German · Studierendenwerk / Mensa
You do not know how to top up your canteen card: what to say in German
You do not know how to top up the canteen card.
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How it's done. You top up the Mensakarte at the machine by the entrance: hold the card to it, choose the amount and pay with coins or a bank card.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, wie lade ich meine Mensakarte auf?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, vee LAH-deh eekh MIGH-neh MAYN-zuh-kuhr-teh owf?
Excuse me, how do I top up my canteen card?
Or say:Entschuldigung, wo kann ich meine Mensakarte aufladen?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, voh kahn eekh MIGH-neh MAYN-zuh-kuhr-teh OW-fluh-dayn?
THEY SAY
Am Automaten dort. Legen Sie die Karte auf und wählen Sie den Betrag.Ahm ow-toh-MAH-tayn dort. LEH-gayn zee dee KAHR-teh owf oont VEH-layn zee dayn beh-TRAHK.
At the machine over there. Put the card on it and choose the amount.
They might also say:
Gleich dort am Automaten. Karte auflegen und Betrag auswählen.
Glighkh dort ahm ow-toh-MAH-tayn. KAHR-teh OW-fleh-gayn oont beh-TRAHK OW-sveh-layn.
Right there at the machine. Put the card on and select the amount.
2
YOU REPLY
Kann ich auch mit Karte bezahlen?
Kahn eekh owkh meet KAHR-teh beh-TSAH-layn?
Can I pay by card as well?
THEY SAY
Ja, mit Bankkarte oder mit Bargeld, wie Sie möchten.Yah, meet BAHNK-kuhr-teh OH-duh meet BAHR-gelt, vee zee MYOKH-tayn.
Yes, with a bank card or with cash, as you like.
3
YOU FINISH
Super, vielen Dank!
ZOO-puh, FEE-layn dahnk!
Great, 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
wie
vee
adverb
how
lade
LAH-deh
verb
I charge
Mensakarte
MAYN-zuh-kuhr-teh
noun
canteen card
Automaten
ow-toh-MAH-tayn
noun
machines
dort
dort
adverb
there
Legen
LEH-gayn
verb
to lay, to put
24 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?
Können Sie mir das zeigen?
KYOH-nayn zee meer dahs TSIGH-gayn?
Can you show me?
Similar situations
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