German · Deutschlandticket / Fahrkarte
You turn out not to have a valid ticket: what to say in German
You turn out not to have a valid ticket.
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How it's done. Travelling without a valid ticket (Schwarzfahren) carries a higher fine (erhöhtes Beförderungsentgelt); if you did have a ticket but could not show it, in many cities you can present it later for a small fee.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
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Ihren Fahrschein, bitte. Der ist leider nicht gültig.EE-rayn FAHR-shighn, BEE-teh. Dehr eest LIGH-duh neekht GYOOL-teekh.
Your ticket, please. It is unfortunately not valid.
They might also say:
Sie haben keinen gültigen Fahrschein.
Zee KHAH-bayn KIGH-nayn GYOOL-tee-gayn FAHR-shighn.
You do not have a valid ticket.
YOU REPLY
Entschuldigung, ich habe ihn heute früh gekauft. Ich wusste nicht, dass er ungültig ist.
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, eekh KHAH-beh een KHOY-teh fryoo geh-KOWFT. Eekh VOOS-teh neekht, dahs ehr OON-gyool-teekh eest.
Sorry, I bought it this morning. I didn't know it was invalid.
Or say:Das tut mir leid. Ich habe ihn nicht entwertet.
Dahs toot meer light. Eekh KHAH-beh een neekht ayn-TVEHR-tet.
THEY SAY
Dann müssen Sie ein erhöhtes Beförderungsentgelt zahlen.Dahn MYOO-sayn zee ighn ehr-KHYOH-tes beh-FYOR-deh-roong-saynt-gelt TSAH-layn.
Then you must pay an increased fare.
2
YOU FINISH
Ich verstehe. Was muss ich jetzt tun?
Eekh fehrsh-TEH-eh. Vahs moos eekh yehtst toon?
I understand. What do I have to do now?
THEY SAY
Ich stelle Ihnen eine Rechnung aus. Sie können sie überweisen.Eekh SHTEH-leh EE-nayn IGH-neh REKH-noong ows. Zee KYOH-nayn zee yoo-behr-VIGH-zayn.
I'll issue you a bill. You can pay it by transfer.
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
Fahrschein
FAHR-shighn
noun
ticket
ist
eest
verb
is
leider
LIGH-duh
adverb
unfortunately
nicht
neekht
adverb
not
gültig
GYOOL-teekh
adjective
valid
habe
KHAH-beh
verb
I have
32 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?
Ich spreche noch nicht gut Deutsch.
Eekh SHPREH-kheh nokh neekht goot doych.
I don't speak German well yet.
Similar situations
You want to cancel your Deutschlandticket subscriptionDeutschlandticket / Fahrkarte · A2 in the app
→You ask whether a child pays for the journeyDeutschlandticket / Fahrkarte · A1 in the app
→You ask about the DeutschlandticketDeutschlandticket / Fahrkarte · A2 in the app
→You buy a single ticketDeutschlandticket / Fahrkarte · A1 in the app
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