A Berlin question?

Question

Do many people in Berlin speak English? If I go into a store will I be able to speak English with people or no?

Also, how do you pronounce the word Ich? I know it can have an sh or k sound, but is there a way in which it is mostly pronounced in Germany, more importantly Berlin?

Answer 1

Yes they do! I am from Berlin myself and yes they do, and pretty much everybody speaks at least a little bit english! Just speak slow and do handgestures and you will be perfectly fine :)

But also try to pick up some german phrases like "Guten Tag" (hello when you walk in a store) or "Auf Wiedersehen" (good bye)

Anyways, HAVE FUN!!!!

Answer 2

With anybody around the age of 40 or younger, they usually speak English ok. As long as you start out nicely with something like "excuse me, do you speak English" and don't just take it for granted, you should be fine.

About the ich: I know they tell you the sound is a bit like a k but believe me, it's not at all. The advice about Loch Ness could help. Also, try this link and just click on the loudspeaker to listen. I chose the word "sicherlich" for you because it's got the same sound twice. Yes, it's a machine voice, but still, the sound is ok.

http://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&lang=de...

Answer 3

While most Germans in tourist areas speak English very well, in Berlin there are fewer, especially in the former east - because under the soviet rule the second language was usually Russian!.  That said, in store, restaurants, and the like, there are usually people who speak English.  It is helpful to learn a little german, to help things fit along - but it's always possible to make your way around even if you don't know the language (no one knows all languages!)

On Ich, the truth is it varies across Germany.  A couple of years ago I took two months to learn German in an intensive way at the Goethe Institut, and I studied in Berlin and Bonn.  It was interesting how that sound changes (also the -ig ending) across the country.

The Loch example is OK, but I think the h that begins the word "huge" is closer to how they speak in Berlin. Berlin's "ch" is much softer than western Germany.  In Bonn, the Loch pronunciation is more prevalent.  

It does not matter - actually, if you are trying, they will understand.

Gute Reise im Deutschland!

Answer 4

Hello,

I am living in Germany, from UK, and I have been to erlin. You will have no problems in finding someone to speak English. Many times they are too scared to speak it thats all. I usually just ask them and if they say no, ask if they understand English.

My Germany is better now though and from my experience if you speak to them in German they will answer in English anyway!

The whole 'ich`pronounciation is different in Germany - some pronounce it hard - where I live - its promounced softly - like 'ish'.

Have fun and don't worry - there are so many 'auslanders' in Berlin, you will be fine!!

Berlin is great

Answer 5

You can get by with just English in Berlin, but knowing some German would definately help! Not all Germans are willing to speak English, though most had at least a couple years in school. If you stumble over a few German words, most will then help out with English.

In the Berlin dialect, "ich" is pronounced more like "ik". The more you drink, the more it will become a long drawn-out "ishhhhhhhhhh".

Answer 6

yes, most people here speak english

and if you say "ick", then that's just fine,

'cause that's our "slang" ... ;-)

Answer 7

Many Germans speak good English. You can always find someone who does - if in doubt ask a teenager/person in their early twenties - nearly all young people are quite fluent.

As regards the letters "ch" this is hard for an English person to pronounce - think of the "Loch Ness" - it is pronounced like the ch in Loch - like "ik" but much softer