Luxembourgish (Lëtzebuergesch) is the main language of Luxembourg. It is spoken in Luxembourg, as well as parts of Wallonia (Belgium) and Grand-Est (France) neighbouring Luxembourg. It is similar to standard German, and the dialects of German surrounding Luxembourg are mutually intelligible with it.
Luxembourg is a multilingual country, with French, standard German and English almost universally spoken. Nonetheless, Luxembourgish is the national language, and attempts to learn or speak it will give you a greater insight into the local culture and opportunities for closer relationships with Luxembourgers than a visitor may otherwise expect.
Pronunciation guide
[edit]Vowels
[edit]Consonants
[edit]Common diphthongs
[edit]Phrase list
[edit]Basics
[edit]
Common signs
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- Hello.
- Moien. (MOY-ehn)
- Hello. (informal)
- Salut. (SAH-loo(t))
- How are you?
- Wéi geet et? (vay geet et?)
- Fine, thank you.
- Gutt, merci. (guht, MEHR-see)
- What is your name?
- Wéi heeschs du? (vay HAYSHS doo?)
- My name is ______ .
- Ech heeschen ______ . (etch HAY-shen _____ .)
- Nice to meet you.
- Et freet mëch, lech kennen ze léieren. (et freet mish, letch KEN-en tse LAY-uh-ren)
- Please.
- Wann ech glift. (vahn etch glift)
- Thank you.
- Merci. (MEHR-see)
- You're welcome.
- 'T ass gär geschitt; 't ass näischt. (t-ahss gayr gesh-IT; t-ahss naysht)
- Yes.
- Jo. (yo)
- No.
- Nee. (nee)
- Excuse me. (getting attention)
- Entschëllegt. (ent-shuh-LAYGT)
- Excuse me. (begging pardon)
- Pardon wann ech gelift. (PAHR-dahn vahn esh ge-LIFT)
- I'm sorry.
- Pardon. (PAHR-dahn)
- Goodbye
- Addi. (AHD-ee)
- Goodbye (informal)
- Awar. (a-VAHR)
- I can't speak Luxembourgish [well].
- Ech kann net [gutt] Lëtzebuergesch schwätzen. (esh kahn net [guht] LEHT-se-bwairg-esh SHVAHT-sen)
- Do you speak English?
- Schwätzt du Englesch? (shvahtst doo AYNG-lesh?)
- Is there someone here who speaks English?
- Ass et hei een deen Englesch schwätzt?? (ahs et een deen AYNG-lesh shwahtst?)
- Help!
- Hëllefen! (hel-EF-en!)
- Look out!
- Erauskucken! (er-AWS-kook-en!)
- Good morning.
- Gudde Moien. (GOO-deh MOY-ehn)
- Good evening.
- Gudden Owend. (GOO-den OW-ehnd)
- Good night.
- Gutt Nuecht. (goot noo-ESHT)
- Good night (to sleep)
- Gutt Nuecht. (goot noo-ESHT)
- I don't understand.
- Ech verstinn net. (esh VEHRS-ten net)
- Where is the toilet?
- Wou as d'Toilette?? (woh ahs duh-toy-LET-eh?)
Problems
[edit]- Leave me alone.
- Looss mech eleng. (loos mesh el-EHNG.)
- Don't touch me!
- Beréiert mech net! (beh-RYE-ert mesh neht!)
- I'll call the police.
- Ech ruffen d'Police un. (esh ROOF-en duh-pol-EESE uhn.)
- Police!
- Police! (pol-EESE!)
- Stop! Thief!
- Ophalen! Déif! (OP-hall-ehn! dayf!)
- I need your help.
- Ech brauch deng Hëllef. (esh browsh dehng HEL-ef.)
- It's an emergency.
- Et ass en Noutfall. (et ahs ehn NOOT-fahl.)
- I'm lost.
- Ech si verluer. (esh see fehr-LOO-er.)
- I lost my bag.
- Ech hu mäi Sak verluer. (esh hoo my SAHK fehr-LOO-er.)
- I lost my wallet.
- Ech hu mäi Portemonnaie verluer. (esh hoo my POR-teh-mon-ay fehr-LOO-er.)
- I'm sick.
- Ech si krank. (esh see krahnk.)
- I've been injured.
- Ech sinn blesséiert ginn. (esh seen bles-AY-ert gin.)
- I need a doctor.
- Ech brauch en Dokter. (esh browsh ehn DOHK-ter.)
- Can I use your phone?
- Kann ech Ären Handy benotzen? (kahn esh AIR-en HAN-dy beh-NO-tsehn?)
