German for When the Bottle Deposit Machine Won't Print Your Receipt
Learn polite German phrases to ask supermarket staff for help when the Pfandautomat fails to print your Pfandbon or Quittung.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
You have fed your empty bottles into the machine, but the receipt — your proof of deposit — did not come out. This lesson gives you the exact German you need to ask a member of staff for help, explain that the receipt was not printed, and request a check. You will learn the key nouns Pfandbon and Quittung, the verb ausdrucken, and a polite sentence pattern that works in any standard German-speaking supermarket. The focus is on clear, respectful requests, not on guessing store policies.
By the end, you can…
- say that the deposit receipt was not printed.
- politely ask a staff member to check the machine or the situation.
- distinguish between Pfandbon and Quittung when speaking.
- use the verb ausdrucken in a complete sentence.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Der Pfandbon wurde nicht ausgedruckt.
The deposit receipt was not printed.
dair PFANT-bohn VOOR-duh nisht OWS-guh-drookt
Use this as your main explanation. It states the problem clearly and politely without blaming anyone.
Können Sie das prüfen?
Can you check that?
KUR-nen zee das PRUE-fen
A polite request for a staff member to look into the situation. Use it right after explaining the problem.
Die Quittung ist nicht herausgekommen.
The receipt did not come out.
dee KVIT-toong ist nisht heh-ROWS-guh-kom-men
Quittung is a general word for a receipt. Use it if you are not sure whether the machine calls it a Pfandbon.
Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?
Could you please help me?
KURN-ten zee meer BIT-tuh HEL-fen
A very polite way to get a staff member's attention. Könnten is more polite than können.
Der Automat hat den Bon nicht ausgedruckt.
The machine did not print the receipt.
dair ow-toh-MAHT hat dane bohn nisht OWS-guh-drookt
Bon is a short, common word for the deposit receipt. Use it when the context is already clear.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 'Der Pfandbon wurde nicht ausgedruckt. Können Sie das prüfen?' lets you state a problem and make a polite request in two short sentences. 'Wurde' is the simple past passive of 'werden' and focuses on the action, not on who did it. You can swap the subject: 'Die Quittung wurde nicht ausgedruckt.' or 'Der Bon wurde nicht ausgedruckt.' The second sentence, 'Können Sie das prüfen?', works with any problem: 'Können Sie das kontrollieren?' is also possible. Keep your tone friendly and add 'bitte' if you like: 'Können Sie das bitte prüfen?'
When to use it
Use these sentences when you are standing at the bottle-return machine and no receipt has appeared. First get a staff member's attention: 'Entschuldigung, können Sie mir helfen?' Then explain: 'Der Pfandbon wurde nicht ausgedruckt.' Finally ask them to check: 'Können Sie das prüfen?' If you are not sure what the machine calls the receipt, use 'Quittung' instead of 'Pfandbon'. In a small shop, you might say 'Der Automat hat den Bon nicht ausgedruckt' — 'Automat' is clear from context. Always stay polite; staff are more willing to help when you use 'Können Sie' or 'Könnten Sie'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Entschuldigung, können Sie mir bitte helfen?
Excuse me, could you please help me?ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, KUR-nen zee meer BIT-tuh HEL-fenJa, natürlich. Was ist das Problem?
Yes, of course. What is the problem?yah, nah-TUER-lish. vas ist das pro-BLAYMDer Pfandbon wurde nicht ausgedruckt. Können Sie das prüfen?
The deposit receipt was not printed. Can you check that?dair PFANT-bohn VOOR-duh nisht OWS-guh-drookt. KUR-nen zee das PRUE-fenIch schaue mal nach. Moment, bitte.
I'll take a look. One moment, please.ish SHOW-uh mahl nakh. mo-MENT, BIT-tuhA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, polite requests often use 'Könnten Sie' or 'Können Sie' plus 'bitte'. Direct demands without these softeners can sound rude. When speaking to supermarket staff, start with 'Entschuldigung' to get attention. The word 'Pfandbon' is standard in Germany, while 'Bon' is common in Austria and Switzerland for any receipt. Using 'Quittung' is always understood, but it may sound slightly more formal.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Der Pfandbon hat nicht ausgedruckt' without an object, or using 'drucken' instead of 'ausdrucken'.
Try this instead: Use 'ausdrucken' when something is printed out completely: 'Der Pfandbon wurde nicht ausgedruckt.' If you want an active sentence, say 'Der Automat hat den Pfandbon nicht ausgedruckt.' Do not omit 'den Pfandbon' — German needs the object here.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'The deposit receipt was not printed' in German?
Show a sample answer
Der Pfandbon wurde nicht ausgedruckt.
This uses the passive voice with 'wurde' and the participle 'ausgedruckt'. You could also say 'Der Pfandbon ist nicht ausgedruckt worden', but the simple past passive is more common in speech.
2What is a polite way to ask a staff member to check the situation?
Show a sample answer
Können Sie das prüfen?
This is a direct but polite question. Adding 'bitte' makes it even more polite: 'Können Sie das bitte prüfen?' 'Könnten Sie das prüfen?' is also correct and slightly more formal.
3Which word would you use if you are not sure the machine calls the receipt a 'Pfandbon'?
Show a sample answer
Quittung
'Quittung' is a general word for a receipt and is understood everywhere. 'Pfandbon' is more specific to bottle deposits. Both are correct in this situation.
When the machine fails, stay calm and polite: say 'Der Pfandbon wurde nicht ausgedruckt' and ask 'Können Sie das prüfen?' Use 'Quittung' if you are unsure about 'Pfandbon'.
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