Real-Life German

If you move in and do nothing, the local Grundversorger supplies you, usually at a higher price. How to register Strom, read the meter, pay the Abschlag.

Tell your employer before your shift; a doctor’s note is due after 3 calendar days unless your contract says earlier. German phrases and email.

Yes, tap water in Germany is safe to drink and strictly controlled. Restaurants may still charge for it. How to ask for Leitungswasser in German.

On a German radiator, 3 means about 20 °C and each step is roughly 3–4 °C. What the numbers mean, when heating starts, how to air rooms, what it costs.

Herr means Mr, Frau means Ms or Mrs, always with the surname: Frau Weber, Herr Dr. Lang. Fräulein is outdated. Plus emails, titles and du vs Sie.

German vocabulary and phrases for opening a bank account in Germany: what to bring, what you’ll be asked and how to speak to the bank adviser.

Single-use bottles and cans in Germany carry 25 cents Pfand; reusable bottles usually 8–15 cents. How the machine, the Pfandbon and returns work.

How to say numbers in German correctly: 1–1000, phone numbers, prices, dates and the common mistakes that cause real misunderstandings.

Your landlord must send the Nebenkostenabrechnung within 12 months of the billing period, and you have 12 months to object. How to read and check it.

What to say from sitting down to paying the bill at a German restaurant: full phrases, dialogues and the vocabulary you actually need.