German · Mülltrennung
You want to get rid of an old sofa: what to say in German
You want to throw away an old sofa.
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How it's done. Bulky items (Sperrmüll) are not simply put in the yard: you arrange it with the local service, often online or by phone.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
Guten Tag, ich habe ein altes Sofa. Wie kann ich es entsorgen?
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh KHAH-beh ighn AHL-tes ZOH-fuh. Vee kahn eekh es aynt-ZOR-gayn?
Good day, I have an old sofa. How can I dispose of it?
Or say:Guten Tag, wie funktioniert das mit dem Sperrmüll?
GOO-tayn tahk, vee foonk-tsee-oh-NEERT dahs meet dem SHPEHR-myool?
THEY SAY
Sie müssen einen Termin für die Sperrmüllabholung vereinbaren.Zee MYOO-sayn IGH-nayn tehr-MEEN fyoor dee SHPEHR-myoo-luhb-khoh-loong feh-RIGHN-buh-rayn.
You have to arrange a date for the bulky waste collection.
They might also say:
Das müssen Sie bei der Stadt anmelden.
Dahs MYOO-sayn zee bigh dehr shtaht AHN-mel-dayn.
You have to register that with the city.
2
YOU REPLY
Kann ich das online machen?
Kahn eekh dahs OHN-lighn MAH-khayn?
Can I do that online?
THEY SAY
Ja, auf der Internetseite der Stadt.Yah, owf dehr EEN-tehr-net-zigh-teh dehr shtaht.
Yes, on the city's website.
They might also say:
Ja, oder Sie rufen die Servicenummer an.
Yah, OH-duh zee ROO-fayn dee ZEHR-vees-noo-muh ahn.
Yes, or you call the service number.
3
YOU FINISH
Vielen Dank für die Auskunft!
FEE-layn dahnk fyoor dee OWS-koonft!
Thank you very much for the information!
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
Guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Tag
tahk
noun
day
habe
KHAH-beh
verb
I have
altes
AHL-tes
adjective
old
Sofa
ZOH-fuh
noun
sofa
Wie
Vee
adverb
how
24 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
A neighbour says glass must not be thrown out in the eveningMülltrennung · A2 in the app
→You look for where to put plastic wasteMülltrennung · A1 in the app
→You want to take an old wardrobe to the recycling centreMülltrennung · A2 in the app
→You do not know which bin to put the rubbish inMülltrennung · A1 in the app
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