In Germany, can I get by with English?

If you're planning to visit Germany, you may be asking whether it's worth learning German -- or do Germans speak English?
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by Kevin MacLeod incompetech.com
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[@moatl6945]

To give the answer in short:

[@Korschtal]

I remember the point I realised my German was "good enough" and people began to answer me in Germany instead of switching to English. A proud moment indeed.

[@Urspo]

I was eager to try out my German, but they were even more eager to practice their English People seemed pleased I was trying to speak German.

[@Eric0816]

I've met many germans who speak English very well but try everything to avoid doing it becaue they "have an accent".

[@helsinkisuomi]

Hmm, you know, I actually took German lessons for 3 years before I finally visited Germany for...less than 2 weeks, LOL. Speaking didn't come as naturally as I had hoped, especially during the first few days when I was suffering from jet lag. A waiter (in Munich) at one point said in English to me as I was trying to think how to say cheese in German, "it's OK to speak English, I know you do." Haha! But I was able to read a lot of signs and understand about half of tours conducted in German. So the German lessons were worth it.

[@dorderre]

A decade ago I used to work for a german branch of an english company. About half the staff was german, the rest came from all over the world.

[@bramheineken7766]

I have lived in Germany basically my entire life and most people will try to communicate with you, no matter what language you speak. A lot of my friends speak terrible english, but if someone who doesn't know german shows up, they all try their best and at least basic communication is possible.

[@Dandolos98]

I'm German. I understand most Netflix series, texts and conversation without problem, but I have zero speak practice and would break out in sweat immediately or forget everything I learned

[@RalphH007]

If you have communication problems just go into the next shop and say "Mein Luftkissenfahrzeug ist voller Aale!"

[@eltfell]

As a rule of thumb the more Germans are employed for simple but in terms of tourism important services, the less English they speak or understand. Example: Bus drivers. On the other hand, learning phrases isn't the solution, because You still have to understand the answer.If you only can say the phrase "Wohin geht es zum Bahnhof?", it doesn't help, if you don't understand "Da gehnse ersma gradeaus, dann anna Post links und zwischen diese beide komischen Blumenkästen durch - wennse dann nach rechts gucken, sehnse den dann schon."

[@SimonS44]

Yesterday, I was in the Netherlands. I tried to start speaking in Dutch, but then they would already be answering in English. And when they notice I'm German, they'll switch to perfect German as well. Only the lady in the bus ticket office let me finish my sentence in Dutch. And I would say I speak English quite well, and even basic Dutch (I hadn't problems understanding anything). So annoying. Let me met u Nederlands praten, alsjeblieft.

[@somebright2827]

Most Germans learn english in school from 2nd to 10th grade as a main subject and consume some kind of media in english.. so yes people around the age of 14 to 20 can most likely have a basic or even full conversation with you!

[@jonathanscott7372]

As a 17 year old I did a bicycle tour across North Germany to Denmark nominally with no German, but I got by fairly well, except for a few minor misunderstandings. It wasn't a language problem, but In a youth hostel, I was given a tea and a slice of pumpernickel. I thought the pumpernickel was a cork mat and so set the tea down on top of it.

[@5mnz7fg]

"Thank you for travelling with Deutsche Bahn." ^_^

[@510Russ]

I've not yet been to Germany. But my experience in Switzerland and Liberia has been as you say: More English speakers in the city, less in the country. More among the young, less among the old. Two cool experiences as a result of my knowing Spanish: In Puerto Rico, I met a couple gentlemen who know only Chinese and Spanish. They had some coupons written in English. So I used my Spanish to answer their questions. In Spain, I met a family from Pakistan who spoke only Erdu and Spanish. Their Spanish was comparable to mine, so we kept topics simple and had a lovely meal. :)

[@KatesAdventures]

In the big cities I've managed to get by with only a few words of German, but when I visited some small villages in North-West Germany, I had very few conversations in English with strangers and a lot of people seemed very confused as to how I'd found my way there XD

[@cocacraesh]

This is the best answer to this specific question I have ever heard. The "gradients" of language proficiency between urban/rural and old/young are especially true.

[@chessplayer8798]

I need to praise the uploader for German subtitles,they help as I learn German.

[@siphonsnob]

Just back from a month in Germany (from Canada) with only the most basic German on my part - Hamburg was highly English speaking, Berlin mostly west of Brandenburg Gate, but the Harz Mountains (Quedlinburg, Wernigerode) I never heard English spoken, so tourists there were mostly Germans, and hotels might have had one English speaker. The same for the Baltic Sea area - Heringsdorf, no English speaking on the streets, in the shops, in restaurants. Sorry to all the locals who were not shy in telling me that I was doing something wrong, I did not understand you.

[@michaelgaughan5811]

In my experience you can get along fine with English, but I think people appreciate the effort if you at least attempt to speak a bit of german.