introduce Yourself

Sik selv vörstellen

What's your name?

Wo hetsts du?

My name is (John Doe)

Ick hees/Mien naam is…

Nice to meet you!

Dat höögt mi, di to möten.

Where are you from?

Wo kümmst du her?
or:
Woneem kümmst du?

I'm from (the U.S/ Germany)

Ick kümm ut (Amerika/Düütschland) rut.

I'm (American/ German)

Ick bün ut (Düütsch/Amerikansch)

Where do you live?

Woneem leevst du?

I live in (the U.S/ Germany)

Ick leeve in (Amerika/Düütschland)

Do you like it here?

Höögt di dat her?

Germany is a beautiful country

Düütschland is ’n moies land.

What do you do for a living?

Wo leevst du vun?

I'm a (teacher/ student/ engineer)

Ik bün (Schoolmester/Schooljung(male)/Schooldeern(female)/student/ enschenöör)

Do you speak (English/ Lower German)?

Snackst du (Engels/Platt)?

Just a little

’n beten.

I like Lower German.

Ick mög platt.

I'm trying to learn Lower German.

Ick versöke, platt to leern.

It's a hard language

Dat is ’ne swore Spraak.

It's an easy language

Dat is ’ne lichte Spraak.

Oh! That's good!

Oh! Dat is goot!

Can I practice with you?

Kann ick mit di öv’n?

I will try my best to learn

Ick weer mi veel möh geeven to leern.

How old are you?

Wo oll büst du?/Van woveel johr büst du?

I'm (twenty one, thirty two) years old

Ick bün van (eenuntwintig, tweeundörtig) johr.

It was nice talking to you!

Dat was moi mit di to snacken. /Dat hett mi höögt mit di to snacken.

It was nice meeting you!

Dat was bannig höög, di to möten.

Mr.../ Mrs. .../ Miss...

Herr / Fru

This is my wife

Dat is mien fru.

This is my husband

Dat is mien man.

Say hi to Thomas for me

Sä mol „Moin“ to Thomas van mi

 

Romance and Love Phrases

 

Leevde

Are you free tomorrow evening?

Hest du morjen avend tied?

I would like to invite you to dinner

Ick maag di geern to’t avendeeten inladen.

You look beautiful! (to a woman)

Du kiekst schöön ut/ Du büst schöön/Du kiekst moi ut.

You have a beautiful name

Du hest’n moien naam.

Can you tell me more about you?

Kannst du mi mehr över di seggen?

Are you married?

Büst du verhierot?/Hest du de plünnen mit keen tosamensmietet?(idiom, „Have you hired the room with someone together?“)

I'm single

Ik bün leddig.

I'm married

Ik bün verhierot./Ik hebb de plünnen mit een tosamensmietet.(„I hired the room with someone together”, idiom)

Can I have your (phone) number?

Darf ik dien (klöönkassen-)nummer hebben?

Can I have your email?

Darf ik na dien naam freggen?

Do you have any pictures of you?

Hest du ’n Bild van di?

Do you have children?

Hest du Kinner?
or:
Hest du görn/blagen (note: some could feel that’s impolite)

Would you like to go for a walk?

Maagst du spazeeren gohn?

I like you

Ik verknus di/ Ik maag di geern lieden.

I love you

Ik leev di.

You're very special!

Du büst all wat besünners.

You're very kind!

Du büst bannig leev.

I'm very happy

Ick bün bannig glücklich.

Would you marry me?

Wöörst du de plünnen mit mi tosamensmieten?

I'm just kidding

Ik ulke blots./Blots ’n spaaß.

I'm serious

Ick meen dat. /Ik meen dat doodeernst(„I’m deadly serious about it“)

My heart speaks the language of love

Mien hart snackt de spraak van de leeve.

Solving a Misunderstanding

Missverständnisse klären

Sorry! (or: I beg your pardon!)

Ofbeed/Pardon/Tschulligung

Sorry (for a mistake)

Dat doht mi leed.

No problem!

Keen Problem!

Can you repeat please?

Künnst du dat noch een mol seggen? (friendly)
Künn se dat noch mol seggen?(polite)

Can you speak slowly?

Künnst du ‘n beten langsomer snacken?

Can you write it down?

Künnst du dat opschrieven?

Did you understand what I said?

Kannst du mi verstohn? [„Can you understand me?“]
Versteihst du dat?

I don't understand!

Ick versteh dat nich.

