Photo: holzijue, CC0
Oktoberfest German
A fun, live hour of beer-tent German for complete beginners heading to the Oktoberfest in Munich, or any German beer festival. You will learn the basic sounds, Bavarian greetings like "Servus" and "Grüß Gott", how to order a Maß, a Radler or a Brezn, how to toast properly (eye contact!), the famous toast that the band plays, how to join a table and make friends, and how to pay and get home. Then you try it all in a beer-tent role-play. No experience needed.
After this hour you can
- Greet people the Bavarian way and the standard German way
- Order beer, a Radler, soft drinks and typical food
- Toast correctly and join in when the band plays the toast
- Ask to join a table and chat with your neighbours
- Pay, tip and say "that's enough for me"
- Find the toilets, the U-Bahn or a taxi, and ask for help
- 0′–5′
Welcome
Know how the class works and what you will be able to do at the Wiesn.
- 5′–11′
Warm-up: first words and sounds
Say the basic polite words and the key German sounds you need in a beer tent.
Hallo!
say HAH-loh
Hello / Hi
Danke! / Danke schön!
say DAHN-keh / DAHN-keh SHÖHN
Thanks! / Thank you very much!
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 11′–18′
Servus! Bavarian greetings and Wiesn words
Greet people the Bavarian way and know the key words of the festival.
Grüß Gott!
say grüss GOT
Hello (polite, Bavarian and Austrian)
Servus!
say SAIR-voos
Hi! and also Bye! (informal)
+ 7 more on your phrase sheet
- 18′–26′
Ordering drinks and food
Order a Maß, a Radler or a soft drink, a Brezn and other food.
Eine Maß, bitte!
say AI-neh MAHSS, BIT-teh
A litre (of beer), please!
Zwei Maß, bitte!
say TSVAI MAHSS, BIT-teh
Two litres (of beer), please!
+ 7 more on your phrase sheet
- 26′–32′
Prost! Toasting like a local
Toast correctly with eye contact and join in when the band plays the toast.
Prost!
say PROHST
Cheers!
In die Augen schauen!
say in dee OW-gen SHOW-en
Look in the eyes!
+ 5 more on your phrase sheet
- 32′–39′
Making friends at the table
Ask to join a table, introduce yourself and chat with your neighbours.
Ist hier noch frei?
say ist HEER nokh FRY
Is this seat free?
Dürfen wir uns dazusetzen?
say DÜR-fen veer oons dah-TSOO-zet-sen
May we join you? (for a group)
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 39′–47′
Paying and getting home
Pay and tip, say you have had enough, and find the toilets, the U-Bahn or a taxi.
Zahlen, bitte!
say TSAH-len, BIT-teh
I'd like to pay, please!
Was macht das?
say vahs MAHKHT dahs
How much is that?
+ 7 more on your phrase sheet
- 47′–57′
Practice: in the beer tent
Join a table, order, toast and pay, using only German.
- 57′–60′
Recap and this week
Remember the key phrases and know what to practise before the Wiesn.
Munich is in Bavaria, and Bavarians speak a strong regional dialect alongside standard German. At the Oktoberfest (locals call it "die Wiesn") you will hear both: Bavarian greetings like "Servus", "a Maß" instead of "eine Maß", and "Passt scho!" instead of "Passt schon". Today we learn the standard phrase first and the Bavarian version next to it; everyone understands standard German, and the Bavarian words are a fun bonus that locals love to hear. German itself is close to English (Bier/beer, Brot/bread), with a few new sounds.
- Zoom on a computer, tablet or phone
- A microphone; headphones with a mic are best
- Somewhere you are happy to speak out loud
- Pen and paper, if you like. No German needed.
Do I need to know any of the language already?
No. Every class is for complete beginners. We start from hello, and everything is explained in English. If you already know a little, it will be a good warm-up, but it will feel easy.
What happens in the hour?
A short welcome, then the sounds (or, for Japanese and Korean, a first look at the writing), greetings, introducing yourself, numbers to ten, ordering at a café and the phrases that get you out of trouble. Then you practise in small breakout rooms and we finish with a recap. Each class page shows the hour minute by minute.
Will I have to speak?
Yes, that is the point, but gently. Most of the time the whole class repeats together with microphones on, so nobody is singled out. Near the end you practise in breakout rooms of 2 or 3. Your camera is up to you.
How big are the classes?
At most 12 people, so everyone gets to speak and ask questions.
How much is a class?
One class is one payment, and you see the price before you pay. Nothing renews and there is no subscription.
Can I cancel or move my class?
Yes. Write to support@bunevents.com at least 24 hours before the start and we will refund you in full or move you to another time, whichever you prefer.
