Phone calls are hard at first because you can't see the other person. Learn the fixed phrases for starting a call, asking for an appointment, changing it and ending politely.
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| German | Meaning |
|---|---|
| das Telefon, -e | telephone |
| anrufen | to call (on the phone) |
| der Anruf, -e | call |
| Hier ist … | This is … (on the phone) |
| Sie sprechen mit … | You are speaking to … |
| Einen Moment, bitte. | One moment, please. |
| der Termin, -e | appointment |
| einen Termin machen | to make an appointment |
| verschieben | to postpone, to move |
| absagen | to cancel |
| frei | free, available |
| Geht es am …? | Is … possible? |
| Das passt (gut). | That suits me. |
| Das passt leider nicht. | Unfortunately that doesn't suit me. |
| der Vormittag / der Nachmittag | morning / afternoon |
| die Praxis, Praxen | doctor's practice |
| die Versichertenkarte, -n | health insurance card |
| buchstabieren | to spell |
| Auf Wiederhören! | Goodbye! (on the phone) |
| zurückrufen | to call back |
| die Mailbox, -en | voicemail |
Germans start phone calls by saying who they are: Hier ist Imran Khan. or simply Khan, guten Tag. Companies answer with their name: Praxis Dr. Becker, guten Tag. At the end people say Auf Wiederhören! (literally: until we hear each other again) instead of Auf Wiedersehen.
| You want to … | German |
|---|---|
| make an appointment | Ich möchte einen Termin machen. |
| suggest a time | Geht es am Montag um zehn? |
| agree | Ja, das passt gut. |
| disagree | Das passt leider nicht. Geht es auch später? |
| ask for a call back | Können Sie mich bitte zurückrufen? |
am + day or part of the day: am Montag, am Vormittag, am Wochenende. um + clock time: um zehn Uhr. im + month or season: im Mai, im Winter. A full appointment: am Montag um zehn Uhr. The time expression can start the sentence; then the verb follows directly: Am Montag habe ich Zeit.
Tap the words in the right order.
You have to move your appointment at the hairdresser from Tuesday to Friday. Write what you say on the phone (4–5 sentences): who you are, your appointment, the problem and a new time.
Guten Tag, hier ist Priya Nair. Ich habe am Dienstag um 16 Uhr einen Termin. Leider kann ich am Dienstag nicht kommen. Geht es am Freitag um 16 Uhr? Vielen Dank, auf Wiederhören!
Many doctors' practices in Germany now also offer online booking, but calling is still common. Practices are often closed on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. If you cannot come to an appointment, cancel at least 24 hours before: some practices charge for missed appointments.
Related: Seeing a doctor in Germany · Numbers and time trainer · German phrases you need
