German · Elektronik
You need a new bulb for a light: what to say in German
You need a new light bulb for a lamp.
💡
How it's done. The base of a bulb (Sockel) is marked E14 (small) and E27 (large); LED bulbs warmweiß give a warm light; bring the old bulb to match it.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, ich brauche eine Glühbirne. Welche passt in diese Lampe?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, eekh BROW-kheh IGH-neh GLYOO-beer-neh. VEL-kheh pahst een DEE-zeh LAHM-peh?
Excuse me, I need a light bulb. Which one fits this lamp?
Or say:Entschuldigung, ich suche eine neue Birne für meine Lampe.
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, eekh ZOO-kheh IGH-neh NOY-eh BEER-neh fyoor MIGH-neh LAHM-peh.
THEY SAY
Welchen Sockel hat die Lampe? Sehen Sie auf der alten Birne nach.VEL-khayn ZOH-kel khaht dee LAHM-peh? ZEH-ayn zee owf dehr AHL-tayn BEER-neh nahkh.
Which base does the lamp have? Look at the old bulb.
They might also say:
Zeigen Sie mir die alte Birne. Dort steht der Sockel.
TSIGH-gayn zee meer dee AHL-teh BEER-neh. Dort shtet dehr ZOH-kel.
Show me the old bulb. The base is printed there.
2
YOU REPLY
Hier steht E vierzehn. Ist das richtig?
Kheer shtet eh FEER-tsayn. Eest dahs REEKH-teekh?
It says E fourteen here. Is that right?
THEY SAY
Ja, E vierzehn ist der kleine Sockel. Wir haben LED-Lampen mit diesem Sockel.Yah, eh FEER-tsayn eest dehr KLIGH-neh ZOH-kel. Veer KHAH-bayn el-eh-deh-LAHM-payn meet DEE-zem ZOH-kel.
Yes, E fourteen is the small base. We have LED bulbs with that base.
3
YOU REPLY
Welche Helligkeit brauche ich?
VEL-kheh KHEH-leekh-kight BROW-kheh eekh?
Which brightness do I need?
THEY SAY
Für das Wohnzimmer nehmen Sie warmweiß, ungefähr acht Watt.Fyoor dahs VOHN-tsee-muh NEH-mayn zee VAHRM-vighs, OON-geh-fehr ahkht vaht.
For the living room take warm white, about eight watts.
4
YOU FINISH
Dann nehme ich zwei Stück. Danke!
Dahn NEH-meh eekh tsvigh shtyook. DAHN-keh!
Then I'll take two. Thanks!
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
brauche
BROW-kheh
verb
I need
Glühbirne
GLYOO-beer-neh
noun
light bulb
passt
pahst
verb
fits
Lampe
LAHM-peh
noun
lamp
Sockel
ZOH-kel
noun
base of a bulb
hat
khaht
verb
has
42 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
You buy a washing machine and ask about delivery and installationElektronik · A2 in the app
→The appliance you bought does not workElektronik · A2 in the app
→You look for a phone charging cableElektronik · A2 in the app
→You phone about a bicycle from an advertKleinanzeigen / Flohmarkt · A2 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report