German · Restaurant
You walk into a restaurant without a reservation and ask if there is a table: what to say in German
You walk into a restaurant without a booking and ask whether there is a table.
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How it's done. At weekends it is wise to book ahead; without a booking ask Haben Sie einen Tisch 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
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Guten Abend! Haben Sie reserviert?GOO-tayn AH-baynt! KHAH-bayn zee reh-zehr-VEERT?
Good evening! Do you have a reservation?
They might also say:
Guten Abend! Haben Sie einen Tisch reserviert?
GOO-tayn AH-baynt! KHAH-bayn zee IGH-nayn teesh reh-zehr-VEERT?
Good evening! Have you reserved a table?
YOU REPLY
Nein, leider nicht. Haben Sie einen Tisch für zwei?
Nighn, LIGH-duh neekht. KHAH-bayn zee IGH-nayn teesh fyoor tsvigh?
No, unfortunately not. Do you have a table for two?
Or say:Nein. Haben Sie noch einen Tisch frei?
Nighn. KHAH-bayn zee nokh IGH-nayn teesh frigh?
THEY SAY
Einen Moment, ich schaue nach.IGH-nayn moh-MAYNT, eekh SHOW-eh nahkh.
One moment, I'll check.
They might also say:
Ich sehe nach. Einen Augenblick, bitte.
Eekh ZEH-eh nahkh. IGH-nayn OW-gayn-bleek, BEE-teh.
I'll have a look. One moment, please.
2
YOU REPLY
Ja, danke, ich warte.
Yah, DAHN-keh, eekh VAHR-teh.
Yes, thanks, I'll wait.
THEY SAY
Ja, hier hinten am Fenster ist frei.Yah, kheer KHEEN-tayn ahm FAYNS-tuh eest frigh.
Yes, there's one free back here by the window.
They might also say:
Ja, folgen Sie mir bitte.
Yah, FOL-gayn zee meer BEE-teh.
Yes, please follow me.
3
YOU FINISH
Das ist perfekt, danke!
Dahs eest pehr-FEKT, DAHN-keh!
That's perfect, 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
Guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Abend
AH-baynt
noun
evening
Haben
KHAH-bayn
verb
to have
reserviert
reh-zehr-VEERT
verb
reserved
Nein
Nighn
adverb
no
leider
LIGH-duh
adverb
unfortunately
21 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?
Similar situations
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