German for Donating to a Library of Things: Ask, Offer, and Clarify
Learn polite German phrases to ask about donating items to a Library of Things, including Kann ich Gegenstände spenden? and Welche Gegenstände nehmen Sie an?
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Germany, Libraries of Things (Bibliotheken der Dinge) accept donations of useful household items. This lesson teaches you how to politely ask whether you can donate, what items they accept, and how to describe something you no longer need. You'll practice three key patterns: Kann ich Gegenstände spenden? (Can I donate items?), Welche Gegenstände nehmen Sie an? (Which items do you accept?), and Ich habe etwas, das ich nicht mehr brauche. (I have something I no longer need.). These phrases work in face-to-face conversations with staff and volunteers. The register is polite and generous, appropriate for offering something without pressure. We'll also cover how to respond if they can't take your item, and how to ask about condition or drop-off times. No prior knowledge of library-specific vocabulary is required, but you should be comfortable with basic German sentence structure and the polite Sie form.
By the end, you can…
- politely ask if I can donate items to a Library of Things.
- ask which items are accepted and describe something I no longer need.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Kann ich Gegenstände spenden?
Can I donate items?
kahn ikh GEH-gen-shten-de SHPEN-den
Use this as a general opening question when you first approach staff. It works for any number of items.
Welche Gegenstände nehmen Sie an?
Which items do you accept?
VEL-khe GEH-gen-shten-de NEH-men zee AN
Ask this after the first question to find out what is currently accepted. The separable verb annehmen splits: nehmen ... an.
Ich habe etwas, das ich nicht mehr brauche.
I have something that I no longer need.
ikh HAH-be ET-vas, das ikh nikht mehr BROW-khe
Use this to introduce a specific item you want to give away. It softens the offer and explains your motivation.
Würden Sie das nehmen?
Would you take that?
VUER-den zee das NEH-men
A polite way to ask about a specific item after you've described it. Use the polite Sie form.
Das ist in gutem Zustand.
It is in good condition.
das ist in GOO-tem TSOO-shtant
Add this to reassure staff about the quality of your donation. Replace gutem with other adjectives if needed.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern for offering something is Ich habe etwas, das ich nicht mehr brauche. Here, das is a relative pronoun referring back to etwas. You can replace etwas with a specific noun: Ich habe einen Toaster, den ich nicht mehr brauche. (I have a toaster that I no longer need.) Note that the relative pronoun changes based on the gender of the noun: den for masculine, die for feminine, das for neuter. For plural, use die. This pattern lets you introduce your item naturally before asking if they want it.
When to use it
Use Kann ich Gegenstände spenden? when you are unsure if donations are accepted at all. It is a yes/no question, so the answer will be ja or nein, often with a follow-up. If the answer is ja, then ask Welche Gegenstände nehmen Sie an? to get specifics. If you already have a particular item in mind, start with Ich habe etwas, das ich nicht mehr brauche. and then describe it. For example: Ich habe eine Bohrmaschine, die ich nicht mehr brauche. Würden Sie die nehmen? (I have a drill that I no longer need. Would you take it?) This sequence is polite and efficient.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Tag! Kann ich Gegenstände spenden?
Hello! Can I donate items?GOO-ten tahk! kahn ikh GEH-gen-shten-de SHPEN-denJa, gerne. Welche Gegenstände möchten Sie denn abgeben?
Yes, gladly. Which items would you like to hand in?yah, GEHR-ne. VEL-khe GEH-gen-shten-de MUERKH-ten zee den AHP-gay-benIch habe eine Bohrmaschine, die ich nicht mehr brauche. Würden Sie die nehmen?
I have a drill that I no longer need. Would you take it?ikh HAH-be EYE-ne BOHR-mah-shee-ne, dee ikh nikht mehr BROW-khe. VUER-den zee dee NEH-menDie ist in gutem Zustand, oder? Dann nehmen wir sie gerne an.
It is in good condition, right? Then we'll gladly accept it.dee ist in GOO-tem TSOO-shtant, OH-der? dan NEH-men veer zee GEHR-ne ANA little context goes a long way
In Germany, Libraries of Things often rely on donations but may have limited storage or specific needs. Always ask first rather than assuming. The polite Sie form is standard with staff. If they decline, a simple Verstehe, trotzdem danke. (I understand, thanks anyway.) is appropriate. Some libraries may ask you to fill out a donation form or leave items during certain hours; ask about that if needed.
One thing to watch for
Using Kann ich Gegenstände spenden? with a specific item without first asking if donations are accepted.
Try this instead: It's better to first ask generally, then specify. For example: Kann ich Gegenstände spenden? Ich habe eine Bohrmaschine. This shows respect for their process. Alternatively, start with Ich habe etwas, das ich nicht mehr brauche. and then ask Würden Sie das nehmen?
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask a staff member if you can donate items?
Show a sample answer
Kann ich Gegenstände spenden?
This is the direct, polite way to ask. You could also say Darf ich Gegenstände spenden? which is slightly more formal.
2You have a used toaster you no longer need. How do you introduce it and ask if they'll take it?
Show a sample answer
Ich habe einen Toaster, den ich nicht mehr brauche. Würden Sie den nehmen?
This uses the relative pronoun den for masculine Toaster. You could also say Ich habe einen Toaster, den ich nicht mehr brauche. Nehmen Sie den? which is slightly less formal.
3What phrase would you use to ask which items they accept?
Show a sample answer
Welche Gegenstände nehmen Sie an?
This is the standard question. Remember that annehmen is separable: nehmen ... an. You could also ask Was für Gegenstände nehmen Sie an? for more emphasis on type.
Politely ask first, then describe your item. Use Kann ich Gegenstände spenden? and Welche Gegenstände nehmen Sie an? to start, and Ich habe etwas, das ich nicht mehr brauche. to introduce your donation. Always use the Sie form with staff.
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