Vienna City Guide - Language

German is the official language and is spoken as a first language by almost the entire population. There are a number of variations between Hochdeutsch (standard German) and Viennese German, and there are also marked differences to other Austrian regional dialects. English is the most common second language, and is widely understood and spoken by those in tourism-related fields. When speaking to strangers, it is important to use the formal forms of address. The following characters are used in German, but not in English: ä (=ae), ö (=oe), ü (=ue) and ß (=ss). It is important to pay attention to the times of performances in Vienna – halb-acht (half-eight) means 0730; similarly, viertel-acht (quarter-eight) means 0715, a quarter of the way to eight o'clock.

Phrases

Yes - Ja
No - Nein
Hello (formal) - Grüß Gott
Hello (informal) - Servus / Grüß dich
Goodbye - Auf Wiedersehen / Auf Wiederschauen / Servus
Please - Bitte
Thank you - Danke
My name is … - Ich heiße …
How are you? - Wie geht es Ihnen? (formal) / Wie geht's? (formal)
I'm very well - Mir geht es gut / Sehr gut, danke
I feel ill - Ich fühle mich unwohl
How much does it cost? - Wieviel kostet das? / Wieviel macht das?
Do you speak English? - Sprechen Sie Englisch?
I don't understand - Ich verstehe nicht
Where is …? - Wo findet man …?
Entrance - Eingang (Einfahrt for vehicles)
Exit - Ausgang (Ausfahrt for vehicles)
Danger - Achtung
Open - Geöffnet
Closed - Geschlossen
Toilets - Toiletten / WC
Doctor - Arzt / Ärztin
Hotel - Hotel
Restaurant - Restaurant
Beer - Bier
Wine - Wein
Menu - Speisekarte
Today - Heute
Tomorrow - Morgen
Monday - Montag
Tuesday - Dienstag
Wednesday - Mittwoch
Thursday - Donnerstag
Friday - Freitag
Saturday - Samstag
Sunday - Sonntag
One - Eins
Two - Zwei
Three - Drei
Four - Vier
Five - Fünf
Six - Sechs
Seven - Sieben
Eight - Acht
Nine - Neun
Ten - Zehn
Twenty - Zwanzig
Thirty - Dreissig
Forty - Vierzig
Fifty - Funfzig
Sixty - Sechzig
Seventy - Siebzig
Eighty - Achtzig
Ninety - Neunzig
One Hundred - Einhundert
One Thousand - Eintausend

View Our Airport Guides for Vienna:

     Vienna International Airport