German · Supermarkt / Kasse
You see an expired product in the supermarket and say so: what to say in German
You see an expired product in the supermarket and tell the staff.
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How it's done. The Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum (MHD) means "best before": after the date the product is often still fine; the Verbrauchsdatum means "use by": after it you must not eat 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, dieser Joghurt ist schon abgelaufen. Das Datum war gestern.
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, DEE-zuh YOH-goort eest shohn AHB-geh-low-fayn. Dahs DAH-toom vahr GES-tehrn.
Excuse me, this yoghurt has already expired. The date was yesterday.
Or say:Entschuldigung, das Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum ist vorbei.
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, dahs MEEN-dest-khuhlt-buhr-kights-duh-toom eest for-BIGH.
THEY SAY
Oh, das tut mir leid. Danke, dass Sie es sagen. Ich hole einen frischen.Oh, dahs toot meer light. DAHN-keh, dahs zee es ZAH-gayn. Eekh KHOH-leh IGH-nayn FREE-shayn.
Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you for telling me. I'll fetch a fresh one.
They might also say:
Das ist unser Fehler. Hier ist ein neuer Joghurt.
Dahs eest OON-zuh FEH-luh. Kheer eest ighn NOY-uh YOH-goort.
That's our mistake. Here is a new yoghurt.
2
YOU REPLY
Danke. Ist das Datum bei den anderen auch abgelaufen?
DAHN-keh. Eest dahs DAH-toom bigh dayn AHN-deh-rayn owkh AHB-geh-low-fayn?
Thanks. Has the date expired on the others too?
THEY SAY
Ich prüfe das gleich im Regal. Sie bekommen natürlich Ihr Geld zurück, wenn Sie schon bezahlt haben.Eekh PRYOO-feh dahs glighkh eem reh-GAHL. Zee beh-KOH-mayn nuh-TYOOR-leekh eer gelt tsoo-RYOOK, vayn zee shohn beh-TSAHLT KHAH-bayn.
I'll check that on the shelf right away. You'll of course get your money back if you've already paid.
3
YOU FINISH
Ich habe noch nicht bezahlt. Aber danke für die Hilfe!
Eekh KHAH-beh nokh neekht beh-TSAHLT. AH-buh DAHN-keh fyoor dee KHEEL-feh!
I haven't paid yet. But thanks for the help!
THEY SAY
Gern geschehen.Gehrn geh-SHEH-ayn.
You're welcome.
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
Joghurt
YOH-goort
noun
yoghurt
ist
eest
verb
is
schon
shohn
adverb
already
abgelaufen
AHB-geh-low-fayn
adjective
expired
Datum
DAH-toom
noun
date
war
vahr
verb
was
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
At the supermarket checkout they ask about a card and a bagSupermarkt / Kasse · A1 in the app
→Your card is declined and the cashier suggests another waySupermarkt / Kasse · A1 in the app
→You look for a product in a big shopSupermarkt / Kasse · A1 in the app
→In the queue you have only two items and ask to go aheadSupermarkt / Kasse · A1 in the app
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