German · Bahnhof / Deutsche Bahn
You want to reserve a seat on an ICE train: what to say in German
You want to reserve a seat on an ICE train.
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How it's done. You can reserve a seat on the ICE for a small fee (Sitzplatzreservierung); on the train look for the carriage number (Wagen) and the seat (Platz).Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
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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 eine Sitzplatzreservierung für den ICE nach Berlin.
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh MYOKH-teh IGH-neh zeets-pluhts-reh-zehr-FEE-roong fyoor dayn ee-tseh-eh nahkh Behr-LEEN.
Good day, I'd like a seat reservation for the ICE to Berlin.
Or say:Guten Tag, kann ich einen Platz im Zug reservieren?
GOO-tayn tahk, kahn eekh IGH-nayn plahts eem tsook reh-zehr-VEE-rayn?
THEY SAY
Gern. Für welchen Tag und welchen Zug? Möchten Sie am Fenster sitzen?Gehrn. Fyoor VEL-khayn tahk oont VEL-khayn tsook? MYOKH-tayn zee ahm FAYNS-tuh ZEE-tsayn?
Gladly. For which day and which train? Would you like to sit by the window?
They might also say:
Für wann? Möchten Sie einen Fensterplatz oder einen Gangplatz?
Fyoor vahn? MYOKH-tayn zee IGH-nayn FAYNS-tehr-pluhts OH-duh IGH-nayn GAHNG-pluhts?
For when? Would you like a window seat or an aisle seat?
2
YOU REPLY
Für morgen, den Zug um neun Uhr. Am Fenster, bitte.
Fyoor MOR-gayn, dayn tsook oom noyn oor. Ahm FAYNS-tuh, BEE-teh.
For tomorrow, the nine o'clock train. By the window, please.
THEY SAY
Die Reservierung kostet etwa fünf Euro. Möchten Sie sie?Dee reh-zehr-VEE-roong KOS-tet EH-tvuh fyoonf OY-roh. MYOKH-tayn zee zee?
The reservation costs about five euros. Would you like it?
3
YOU REPLY
Ja, bitte. Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Yah, BEE-teh. Kahn eekh meet KAHR-teh TSAH-layn?
Yes, please. Can I pay by card?
THEY SAY
Natürlich. Hier ist Ihre Reservierung: Wagen sechs, Platz zwölf.Nuh-TYOOR-leekh. Kheer eest EE-reh reh-zehr-VEE-roong: VAH-gayn zeks, plahts tsvyolf.
Of course. Here is your reservation: carriage six, seat twelve.
4
YOU FINISH
Vielen Dank!
FEE-layn dahnk!
Thank you very much!
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
Sitzplatzreservierung
zeets-pluhts-reh-zehr-FEE-roong
noun
seat reservation
Gern
Gehrn
adverb
gladly
Zug
tsook
noun
train
40 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?
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