How to ask for help in German with 15 ready sentences

2026-11-03

To ask for help in German you can say Können Sie mir bitte helfen? (Can you help me, please?) or Kannst du mir helfen? (Can you help me?) depending on whether you use formal or informal address. This article shows 15 ready‑to‑use sentences, explains when to be formal, and gives a simple practice routine you can start today.

What are the most common ways to ask for help in German?

Everyday situations often require a quick request. Here are the most useful phrases:

Können Sie mir bitte helfen? (Can you help me, please?) – formal.
Kannst du mir helfen? (Can you help me?) – informal.
Entschuldigung, ich brauche Hilfe. (Excuse me, I need help.)
Könnten Sie mir kurz erklären…? (Could you briefly explain…?) – formal.
Könntest du mir kurz erklären…? (Could you briefly explain…?) – informal.
Ich verstehe das nicht, können Sie das wiederholen? (I don’t understand, can you repeat that?) – formal.
Ich verstehe das nicht, kannst du das wiederholen? (I don’t understand, can you repeat that?) – informal.
Können Sie mir das zeigen? (Can you show me that?) – formal.
Kannst du mir das zeigen? (Can you show me that?) – informal.
Helfen Sie mir bitte, das Formular auszufüllen. (Please help me fill out the form.) – formal.
Hilf mir bitte, das Formular auszufüllen. (Please help me fill out the form.) – informal.
Könnten Sie mir bitte den Weg zum Bahnhof erklären? (Could you please explain the way to the train station?) – formal.
Könntest du mir bitte den Weg zum Bahnhof erklären? (Could you please explain the way to the train station?) – informal.
Entschuldigung, können Sie mir kurz helfen? (Excuse me, can you help me briefly?) – formal.
Entschuldigung, kannst du mir kurz helfen? (Excuse me, can you help me briefly?) – informal.

For more everyday expressions, check our phrase library.

How do I phrase a polite request for assistance?

Politeness in German often comes from using “bitte”, modal verbs, and the conditional “könnten”. Combine them for a softer tone.

Start with a greeting or “Entschuldigung”.
Add a modal verb in conditional form: Könnten Sie (Could you) or Könntest du (Could you).
Insert “bitte” before the verb: Könnten Sie mir bitte …
Finish with the specific request.

Example: Entschuldigung, könnten Sie mir bitte das Dokument übersetzen? (Excuse me, could you please translate the document for me?)

Practice similar structures on our speaking prompts tool.

When should I use formal vs informal language?

German distinguishes “Sie” (formal) and “du” (informal). Use “Sie” with strangers, older people, or in professional settings. Use “du” with friends, peers, or when you have been invited to do so.

Key signals:

In a store or with a receptionist: Können Sie mir helfen?
With a colleague you know well: Kannst du mir helfen?
When a teacher addresses the class: Können Sie bitte leiser sein? (formal, addressing the whole class).
When a teammate asks you: Kannst du das bitte erledigen?

Our printable worksheets include exercises to switch between “Sie” and “du”.

Step‑by‑step practice routine to master asking for help

Spend 10 minutes a day with this simple loop:

Read three sentences from the list above aloud, focusing on the “bitte” placement.
Record yourself using the listen‑and‑repeat tool and compare with the native audio.
Write a short dialogue where you ask a colleague for help and they respond. Use the prompt generator for a scenario.
Swap the dialogue with a language partner or use German Buddy’s Conversation mode to role‑play the request.
Review the corrections and note any alternative phrasing the app suggests.

Practice asking for help with German Buddy

German Buddy lets you write or speak your request and receive gentle corrections with a more natural phrasing and a short tip. Try the “ask for help” scenario in Conversation mode, or swipe the relevant vocabulary in Vocab Swipe. You get 7 days of unlimited practice, then a free daily allowance that never runs out. start practising free.

FAQ

Can I use “bitte” at the end of a sentence?

Yes, placing “bitte” after the request (e.g., Können Sie mir helfen, bitte?) is acceptable, but putting it before the verb sounds more natural.

Is “Helfen Sie mir” ever used without “bitte”?

It can be used in urgent situations, but adding “bitte” softens the tone and is recommended for most interactions.

Do Germans prefer indirect requests?

In formal contexts, indirect phrasing with “Könnten Sie …” is common. In informal settings, a direct “Kannst du …?” is perfectly fine.

How many times can I ask the same person for help?

Politeness matters: after one request, wait for a response. If clarification is needed, rephrase rather than repeat the same sentence.