I don't know!

Ick weet (dat) nich.

What's that called in Lower German?

Wo seggst du dat op platt?

What does that word mean in English?

Wo seggst du dat op engels?

How do you say "thanks" in German?

Wo seggt man „thanks“ op platt?

What is this?

Wat is dat?

My Lower German is bad

Mien Platt is mies.

Don't worry!

Keen sorg!

I agree with you

Ick meen dat ok./Ik seggt di to./Ik segg dor man “ja” to.

Is that right?

Is dat richdig?

Is that wrong?

Is dat verkehrt? Is dat falsch?

What should I say?

Wat süllt ick seggen?

I just need to practice

Ick bruk blots öving./Ik mutt blots noch mehr leern.

Your German is good

Dien platt is goot.

I have an accent

Man kann höörn woneem ik her kümm. („One can hear where I came from“)

You don't have an accent

Nee, kann man nich./Nee, hest du nich.

Asking for Directions

Hülp un Wechbeschrieven

Excuse me! (before asking someone)

Tschulligung!

I'm lost

Ick hebb mi verlopen.

Can you help me?

Kannst du mi hülpen?

Can I help you?

Kann ick di hülpen?

I'm not from here

Ick kümm nich van her wech nich.

How can I get to (this place, this city)?

Wo kümm ick na (disse oort, disse stadt)?

Go straight

Dor geihst du liek ut.

Then

denn

Turn left

Linkerhand afswenken

Turn right

Rechterhand afswenken

Can you show me?

Künnst du mi dat wiesen?

I can show you!

Ick kann di dat wiesen!/ Jo, dat kann ik.(answer to „Künnst du mi dat wiesen?“)

Come with me!

Kümm mit mi./Folg mi na(„Follow me“)

How long does it take to get there?

Wolang duert dat?
Wonehr bün ik denn üm un bi dor?
(„When will I approximately be there?”)

Downtown (city center)

Stadtmidde.

Historic center (old city)

Ollstadt.

It's near here

Dat is dicht bi her.

It's far from here

Dat is wiet van her.

Is it within walking distance?

Kann ick dor to fööt hin?

I'm looking for Mr. Smith

Ick sök Herrn Smith.

One moment please!

Tööf mol kort!

Hold on please! (when on the phone)

Tööf her, bidde.

He is not here

Er is nich her.

Airport

Flooghaven

Bus station

Busanholt

Train station

Bahnhoff

Taxi

Taxi

Near

Dicht bi

Far

Feern/wiet wech

Emergency Survival Phrases

In Noot/För’t överleven
(note: Lower German is rarely used as common language, thus using High German phrases would be more helpful in the public)

Help!

Hülp!

Stop!

Stopp!

Fire!

Füür!

Thief!

Deef

Run!

Renn!/Lop!

Watch out! (or: be alert!)

Vorsicht

Call the police!

Rop de Politi!

Call a doctor!

Rop de doctor!

Call the ambulance!

Rop ’nen süükenwagen!

Are you okay?

Allens klaar?

I feel sick

Mi is kodderig.

I need a doctor

Ick bruk ’nen doktor.

Accident

Unfall

Food poisoning

Eetworenvergiftung

Where is the closest pharmacy?

Woneem is de neegste Apteek?

It hurts here

Dat doht her weh.

It's urgent!

Dat is hoochnödig.

Calm down!

Bedaar di./Suutje.

You will be okay!

Du schüllst all up stee sien.

Can you help me?

Kannst du mi hülpen?

Can I help you?

Kann ick di hülpen?

 

Hotel Restaurant Travel Phrases

Hotel, Restaurant und Reiseausdrücke

I have a reservation (for a room)

Ik heff reserveert.

Ik heff wat bokt. (“I booked something”)

Do you have rooms available?

Hebben Se noch’n ruum free?

With shower / With bathroom

Mit Bruus / mit Baad

I would like a non-smoking room

Ick hett geern ’n  nichrokerruum.

What is the charge per night?

Woveel köst’ eene Nacht?
Wat wöör dat för ne Nacht kösten?

I'm here on business /on vacation

Ick bün Koopmann/Koopfru[I am a business-man/woman]

Ick bün her op urlaub.

Dirty

Schmuddelig

Clean

Püük

Do you accept credit cards?

Neem’se ok Kreditkorten?

I'd like to rent a car

Ick maag’n Auto meden.
Ick wöör geern’n Auto meden.

