In this workshop you will practice three essential polite expressions in German: «Bitte.» (Please. / You're welcome.), «Danke schön.» (Thank you very much.), and «Lassen Sie sich Zeit.» (Take your time., formal). You will hear them in a short recorded dialogue set at a train station information desk, then use the same lines in guided speaking tasks. Each task includes a clear answer or self-check so you can confirm your choices. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment—use the success criteria to judge your own speaking.
What the polite words mean and when to use them
«Bitte.» is the all-purpose polite word. It means please when you make a request, and you're welcome when you respond to thanks. Tone and context make the meaning clear. «Bitte schön.» is a friendly, slightly more formal variant. It often appears when you hand something to someone or reply to «Danke schön.» «Danke schön.» is a warm, slightly emphatic thank-you. Use it with acquaintances, service staff, or when someone does you a small favor. It is more personal than plain danke. «Lassen Sie sich Zeit.» means Take your time. It is polite and reassuring, and you use it with strangers, older people, or in professional settings. The informal version is Lass dir Zeit, but this workshop focuses on the formal phrase from the recordings.
A short dialogue: asking for help and finding the train station
In the recorded dialogue, speaker A says: «Entschuldigung, können Sie mir bitte helfen?» (Excuse me, can you please help me?). Speaker B replies: «Ja, natürlich. Lassen Sie sich Zeit.» (Yes, of course. Take your time.). Speaker A then says: «Danke schön. Ich suche den Bahnhof.» (Thank you very much. I'm looking for the train station.). Speaker B answers: «Gern geschehen. Gehen Sie geradeaus.» (You're welcome. Go straight ahead.). Notice that «Gehen Sie geradeaus.» tells someone to go straight ahead—it is a direction instruction, not a statement about a location on the right. Also notice that «Lassen Sie sich Zeit.» reassures the person that there is no rush.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Danke schön.
Thank you very much.
DAHN-kuh shurn
Bitte.
Please. / You're welcome.
BIT-tuh
Bitte schön.
Here you are. / You're welcome.
BIT-tuh shurn
Lassen Sie sich Zeit.
Take your time. (formal)
LAH-sen zee zikh tsyt
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Entschuldigung, können Sie mir bitte helfen?
Excuse me, can you please help me?Ja, natürlich. Lassen Sie sich Zeit.
Yes, of course. Take your time.Danke schön. Ich suche den Bahnhof.
Thank you very much. I'm looking for the train station.Gern geschehen. Gehen Sie geradeaus.
You're welcome. Go straight ahead.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided polite exchange
You are at a train station information desk. You need help finding the train station. The staff member is ready to assist. Use the recorded lines to build a short exchange.
Your task: Say the following in German, using the recorded lines: 1) Excuse me, can you please help me? 2) Thank you very much. I'm looking for the train station. Then switch roles: imagine you are the staff member. Say: 3) Yes, of course. Take your time. 4) You're welcome. Go straight ahead.
Choose the right reply
You will hear or read a line from the recorded dialogue. Choose the best polite reply from the options. This checks your understanding of the reply, not your ability to invent new phrases.
Your task: For each situation, pick the correct recorded reply. 1) Someone says: «Entschuldigung, können Sie mir bitte helfen?» Options: a) «Ja, natürlich. Lassen Sie sich Zeit.» b) «Danke schön. Ich suche den Bahnhof.» 2) Someone says: «Danke schön. Ich suche den Bahnhof.» Options: a) «Gern geschehen. Gehen Sie geradeaus.» b) «Entschuldigung, können Sie mir bitte helfen?» 3) Someone says: «Danke schön.» Options: a) «Bitte schön.» b) «Lassen Sie sich Zeit.»
Recall the dialogue with correct roles
Without looking at the text, recall the recorded dialogue. You will play both roles: first as the person asking for help, then as the staff member. Use only the lines you have practiced.
Your task: Say the dialogue from memory. Start as speaker A: «Entschuldigung, können Sie mir bitte helfen?» Then as speaker B: «Ja, natürlich. Lassen Sie sich Zeit.» Then as speaker A: «Danke schön. Ich suche den Bahnhof.» Then as speaker B: «Gern geschehen. Gehen Sie geradeaus.» After you finish, switch roles and say the whole dialogue again, so that you speak B's lines first and A's lines second.
Common questions
What is the difference between «Bitte.» and «Bitte schön.»?
«Bitte.» is the all-purpose polite word. It can mean please or you're welcome, depending on context. «Bitte schön.» is a friendly, slightly more formal variant. It often appears when you hand something to someone or when you reply to «Danke schön.» Both are polite, but «Bitte schön.» can sound a little warmer in service situations.
When should I use «Lassen Sie sich Zeit.»?
Use «Lassen Sie sich Zeit.» to tell someone politely to take their time. It is reassuring and works well with strangers, older people, or in professional settings. The informal version is Lass dir Zeit, but the recordings use the formal «Sie» form. You can say it after someone apologizes for being slow or when you want to show patience.
Sources and further reading
- german: saying please and thank youChecked September 2026
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