German · Girokonto
You open a current account at a bank: what to say in German
You open a current account at a bank.
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How it's done. To open an account (Girokonto) you need a passport or residence permit and a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung); in Germany there is a right to a basic account (Basiskonto).Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Guten Tag, was kann ich für Sie tun?GOO-tayn tahk, vahs kahn eekh fyoor zee toon?
Good day, how can I help you?
They might also say:
Guten Tag, willkommen bei der Bank. Wie kann ich helfen?
GOO-tayn tahk, veel-KOH-mayn bigh dehr bahnk. Vee kahn eekh KHEL-fayn?
Good day, welcome to the bank. How can I help?
YOU REPLY
Guten Tag, ich möchte ein Girokonto eröffnen.
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh MYOKH-teh ighn ZHEE-roh-kohn-toh eh-RYOF-nayn.
Good day, I'd like to open a current account.
THEY SAY
Gern. Haben Sie Ihren Pass und eine Meldebescheinigung dabei?Gehrn. KHAH-bayn zee EE-rayn pahs oont IGH-neh MEL-deh-beh-shigh-nee-goong duh-BIGH?
Gladly. Do you have your passport and a registration certificate with you?
They might also say:
Sehr gern. Ich brauche Ihren Ausweis und den Nachweis Ihrer Anmeldung.
Zehr gehrn. Eekh BROW-kheh EE-rayn OW-svighs oont dayn NAHKH-vighs EE-ruh AHN-mel-doong.
Very gladly. I need your ID and proof of your registration.
2
YOU FINISH
Ja, hier sind beide Dokumente.
Yah, kheer zeent BIGH-deh doh-koo-MAYN-teh.
Yes, here are both documents.
THEY SAY
Danke. Dann fülle ich den Antrag mit Ihnen aus.DAHN-keh. Dahn FYOO-leh eekh dayn AHN-truhk meet EE-nayn ows.
Thank you. Then I'll fill in the application with you.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Tag
tahk
noun
day
kann
kahn
verb
can
tun
toon
verb
to do
möchte
MYOKH-teh
verb
would like
Girokonto
ZHEE-roh-kohn-toh
noun
current account
27 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Ich spreche noch nicht gut Deutsch.
Eekh SHPREH-kheh nokh neekht goot doych.
I don't speak German well yet.
Können Sie das bitte aufschreiben?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh OWFSH-righ-bayn?
Can you write it down, please?
Similar situations
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