Meaning
A formal question asking about someone's desires or preferences.
Cultural Background
Service staff are not expected to be 'overly friendly' in the American sense, but they are expected to be polite. Austrians often add 'bitte' or 'gnädige Frau/Herr' to this phrase for extra politeness.
The 'Sie' Rule
Always use 'Sie' with this phrase. It is the key to its politeness.
Meaning
A formal question asking about someone's desires or preferences.
The 'Sie' Rule
Always use 'Sie' with this phrase. It is the key to its politeness.
Test Yourself
Which is the most polite way to ask a customer?
___
This is the standard formal expression.
🎉 Score: /1
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
1 exercises___
This is the standard formal expression.
🎉 Score: /1
Frequently Asked Questions
1 questionsYes, if you are in a formal workplace.
Related Phrases
Was darf es sein?
synonymWhat may it be?
Was hätten Sie gern?
synonymWhat would you like to have?
