Please in German: Bitte and Its Four Meanings
Please
Bitte
Please in German is Bitte. It is one of the most useful words in the language, because it does four jobs: please, you are welcome, here you are, and pardon. You will say it and hear it dozens of times a day, in a bakery, at a ticket counter, and on the phone.
The list below has the polite request forms built with bitte, the four meanings with an example for each, and audio so you can hear the pronunciation. It also explains where bitte goes in a sentence, which is easier than in English.
Ways to say please in German
Bitte on its own is enough. The longer forms are the polite request patterns you will use to order food, ask for help, or ask someone to do something.
| German | English | Note | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitte Works at the start, middle, or end of a sentence | Please | Works at the start, middle, or end of a sentence | |
| Bitte schön Warmer than Bitte. Also the reply to Danke schön | Please / you are welcome | Warmer than Bitte. Also the reply to Danke schön | |
| Bitte sehr Same level as Bitte schön | Please / you are welcome | Same level as Bitte schön | |
| Könnten Sie bitte … Formal request | Could you please … | Formal request | |
| Kannst du bitte … Informal request | Can you please … | Informal request | |
| Ich hätte gern … The polite way to order. Bitte is built in | I would like … | The polite way to order. Bitte is built in | |
| Ich möchte bitte … A little more direct than Ich hätte gern | I would like …, please | A little more direct than Ich hätte gern | |
| Bitte sehr, hier When handing something over | Here you are | When handing something over | |
| Wie bitte? The polite "what?" when you did not hear | Pardon? | The polite "what?" when you did not hear | |
| Bitte nicht | Please don't | ||
| Bitte, bitte Childlike, said when begging for something | Pretty please | Childlike, said when begging for something |
The four meanings of Bitte
The same word, four situations. You will know which one is meant from the context. Press play to hear that the pronunciation stays the same.
| German | English | Note | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Einen Kaffee, bitte. Bitte = please | A coffee, please. | Bitte = please | |
| Danke! Bitte. Bitte = you are welcome, the reply to Danke | Thanks! You are welcome. | Bitte = you are welcome, the reply to Danke | |
| Bitte, Ihr Kaffee. Bitte = here you are, when handing something over | Here you are, your coffee. | Bitte = here you are, when handing something over | |
| Wie bitte? Bitte = pardon, when you did not hear | Pardon? | Bitte = pardon, when you did not hear |
Example sentences
Ein Wasser, bitte.
A water, please.
Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen?
Could you please repeat that?
Kannst du mir bitte helfen?
Can you please help me?
Bitte setzen Sie sich.
Please sit down.
Danke für den Kaffee. Bitte schön!
Thanks for the coffee. You are welcome!
Wie bitte? Ich habe Sie nicht verstanden.
Pardon? I did not understand you.
Good to know
Bitte can go almost anywhere
In English "please" usually goes at the end. In German bitte can go at the start (Bitte helfen Sie mir), in the middle (Können Sie mir bitte helfen?), or at the end (Helfen Sie mir, bitte). All three are correct and polite. The middle position is the most common in speech.
Bitte is also you are welcome
When someone says Danke, the standard reply is Bitte or Bitte schön. It does not mean please here, it means you are welcome. This confuses learners at first, but it makes the exchange easy: Danke schön gets Bitte schön.
Wie bitte, not Was
If you did not hear something, say Wie bitte? (pardon?). Saying Was? (what?) is common between friends but sounds rude with strangers, the same as a sharp "What?" in English.
Sie or du in a request
The verb changes with the person. Formal: Könnten Sie bitte …, Können Sie mir bitte …. Informal: Kannst du bitte …, Könntest du bitte …. The könnt- forms (could) are a little softer than the kann- forms (can).
Pronunciation
Bitte is BIT-tuh, with a short i as in "bit" and a soft final e. The e is never silent. Bitte schön is BIT-tuh SHURN, with the ö sound made by saying "ay" with rounded lips.
Practice with flashcards
This phrase and 120 more as cards. See the English, say the German, flip to check. Free, no signup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bitte mean in German?
Why do Germans say Bitte after Danke?
Is Bitte formal or informal?
How do you say yes please in German?
What is the difference between Bitte and Bitte schön?
Where does bitte go in a German sentence?
Continue learning
Common German Phrases
Greetings, goodbyes, please and thank you, yes and no, and more, all with audio
German Phrases Flashcards
Drill the common phrases from English to German
Hello in German
Hello and Hi in German: Hallo, Guten Tag, and the Regional Greetings
Good morning in German
Good Morning in German: Guten Morgen, Morgen, and Moin
Thank you in German
Thank You in German: Danke, Danke schön, and Vielen Dank
Yes in German
Yes in German: Ja, Doch, Genau, and the Other Ways to Agree
No in German
No in German: Nein, Nicht, Kein, and the Casual Nee
You're welcome in German
You're Welcome in German: Bitte, Bitte schön, and Gern geschehen
How are you in German
How Are You in German: Wie geht's, Wie geht es dir, Wie geht es Ihnen
Goodbye in German
Goodbye in German: Auf Wiedersehen, Tschüss, and Bis bald
Cheers in German
Cheers in German: Prost, Zum Wohl, and Other Toasts
Good night in German
Good Night in German: Gute Nacht, Schlaf gut, and Sweet Dreams
Excuse me in German
Excuse Me in German: Entschuldigung, Entschuldigen Sie, and Verzeihung
Sorry in German
Sorry in German: Es tut mir leid, Entschuldigung, and How to Apologize
Good evening in German
Good Evening in German: Guten Abend, Schönen Abend, and Guten Tag
Welcome in German
Welcome in German: Willkommen and Herzlich willkommen
My name is in German
My Name Is in German: Ich heiße, Ich bin, and Mein Name ist
Happy birthday in German
Happy Birthday in German: Alles Gute zum Geburtstag and Herzlichen Glückwunsch
I love you in German
I Love You in German: Ich liebe dich, Ich hab dich lieb, and Mein Schatz