Em 15 segundos
- The polite way to order food or ask for items.
- Softer and more respectful than saying 'I want'.
- Essential for bakeries, restaurants, and shopping in Germany.
Significado
This is the polite way to ask for something you want. It is like saying 'I would like' instead of just 'I want' to sound more refined.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6Ordering at a bakery
Ich hätte gern drei Brötchen, bitte.
I would like three rolls, please.
At a high-end restaurant
Ich hätte gern die Weinkarte.
I would like the wine list.
Texting a partner about dinner
Ich hätte gern Pizza heute Abend. Was meinst du?
I'd like pizza tonight. What do you think?
Contexto cultural
In German bakeries, it is common to use 'Ich hätte gern' followed by a very specific number and type of roll. Politeness is expected even in fast-paced morning rushes. Austrians might use 'Ich hätte gern' but often add 'bitte sehr' or 'küss die Hand' (in very traditional settings) to enhance the politeness. In Swiss German, the equivalent 'Ich hät gern' is used similarly, but the pronunciation and some vocabulary (like 'Weggli' for rolls) will differ. Using 'Ich will' is a major social faux pas in Germany. It is often corrected by parents when children use it, emphasizing the importance of 'hätte gern' or 'möchte'.
The 'Gerne' regionalism
If you are in Bavaria or Austria, using 'gerne' (with the 'e') sounds slightly more local and friendly.
Don't forget the Accusative
Always check the gender of the noun. 'Ich hätte gern {einen|m} Tee' but 'Ich hätte gern {ein|n} Wasser'.
Em 15 segundos
- The polite way to order food or ask for items.
- Softer and more respectful than saying 'I want'.
- Essential for bakeries, restaurants, and shopping in Germany.
What It Means
Ich hätte gern is your magic key to German politeness. It comes from the verb haben (to have). It uses the Konjunktiv II form to sound softer. You aren't demanding something. You are expressing a wish. It is the gold standard for ordering food or shopping. It makes you sound like a local who knows their manners.
How To Use It
Put the phrase at the start of your sentence. Follow it with the thing you want. If you want an object, use the accusative case. For example: Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee. If you want to do an action, add a verb at the end. For example: Ich hätte gern gewusst... (I would have liked to know). It is simple and very flexible. Just don't forget to add bitte (please) at the end for extra points!
When To Use It
Use it whenever you are a customer. Use it at the bakery for your morning rolls. Use it at a fancy restaurant for wine. It works perfectly when visiting a friend's house. If they offer a drink, this is your go-to response. It is also great for polite inquiries in a store. It shows you are respectful of the other person's time.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this if you are in a life-or-death emergency. If the building is on fire, don't say Ich hätte gern Hilfe. Just yell Hilfe!. Also, don't use it with very close friends for tiny things. If you want a bite of their pizza, Ich hätte gern might sound a bit too stiff. In those cases, a simple Gib mir mal... (Give me...) is better. Using it with your toddler might also feel like you are at a business meeting.
Cultural Background
Germans value directness, but they also value order and politeness in service. There is a specific 'service etiquette' in Germany. Using Ich will (I want) sounds like a spoiled child to German ears. Ich hätte gern bridges the gap between being direct and being classy. It reflects the German love for grammar that softens the blow of a request. It is the linguistic equivalent of a polite nod.
Common Variations
You can shorten it to Ich hätt' gern in fast speech. You can also say Ich möchte, which means the same thing. Some people add vielleicht (perhaps) to sound even more hesitant. For example: Ich hätte vielleicht gern.... If you are ordering for a group, use Wir hätten gern. It is the same polite vibe, just for the whole squad.
Notas de uso
This phrase is the gold standard for polite requests. It is grammatically a 'Konjunktiv II' form, which functions like the English 'would'.
The 'Gerne' regionalism
If you are in Bavaria or Austria, using 'gerne' (with the 'e') sounds slightly more local and friendly.
