German · Elektronik
The appliance you bought does not work: what to say in German
A device you bought does not work.
💡
How it's done. A new device is covered by a legal warranty (Gewährleistung); bring the receipt and the device to the shop and just explain what is wrong.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 Wasserkocher funktioniert nicht.
GOO-tayn tahk, dehr VAH-sehr-koh-khuh foonk-tsee-oh-NEERT neekht.
Good day, the kettle doesn't work.
Or say:Guten Tag, ich habe diesen Wasserkocher gekauft, und er geht nicht an.
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh KHAH-beh DEE-zayn VAH-sehr-koh-khuh geh-KOWFT, oont ehr get neekht ahn.
THEY SAY
Wann haben Sie ihn gekauft?Vahn KHAH-bayn zee een geh-KOWFT?
When did you buy it?
They might also say:
Wie lange haben Sie ihn schon?
Vee LAHN-geh KHAH-bayn zee een shohn?
How long have you had it?
2
YOU REPLY
Vor zwei Wochen. Hier ist der Kassenbon.
For tsvigh VOH-khayn. Kheer eest dehr KAH-sayn-bohn.
Two weeks ago. Here is the receipt.
THEY SAY
Das ist in Ordnung. Wir tauschen ihn um oder erstatten den Betrag.Dahs eest een ORD-noong. Veer TOW-shayn een oom OH-duh ehrsh-TAH-tayn dayn beh-TRAHK.
That's fine. We'll exchange it or refund the amount.
They might also say:
Gut. Sie können ein neues Gerät bekommen oder Ihr Geld zurück.
Goot. Zee KYOH-nayn ighn NOY-es geh-RET beh-KOH-mayn OH-duh eer gelt tsoo-RYOOK.
Good. You can get a new device or your money back.
3
YOU FINISH
Ich möchte lieber das Geld zurück.
Eekh MYOKH-teh LEE-buh dahs gelt tsoo-RYOOK.
I would prefer the money back.
Or say:Ich hätte gern ein neues Gerät.
Eekh KHEH-teh gehrn ighn NOY-es geh-RET.
THEY SAY
Gern, das mache ich sofort.Gehrn, dahs MAH-kheh eekh zoh-FORT.
Gladly, I'll do it right away.
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
Wasserkocher
VAH-sehr-koh-khuh
noun
kettle
funktioniert
foonk-tsee-oh-NEERT
verb
works
nicht
neekht
adverb
not
Wann
Vahn
adverb
when
29 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 das bitte aufschreiben?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh OWFSH-righ-bayn?
Can you write it down, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
You look for a phone charging cableElektronik · A2 in the app
→You need a new bulb for a lightElektronik · A2 in the app
→You buy a washing machine and ask about delivery and installationElektronik · A2 in the app
→You ask when the shop closes and whether it is open on SundaySupermarkt / Kasse · A1 in the app
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