German · Bibliothek
You borrow a book from the university library: what to say in German
You borrow a book at the university library.
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How it's done. To borrow you need a Bibliotheksausweis (library card), often the student ID; books have a return period (Leihfrist).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, ich möchte dieses Buch ausleihen.
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh MYOKH-teh DEE-zes bookh OW-sligh-ayn.
Good day, I'd like to borrow this book.
Or say:Guten Tag, kann ich dieses Buch mit nach Hause nehmen?
GOO-tayn tahk, kahn eekh DEE-zes bookh meet nahkh KHOW-zeh NEH-mayn?
THEY SAY
Haben Sie einen Bibliotheksausweis?KHAH-bayn zee IGH-nayn bee-blee-oh-TEK-sow-svighs?
Do you have a library card?
They might also say:
Zeigen Sie mir bitte Ihren Ausweis.
TSIGH-gayn zee meer BEE-teh EE-rayn OW-svighs.
Please show me your card.
2
YOU FINISH
Ja, hier ist mein Studierendenausweis.
Yah, kheer eest mighn shtoo-DEE-rayn-deh-now-svighs.
Yes, here is my student ID.
THEY SAY
Danke. Sie haben vier Wochen Zeit.DAHN-keh. Zee KHAH-bayn feer VOH-khayn tsight.
Thank you. You have four weeks.
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
Buch
bookh
noun
book
ausleihen
OW-sligh-ayn
verb
to borrow
Haben
KHAH-bayn
verb
to have
14 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
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→You ask which German certificate you need for studyingImmatrikulation · A2 in the app
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