To say speak German in German, use Deutsch sprechen. This is the basic infinitive expression. In a complete sentence, the verb changes: Ich spreche Deutsch means “I speak German.” To ask someone politely whether they speak German, say Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
Quick answer:
Speak German = Deutsch sprechen. I speak German = Ich spreche Deutsch. Do you speak German? = Sprechen Sie Deutsch? in polite address.
How Do You Say Speak German in German?
Deutsch sprechen means “to speak German” or “speak German” as a basic dictionary-style expression. Deutsch names the language, and sprechen is the infinitive of “to speak.” This form is useful in a vocabulary list, but most complete statements need a conjugated verb.
Complete sentence: Ich spreche Deutsch. — I speak German.
Do not copy the infinitive unchanged after every subject. Ich sprechen Deutsch is not the standard first-person statement. Use Ich spreche Deutsch. The final -e matches ich, “I.”
English “speak German” can also be a command. German uses a different form for that function, such as Sprich Deutsch! informally or Sprechen Sie Deutsch! politely. The intended sentence type therefore matters as much as the two words in the basic translation.
Useful Ways to Say It
1. Deutsch Sprechen — Speak German
Deutsch sprechen describes the activity. You will see the infinitive with another verb, as in Ich möchte Deutsch sprechen — “I would like to speak German.” The conjugated verb möchte comes earlier, while sprechen remains at the end.
When naming the language in this construction, write Deutsch with a capital D. Compare eine deutsche Zeitung, “a German newspaper,” where deutsche is an adjective before a noun and normally begins with a lowercase letter.
2. Ich Spreche Deutsch — I Speak German
Ich spreche Deutsch is a straightforward statement about speaking the language. Add a word or phrase to describe your level: Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch means “I speak a little German,” and Ich spreche gut Deutsch means “I speak German well.”
For “I don’t speak German,” say Ich spreche kein Deutsch. If you mean “I don’t speak much German,” use Ich spreche nicht viel Deutsch. These statements communicate different levels, so choose the one that accurately describes your ability.
3. Sprechen Sie Deutsch? — Do You Speak German?
Sprechen Sie Deutsch? is a polite question using formal Sie. It is useful with an unfamiliar adult or in a formal setting. With one person you address informally, say Sprichst du Deutsch?
The verb comes first in these yes-or-no questions. German does not add an equivalent of the English auxiliary “do.” Instead, it changes the order of the conjugated verb and the subject: Sie sprechen Deutsch becomes Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
4. Sprechen Sie Bitte Deutsch — Please Speak German
Sprechen Sie bitte Deutsch is a polite request to speak German. The same opening words can form a question when the sentence and intonation ask whether the listener has the ability. Context, punctuation, and words such as bitte help show which function is intended.
A gentler question is Könnten Sie bitte Deutsch sprechen? — “Could you please speak German?” If your main difficulty is speed, Könnten Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? asks “Could you please speak more slowly?” The second request does not need to name a language.
Speak German: Quick Comparison
← Swipe horizontally to see the full table →
| German | English | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Deutsch sprechen | to speak German | The basic infinitive expression |
| Ich spreche Deutsch. | I speak German. | A statement |
| Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch. | I speak a little German. | Describing a beginner level |
| Ich spreche kein Deutsch. | I don’t speak German. | Explaining lack of ability |
| Sprechen Sie Deutsch? | Do you speak German? | Formal or polite question |
| Sprichst du Deutsch? | Do you speak German? | Informal singular question |
| Sprechen Sie bitte Deutsch. | Please speak German. | Polite request |
| Können Sie langsamer sprechen? | Can you speak more slowly? | Asking for a slower pace |
How to Pronounce Deutsch Sprechen
Deutsch sounds approximately like “doytsh.” The letters eu make a sound similar to “oy,” and the final tsch forms the consonant sound heard at the end of English “much.” Do not read it as the English word “Dutch.”
