How to answer the phone in German at your business
Say the business name, your name and a greeting: “Clean Home, Sie sprechen mit Tom, guten Tag!” Germans expect the company name first. A plain “Hallo?” sounds as if they dialled the wrong number. Privately, many people answer with just their surname.
Phrases you need in almost every call
| German | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Was kann ich für Sie tun? | How can I help you? |
| Wie war Ihr Name, bitte? | What was your name, please? |
| Können Sie das bitte buchstabieren? | Could you spell that, please? |
| Können Sie bitte etwas langsamer sprechen? | Could you speak a bit more slowly? |
| Unter welcher Nummer erreiche ich Sie? | Which number can I reach you on? |
| Ich rufe Sie morgen Vormittag zurück. | I'll call you back tomorrow morning. |
| Vielen Dank, auf Wiederhören! | Thanks, goodbye! (on the phone it's “Wiederhören”, not “Wiedersehen”) |
Sample call: a cleaning company
- You: Clean Home, Sie sprechen mit Tom, guten Tag!
- Caller: Guten Tag, wir ziehen aus und brauchen eine Endreinigung. Geht das am Samstag?
- You: Ja, das geht. Wie groß ist die Wohnung?
- Caller: Drei Zimmer, ungefähr 75 Quadratmeter.
- You: Gut. Wie war Ihr Name und unter welcher Nummer erreiche ich Sie?
- Caller: Weber, 0171 2345678.
- You: Danke, Frau Weber. Ich schicke Ihnen heute noch ein Angebot. Auf Wiederhören!
Numbers and letters
Say phone numbers digit by digit. On the phone the 2 is often said as “zwo” so it doesn't sound like “drei”. Names are spelled with towns since DIN 5009 (2022): A wie Aachen, B wie Berlin, W wie Wuppertal. The older “A wie Anton” is still understood everywhere.
When you can't pick up
On a job, driving or with a customer: the call goes to voicemail, and German callers rarely leave a message there. An AI assistant can take the call instead. It speaks German with the caller, asks what they need and when to call back, and sends you the request in English. Your number stays; you switch it on with a forwarding code.
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Questions
How do people answer the phone in Germany?
At work with the company name and their own name. At home or on a private mobile, often just with their surname, for example “Müller”.
What do I say if I didn't understand?
“Entschuldigung, die Verbindung ist schlecht, können Sie das bitte wiederholen?” (Sorry, the line is bad, could you repeat that?). It's a polite way to ask again.
Can I tell the caller my German isn't great?
Yes: “Mein Deutsch ist nicht perfekt, bitte sprechen Sie langsam.” Most callers then speak more slowly and simply.
Related
- For your mailbox: 7 German voicemail greetings with translation.
- German calls, English notes: how it works.
- How to switch it on: call forwarding when unanswered.