German · Kollegen / Alltag
You ask a colleague for help: what to say in German
You ask a colleague for help.
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How it's done. Asking for help is normal; the phrases Hast du kurz Zeit? (informal) or Haben Sie kurz Zeit? (formal) open the conversation politely.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, haben Sie kurz Zeit? Ich brauche Hilfe.
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, KHAH-bayn zee koorts tsight? Eekh BROW-kheh KHEEL-feh.
Excuse me, do you have a moment? I need help.
Or say:Entschuldigung, können Sie mir kurz helfen?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, KYOH-nayn zee meer koorts KHEL-fayn?
THEY SAY
Ja, klar. Was gibt es?Yah, klahr. Vahs geept es?
Yes, of course. What's up?
They might also say:
Gern. Worum geht es?
Gehrn. Voh-ROOM get es?
Gladly. What is it about?
2
YOU REPLY
Ich weiß nicht, wie der Drucker funktioniert.
Eekh vighs neekht, vee dehr DROO-kuh foonk-tsee-oh-NEERT.
I don't know how the printer works.
THEY SAY
Das ist einfach. Sie drücken hier und wählen den Drucker aus.Dahs eest IGHN-fuhkh. Zee DRYOO-kayn kheer oont VEH-layn dayn DROO-kuh ows.
That's easy. You press here and select the printer.
3
YOU FINISH
Ach so, jetzt verstehe ich. Vielen Dank!
Ahkh zoh, yehtst fehrsh-TEH-eh eekh. FEE-layn dahnk!
I see, now I understand. 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
haben
KHAH-bayn
verb
to have
kurz
koorts
adjective
short
Zeit
tsight
noun
time
brauche
BROW-kheh
verb
I need
Hilfe
KHEEL-feh
noun
help
Ja
Yah
adverb
yes
28 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
Colleagues invite you to lunchKollegen / Alltag · A1 in the app
→A colleague suggests switching to the informal "du"Kollegen / Alltag · A2 in the app
→At a meeting a colleague speaks quickly about a change of date and you ask them to repeatKollegen / Alltag · A2 in the app
→First day at a new jobKollegen / Alltag · A1 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report