German · Café

You want to pay by card and the seller says cash only: what to say in German

You want to pay by card and the seller says cash only.

Café5 linesLevel A1For life in Germany The rest of the dialogue is in the app

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How it's done. Small bakeries and cafés in Germany are often still cash only: ask ahead Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?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.

YOU START

Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?

Kahn eekh meet KAHR-teh TSAH-layn?

Can I pay by card?

Or say:Nehmen Sie Karte?

NEH-mayn zee KAHR-teh?

THEY SAY

Tut mir leid, nur bar.

Toot meer light, noor bahr.

I'm sorry, cash only.

They might also say:

Leider nur Barzahlung.

LIGH-duh noor BAHR-tsuh-loong.

Unfortunately cash only.

in the app

YOU REPLY

Kein Problem. Dann zahle ich bar.

Kighn proh-BLEM. Dahn TSAH-leh eekh bahr.

No problem. Then I'll pay cash.

THEY SAY

Danke! Hier ist Ihr Wechselgeld.

DAHN-keh! Kheer eest eer VEK-sel-gelt.

Thanks! Here is your change.

in the app

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.

Open in the App Store

On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.

Words worth knowing

Kann

Kahn

verb

can

Karte

KAHR-teh

noun

card

zahlen

TSAH-layn

verb

to pay

Tut

Toot

verb

does

leid

light

noun

sorrow

nur

noor

adverb

only

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?

Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?

KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?

Can you speak more slowly, please?

All 21 rescue phrases in German →

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