Customer Reviews

Rick Steves' German Phrase Book & Dictionary

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This has got to be the best-designed foreign language phrase book/dictionery ever written. Very well organized; shirt-pocket sized; all words spelled phonetically (in addition to their real spelling); an emphasis on real conversational phrases and practical situations that a traveler would actually encounter. I had to laugh out loud when I got to the section that dealt with romance... and also how to DISCOURAGE romantic advances (such as the translation of "I have many diseases"). If you are going to Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, take this along. People may argue about the utility of Mr. Steves' guidebooks, but his phrase book and dictionery is an undeniable winner.

My wife and I recently traveled through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France. I had both the German Phrase book and the French version. They read very easily and consist of enough common phrases to get you by, but not so many that you are overwhelmed or confused. Handy tips and observations are sprinkled throughout the book that make reading it fun and enlightening. I especially liked the United States Map (showing the states and their boundries). I used this to show my hosts where I was from (and to generate some lively discussions). The pronounciation guides for the phrases are very good and can make you easily understood by the natives. If you're planning on traveling in Europe, I strongly recommend that you read and review this book before you go (to get familiar and practice) and take it with you as you travel (for fast reference).

This is the greatest phrase book I have ever used. It is funny and list phrases people use in real conversation. I honestly didn't have to use mine much because I found most Germans and Swiss eager to practice their English. However, it was a great tool. It is also small in size, which is important if you are trying to travel light!

You get your money's-worth with this thoughtfully-construed book! It is best used as a quick-reference to phrases and questions for the traveler who is not fluent in German. There are some humorous phrases that Rick uses to keep it from becoming a droll and dry read, too.
My advice is to buy it to help you enjoy Germany even more than You expected!

I bought this before a recent trip to Berlin and Vienna. It was very helpful, I'd pull it out before going in to a store/shop, find the phrase(s) I needed and then use my awful German on the poor people working there. The dictionary at the back was a big help as well and I appreciated that there wasn't a lot of talk about grammar and word rules; I wasn't try to discuss Goethe with the locals, just not get lost on the UBahn. My one complaint: not enough specific sections for going out to the theater/opera/concert or doing much of anything besides drinking and eating.