Confident business team posing on courthouse steps

TOP 10 BUSINESS PHRASES FOR WORK

Business team meeting, presentation, collaboration

Mastering Business German can feel overwhelming, but focusing on the phrases you actually need in meetings, emails, and day-to-day work life makes it much easier. Here are 10 essential phrases you’ll use constantly—confirmed by many of our students during classes!

Feeling confident in the German workplace can be a game changer, especially if you’re looking to thrive as an expat or international professional. Many who take a Business German course online or join Business German classes for expats quickly discover that workplace communication in Germany requires more than just textbook knowledge. The real challenge is understanding, speaking, and writing Business German fluently, so you can participate in meetings, contribute to team projects, and navigate daily tasks with ease.

Common Struggles in the German Working Environment

Many expats and international professionals face these common struggles:

Feeling lost in rapid meetings because of advanced vocabulary or formal expressions
Writing emails in German: Is it too direct? Too formal? How to strike the right business tone?
Navigating company culture: When to use “Sie” or “du”? Is it polite to interrupt?
Presenting ideas confidently in German meetings and video conferences
Building trust with coworkers and clients in a new language environment

The solution? Equip yourself with Business German phrases and vocabulary!

10 Key Business German Phrases for Every Day

Here are the ten most useful phrases for daily business life in Germany. Use them in meetings, emails, and conversations to sound professional, polite, and confident.

1. Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen?

(Could you please repeat that?)
Use this when you didn’t catch something in a meeting or call. For example: Entschuldigung, könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen? (“Sorry, could you please repeat that?”)

2. Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob ich Sie richtig verstanden habe.

(I’m not sure I understood you correctly.)
A diplomatic way to check your understanding. You can follow up with Meinen Sie …? (“Do you mean …?”)

3. Wie sieht es mit dem Zeitplan aus?

(How does the timeline look?)
Perfect for asking about project deadlines or schedules. For example: Wie sieht es mit dem Zeitplan aus? (“How does the timeline look?”)

4. Könnten Sie mir bitte mehr Informationen dazu schicken?

(Could you please send me more information about that?)
Great for email or chat when you need details. For example: Vielen Dank. Könnten Sie mir bitte mehr Informationen schicken? (“Thank you. Could you please send me more information?”)

5. Gibt es hierzu noch offene Fragen?

(Are there any remaining questions about this?)
Use this before closing a topic in a meeting. For example: Gibt es hierzu noch offene Fragen? (“Are there any remaining questions about this?”)

6. Darf ich Sie kurz unterbrechen?

(May I briefly interrupt?)
A polite way to join or redirect a discussion. For example: Darf ich Sie kurz unterbrechen? (“May I briefly interrupt?”)

7. Könnten wir das Thema zurückstellen und später besprechen?

(Could we postpone this topic and discuss it later?)
Helpful for keeping meetings focused. For example: Könnten wir das Thema zurückstellen und später besprechen? (“Could we postpone this topic and discuss it later?”)

8. Soweit ich weiß… / Meines Wissens nach…

(As far as I know… / To my knowledge…)
A diplomatic way to share information. For example: Soweit ich weiß, ist noch kein Budget genehmigt. (“As far as I know, no budget has been approved yet.”)

9. Vielen Dank für Ihre schnelle Rückmeldung.

(Thank you for your quick response.)
Polite email or meeting etiquette. For example: Vielen Dank für Ihre schnelle Rückmeldung. (“Thank you for your quick response.”)

10. Darf ich Ihnen einen Vorschlag machen?

(May I make a suggestion?)
A respectful way to offer ideas. For example: Darf ich Ihnen einen Vorschlag machen? (“May I make a suggestion?”)

How to Get the Most from Your Business German Online Course

Practicing these phrases in your Business German classes online, especially in realistic scenarios like meetings, emails, and presentations, will boost your confidence and credibility.

Wishing you the best of luck with your journey!

Need Personalized Help? Book a complimentary consultation with PicconProfessionalGerman and take your Business German communication to the next level.