I’m the only monolingual speaker I know who’s had the nerve to design a series of European phrase books. But that’s one of the things that makes them better.
You see, after more than 30 years of travel through Europe, I’ve learned firsthand: (1) what’s essential for communication in another country and (2) what’s not. I’ve assembled these most important words and phrases in a logical, no-frills format, and I’ve worked with native Europeans and seasoned travelers to give you the simplest, clearest translations possible.
But this book is more than just a pocket translator. The words and phrases have been carefully selected to help you have a smarter, smoother trip. The key to getting more out of every travel dollar is to get closer to the local people, and to rely less on entertainment, restaurants, and hotels that cater only to foreign tourists. This book will give you the linguistic four-wheel drive to navigate through German, Austrian, and Swiss culture—from ordering a meal at a locals-only Tirolean restaurant to discussing travel dreams and your best and wurst memories with the family that runs the place. Long after your memories of castles and museums have faded, you’ll still treasure the close encounters you had with your new European friends.
While I’ve provided plenty of phrases, you’ll find it just as effective to use only a word or two to convey your meaning, and rely on context, gestures, and smiles to help you out. To make harried postal clerks happy, don’t say haltingly in German: “I would like to buy three stamps to mail these postcards to the United States.” All you really need is Briefmarken (stamps), USA (pronounced oo-ehs-ah), and bitte (please). Smile, point to the postcards, hold up three fingers...and you’ve got stamps. (For more advice, see Tips for Hurdling the Language Barrier SEE HERE.)
While a number of Germans (and Austrians and Swiss) speak fine English, some don’t. The language barrier can sometimes seem high in German-speaking nations, but locals are happy to give an extra boost to any traveler who makes an effort to tackle the language.
To get the most out of this book, take the time to internalize and put into practice my German pronunciation tips. But don’t worry about memorizing grammatical rules, like the gender of a noun—forget about sex, and communicate!
This book has a nifty menu decoder and a handy dictionary. You’ll also find tongue twisters, international words, telephone tips, and two handy “cheat sheets.” Tear out the sheets and tuck them into your dirndl or lederhosen, so you can easily memorize key phrases during otherwise idle moments. A good phrase book should help you enjoy your travel experience—not just survive it—so I’ve added a healthy dose of humor. And as you prepare for your trip, you may want to read the latest editions of my guidebooks: Rick Steves’ Germany, Rick Steves’ Switzerland, and Rick Steves’ Vienna, Salzburg & Tirol.
German is the closest thing I’ll ever have to a “second language.” It takes only a few words to feel like I’m part of the greater Germanic family, greeting hikers in the Alps, commiserating over the crowds in Rothenburg, prosting in the beerhalls of Munich, and slap-dancing in Tirol.
My goal is to help you become a more confident, extroverted traveler. If this phrase book helps make that happen, or if you have suggestions for making it better, I’d love to hear from you at rick@ricksteves.com.
Gute Reise! Have a good trip!