How much will it cost?

Wat köst dat?
Woveel köst dat?

A table for (one / two) please!

Een disch för (een/twee), büdde!

Is this seat taken?

Is her all beset?

I'm vegetarian

Ick bün vegetarier.

I don't eat pork

Ick ett keen Schwienfleesch.

I don't drink alcohol

Ick drink keen Alk.

What's the name of this dish?

Wo heest dat?
Wo heest disse Gerich?

Waiter / waitress!

Bedenung!

Can we have the check please?

Kann ick büdde de Reken hebben?

It is very delicious!

Dat is köstelk!
Dat smeckt goot!

I don't like it

Ick maag dat nich.

Shopping Expressions

 

How much is this?

Wat köst dat?

I'm just looking

Ick kiek mi blots’n beten um.

I don't have change

Ick heff keen Lüttgeld.

This is too expensive

Dat is veel to düür.

Expensive

düür

Cheap

Billig/gönstig

Daily Expressions

Zufällige Ausdrücke

What time is it?

Wat seggt de Klock?

It's 3 o'clock

Dat is 3 uhr. /De klock is 3.

Give me this!

Geef mi dat!

Are you sure?

Büst du seker?
West du dat?

Take this! (when giving something)

Neem se dat!

It's freezing (weather)

Dat is schiedenkold./Dat is iesig.

It's cold (weather)

Dat is kold.

It's hot (weather)

Dat is heet.

Do you like it?

Maagst du dat?

I really like it!

Ick maag dat geern.

I'm hungry

Ick bün hungerig/Ick heff hunger.

I'm thirsty

Ick bün dörstig/Ick heff dörst.

He is funny

Er is spaaßig.

In The Morning

morjens

In the evening

avends

At Night

nachts

Hurry up!

Mak mal to! / Wi hebben nich all dag tied(“We don’t have the whole day”)

Cuss Words (polite)

 

This is nonsense! (or: this is craziness)

Dat is dummtüch!

My God! (to show amazement)

Oh

Oh gosh! (when making a mistake)

Och nee! Ohweia! Schietkroms!

It sucks! (or: this is not good)

Schiet is dat! Dat is nich goot!

What's wrong with you?

Wat’n los? (note: also politely asking when someone looks sad or troubled)
Wat geiht denn nu bi di?

Are you crazy?

Büste noch klaar?

Get lost! (or: go away!)

Mak di ut’n stoom!
Verdufte!

Leave me alone!

Laat mi in Roh!
Trekk Strippen!/Teh linnen!

I'm not interested!

Dat geiht mi nix(“Not my business”)
Kümmert mi nix!
Interesseert mi nich!

Writing a Letter

 

Dear John

Leebe John,

My trip was very nice

Mien trekk was all goot.
Mien reise was eehrlich schöön.

The culture and people were very interesting

De Kultur un de minschen waar sehr interessant.

I had a good time with you

Ick hett’n moie tied mit di hebbt!
Ick hett’n moie tied mit se hebbt!

I would love to visit your country again

Ick wöör dien/ehr land geern noch eenmol besöken.
Ik kiek geern mol wedder in!

Don't forget to write me back from time to time

Büdde vergeet nich, mi af un to mol to schrieven.
Büdde schriev’ mi af un to.

Short Expressions and words

Korte Wöer

Good

Goot

Bad

Mies

So-so (or: not bad not good)

Mütt jo

Big

Grot

Small

Lütt

Today

vundaag

Now

nu

Tomorrow

Morrn/moorn

Yesterday

güstern

Yes

Jo

No

Nee

Fast

Flink/flott

Slow

langsom

Hot

heet

Cold

kold

This

Diss(-e)

That

Dat

Here

Her

There

door

Me (ie. Who did this? - Me)

Ick

You

Se(polite)/ du(friendly)

Him

he

Her

se

We

wi

they

Se/sei

Really?

Echt? Keen spaaß?

Look!

Kiek mol!

What?

Wat

Where?

Woneem?

Who?

Wokeen?

How?

Wo?

When?

Wonehr?

Why?

Worüm?

Zero

Null

One

een

Two

twee

Three

dree

Four

veer

Five

fief

Six

söß

Seven

söben

Eight

acht

Nine

negen

Ten

teihn


Phrases and daily expressions have a very important role in Lower German. Once you're done with the Lower German Phrases, you might want to check the rest of our German lessons here: Learn German. Don't forget to bookmark this page.

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