German for Beginners: How to Politely Invite Someone to an Event or Activity
Learn to invite friends and strangers in German using formal and informal phrases, and respond to tentative answers without accepting or declining.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Inviting someone in German requires choosing between informal du and formal Sie. This lesson teaches you to extend invitations clearly and politely, ask if someone is free, and handle hesitant responses. You will practice phrases for casual meetups and formal events, using correct word order and polite question forms. No prior grammar is assumed beyond basic greetings.
By the end, you can…
- invite a friend informally using du and a clear activity phrase.
- invite an acquaintance or superior formally using Sie and polite wording.
- ask if someone has time and respond appropriately to a tentative answer.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Hast du Lust, am Samstag ins Kino zu gehen?
Do you feel like going to the cinema on Saturday?
hahst doo loost, ahm ZAHM-tahk ins KEE-noh tsoo GAY-en
Informal invitation to a friend. 'Lust haben' means to feel like doing something.
Hätten Sie Zeit für ein Treffen am Montag?
Would you have time for a meeting on Monday?
HET-en zee tsyt fewr yn TRUF-en ahm MOHN-tahk
Formal invitation using Sie. 'Hätten' is a polite subjunctive form of 'haben'.
Wir würden uns freuen, wenn du mitkommen könntest.
We would be glad if you could come along.
veer VUER-den oons FROY-en, ven doo MIT-kom-en KUEN-test
Polite and warm, often used for group events. Uses subjunctive 'könntest'.
Ich möchte dich zu meiner Geburtstagsfeier einladen.
I would like to invite you to my birthday party.
ikh MUERKH-te dikh tsoo MY-nuh ge-BOORTS-tahks-fy-er YN-lah-den
Direct but friendly invitation. 'Einladen' is a separable verb: 'ich lade ein'.
Passt es dir am Freitagabend?
Does Friday evening work for you?
pahst es deer ahm FRY-tahk-ah-bent
Informal way to check availability. For formal, use 'Passt es Ihnen am Freitagabend?'
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To invite someone informally, use 'Hast du Lust, ... zu ...?' with an infinitive clause. Example: 'Hast du Lust, schwimmen zu gehen?' (Do you feel like going swimming?). For formal situations, use 'Hätten Sie Lust, ... zu ...?' or 'Würden Sie gerne ...?' Example: 'Hätten Sie Lust, mit uns zu essen?' (Would you like to eat with us?). The verb 'einladen' (to invite) is separable: 'Ich lade dich ein' (I invite you). In polite subjunctive, 'Ich würde dich gerne einladen' (I would like to invite you).
When to use it
Use du forms with friends, family, students, and children. Use Sie forms with strangers, older people, officials, and in professional contexts. If unsure, start with Sie; the other person may offer 'du'. For tentative responses like 'Vielleicht' (maybe) or 'Ich weiß noch nicht' (I don't know yet), respond with 'Kein Problem, sag einfach Bescheid' (No problem, just let me know). Avoid pressing for a definite answer; give space. Example: 'Lass es mich wissen, wenn du Zeit hast.' (Let me know if you have time.)
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Hallo Lisa, hast du am Samstag Zeit? Ich möchte ins Museum gehen.
Hi Lisa, do you have time on Saturday? I would like to go to the museum.HAH-loh LEE-zah, hahst doo ahm ZAHM-tahk tsyt? ikh MUERKH-te ins moo-ZAY-oom GAY-enSamstag? Ich weiß noch nicht. Vielleicht muss ich arbeiten.
Saturday? I don't know yet. Maybe I have to work.ZAHM-tahk? ikh vys nokh nikht. fee-LYKHT moos ikh AR-by-tenKein Problem. Sag mir einfach bis Freitag Bescheid.
No problem. Just let me know by Friday.kyn pro-BLAYM. zahk meer YN-fakh bis FRY-tahk buh-SHYTMache ich. Danke für die Einladung!
I will. Thanks for the invitation!MAH-khe ikh. DAHN-kuh fewr dee YN-lah-doongA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, punctuality is valued, so specify a time. Informal invitations often happen spontaneously, while formal ones may be written. Using 'Sie' with colleagues until they offer 'du' is safe. In Austria and Switzerland, 'Grüß Gott' or 'Grüezi' may replace 'Guten Tag' in greetings, but invitation phrases remain similar.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Willst du...?' (Do you want to...?) for polite invitations.
Try this instead: 'Willst du...?' can sound demanding. Prefer 'Hast du Lust...?' or 'Möchtest du...?'. For formal, use 'Hätten Sie...?' or 'Würden Sie...?'. Example: 'Hätten Sie Zeit?' not 'Wollen Sie Zeit?'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you informally invite a friend to a concert on Friday?
Show a sample answer
Hast du Lust, am Freitag ins Konzert zu gehen?
This uses the informal 'du' and the pattern 'Lust haben'. Alternatives: 'Möchtest du am Freitag ins Konzert gehen?' also works.
2How do you formally ask a colleague if they have time for a meeting?
Show a sample answer
Hätten Sie Zeit für ein Treffen?
This uses the polite subjunctive 'Hätten' with 'Sie'. 'Haben Sie Zeit für ein Treffen?' is also correct but less polite.
3Someone says 'Vielleicht'. What polite phrase can you use to give them time?
Show a sample answer
Kein Problem, sag einfach Bescheid.
This means 'No problem, just let me know.' It respects their uncertainty. 'Lass es mich wissen' is another option.
Choose du or Sie based on your relationship, use 'Lust haben' or 'Hätten Sie' for polite invitations, and respond to hesitation with 'Kein Problem, sag Bescheid' to keep the invitation open.
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