You are at a German train station. The platform is crowded, announcements are echoing, and you need to ask about your train. You know the words nun, jetzt, wirklich, and still, but you want to say them clearly so people understand you the first time. In this workshop you will practise short spoken exchanges where vowel length and word choice matter. You will ask if the train is here now, react with surprise, ask for repetition, and explain that you will wait quietly. The focus is on producing the long u in nun, the short e in jetzt, the short i in wirklich and still, and the clear question Bitte? when you need something repeated.
Warm up your mouth before you speak
Say each word slowly, then at normal speed. For nun, hold the long u like in moon, then release: nun. For jetzt, keep the e short like in bet and end with a crisp ts: jetzt. For wirklich, start with a short i like in sit and finish with a soft German ch: wirklich. For still, begin with sht and keep the i short: still. For Bitte?, make the i short and the final e like uh: BIT-tuh. Repeat each word three times, then say the source question Ist der Zug jetzt da? Notice how jetzt sits in the middle and must not become yayst or yest. After that, say Wirklich? with a rising tone to show surprise. Finally, say the source line Dann bin ich still und warte. Keep the i in still short and the a in warte clear. This warm-up prepares your mouth for the role-plays, where you will use these words in real time.
When the other person answers quickly
In real conversations, people may answer faster than you expect. If you hear Nein, noch nicht or Er kommt in zehn Minuten and you miss part of it, do not freeze. Use Bitte? with a rising tone to ask for repetition. If you catch the number but not the unit, you can ask: Zehn Minuten? Wirklich? This repeats the key information and checks it. If the person repeats and you still need a moment, say Einen Moment, bitte and then repeat the time back: Also, in zehn Minuten? This shows you are listening and gives you time to process. If the answer includes nun instead of jetzt, notice the difference: nun often sounds more narrative or reflective, while jetzt points to the immediate present. You can respond by reusing the source line Ja, nun ist es gleich so weit to show you understood. The goal is not to understand every word, but to keep the exchange going and confirm the important details.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
nun
now (often narrative or reflective)
noon (long u, like English 'oo' in 'moon')
jetzt
now (immediate present)
yetzt (short e, like 'e' in 'bet'; ts like 'ts' in 'cats')
wirklich
really, actually
VIRK-likh /ˈvɪʁklɪç/ (short i as in sit; final soft German ch)
still
still, quiet
shtil (short i, like 'i' in 'sit'; st at the start sounds like 'sht')
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Entschuldigung, ist der Zug jetzt da?
Excuse me, is the train here now?Nein, noch nicht. Er kommt in zehn Minuten. Bitte warten Sie hier.
No, not yet. It comes in ten minutes. Please wait here.Wirklich? Zehn Minuten? Dann bin ich still und warte.
Really? Ten minutes? Then I'll be quiet and wait.Ja, nun ist es gleich so weit. Der Zug fährt gleich ein.
Yes, now it will be soon. The train is arriving soon.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Ask if the train is here now
You are on platform 7 in a German station. You see a station employee in a blue vest. You have been waiting for ten minutes and your train was supposed to arrive at 14:10. It is now 14:15. You want to ask if the train is here now and confirm the time.
Your task: Say aloud the source question: Entschuldigung, ist der Zug jetzt da? Make sure jetzt has a short e and a clear ts. Then add: Mein Zug kommt um vierzehn Uhr zehn. Ist er wirklich jetzt da? Use wirklich to ask for confirmation. If the employee answers, listen for jetzt or nun. If you hear nun, you can repeat: Nun? or reuse the source line Ja, nun ist es gleich so weit. If you need repetition, say Bitte? with a rising tone.
The train is delayed again
You are at the same station. The employee told you ten minutes, but fifteen minutes have passed. You see the same employee again. You are frustrated but polite. You want to ask what is happening now and whether the train is really coming.
Your task: Approach the employee and say: Entschuldigung, Sie sagten zehn Minuten. Jetzt sind fünfzehn Minuten vorbei. Ist der Zug wirklich jetzt da? Use jetzt twice with a short e. Then ask: Was ist nun? Use nun with a long u to ask what happens now as a next step. If the employee gives a new time, repeat it: Also, in fünf Minuten? Wirklich? Show surprise with a rising tone on wirklich.
Deciding whether to wait or change plans
The train is now twenty minutes late. You have an important meeting in another city. You need to decide whether to wait or take a different train. You go to the information desk. The employee speaks quickly and you need to confirm details before you decide.
Your task: Say: Entschuldigung, mein Zug hat zwanzig Minuten Verspätung. Ich habe einen Termin. Was soll ich jetzt tun? Use jetzt with a short e. Then ask: Gibt es einen anderen Zug? If the employee gives you a new time, repeat it: Also, in fünf Minuten? Wirklich? Use wirklich to confirm. If you need to ask for repetition, say Bitte? and then repeat the key word: Jetzt? or Nun?
Common questions
What is the difference between nun and jetzt?
Both mean now, but jetzt is more common for the immediate present, like Jetzt ist es Zeit. Nun often sounds more narrative or reflective, like Nun gehen wir. In everyday speech, jetzt is usually the safer choice when you mean right now.
How can I tell if my vowel in wirklich is short enough?
Compare it with wir. Wir has a long i, like in see. Wirklich has a short i, like in sit. Say wir, then wirklich, and feel your mouth relax faster on the second word. Record yourself and listen for the difference.
When should I use Bitte? to ask for repetition?
Use Bitte? with a rising tone whenever you miss something. It is polite and common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. You can also say Wie bitte? for extra clarity. After the person repeats, confirm the key detail by repeating it back.
Can still mean 'still' as in 'up to now'?
No. Still means quiet or still, as in Bleib still. For 'still' meaning 'up to now', use noch: Ich bin noch hier. This distinction is important because still and noch are not interchangeable.
Sources and further reading
- german: basic pronunciation vowelsChecked September 2026
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