German · Hausflur / Smalltalk
You are carrying a pushchair up the stairs and a neighbour offers help: what to say in German
You carry a pram up the stairs and a neighbour offers help.
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How it's done. Kann ich helfen? and Soll ich Ihnen helfen? are the standard offers of help; Danke, das geht schon means you can manage.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
Oh, kann ich Ihnen helfen?Oh, kahn eekh EE-nayn KHEL-fayn?
Oh, can I help you?
They might also say:
Soll ich Ihnen mit dem Kinderwagen helfen?
Zol eekh EE-nayn meet dem KEEN-dehr-vuh-gayn KHEL-fayn?
Shall I help you with the pram?
YOU REPLY
Ja, gern. Das wäre sehr nett.
Yah, gehrn. Dahs VEH-reh zehr net.
Yes, please. That would be very kind.
Or say:Danke, das geht schon.
DAHN-keh, dahs get shohn.
THEY SAY
Bitte schön. In welchem Stock wohnen Sie?BEE-teh shyohn. Een VEL-khem shtok VOH-nayn zee?
There you go. On which floor do you live?
2
YOU FINISH
Im vierten. Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe!
Eem FEER-tayn. FEE-layn dahnk fyoor EE-reh KHEEL-feh!
On the fourth. Thank you very much for your help!
THEY SAY
Gern geschehen!Gehrn geh-SHEH-ayn!
You're welcome!
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
kann
kahn
verb
can
helfen
KHEL-fayn
verb
to help
Ja
Yah
adverb
yes
gern
gehrn
adverb
gladly
wäre
VEH-reh
verb
would be
sehr
zehr
adverb
very
20 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
Similar situations
A neighbour in the stairwell starts chatting about the weatherHausflur / Smalltalk · A1 in the app
→A neighbour is going on holiday and asks you to look after the post and plantsHausflur / Smalltalk · A2 in the app
→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
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