German · Werkstatt
A warning light is on in your car and you phone the garage: what to say in German
A warning light is on in your car and you phone the garage.
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How it's done. A Warnleuchte on the dashboard: yellow usually means you can drive but should visit a garage soon; red means stop and call for help; the Motorkontrollleuchte is the engine light.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
Autowerkstatt Schulz, guten Tag.OW-toh-vehrks-tuht shoolts, GOO-tayn tahk.
Garage Schulz, good day.
They might also say:
Werkstatt Schulz, was kann ich für Sie tun?
VEHRKS-tuht shoolts, vahs kahn eekh fyoor zee toon?
Garage Schulz, what can I do for you?
YOU REPLY
Guten Tag. In meinem Auto leuchtet eine gelbe Warnlampe.
GOO-tayn tahk. Een MIGH-nem OW-toh LOYKH-tet IGH-neh GEL-beh VAHRN-luhm-peh.
Good day. A yellow warning light is on in my car.
THEY SAY
Welche Lampe ist das? Ein Motorsymbol oder die Öllampe?VEL-kheh LAHM-peh eest dahs? Ighn MOH-tor-zyoom-bol OH-duh dee OH-luhm-peh?
Which light is that? An engine symbol or the oil light?
They might also say:
Können Sie mir das Symbol beschreiben?
KYOH-nayn zee meer dahs zyoom-BOL besh-RIGH-bayn?
Can you describe the symbol to me?
2
YOU REPLY
Es ist ein gelbes Symbol, wie ein Motor.
Es eest ighn GEL-bes zyoom-BOL, vee ighn MOH-tor.
It is a yellow symbol, like an engine.
THEY SAY
Das ist die Motorkontrollleuchte. Sie können noch fahren, aber kommen Sie bald vorbei.Dahs eest dee MOH-tor-kohn-trol-loykh-teh. Zee KYOH-nayn nokh FAH-rayn, AH-buh KOH-mayn zee bahlt for-BIGH.
That is the engine light. You can still drive, but come by soon.
They might also say:
Das ist keine akute Gefahr. Fahren Sie vorsichtig und kommen Sie bald zu uns.
Dahs eest KIGH-neh uh-KOO-teh geh-FAHR. FAH-rayn zee FOR-zeekh-teekh oont KOH-mayn zee bahlt tsoo oons.
That is no acute danger. Drive carefully and come to us soon.
3
YOU REPLY
Wann kann ich kommen?
Vahn kahn eekh KOH-mayn?
When can I come?
THEY SAY
Morgen um neun Uhr haben wir einen Termin frei.MOR-gayn oom noyn oor KHAH-bayn veer IGH-nayn tehr-MEEN frigh.
Tomorrow at nine we have a free slot.
4
YOU FINISH
Das passt. Vielen Dank! Bis morgen!
Dahs pahst. FEE-layn dahnk! Bees MOR-gayn!
That suits me. Thank you very much! See you tomorrow!
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
Autowerkstatt
OW-toh-vehrks-tuht
noun
garage
guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Tag
tahk
noun
day
Auto
OW-toh
noun
car
leuchtet
LOYKH-tet
verb
lights up
gelbe
GEL-beh
adjective
yellow
44 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?
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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