Sprechen begins with a sound close to “shpr.” At the start of a standard German word, sp is commonly pronounced with sh before the p. The ch in the middle is the soft sound of words such as ich, rather than the English sound in “chair.”
In sprichst, keep the vowel short and let the consonants connect without adding extra syllables. English sound guides are approximate, so listen to the complete question Sprichst du Deutsch? and copy its rhythm rather than trying to pronounce each written letter separately.
Changing Sprechen for Different Subjects
Sprechen is irregular in the present tense. In the du and er/sie/es forms, the vowel changes from e to i. The first-person singular form spreche keeps the e.
- ich spreche — I speak
- du sprichst — you speak, informal singular
- er spricht — he speaks
- sie spricht — she speaks
- wir sprechen — we speak
- ihr sprecht — you speak, informal plural
- sie sprechen — they speak
- Sie sprechen — you speak, formal
The capital letter in Sie is important in writing. It distinguishes formal “you” from lowercase sie, which can mean “she” or “they” depending on the verb. Sie sprechen and sie sprechen share a verb form, so capitalization and context identify the meaning.
Word Order with Questions and Können
In a basic statement, the conjugated verb occupies the second position: Ich spreche Deutsch. If you begin with a time expression, the verb still comes second: Heute spreche ich Deutsch — “Today I’m speaking German.” Position refers to a sentence element, not necessarily a single word.
With können, the speaking verb stays in the infinitive at the end. Ich kann Deutsch sprechen means “I can speak German.” The conjugated verb is kann, and the final word is sprechen, not spreche.
For a yes-or-no question, move the conjugated modal verb to the beginning: Kannst du Deutsch sprechen? — “Can you speak German?” This is a question about ability. In many everyday situations, the shorter Sprichst du Deutsch? is enough to ask whether the listener speaks the language.
Example Sentences
The examples below show a simple statement, a polite question, and an explanation of level. Notice the subject form and the position of the conjugated verb. In the second example, Englisch is the German word for English, so you can ask which language the listener speaks.
Use: Ein bisschen describes a small amount. Spreche is the correct form with ich.
Use: The conjugated verb comes first in this polite yes-or-no question. Sie is capitalized.
Use: Sprechen remains an infinitive after möchte and appears at the end of the first clause.
Common Mistakes
Avoid Ich sprechen and du sprechst. The standard forms are ich spreche and du sprichst. Remember the vowel change in er spricht as well. Do not use the infinitive as a complete command unless the context specifically calls for an impersonal instruction.
Do not add English “do” to a German question, and keep Deutsch capitalized when naming the language. Finally, distinguish a question about ability from a request to use the language. Adding bitte or using Könnten Sie…? helps make a request clear and courteous.
Frequently Asked Questions About Speak German in German
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you say speak German in German?
The basic expression is Deutsch sprechen. In a first-person statement, say Ich spreche Deutsch, “I speak German.”
How do I ask do you speak German politely?
Say Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Use capitalized Sie for formal address. With a friend, Sprichst du Deutsch? is the informal singular question.
How do I say I speak a little German?
Say Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch. To say that you do not speak much German, use Ich spreche nicht viel Deutsch.
Why is it du sprichst rather than du sprechst?
Sprechen has an irregular vowel change in the present-tense du and er/sie/es forms. Learn du sprichst and er spricht as part of its conjugation.
How do I say please speak more slowly?
A polite request is Könnten Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? It means “Could you please speak more slowly?”
Is Deutsch capitalized in Ich spreche Deutsch?
Yes. In this expression, Deutsch names the language and has a capital D. The adjective in a phrase such as eine deutsche Zeitung normally has a lowercase d.
Summary
Speak German in German is Deutsch sprechen. Use Ich spreche Deutsch for “I speak German,” and Sprechen Sie Deutsch? for a polite question. With informal du, remember the form sprichst.
Practice a full statement about your level and a request for help, such as Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch and Könnten Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? These complete phrases are useful while you build confidence in a conversation.
