In 15 Seconds
- Used to indicate you are busy in a professional discussion.
- Standard office vocabulary for meetings of all sizes.
- More formal than 'Meeting' but less formal than 'Sitzung'.
Meaning
This phrase is your go-to for saying you are currently in a work-related discussion or have one scheduled. It is the polite way to tell someone you are busy with colleagues and cannot be disturbed.
Key Examples
3 of 6Declining a phone call
Ich kann jetzt nicht sprechen, ich habe eine Besprechung.
I can't talk right now, I have a meeting.
Texting a friend about work
Sorry, die Besprechung dauert länger als gedacht.
Sorry, the meeting is taking longer than expected.
Asking a colleague about their schedule
Hast du heute Nachmittag eine Besprechung?
Do you have a meeting this afternoon?
Cultural Background
Meetings are highly formal and agenda-driven. 'Eine Besprechung haben' implies a serious commitment that should not be interrupted. Punctuality is even more critical. Having a 'Besprechung' means starting exactly on the dot. While still professional, 'Besprechungen' might involve a bit more social preamble (small talk) than in Northern Germany. In tech circles, 'ein Meeting haben' is replacing 'eine Besprechung haben', but the latter remains the standard for formal documents.
The 'Excuse' Power
If you want to sound professional while avoiding a task, say 'Ich habe gleich eine Besprechung'. It's the ultimate polite German brush-off.
Gender Matters
Always remember 'die Besprechung'. If you say 'der Besprechung', people will still understand, but it breaks the professional flow.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to indicate you are busy in a professional discussion.
- Standard office vocabulary for meetings of all sizes.
- More formal than 'Meeting' but less formal than 'Sitzung'.
What It Means
Eine Besprechung haben is the bread and butter of German office life. It simply means you are participating in a meeting. While English speakers often use the word Meeting, Germans use Besprechung for something slightly more formal or structured. It implies a group of people talking about a specific topic to reach a goal. If you are in one, you are officially 'busy'.
How To Use It
You will mostly use this with the verb haben (to have). It is a very flexible phrase. You can say Ich habe eine Besprechung to explain why you are late. You can also use it to block your calendar. Just remember to conjugate haben correctly for whoever is in the meeting. If you and your team are busy, use Wir haben eine Besprechung.
When To Use It
Use this in any professional or academic setting. It works perfectly when a colleague calls you unexpectedly. It is also great for explaining your schedule to your family. If you are a student, you might have a Besprechung with a professor. It sounds professional and organized. You will hear it constantly in offices from Berlin to Munich.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for a casual coffee with a friend. That would sound very strange and robotic! For friends, use sich treffen (to meet up). Also, do not use it for a doctor's appointment. For that, you specifically need the word Termin. A Besprechung always involves a discussion or consultation between multiple parties.
Cultural Background
Germans take their work-life balance and structure very seriously. A Besprechung is often a sacred time where focus is required. Punctuality is not just a stereotype; it is a requirement here. If you have a Besprechung at 9:00, you should be there at 8:59. It reflects the German value of Ordnung (order) in the workplace.
Common Variations
You might hear younger Germans simply say ein Meeting haben. This is very common in tech startups. For a very formal, high-level meeting, you might hear eine Sitzung haben. If it is just a quick, informal sync, people might say eine kurze Absprache haben. Each one carries a slightly different weight of importance.
Usage Notes
This phrase is neutral and safe for all professional environments. The main 'gotcha' is confusing it with 'Termin' (appointment) or using it for casual social hangouts.
The 'Excuse' Power
If you want to sound professional while avoiding a task, say 'Ich habe gleich eine Besprechung'. It's the ultimate polite German brush-off.
Gender Matters
Always remember 'die Besprechung'. If you say 'der Besprechung', people will still understand, but it breaks the professional flow.
Meeting vs. Besprechung
Use 'Meeting' for startups and 'Besprechung' for government or traditional offices to blend in perfectly.
Examples
6Ich kann jetzt nicht sprechen, ich habe eine Besprechung.
I can't talk right now, I have a meeting.
A classic way to politely end a call when busy.
Sorry, die Besprechung dauert länger als gedacht.
Sorry, the meeting is taking longer than expected.
Common excuse for being late to a social event.
Hast du heute Nachmittag eine Besprechung?
Do you have a meeting this afternoon?
Checking availability before scheduling something else.
Wir haben heute nur Besprechungen, wann sollen wir arbeiten?
We only have meetings today, when are we supposed to work?
A relatable joke about 'meeting fatigue'.
Morgen haben wir eine wichtige Besprechung mit dem Chef.
Tomorrow we have an important meeting with the boss.
Used to signal a high-stakes situation.
Ich bin so müde, ich hatte den ganzen Tag Besprechungen.
I'm so tired, I had meetings all day long.
Expressing exhaustion from a busy workday.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'haben' and the article.
Ich ___ heute ___ Besprechung.
The subject 'Ich' requires 'habe', and 'Besprechung' is feminine accusative, so 'eine'.
Which sentence is correct for a professional context?
You are at work and busy.
'Haben eine Besprechung' is the standard professional collocation.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Können wir um 11 Uhr telefonieren? B: Nein, um 11 Uhr ___ ich eine ___.
B is explaining their unavailability using the standard phrase.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are explaining why you were late to dinner.
You need the past tense (Präteritum) to explain a past event.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIch ___ heute ___ Besprechung.
The subject 'Ich' requires 'habe', and 'Besprechung' is feminine accusative, so 'eine'.
You are at work and busy.
'Haben eine Besprechung' is the standard professional collocation.
A: Können wir um 11 Uhr telefonieren? B: Nein, um 11 Uhr ___ ich eine ___.
B is explaining their unavailability using the standard phrase.
Situation: You are explaining why you were late to dinner.
You need the past tense (Präteritum) to explain a past event.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsUsually no. Use 'Termin'. However, if you are discussing results with the doctor, you could call that part a 'Besprechung'.
In big cities and tech, yes. In smaller towns and traditional industries, 'Besprechung' is still king.
The plural is 'Besprechungen'.
You say 'Ich bin in einer Besprechung'. Note the change to 'einer' (dative).
No, that's a common mistake. Use 'haben' or 'abhalten' (to hold/conduct).
Only if you are discussing something very formal, like taxes or a house purchase. Otherwise, it sounds like you are treating your marriage like a business.
'Sitzung' is more formal, often involves a board or committee, and usually lasts longer.
95% of the time, yes. It implies a purposeful discussion.
Eine kurze Besprechung.
No, you need the article 'eine'.
Related Phrases
einen {der|m} Termin haben
similarTo have an appointment.
an einer {die|f} Sitzung teilnehmen
specialized formTo participate in a formal session/meeting.
sich besprechen
builds onTo consult with each other.
ein {das|n} Gespräch führen
similarTo conduct a conversation.
