German · Anmeldung / Betreuungsvertrag
You look for a nursery place for your child: what to say in German
You look for a place in a kindergarten for your child.
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How it's done. You look for a place via the city portal (Kita-Navigator) and submit several applications; there is often a waiting list, so don't delay.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
Guten Tag, ich suche einen Kita-Platz für meine Tochter.
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh ZOO-kheh IGH-nayn KEE-tuh-pluhts fyoor MIGH-neh TOKH-tuh.
Good day, I'm looking for a Kita place for my daughter.
Or say:Guten Tag, haben Sie einen freien Platz für mein Kind?
GOO-tayn tahk, KHAH-bayn zee IGH-nayn FRIGH-ayn plahts fyoor mighn keent?
THEY SAY
Wie alt ist Ihre Tochter?Vee ahlt eest EE-reh TOKH-tuh?
How old is your daughter?
They might also say:
Wie alt ist Ihr Kind?
Vee ahlt eest eer keent?
How old is your child?
2
YOU REPLY
Sie ist drei Jahre alt.
Zee eest drigh YAH-reh ahlt.
She is three years old.
THEY SAY
Dann schauen wir. Sie melden sich zuerst über das Kita-Portal an.Dahn SHOW-ayn veer. Zee MEL-dayn zeekh tsoo-EHRST YOO-buh dahs KEE-tuh-POR-tuhl ahn.
Then we'll see. First you register via the Kita portal.
3
YOU FINISH
Gibt es dort eine Warteliste?
Geept es dort IGH-neh VAHR-teh-lees-teh?
Is there a waiting list there?
THEY SAY
Ja, aber wir haben noch einen Platz im Herbst.Yah, AH-buh veer KHAH-bayn nokh IGH-nayn plahts eem khehrpst.
Yes, but we still have a place in autumn.
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
suche
ZOO-kheh
verb
I look for
Kita-Platz
KEE-tuh-pluhts
noun
daycare place
Tochter
TOKH-tuh
noun
daughter
Wie
Vee
adverb
how
32 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.
Können Sie das bitte aufschreiben?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh OWFSH-righ-bayn?
Can you write it down, please?
Similar situations
You are given a contract for a place at the KitaAnmeldung / Betreuungsvertrag · A2 in the app
→You ask how much the place and meals costAnmeldung / Betreuungsvertrag · A2 in the app
→You apply for a voucher for a Kita placeAnmeldung / Betreuungsvertrag · A2 in the app
→You go to the Kita's open dayAnmeldung / Betreuungsvertrag · A2 in the app
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