German · Waschkeller / Gemeinschaft
You ask how to use the shared laundry in the basement: what to say in German
You ask how to use the shared laundry room in the cellar.
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How it's done. There is often a shared laundry in the cellar with a rota (Waschplan) and payment by coins or card; clean up after yourself and do not leave wet washing in the machine.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
Entschuldigung, wie funktioniert der Waschplan?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, vee foonk-tsee-oh-NEERT dehr VAHSH-plahn?
Excuse me, how does the laundry rota work?
Or say:Entschuldigung, wie kann ich die Waschmaschine im Keller benutzen?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, vee kahn eekh dee VAHSH-muh-shee-neh eem KEH-luh beh-NOO-tsayn?
THEY SAY
Sie tragen sich auf dem Plan neben der Tür ein. Jede Wohnung hat einen festen Tag.Zee TRAH-gayn zeekh owf dem plahn NEH-bayn dehr tyoor ighn. YEH-deh VOH-noong khaht IGH-nayn FES-tayn tahk.
You put your name on the rota next to the door. Every flat has a fixed day.
They might also say:
Es gibt einen Waschplan. Ihre Wohnung hat montags und donnerstags.
Es geept IGH-nayn VAHSH-plahn. EE-reh VOH-noong khaht MOHN-tuhks oont DOH-nehrs-tuhks.
There is a laundry rota. Your flat has Mondays and Thursdays.
2
YOU REPLY
Und wie bezahle ich? Muss ich Münzen benutzen?
Oont vee beh-TSAH-leh eekh? Moos eekh MYOON-tsayn beh-NOO-tsayn?
And how do I pay? Do I have to use coins?
THEY SAY
Ja, mit Münzen oder mit einer Waschkarte. Die Karte bekommen Sie von der Hausverwaltung.Yah, meet MYOON-tsayn OH-duh meet IGH-nuh VAHSH-kuhr-teh. Dee KAHR-teh beh-KOH-mayn zee fohn dehr KHOWS-fehr-vuhl-toong.
Yes, with coins or with a laundry card. You get the card from the property management.
3
YOU REPLY
Wie lange darf ich den Raum benutzen?
Vee LAHN-geh dahrf eekh dayn rowm beh-NOO-tsayn?
How long may I use the room?
THEY SAY
Vier Stunden am Tag. Danach räumen Sie bitte alles auf.Feer SHTOON-dayn ahm tahk. Duh-NAHKH ROY-mayn zee BEE-teh AH-les owf.
Four hours a day. After that please tidy everything up.
4
YOU FINISH
Danke, das ist klar.
DAHN-keh, dahs eest klahr.
Thanks, that is clear.
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
wie
vee
adverb
how
funktioniert
foonk-tsee-oh-NEERT
verb
works
Waschplan
VAHSH-plahn
noun
laundry rota
tragen
TRAH-gayn
verb
to carry
Plan
plahn
noun
plan, schedule
Tür
tyoor
noun
door
45 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?
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