German · Hausordnung / Ruhezeit
The neighbours ask you not to barbecue on the balcony: what to say in German
The neighbours ask you not to barbecue on the balcony.
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How it's done. The Hausordnung (house rules) often say that charcoal grills on the balcony are forbidden while electric ones are allowed; a polite reply to a remark is Das tut mir leid, ich wusste das nicht.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, der Rauch vom Grill kommt zu uns herein. Könnten Sie bitte nicht auf dem Balkon grillen?Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, dehr rowkh fom greel komt tsoo oons kheh-RIGHN. KYOHN-tayn zee BEE-teh neekht owf dem buhl-KOHN GREE-layn?
Excuse me, the smoke from the grill comes in to us. Could you please not grill on the balcony?
They might also say:
Der Rauch vom Grill stört uns. Können Sie darauf verzichten?
Dehr rowkh fom greel shtyort oons. KYOH-nayn zee duh-ROWF fehr-TSEEKH-tayn?
The smoke from the grill bothers us. Could you do without it?
YOU REPLY
Oh, das tut mir leid. Das wusste ich nicht. Darf man nicht grillen?
Oh, dahs toot meer light. Dahs VOOS-teh eekh neekht. Dahrf mahn neekht GREE-layn?
Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that. Isn't grilling allowed?
THEY SAY
In der Hausordnung steht, dass Holzkohlegrills auf dem Balkon verboten sind. Ein Elektrogrill ist erlaubt.Een dehr KHOW-sord-noong shtet, dahs KHOLTS-koh-leh-greels owf dem buhl-KOHN fehr-BOH-tayn zeent. Ighn eh-LEK-troh-greel eest ehr-LOWPT.
The house rules say that charcoal grills are banned on the balcony. An electric grill is allowed.
They might also say:
Holzkohle ist auf dem Balkon nicht erlaubt. Mit Strom darf man grillen.
KHOLTS-koh-leh eest owf dem buhl-KOHN neekht ehr-LOWPT. Meet shtrom dahrf mahn GREE-layn.
Charcoal is not allowed on the balcony. You may grill with electricity.
2
YOU REPLY
Dann verwende ich einen Elektrogrill. Danke für den Hinweis.
Dahn fehr-VAYN-deh eekh IGH-nayn eh-LEK-troh-greel. DAHN-keh fyoor dayn KHEEN-vighs.
Then I'll use an electric grill. Thanks for the tip.
THEY SAY
Vielen Dank für Ihr Verständnis. Sie können uns gern einmal einladen!FEE-layn dahnk fyoor eer fehrsh-TAYND-nees. Zee KYOH-nayn oons gehrn IGHN-muhl IGHN-luh-dayn!
Thank you very much for your understanding. You're welcome to invite us sometime!
3
YOU FINISH
Gute Idee! Das machen wir bestimmt.
GOO-teh ee-DEH! Dahs MAH-khayn veer besh-TEEMT.
Good idea! We'll certainly do that.
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
Rauch
rowkh
noun
smoke
Grill
greel
noun
grill
kommt
komt
verb
comes
herein
kheh-RIGHN
adverb
in
Könnten
KYOHN-tayn
verb
could
nicht
neekht
adverb
not
51 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
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→A neighbour politely asks you to be quieterHausordnung / Ruhezeit · A2 in the app
→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
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