German · Strom / Internet
A worker comes to read the water and heating meters: what to say in German
An employee comes to read your water and heating meters.
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How it's done. Once a year the water and heating meters are read by an employee or you report the readings yourself; write down your readings and take a photo to be safe.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 Tag, ich komme zum Ablesen der Zähler. Darf ich hereinkommen?GOO-tayn tahk, eekh KOH-meh tsoom AH-bleh-zayn dehr TSEH-luh. Dahrf eekh KHEH-righn-koh-mayn?
Good day, I've come to read the meters. May I come in?
They might also say:
Guten Tag, ich lese die Heizkostenzähler ab. Haben Sie kurz Zeit?
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh LEH-zeh dee KHIGHTS-kos-tayn-tseh-luh ahp. KHAH-bayn zee koorts tsight?
Good day, I'm reading the heating meters. Do you have a moment?
YOU REPLY
Ja, natürlich. Kommen Sie herein.
Yah, nuh-TYOOR-leekh. KOH-mayn zee kheh-RIGHN.
Yes, of course. Come in.
THEY SAY
Wo ist der Wasserzähler? Und wo der Heizungszähler?Voh eest dehr VAH-sehr-tseh-luh? Oont voh dehr KHIGH-tsoongs-tseh-luh?
Where is the water meter? And where is the heating meter?
They might also say:
Zeigen Sie mir bitte die Zähler für Wasser und Heizung.
TSIGH-gayn zee meer BEE-teh dee TSEH-luh fyoor VAH-suh oont KHIGH-tsoong.
Please show me the meters for water and heating.
2
YOU REPLY
Der Wasserzähler ist hier im Bad. Der Heizungszähler ist im Flur.
Dehr VAH-sehr-tseh-luh eest kheer eem baht. Dehr KHIGH-tsoongs-tseh-luh eest eem floor.
The water meter is here in the bathroom. The heating meter is in the hall.
THEY SAY
Danke. Ich notiere die Zahlen. Das dauert nur eine Minute.DAHN-keh. Eekh noh-TEE-reh dee TSAH-layn. Dahs DOW-ehrt noor IGH-neh mee-NOO-teh.
Thank you. I'll note the figures. It only takes a minute.
3
YOU REPLY
Bekomme ich eine Bestätigung?
Beh-KOH-meh eekh IGH-neh besh-TEH-tee-goong?
Will I get a confirmation?
THEY SAY
Ja, Sie bekommen später die Abrechnung per Post.Yah, zee beh-KOH-mayn SHPEH-tuh dee AH-brekh-noong pehr post.
Yes, you'll get the statement by post later.
4
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.
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)
Tag
tahk
noun
day
komme
KOH-meh
verb
I come
Ablesen
AH-bleh-zayn
verb
to read a meter
Zähler
TSEH-luh
noun
meter
Darf
Dahrf
verb
may
35 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 mir das zeigen?
KYOH-nayn zee meer dahs TSIGH-gayn?
Can you show me?
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