How to Ask About Delivery Times in German
Learn to ask how long delivery takes in German, including express options, using Wie lange dauert and Wie lange braucht constructions.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you order something in a German-speaking country, one of the first questions you will want to ask is how long the delivery will take. German has two very common ways to ask this: with dauern (to last, to take time) and with brauchen (to need, to take time). This lesson teaches you to ask how long something takes to arrive, to understand answers in days or business days, and to ask specifically about express delivery. You will also learn the difference between Lieferung, Versand and Zustellung, so you can follow the answer you get.
By the end, you can…
- ask how long a delivery will take using two common German patterns.
- understand and give answers in days, working days and hours.
- ask whether express delivery is available and how much faster it is.
- distinguish Lieferung, Versand and Zustellung in a delivery context.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Wie lange dauert die Lieferung?
How long does the delivery take?
vee LAHNG-uh DOW-ert dee LEE-fuh-roong
The most neutral, standard question. dauern is used when you ask about the duration of an event or process.
Wie lange braucht die Lieferung?
How long does the delivery take? (How much time does the delivery need?)
vee LAHNG-uh browkht dee LEE-fuh-roong
Very common in everyday speech. brauchen treats the delivery as something that needs time. Both questions are correct and interchangeable here.
Wie lange dauert es, bis das Paket ankommt?
How long will it take until the package arrives?
vee LAHNG-uh DOW-ert es bis das pah-KET AN-komt
Use this fuller sentence when you want to be explicit about the arrival of the package. ankommen is a separable verb: das Paket kommt an.
Gibt es einen Expressversand?
Is there express shipping?
geept es EYE-nen eks-PRESS-fer-zant
Expressversand is masculine, so the accusative form is einen. Use this in online shops or at a counter.
Wie viel schneller ist der Expressversand?
How much faster is express shipping?
vee feel SHNELL-er ist dair eks-PRESS-fer-zant
Useful for comparing standard and express options. schneller is the comparative of schnell.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Two patterns cover almost every delivery-time question. First, Wie lange dauert ...? with a noun: Wie lange dauert die Lieferung? Wie lange dauert der Versand? Second, Wie lange braucht ...? with a noun: Wie lange braucht das Paket? Both mean 'How long does ... take?' If you want a full clause, use Wie lange dauert es, bis ...? plus a verb at the end: Wie lange dauert es, bis die Bestellung ankommt? The verb ankommen separates: an- goes to the end.
When to use it
Use dauern for neutral, slightly more formal questions, and brauchen in everyday conversation. In shops and on websites you will often see Lieferzeit (delivery time) instead of a full question: Wie ist die Lieferzeit? Answers typically use in plus a time expression: in zwei bis drei Werktagen ('in two to three working days'), innerhalb von 24 Stunden ('within 24 hours'). Werktage means working days, Monday to Saturday in most German usage, so it is not the same as calendar days.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Tag, wie lange dauert die Lieferung normalerweise?
Hello, how long does the delivery usually take?GOO-ten tahk, vee LAHNG-uh DOW-ert dee LEE-fuh-roong nor-MAH-ler-vy-zuhNormalerweise zwei bis drei Werktage.
Usually two to three working days.nor-MAH-ler-vy-zuh tsvy bis dry VAYR-k-tah-guhGibt es auch einen Expressversand?
Is there also express shipping?geept es owkh EYE-nen eks-PRESS-fer-zantJa, der Expressversand dauert nur einen Tag, kostet aber mehr.
Yes, express shipping only takes one day, but it costs more.yah, dair eks-PRESS-fer-zant DOW-ert noor EYE-nen tahk, KOS-tet AH-ber mairA little context goes a long way
In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Werktage usually includes Saturday, so 'drei Werktage' can be shorter than three calendar days. Online shops often state Lieferzeit in Werktagen, while express services promise Lieferung am nächsten Werktag. In Switzerland, standard German works, but you may also see the French-influenced term Livraison in some bilingual contexts.
One thing to watch for
Using Wie lange dauert es bis ...? with the finite verb before the final clause, as in Wie lange dauert es bis das Paket kommt an?
Try this instead: In a bis-clause the verb goes to the end, and separable verbs stay together there: Wie lange dauert es, bis das Paket ankommt? The finite verb ankommt is at the end of the clause.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: How long does the delivery take? (Use dauern.)
Show a sample answer
Wie lange dauert die Lieferung?
dauern takes die Lieferung as its subject. Wie lange braucht die Lieferung? is also correct and very common.
2A shop says: Die Lieferung dauert drei Werktage. How many calendar days might that be?
Show a sample answer
Usually three working days, which can include Saturday in German usage, so often two to three calendar days.
Werktage normally means Monday to Saturday in Germany. Some shops specify Montag bis Freitag, so check the exact wording.
3Ask whether express shipping is available.
Show a sample answer
Gibt es einen Expressversand?
Expressversand is masculine, so the accusative indefinite article is einen. Gibt es Expressversand? without an article is also acceptable in casual speech.
Ask Wie lange dauert die Lieferung? or Wie lange braucht die Lieferung? for standard delivery time, and Gibt es einen Expressversand? for express options. Remember that Werktage are working days, not always calendar days.
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