Which German phrases matter most here?

“Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?” (How can I help you); “Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?” (Could you help me, please); “Wissen Sie, wo der Reis steht?” (Could you tell me where the rice is). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Germany. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

German phrases for finding things in the supermarket in Germany

Catch a member of staff and say “Entschuldigung” or “Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?”. Then ask “Wissen Sie, wo der Reis steht?” or “In welchem Gang finde ich Putzmittel?”. If you miss the directions, say “Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?”. Staff often point and say “Es ist dort drüben.”

Try it · about two minutes

You can’t find the rice or the cleaning products, so you stop a member of staff and ask.

Sound on: the shop assistant speaks German. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

Shop assistant
Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?
How can I help you?
You
Wissen Sie, wo der Reis steht?
Could you tell me where the rice is?
Shop assistant
Der Reis steht im Gang fünf, hinten links, neben den Nudeln.
The rice is in aisle five, at the back on the left, next to the pasta.
You
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
Can you repeat that, please?
Shop assistant
Es ist dort drüben.
It’s over there.
You
Danke, ich verstehe.
Thank you, I understand.
You find the rice. For the cleaning products, you ask another assistant who is stacking shelves.
You
In welchem Gang finde ich Putzmittel?
Which aisle has cleaning products?
Shop assistant
Das weiß ich leider nicht.
I’m sorry, I don’t know.
You
Gibt es hier jemanden, den ich fragen kann?
Is there someone here I can ask?
Shop assistant
Bitte warten Sie, es kommt gleich jemand.
Please wait, someone will be along shortly.
You
Danke, ich warte hier.
Thank you, I’ll wait here.

Which German phrases do you need?

Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?
How can I help you?
Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?
Could you help me, please?
Wissen Sie, wo der Reis steht?
Could you tell me where the rice is?
In welchem Gang finde ich Putzmittel?
Which aisle has cleaning products?
Wo ist die Milch?
Where is the milk?
Entschuldigung, wo ist das Brot?
Excuse me, where is the bread?
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
Can you repeat that, please?
Es ist dort drüben.
It’s over there.
Danke, ich verstehe.
Thank you, I understand.
Das weiß ich leider nicht.
I’m sorry, I don’t know.

What is worth knowing in Germany?

Finding what you need

1
Look up first: aisle numbers and category signs usually hang above the shelves.
2
If you can’t spot it, ask a member of staff in the aisle.
Could you help me, please?
3
Staff often point as they answer. If you miss it, ask them to repeat.
Can you repeat that, please?

Sie with staff

To staff

Wissen Sie, wo der Reis steht?

Could you tell me where the rice is?

Too casual

Weißt du, wo der Reis steht?

Do you know where the rice is? (casual)

Shop staff say Sie to customers, and you say Sie back. Switch to du only if they use it first.

Words on the signs

Obst (fruit), Gemüse (vegetables), Tiefkühlkost (frozen food), Backwaren (bakery goods) and Getränke (drinks) are the signs you will see most often.

Wo ist das Obst?

Where is the fruit?

Questions about this situation

Which German phrases matter most here?: “Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?” (How can I help you); “Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?” (Could you help me, please); “Wissen Sie, wo der Reis steht?” (Could you tell me where the rice is). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Germany. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in German

All situations in German

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.