Don't forget the Accusative
Always check the gender of the noun. 'Ich hätte gern {einen|m} Tee' but 'Ich hätte gern {ein|n} Wasser'.
Eye Contact
When saying 'Ich hätte gern', make brief eye contact with the server. It completes the polite gesture.
Exemplos
6Ich hätte gern drei Brötchen, bitte.
I would like three rolls, please.
The classic way to start your morning in Germany.
Ich hätte gern die Weinkarte.
I would like the wine list.
Sounds sophisticated and calm.
Ich hätte gern Pizza heute Abend. Was meinst du?
I'd like pizza tonight. What do you think?
A soft way to suggest a plan without being bossy.
Ich hätte gern eine Million Euro und einen Urlaub!
I would like a million euros and a vacation!
Using the polite form for an impossible wish.
Ich hätte gern kurz Ihre Aufmerksamkeit.
I would like your attention for a moment.
Perfect for starting a small presentation or meeting.
Ich hätte gern einfach nur eine Umarmung.
I would just like a hug.
Softens the vulnerability of the request.
Teste-se
Fill in the correct form of the article (accusative).
Ich hätte gern ___ (der) Kaffee, bitte.
Kaffee is masculine ({der|m}), and 'Ich hätte gern' requires the accusative case. Therefore, 'der' becomes 'einen'.
Which sentence is the most polite way to order in a restaurant?
How do you ask for a glass of water?
'Ich hätte gern' is the standard polite form for ordering.
Complete the dialogue at the bakery.
Verkäufer: 'Guten Morgen! Was kann ich für Sie tun?' Kunde: 'Guten Morgen! Ich ___ ___ zwei Brötchen.'
Both 'hätte gern' and 'hätte gerne' are correct, but 'hätte gern' is the standard answer here.
Match the wish to the situation.
You are at a hotel and want a quiet room.
A 'ruhiges Zimmer' is a quiet room, appropriate for a hotel.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Politeness Scale
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosIch hätte gern ___ (der) Kaffee, bitte.
Kaffee is masculine ({der|m}), and 'Ich hätte gern' requires the accusative case. Therefore, 'der' becomes 'einen'.
How do you ask for a glass of water?
'Ich hätte gern' is the standard polite form for ordering.
Verkäufer: 'Guten Morgen! Was kann ich für Sie tun?' Kunde: 'Guten Morgen! Ich ___ ___ zwei Brötchen.'
Both 'hätte gern' and 'hätte gerne' are correct, but 'hätte gern' is the standard answer here.
You are at a hotel and want a quiet room.
A 'ruhiges Zimmer' is a quiet room, appropriate for a hotel.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasThey are roughly equal, but 'Ich hätte gern' is slightly more common when ordering physical objects in a shop.
No, it's better to use 'Ich möchte' or 'Ich würde gern' for actions. Use 'Ich hätte gern' for nouns.
There is no difference in meaning. 'Gerne' is slightly more common in Southern Germany and sounds a bit softer.
Yes, that is also polite and very common in busy places. 'Ich hätte gern' is just a bit more formal.
You would say 'Ich hätte gern ... gehabt'. For example: 'Ich hätte gern {einen|m} Hund gehabt.'
Yes, it's great for polite requests in emails, like 'Ich hätte gern {eine|f} Bestätigung'.
'Hätte' is the subjunctive form, which makes it hypothetical and therefore more polite than the direct 'habe'.
It's not strictly necessary because 'hätte gern' is already polite, but adding 'bitte' is always a good idea!
Yes, though the dialect version might sound like 'Ich hät gern'. In formal Swiss German, it's the same.
No, for people use 'Ich würde gern mit Herrn Schmidt sprechen' (I would like to speak with Mr. Schmidt).
Frases relacionadas
Ich möchte...
synonymI would like...
Ich würde gern...
similarI would like to [do something]...
Könnte ich ... haben?
similarCould I have...?
Ich will...
contrastI want...
