German · Reinigung
You go to a self-service laundrette for the first time: what to say in German
It is your first time at a self-service launderette.
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How it's done. At a Waschsalon (self-service launderette) you choose a machine, put your washing in and pay at the machine; detergent is sold there; the dryer (Trockner) is paid for separately.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 Waschsalon?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, vee foonk-tsee-oh-NEERT dehr VAHSH-zuh-lohn?
Excuse me, how does the launderette work?
Or say:Entschuldigung, ich war noch nie in einem Waschsalon.
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, eekh vahr nokh nee een IGH-nem VAHSH-zuh-lohn.
THEY SAY
Sie wählen eine Maschine, legen die Wäsche hinein und bezahlen am Automaten.Zee VEH-layn IGH-neh muh-SHEE-neh, LEH-gayn dee VEH-sheh khee-NIGHN oont beh-TSAH-layn ahm ow-toh-MAH-tayn.
You choose a machine, put the washing in and pay at the machine.
They might also say:
Zuerst wählen Sie eine Maschine. Dann bezahlen Sie am Automaten und starten das Programm.
Tsoo-EHRST VEH-layn zee IGH-neh muh-SHEE-neh. Dahn beh-TSAH-layn zee ahm ow-toh-MAH-tayn oont SHTAHR-tayn dahs proh-GRAHM.
First you choose a machine. Then you pay at the machine and start the programme.
2
YOU REPLY
Wie viel Waschmittel brauche ich? Gibt es das hier?
Vee feel VAHSH-mee-tel BROW-kheh eekh? Geept es dahs kheer?
How much detergent do I need? Is it available here?
THEY SAY
Waschmittel gibt es am Automaten. Eine Portion kostet einen Euro.VAHSH-mee-tel geept es ahm ow-toh-MAH-tayn. IGH-neh por-tsee-OHN KOS-tet IGH-nayn OY-roh.
Detergent is available at the machine. One portion costs one euro.
3
YOU REPLY
Und wie lange dauert das Waschen?
Oont vee LAHN-geh DOW-ehrt dahs VAH-shayn?
And how long does the washing take?
THEY SAY
Etwa eine Stunde. Danach können Sie die Wäsche in den Trockner legen.EH-tvuh IGH-neh SHTOON-deh. Duh-NAHKH KYOH-nayn zee dee VEH-sheh een dayn TROK-nuh LEH-gayn.
About an hour. Afterwards you can put the washing in the dryer.
4
YOU FINISH
Danke, jetzt verstehe ich es.
DAHN-keh, yehtst fehrsh-TEH-eh eekh es.
Thanks, now I understand it.
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
Waschsalon
VAHSH-zuh-lohn
noun
launderette
wählen
VEH-layn
verb
to choose, to dial
Maschine
muh-SHEE-neh
noun
machine
legen
LEH-gayn
verb
to lay, to put
36 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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