German · Schneider / Schuster
The heel has come off your shoe and you go to the cobbler: what to say in German
The heel of your shoe has come off and you go to the cobbler.
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How it's done. At a cobbler (Schuster or Schuhmacher) they repair heels (Absatz), soles (Sohle) and fastenings; it usually takes a day or two and the price is named at once.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. Der Absatz an meinem Schuh ist abgebrochen. Können Sie ihn reparieren?
GOO-tayn tahk. Dehr AHP-zuhts ahn MIGH-nem shoo eest AHB-geh-broh-khayn. KYOH-nayn zee een reh-puh-REE-rayn?
Good day. The heel of my shoe has broken off. Can you repair it?
Or say:Guten Tag, ich möchte meine Schuhe neu besohlen lassen.
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh MYOKH-teh MIGH-neh SHOO-eh noy beh-ZOH-layn LAH-sayn.
THEY SAY
Zeigen Sie mal. Ja, das können wir machen. Wir kleben den Absatz neu.TSIGH-gayn zee mahl. Yah, dahs KYOH-nayn veer MAH-khayn. Veer KLEH-bayn dayn AHP-zuhts noy.
Show me. Yes, we can do that. We'll glue the heel on again.
They might also say:
Das ist kein Problem. Wir können den Absatz ersetzen.
Dahs eest kighn proh-BLEM. Veer KYOH-nayn dayn AHP-zuhts ehr-ZEH-tsayn.
That's no problem. We can replace the heel.
2
YOU REPLY
Was kostet das? Und wann sind die Schuhe fertig?
Vahs KOS-tet dahs? Oont vahn zeent dee SHOO-eh FEHR-teekh?
What does that cost? And when will the shoes be ready?
THEY SAY
Zehn Euro, und sie sind morgen Nachmittag fertig.Tsayn OY-roh, oont zee zeent MOR-gayn NAHKH-mee-tuhk FEHR-teekh.
Ten euros, and they will be ready tomorrow afternoon.
3
YOU REPLY
Gut. Kann ich sie morgen um vier Uhr abholen?
Goot. Kahn eekh zee MOR-gayn oom feer oor AHB-khoh-layn?
Good. Can I collect them tomorrow at four?
THEY SAY
Ja, bis achtzehn Uhr haben wir geöffnet.Yah, bees AHKH-tsayn oor KHAH-bayn veer geh-OF-net.
Yes, we're open until six p.m.
4
YOU FINISH
Danke, dann bis morgen!
DAHN-keh, dahn bees MOR-gayn!
Thanks, see you tomorrow, then!
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
Absatz
AHP-zuhts
noun
heel
Schuh
shoo
noun
shoe
ist
eest
verb
is
abgebrochen
AHB-geh-broh-khayn
verb
broken off
41 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
The trousers are too long and you ask to have them taken upSchneider / Schuster · A2 in the app
→You go to a self-service laundrette for the first timeReinigung · A2 in the app
→You take a duvet to the dry cleaner'sReinigung · A2 in the app
→Your phone screen is cracked and you go to a repair shopHandy / Mobilfunk · A2 in the app
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