German · Paketbote
The courier phones: nobody is home and they ask what to do with the parcel: what to say in German
The courier phones: nobody is home and he asks what to do with the parcel.
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How it's done. A courier leaves a parcel at your door only with your permission (Abstellgenehmigung); otherwise he hands it to a neighbour or a pick-up point and puts a Benachrichtigung (notice) in your letterbox.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
Hallo, hier ist DHL. Ich bin mit Ihrem Paket vor dem Haus, aber niemand öffnet.Khuh-LOH, kheer eest deh-khuh-ely. Eekh been meet EE-rem puh-KET for dem khows, AH-buh NEE-mahnt OF-net.
Hello, this is DHL. I'm in front of the house with your parcel but nobody opens.
They might also say:
Guten Tag, DHL. Ich habe ein Paket für Sie, aber es ist niemand da.
GOO-tayn tahk, deh-khuh-ely. Eekh KHAH-beh ighn puh-KET fyoor zee, AH-buh es eest NEE-mahnt duh.
Good day, DHL. I have a parcel for you but nobody is there.
YOU REPLY
Guten Tag. Ich bin gerade nicht zu Hause. Können Sie das Paket bei einem Nachbarn abgeben?
GOO-tayn tahk. Eekh been geh-RAH-deh neekht tsoo KHOW-zeh. KYOH-nayn zee dahs puh-KET bigh IGH-nem NAHKH-buhrn AHB-geh-bayn?
Good day. I'm not at home right now. Can you hand the parcel to a neighbour?
THEY SAY
Haben Sie eine Abstellgenehmigung? Dann stelle ich es vor die Tür.KHAH-bayn zee IGH-neh AHPSH-tel-geh-neh-mee-goong? Dahn SHTEH-leh eekh es for dee tyoor.
Do you have a permission to leave it? Then I'll put it at the door.
They might also say:
Ich darf es nur mit Ihrer Erlaubnis abstellen. Haben Sie die gegeben?
Eekh dahrf es noor meet EE-ruh ehr-LOWB-nees AHPS-teh-layn. KHAH-bayn zee dee geh-GEH-bayn?
I may only leave it with your permission. Have you given it?
2
YOU REPLY
Nein, die habe ich nicht. Bitte geben Sie das Paket bei der Nachbarin im ersten Stock ab.
Nighn, dee KHAH-beh eekh neekht. BEE-teh GEH-bayn zee dahs puh-KET bigh dehr NAHKH-buh-reen eem EHRS-tayn shtok ahp.
No, I haven't. Please hand the parcel to the neighbour on the first floor.
THEY SAY
Gut, dann klingle ich dort. Ich lege eine Benachrichtigung in Ihren Briefkasten.Goot, dahn KLEEN-gleh eekh dort. Eekh LEH-geh IGH-neh beh-NAHKH-reekh-tee-goong een EE-rayn BREEF-kuhs-tayn.
Good, then I'll ring there. I'll put a notice in your letterbox.
3
YOU FINISH
Danke, das ist nett. Auf Wiederhören!
DAHN-keh, dahs eest net. Owf VEE-dehr-khyoh-rayn!
Thanks, that's kind. Goodbye!
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
hier
kheer
adverb
here
ist
eest
verb
is
bin
been
verb
I am
Paket
puh-KET
noun
parcel, package
Haus
khows
noun
house
öffnet
OF-net
verb
opens
52 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?
Können Sie das bitte aufschreiben?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh OWFSH-righ-bayn?
Can you write it down, please?
Similar situations
The courier gives you a device to sign for the parcelPaketbote · A1 in the app
→Tracking says the parcel was delivered but you do not have itPaketbote · A2 in the app
→A courier rings the doorbell with a parcelPaketbote · A1 in the app
→The courier asks whether the parcel can be left with a neighbourPaketbote · A1 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report