In this workshop, you will learn how to politely decline an invitation in German and how to respond when someone declines yours. You will practice with short, realistic exchanges and check your understanding step by step. The focus is on speaking clearly and politely, using the exact phrases from the recordings.
Declining an Invitation Politely
When someone invites you to do something, you can decline politely by saying that it does not work for you and adding an apology. For example, «Das passt mir leider nicht.» means that the suggested plan is not possible for you. A simple apology like «Es tut mir leid, ich kann nicht kommen.» shows that you are sorry you cannot attend. To keep the door open for another time, you can add «Vielleicht ein andermal?», which suggests meeting at a different time. These three phrases together form a polite refusal.
Responding to a Decline
If you are the one inviting and the other person declines, you can respond with understanding. A common reply is «Schade. Vielleicht ein andermal?», which expresses that it is a pity and suggests trying again another time. This keeps the conversation friendly and leaves room for a future meeting. You can also propose a specific alternative, as in «Wie wäre es am Samstag?», which asks about Saturday. This shows you are still interested in meeting.
Putting It Together
A full exchange might start with an invitation like «Hast du am Freitag Zeit? Wir könnten ins Kino gehen.», which asks if the person has time on Friday and suggests going to the cinema. The other person can decline with «Das passt mir leider nicht. Es tut mir leid, ich kann nicht kommen.», which combines the refusal and the apology. Then the inviter can respond with «Schade. Vielleicht ein andermal?», and the other person can accept an alternative with «Ja, gern. Wie wäre es am Sonntag?», which agrees gladly and suggests Sunday. This shows how a polite decline can still lead to a new plan.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Das passt mir leider nicht.
Unfortunately, that does not work for me.
dahs pahst meer LY-der niHt
Es tut mir leid, ich kann nicht kommen.
I'm sorry, I can't come.
es toot meer lyt, iH kahn niHt KOM-en
Vielleicht ein andermal?
Maybe another time?
fee-LYHt yn AN-der-mahl
Wie wäre es am Samstag?
How about Saturday?
vee VEH-ruh es ahm ZAM-stahk
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Hast du am Freitag Zeit? Wir könnten ins Kino gehen.
Do you have time on Friday? We could go to the cinema.Das passt mir leider nicht. Es tut mir leid, ich kann nicht kommen.
Unfortunately, that doesn't work for me. I'm sorry, I can't come.Schade. Vielleicht ein andermal?
Too bad. Maybe another time?Ja, gern. Wie wäre es am Sonntag?
Yes, gladly. How about Sunday?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Decline an Invitation
You are Person B. Person A invites you to the cinema on Friday using «Hast du am Freitag Zeit? Wir könnten ins Kino gehen.». You need to decline politely and suggest another time.
Your task: Read your lines aloud: first say «Das passt mir leider nicht.», then «Es tut mir leid, ich kann nicht kommen.», and finally «Vielleicht ein andermal?». After you finish, check your answer below.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Best Response
Person A says «Hast du am Freitag Zeit? Wir könnten ins Kino gehen.». Person B replies with «Das passt mir leider nicht. Es tut mir leid, ich kann nicht kommen.». You are Person A and need to respond appropriately.
Your task: Which reply fits best? Option 1: «Schade. Vielleicht ein andermal?». Option 2: «Ja, gern. Wie wäre es am Sonntag?». Say your choice aloud, then check the answer key below.
Recall and Role Swap: Reconstruct the Exchange
You will reconstruct a full exchange from memory. The scene: Person A invites, Person B declines, Person A responds, Person B accepts an alternative.
Your task: First, say the four lines in order as Person A and Person B: Person A says «Hast du am Freitag Zeit? Wir könnten ins Kino gehen.», Person B says «Das passt mir leider nicht. Es tut mir leid, ich kann nicht kommen.», Person A says «Schade. Vielleicht ein andermal?», and Person B says «Ja, gern. Wie wäre es am Sonntag?». Then swap roles: Person A now says «Hast du am Freitag Zeit? Wir könnten ins Kino gehen.» and «Schade. Vielleicht ein andermal?», while Person B says «Das passt mir leider nicht. Es tut mir leid, ich kann nicht kommen.» and «Ja, gern. Wie wäre es am Sonntag?». Check your answer below.
Common questions
Can I use these phrases in any informal situation?
These phrases are polite and suitable for many everyday situations with friends or acquaintances. They work well when you need to decline an invitation without sounding rude. You can use them as they are, or add a brief reason if you want.
What if I want to accept the invitation instead of declining?
To accept, you can use a phrase like «Ja, gern. Wie wäre es am Sonntag?», which agrees gladly and suggests an alternative time. You can also simply say that it works for you. The recordings in this workshop focus on declining, but «Ja, gern. Wie wäre es am Sonntag?» shows a positive response.
Sources and further reading
- german: politely decline plansChecked September 2026
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