How to Ask for Permission Politely in German: 'May I' and 'Can I'
Learn to ask permission in German with darf ich and kann ich, including polite forms, word order, and when each verb fits.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Asking permission in German is not the same as asking for an object. For permission, the key verb is dürfen (to be allowed). The most common beginner pattern is a yes/no question that starts with the verb: Darf ich ...? This lesson teaches you to ask politely to do things such as open a window, sit down, or take a photo. You will also learn kann ich, which is more informal and often sounds like a casual 'Can I?'.
By the end, you can…
- ask permission with Darf ich ...?
- use Kann ich ...? in informal situations
- add bitte and other polite words
- understand and answer a permission question
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Darf ich das Fenster öffnen?
May I open the window?
darf ikh das FEN-ster UEF-nen
Standard polite permission question. Use with strangers, teachers, or in formal settings.
Kann ich hier sitzen?
Can I sit here?
kan ikh heer ZIT-sen
Informal and common in everyday situations. Softer and less formal than darf ich.
Darf ich Sie etwas fragen?
May I ask you something?
darf ikh zee ET-vas FRAH-gen
Polite Sie form. Useful in shops, offices, or when speaking to someone you do not know.
Darf ich mal vorbei?
May I get past?
darf ikh mahl for-BYE
Very common in crowded spaces. The particle mal makes the request sound lighter and friendlier.
Ist es okay, wenn ich das Foto mache?
Is it okay if I take the photo?
ist es o-KAY, ven ikh das FO-to MA-khe
A useful alternative when you want to check if something is allowed. It uses a wenn-clause.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
For permission, put the verb first: Darf ich ...? or Kann ich ...? Then add the action in the infinitive at the end. Examples: Darf ich hier parken? (May I park here?) Kann ich kurz telefonieren? (Can I make a quick phone call?) The verb that carries the permission meaning is dürfen or können, not the action verb. The action verb stays in the infinitive at the end of the sentence.
When to use it
Use dürfen when you are asking about rules, permission, or politeness: Darf ich hier rauchen? (May I smoke here?) Use können in relaxed, everyday situations: Kann ich dein Handy benutzen? (Can I use your phone?) With strangers or in formal contexts, prefer dürfen and add bitte: Darf ich bitte Platz nehmen? (May I sit down, please?) In southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, people often use dürfen and können in similar everyday situations, but dürfen remains the safer polite choice.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Entschuldigung, darf ich das Fenster öffnen?
Excuse me, may I open the window?ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, darf ikh das FEN-ster UEF-nenJa, klar. Es ist wirklich warm hier.
Yes, of course. It is really warm in here.yah, klahr. es ist VIRK-likh varm heerDanke. Darf ich auch den Ventilator einschalten?
Thank you. May I also turn on the fan?DAN-ke. darf ikh owkh den ven-ti-LA-tor INE-shal-tenJa, das ist kein Problem.
Yes, that is no problem.yah, das ist kine pro-BLAYMA little context goes a long way
German politeness often comes from word choice and tone rather than long phrases. Darf ich is the standard polite form for permission, while Kann ich is common but more casual. Adding bitte or mal can soften a request: Darf ich mal vorbei? sounds friendly in a crowd. In Austria and parts of southern Germany, you may also hear darf ich mal in relaxed everyday speech.
One thing to watch for
Using Kann ich for permission in a formal situation, as in Kann ich hier rauchen? to a hotel receptionist.
Try this instead: Use Darf ich for polite permission: Darf ich hier rauchen? Kann ich is not wrong, but it can sound casual. In formal contexts, dürfen is the safer choice.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask politely, 'May I sit here?'
Show a sample answer
Darf ich hier sitzen?
This uses the polite permission verb dürfen in first position, followed by ich, hier, and the infinitive sitzen. Kann ich hier sitzen? is also possible but more informal.
2Which verb is better for asking about a rule, and why?
Show a sample answer
Dürfen, because it asks about permission or what is allowed.
Dürfen means 'to be allowed'. Use it for rules and formal permission. Können is more about ability or informal possibility, though it is common in casual permission questions.
3Make this more polite: Kann ich mal vorbei?
Show a sample answer
Darf ich mal vorbei? or Darf ich bitte mal vorbei?
Changing kann to darf makes the request more polite, and adding bitte makes it clearly courteous. Kann ich mal vorbei? is still acceptable in casual situations.
For polite permission in German, start with Darf ich ...? and put the action verb at the end. Use Kann ich ...? in informal situations, and add bitte when you want to sound especially polite.
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