German · Hausflur / Smalltalk
A neighbour is going on holiday and asks you to look after the post and plants: what to say in German
A neighbour is going on holiday and asks you to look after the post and plants.
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How it's done. Neighbours in Germany often help: they take in post and water plants while someone is away; a key is entrusted only to people you know well; after returning they thank you with a small gift.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
Ich fahre nächste Woche in den Urlaub. Könnten Sie meine Post aus dem Briefkasten nehmen?Eekh FAH-reh NEKS-teh VOH-kheh een dayn OOR-lowp. KYOHN-tayn zee MIGH-neh post ows dem BREEF-kuhs-tayn NEH-mayn?
I'm going on holiday next week. Could you take my post out of the letterbox?
They might also say:
Wir sind nächste Woche weg. Würden Sie bitte unsere Blumen gießen?
Veer zeent NEKS-teh VOH-kheh vek. VYOOR-dayn zee BEE-teh OON-zeh-reh BLOO-mayn GEE-sayn?
We are away next week. Would you please water our flowers?
YOU REPLY
Ja, gern. Wie lange sind Sie weg?
Yah, gehrn. Vee LAHN-geh zeent zee vek?
Yes, gladly. How long will you be away?
THEY SAY
Eine Woche, von Montag bis Sonntag. Hier ist mein Schlüssel.IGH-neh VOH-kheh, fohn MOHN-tuhk bees ZOHN-tuhk. Kheer eest mighn SHLYOO-sel.
A week, from Monday to Sunday. Here is my key.
2
YOU REPLY
Wie oft soll ich die Blumen gießen?
Vee oft zol eekh dee BLOO-mayn GEE-sayn?
How often should I water the flowers?
THEY SAY
Zweimal pro Woche reicht. Und die Post legen Sie einfach auf den Tisch.TSVIGH-muhl proh VOH-kheh righkht. Oont dee post LEH-gayn zee IGHN-fuhkh owf dayn teesh.
Twice a week is enough. And just put the post on the table.
3
YOU FINISH
Alles klar. Schönen Urlaub!
AH-les klahr. SHYOH-nayn OOR-lowp!
Understood. Have a nice holiday!
THEY SAY
Vielen Dank! Das ist sehr nett von Ihnen.FEE-layn dahnk! Dahs eest zehr net fohn EE-nayn.
Thank you very much! That is very kind of 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
fahre
FAH-reh
verb
I drive, I go
nächste
NEKS-teh
adjective
next
Woche
VOH-kheh
noun
week
Urlaub
OOR-lowp
noun
holiday, leave
Könnten
KYOHN-tayn
verb
could
Post
post
noun
post
46 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?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
You meet a neighbour on the stairsHausflur / Smalltalk · A1 in the app
→After moving in you get to know a neighbourHausflur / Smalltalk · A1 in the app
→You are carrying a pushchair up the stairs and a neighbour offers helpHausflur / Smalltalk · A1 in the app
→A neighbour in the stairwell starts chatting about the weatherHausflur / Smalltalk · A1 in the app
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