German · Panne / ADAC
Your car will not start and a stranger offers to help: what to say in German
Your car will not start and a stranger offers to help.
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How it's done. People in Germany gladly help with a Starthilfe (jump start); afterwards drive for at least half an hour so that the battery charges.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, mein Auto springt nicht an. Können Sie mir helfen?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, mighn OW-toh shpreengt neekht ahn. KYOH-nayn zee meer KHEL-fayn?
Excuse me, my car won't start. Can you help me?
Or say:Entschuldigung, die Batterie ist leer. Haben Sie ein Starthilfekabel?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, dee buh-teh-REE eest lehr. KHAH-bayn zee ighn SHTAHR-teel-feh-kuh-bel?
THEY SAY
Ja, ich habe ein Kabel im Kofferraum. Wo steht Ihr Auto?Yah, eekh KHAH-beh ighn KAH-bel eem KOH-feh-rowm. Voh shtet eer OW-toh?
Yes, I have a cable in the boot. Where is your car?
They might also say:
Ja, kein Problem. Ich parke mein Auto neben Ihrem.
Yah, kighn proh-BLEM. Eekh PAHR-keh mighn OW-toh NEH-bayn EE-rem.
Yes, no problem. I'll park my car next to yours.
2
YOU REPLY
Dort drüben. Ich öffne die Motorhaube.
Dort DRYOO-bayn. Eekh OF-neh dee MOH-tor-khow-beh.
Over there. I'll open the bonnet.
THEY SAY
Gut. Ich verbinde das Kabel mit beiden Batterien. Starten Sie dann den Motor.Goot. Eekh fehr-BEEN-deh dahs KAH-bel meet BIGH-dayn buh-teh-REE-ayn. SHTAHR-tayn zee dahn dayn MOH-tor.
Good. I'll connect the cable to both batteries. Then start the engine.
3
YOU REPLY
Es funktioniert! Vielen Dank!
Es foonk-tsee-oh-NEERT! FEE-layn dahnk!
It works! Thank you very much!
THEY SAY
Gern. Fahren Sie jetzt eine halbe Stunde, damit die Batterie lädt.Gehrn. FAH-rayn zee yehtst IGH-neh KHAHL-beh SHTOON-deh, duh-MEET dee buh-teh-REE let.
You're welcome. Drive for half an hour now so the battery charges.
4
YOU FINISH
Mache ich. Nochmals danke!
MAH-kheh eekh. NOKH-muhls DAHN-keh!
I will. Thanks again!
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
Auto
OW-toh
noun
car
springt
shpreengt
verb
jumps
nicht
neekht
adverb
not
Können
KYOH-nayn
verb
to be able to, can
helfen
KHEL-fayn
verb
to help
Ja
Yah
adverb
yes
45 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
Your car broke down on the road and you phone for helpPanne / ADAC · A2 in the app
→You insure the car and ask for the digital code for registrationZulassung / Versicherung · A2 in the app
→You ask how long you can drive on a Ukrainian licence and whether you need to exchange itFührerschein · A2 in the app
→After filling up you pay at the tillTankstelle · A1 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report