German · Café
You walk into a café and ask whether a table is free: what to say in German
You come into a café and ask whether a table is free.
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How it's done. In cafés you usually seat yourself; the waiter comes to you. It is polite to ask: Ist hier noch frei?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
YOU START
Entschuldigung, ist hier noch frei?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, eest kheer nokh frigh?
Excuse me, is this seat free?
Or say:Ist der Tisch noch frei?
Eest dehr teesh nokh frigh?
THEY SAY
Ja, setzen Sie sich ruhig.Yah, ZEH-tsayn zee zeekh ROO-eekh.
Yes, do sit down.
They might also say:
Ja, gern. Das ist frei.
Yah, gehrn. Dahs eest frigh.
Yes, please. It's free.
2
YOU REPLY
Danke. Haben Sie eine Speisekarte?
DAHN-keh. KHAH-bayn zee IGH-neh SHPIGH-zeh-kuhr-teh?
Thank you. Do you have a menu?
THEY SAY
Ja, die bringe ich Ihnen gleich.Yah, dee BREEN-geh eekh EE-nayn glighkh.
Yes, I'll bring it right away.
3
YOU FINISH
Danke schön!
DAHN-keh shyohn!
Thank 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
ist
eest
verb
is
hier
kheer
adverb
here
noch
nokh
adverb
still, yet
frei
frigh
adjective
free
Ja
Yah
adverb
yes
setzen
ZEH-tsayn
verb
to put
14 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?
Similar situations
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