German · Jobcenter / Arbeitsagentur
You cannot come to the appointment and let them know: what to say in German
You cannot come to the appointment and warn them.
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How it's done. If you cannot come to an appointment tell the office in advance (by phone or letter) and give the reason; not showing up without notice may have consequences.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
Jobcenter, guten Tag!DZHOB-sayn-tehr, GOO-tayn tahk!
Jobcenter, good day!
YOU REPLY
Guten Tag, ich habe morgen einen Termin. Ich bin leider krank und kann nicht kommen.
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh KHAH-beh MOR-gayn IGH-nayn tehr-MEEN. Eekh been LIGH-duh krahnk oont kahn neekht KOH-mayn.
Good day, I have an appointment tomorrow. Unfortunately I'm ill and cannot come.
Or say:Guten Tag, ich kann den Termin morgen nicht wahrnehmen.
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh kahn dayn tehr-MEEN MOR-gayn neekht VAHR-neh-mayn.
THEY SAY
Das tut mir leid. Haben Sie ein ärztliches Attest?Dahs toot meer light. KHAH-bayn zee ighn EHRTS-tlee-khes uh-TEST?
I'm sorry. Do you have a medical certificate?
They might also say:
Gute Besserung! Reichen Sie bitte eine Bescheinigung nach.
GOO-teh beh-SEH-roong! RIGH-khayn zee BEE-teh IGH-neh beh-SHIGH-nee-goong nahkh.
Get well soon! Please submit a certificate later.
2
YOU FINISH
Ja, ich schicke es Ihnen per Post.
Yah, eekh SHEE-keh es EE-nayn pehr post.
Yes, I'll send it to you by post.
THEY SAY
Gut, dann vereinbaren wir einen neuen Termin.Goot, dahn feh-RIGHN-buh-rayn veer IGH-nayn NOY-ayn tehr-MEEN.
Good, then we'll arrange a new appointment.
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
Jobcenter
DZHOB-sayn-tehr
noun
Jobcenter
guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Tag
tahk
noun
day
habe
KHAH-beh
verb
I have
morgen
MOR-gayn
noun
morning
Termin
tehr-MEEN
noun
appointment
29 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?
Ich spreche noch nicht gut Deutsch.
Eekh SHPREH-kheh nokh neekht goot doych.
I don't speak German well yet.
Similar situations
You have started a mini-job and report it to the JobcenterJobcenter / Arbeitsagentur · A2 in the app
→You go to the Jobcenter to apply for benefitJobcenter / Arbeitsagentur · A2 in the app
→You are asked to bring documents to the appointmentJobcenter / Arbeitsagentur · A2 in the app
→You say you are looking for work and ask for helpJobcenter / Arbeitsagentur · A2 in the app
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