German · Hausordnung / Ruhezeit
A neighbour politely asks you to be quieter: what to say in German
A neighbour politely asks you to be quieter.
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How it's done. In Germany there are quiet hours (Ruhezeiten): at night, on Sundays and often at midday; they are described in the Hausordnung (house rules) in your lease.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
Entschuldigung, es ist leider etwas laut.Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, es eest LIGH-duh EH-tvuhs lowt.
Excuse me, it is unfortunately a bit loud.
They might also say:
Entschuldigung, könnten Sie die Musik bitte leiser machen?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, KYOHN-tayn zee dee moo-ZEEK BEE-teh LIGH-zuh MAH-khayn?
Excuse me, could you please turn the music down?
YOU REPLY
Oh, das tut mir leid! Ich mache es sofort leiser.
Oh, dahs toot meer light! Eekh MAH-kheh es zoh-FORT LIGH-zuh.
Oh, I'm so sorry! I'll turn it down right away.
Or say:Entschuldigung! Das war mir nicht klar. Ich bin gleich leise.
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong! Dahs vahr meer neekht klahr. Eekh been glighkh LIGH-zeh.
THEY SAY
Vielen Dank! Nach zweiundzwanzig Uhr ist Nachtruhe.FEE-layn dahnk! Nahkh TSVIGH-oontts-vahn-tseekh oor eest NAHKH-troo-eh.
Thank you very much! After ten p.m. it is quiet time.
2
YOU FINISH
Ja, ich weiß. Das passiert nicht wieder.
Yah, eekh vighs. Dahs puh-SEERT neekht VEE-duh.
Yes, I know. It won't happen again.
THEY SAY
Kein Problem, schönen Abend noch!Kighn proh-BLEM, SHYOH-nayn AH-baynt nokh!
No problem, have a nice evening!
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
ist
eest
verb
is
leider
LIGH-duh
adverb
unfortunately
laut
lowt
adjective
loud
tut
toot
verb
does
leid
light
noun
sorrow
mache
MAH-kheh
verb
I do, I make
25 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
You warn the neighbours about a celebrationHausordnung / Ruhezeit · A2 in the app
→A neighbour says the pushchair cannot be left in the stairwellHausordnung / Ruhezeit · A2 in the app
→A neighbour reminds you that it is your turn to clean the stairs this weekHausordnung / Ruhezeit · A2 in the app
→The neighbours ask you not to barbecue on the balconyHausordnung / Ruhezeit · A2 in the app
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