How to Ask About Laundry Facilities in German: 'Is There a Laundromat Nearby?' and Opening Hours
Learn to ask whether there is a laundromat nearby in German, understand opening hours, and handle basic laundry questions politely at elementary level.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you travel or move to a German-speaking country, laundry is one of the first practical problems you face. You need to find a laundromat, ask whether it is nearby, and understand when it is open. This lesson gives you a small set of polite, standard German phrases for exactly that situation. You will learn the key question 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Waschsalon?', how to ask about opening hours, and how to check whether a machine is free. The focus is on speaking and understanding, not on grammar theory, so you can use the phrases right away.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether there is a laundromat nearby in German.
- ask about opening hours and understand a simple answer.
- ask whether a washing machine is free and where to get coins.
- use polite forms like 'Entschuldigung' and 'Können Sie mir helfen?' in a laundry context.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Waschsalon?
Is there a laundromat nearby?
gipt es heer in dair NAY-uh EYE-nen VASH-zah-lon
Standard polite question. 'In der Nähe' means 'nearby'. Use 'einen' because 'Waschsalon' is masculine and the object of 'gibt es'.
Entschuldigung, können Sie mir helfen?
Excuse me, can you help me?
ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, KUR-nen zee meer HEL-fen
A polite opener before asking a stranger for information. 'Entschuldigung' is the standard polite way to get attention.
Wie sind Ihre Öffnungszeiten?
What are your opening hours?
vee zint EE-ruh URF-noongs-tsye-ten
Use this with staff at a laundromat, hotel, or shop. 'Ihre' is the polite possessive form for 'your'.
Wann schließen Sie?
When do you close?
van SHEE-sen zee
A short, natural way to ask about closing time. 'Schließen' means 'to close'.
Ist diese Waschmaschine frei?
Is this washing machine free?
ist DEE-zuh VASH-mah-shee-nuh fry
Useful inside a laundromat when several machines are present. 'Frei' here means 'available', not 'free of charge'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe ...?' meaning 'Is there ... nearby?'. After 'gibt es', the noun phrase is in the accusative case. Masculine nouns change: 'ein Waschsalon' becomes 'einen Waschsalon'. Neuter and feminine nouns do not change: 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe eine Reinigung?' (a dry cleaner) and 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe ein Waschcafé?' (a laundry café). If you only need a simple yes/no answer, this pattern is enough. For a plural, use the plural form: 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe Waschsalons?'
When to use it
Use 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Waschsalon?' when you are new to an area and need a place to wash clothes. If you are already inside a laundromat, switch to questions about machines and hours: 'Ist diese Waschmaschine frei?' or 'Wie sind Ihre Öffnungszeiten?'. In a hotel, ask reception: 'Haben Sie einen Wäscheservice?' (Do you have a laundry service?). In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, 'Waschsalon' is widely understood; in Switzerland you may also hear 'Wäscherei', which usually refers to a laundry service rather than a self-service laundromat. Keep your tone polite and add 'Entschuldigung' before approaching someone.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Entschuldigung, gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Waschsalon?
Excuse me, is there a laundromat nearby?ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, gipt es heer in dair NAY-uh EYE-nen VASH-zah-lonJa, es gibt einen Waschsalon in der Bahnhofstraße. Er ist etwa fünf Minuten zu Fuß.
Yes, there is a laundromat on Bahnhofstraße. It is about five minutes on foot.yah, es gipt EYE-nen VASH-zah-lon in dair BAHN-hof-shtrah-suh. air ist ET-vah fewnf mi-NOO-ten tsoo foosDanke. Wie sind die Öffnungszeiten?
Thank you. What are the opening hours?DAN-kuh. vee zint dee URF-noongs-tsye-tenDer Waschsalon ist täglich von sieben bis zweiundzwanzig Uhr geöffnet.
The laundromat is open daily from seven to ten p.m.dair VASH-zah-lon ist TAYK-likh fon ZEE-ben bis TSVY-unt-tsvan-tsikh oor guh-URF-netA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, laundromats are often called 'Waschsalon' or 'Waschcenter'. Many are self-service and open long hours, sometimes 24 hours. Staff may not always be present, so signs with 'Öffnungszeiten' are important. In Switzerland, 'Wäscherei' often refers to a laundry service rather than a self-service laundromat. Using 'Sie' with strangers is standard; with younger people in informal settings, 'du' may be acceptable, but 'Sie' is always safe.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe ein Waschsalon?' because you treat 'Waschsalon' as neuter.
Try this instead: 'Waschsalon' is masculine, so after 'gibt es' you need the accusative 'einen': 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Waschsalon?' If you use a feminine noun like 'Reinigung', the form stays 'eine': 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe eine Reinigung?'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Is there a laundromat nearby?' in German?
Show a sample answer
Gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Waschsalon?
This uses the fixed pattern 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe ...?' plus the accusative masculine 'einen Waschsalon'. You could also say 'Gibt es in der Nähe einen Waschsalon?' without 'hier'; both are correct.
2You are inside a laundromat and want to know if a machine is available. What do you ask?
Show a sample answer
Ist diese Waschmaschine frei?
'Frei' means 'available' in this context. You could also point and ask 'Ist die Maschine frei?' if it is clear which machine you mean.
3How do you ask about opening hours politely?
Show a sample answer
Wie sind Ihre Öffnungszeiten?
'Ihre' is the polite 'your'. With a friend you might say 'Wie sind deine Öffnungszeiten?', but that is unusual because a laundromat is not a person you know informally. The polite form is the safe choice.
Memorize 'Gibt es hier in der Nähe einen Waschsalon?' and 'Wie sind Ihre Öffnungszeiten?' first. These two questions solve the most common laundry problems when you are in a German-speaking area.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s German into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr