German · Schlüsseldienst
You want to have a spare key cut: what to say in German
You want to have a key copied.
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How it's done. A key marked Schließanlage (central locking system of the building) will not be copied without the security card (Sicherungskarte); ask your landlord.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 möchte diesen Schlüssel nachmachen lassen.
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh MYOKH-teh DEE-zayn SHLYOO-sel NAHKH-muh-khayn LAH-sayn.
Good day, I'd like to have this key copied.
Or say:Können Sie diesen Schlüssel kopieren?
KYOH-nayn zee DEE-zayn SHLYOO-sel koh-PEE-rayn?
THEY SAY
Moment, ich schaue mal. Ist das ein Hausschlüssel?Moh-MAYNT, eekh SHOW-eh mahl. Eest dahs ighn KHOWSSH-lyoo-sel?
One moment, let me see. Is it a house key?
They might also say:
Zeigen Sie mal. Was für ein Schlüssel ist das?
TSIGH-gayn zee mahl. Vahs fyoor ighn SHLYOO-sel eest dahs?
Show me. What kind of key is this?
2
YOU REPLY
Ja, es ist der Schlüssel für die Wohnungstür.
Yah, es eest dehr SHLYOO-sel fyoor dee VOH-noongs-tyoor.
Yes, it's the key for the flat door.
THEY SAY
Der gehört zu einer Schließanlage. Dafür brauche ich die Sicherungskarte.Dehr geh-KHYORT tsoo IGH-nuh SHLEE-sahn-luh-geh. Duh-FYOOR BROW-kheh eekh dee ZEE-kheh-roongs-kuhr-teh.
It belongs to a central locking system. For that I need the security card.
They might also say:
Das ist ein Schlüssel für eine Schließanlage. Ohne Sicherungskarte geht das nicht.
Dahs eest ighn SHLYOO-sel fyoor IGH-neh SHLEE-sahn-luh-geh. OH-neh ZEE-kheh-roongs-kuhr-teh get dahs neekht.
That is a key for a central locking system. Without the security card it won't work.
3
YOU FINISH
Die Karte habe ich nicht. Ich frage meinen Vermieter.
Dee KAHR-teh KHAH-beh eekh neekht. Eekh FRAH-geh MIGH-nayn fehr-MEE-tuh.
I don't have the card. I'll ask my landlord.
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
möchte
MYOKH-teh
verb
would like
Schlüssel
SHLYOO-sel
noun
key
nachmachen
NAHKH-muh-khayn
verb
to copy
lassen
LAH-sayn
verb
to leave, to let
28 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?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
The key to the building has gone missing and you tell your landlordSchlüsseldienst · A2 in the app
→The door has slammed shut and you phone a locksmithSchlüsseldienst · A2 in the app
→The trousers are too long and you ask to have them taken upSchneider / Schuster · A2 in the app
→You take a coat to the dry cleaner'sReinigung · A2 in the app
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