Numbers
[edit]- 0
- null (nuhl)
- 1
- eent (eent)
- 2
- zwee (tswee)
- 3
- dräi (drigh)
- 4
- véier (FAY-er)
- 5
- fënnef (fuhn-UHF)
- 6
- sechs (zeks)
- 7
- siwen (zee-VUHN)
- 8
- aacht (akht)
- 9
- néng (nehng)
- 10
- zéng (tsayng)
- 11
- eelef (EE-luhf)
- 12
- zwielef (TSWEE-uh-luhf)
- 13
- dräizéng (DRIGH-tsayng)
- 14
- véierzéng (FAY-er-tsayng)
- 15
- fofzéng (FOHF-tsayng)
- 16
- siechzéng (ZEE-esh-tsayng)
- 17
- ziwwenzéng (ZIH-vuhn-tsayng)
- 18
- uechzéng (WUHSH-tsayng)
- 19
- nonzéng (NOHN-tsayng)
- 20
- zwanzeg (TSWAHN-tsush)
- 21
- eenanzwanzeg (EEN-ahn-tswahn-tsush)
- 22
- zweeanzwanzeg (TSWEE-ahn-tswahn-tsush)
- 23
- dräi an zwanzeg (DRY ahn tswahn-tsush; numbers are broken up into three words after 22)
- 30
- drësseg (DRESS-uhsh)
- 40
- véierzeg (FAY-er-tsush)
- 50
- fofzeg (FOHF-tsush)
- 60
- siechzeg (ZEE-esh-tsush)
- 70
- ziwwenzeg (ZIH-vuhn-tsush)
- 80
- uechtzeg; achtzeg (WUHSH-tsush; AHSH-tsush)
- 90
- nonzeg (NOHN-tsush)
- 100
- honnert (HOHN-ert)
- 200
- zweehonnert (TSWEE-HOHN-ert)
- 300
- dräihonnert (DRY-HOHN-ert)
- 1,000
- [een] dausend ([een] DOW-sent)
- 2,000
- zweedausend (TSWEE-DOW-sent)
- 1,000,000
- eng Millioun (eng MEEL-ee-ohn)
- 1,000,000,000
- eng Milliard (eng MEEL-ee-ard)
- 1,000,000,000,000
- eng Billion (eng BEEL-ee-ohn)
- number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
- Nummer (NUH-mer)
- half
- Halschent (HAHL-shent)
- less
- Manner (MAHN-er)
- more
- Méi (may)
Time
[edit]- now
- Elo (Eh-lo)
- later
- Méi spéit (may spayt)
- before
- Virun (FEER-uhn)
- morning
- Moien (MOY-ehn)
- afternoon
- Mëtteg (MEH-tesh)
- evening
- Owend (OW-end)
- night
- Nuecht (noo-ESHT)
Clock time
[edit]- one o'clock AM
- Eent Auer (eent OW-er)
- two o'clock AM
- Zwee Auer (tswee OW-er)
- noon
- Mëtteg (MEH-tesh)
- one o'clock PM
- Dräizéng Auer (DRIGH-tsang OW-er) 13:00
- two o'clock PM
- Véierzéng Auer (FAY-er-tsang OW-er) 14:00
- midnight
- Mëtternuecht (MET-er-noo-ESHT)
Duration
[edit]- _____ minute(s)
- Minutt[en] (mee-NOOT[-en])
- _____ hour(s)
- Stonn[en] (STOHN[-en])
- _____ day(s)
- Dag; Deeg (dahg; deeg)
- _____ week(s)
- Woch[en] (WOSH[-en])
- _____ month(s)
- Mount; Méint (mownt; maynt)
- _____ year(s)
- Joer (YO-er) singular and plural are the same.
Days
[edit]- today
- Haut (howt)
- yesterday
- Gëschter (GESH-ter)
- tomorrow
- Muer (MOO-er)
- this week
- Des Woch (des wokh)
- last week
- Lescht Woch (lesht wokh)
- next week
- Näscht Woch (nahsht wokh)
- Sunday
- Sonndeg (SOHN-desh)
- Monday
- Méindeg (MAYN-desh)
- Tuesday
- Dënschdeg (DENSH-desh)
- Wednesday
- Mëttwoch (MET-wosh)
- Thursday
- Donneschdeg (DOHN-esh-desh)
- Friday
- Freideg (FREIGH-desh)
- Saturday
- Samschdeg (SAHMSH-desh)
Months
[edit]- January
- Januar (YAH-noo-ahr)
- February
- Februar (FEH-broo-ahr)
- March
- Mäerz (MAI-erts)
- April
- Abrëll (ah-BRELL)
- May
- Mee (mee)
- June
- Juni (YOO-nee)
- July
- Juli (YOO-lee)
- August
- August (aw-GOOST)
- September
- September (sep-TEHM-ber)
- October
- Oktober (ok-TOH-ber)
- November
- November (no-VEHM-ber)
- December
- Dezember (dee-TSEM-ber)
Writing time and date
[edit]Colors
[edit]- black
- Schwaarz (shwahrts)
- white
- Wäiss (vice)
- gray
- Gro (groh)
- red
- Rout (roht)
- blue
- Blo (bloo)
- yellow
- Giel (GEE-el)
- green
- Gréng (grayng)
- orange
- Orange (oh-RAHNGSH)
- purple
- Mof (mohf)
- pink
- Rosa (ROH-zah)
- brown
- Brong (brohng)
Transportation
[edit]Bus and train
[edit]- How much is a ticket to _____?
- ( )
- One ticket to _____, please.
- ( )
- Where does this train/bus go?
- ( )
- Where is the train/bus to _____?
- ( )
- Does this train/bus stop in _____?
- ( )
- When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
- ( )
- When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
- ( )
Directions
[edit]- How do I get to _____ ?
- ( )
- ...the train station?
- ( )
- ...the bus station?
- ( )
- ...the airport?
- ( )
- ...downtown?
- ( )
- ...the youth hostel?
- ( )
- ...the _____ hotel?
- ( )
- ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
- ( )
- Where are there a lot of...
- ( )
- ...hotels?
- ( )
- ...restaurants?
- ( )
- ...bars?
- ( )
- ...sites to see?
- ( )
- Can you show me on the map?
- ( )
- street
- ( )
- Turn left.
- ( )
- Turn right.
- ( )
- left
- ( )
- right
- ( )
- straight ahead
- ( )
- towards the _____
- ( )
- past the _____
- ( )
- before the _____
- ( )
- Watch for the _____.
- ( )
- intersection
- ( )
- north
- ( )
- south
- ( )
- east
- ( )
- west
- ( )
- uphill
- ( )
- downhill
- ( )
Taxi
[edit]- Taxi!
- ( )
- Take me to _____, please.
- ( )
- How much does it cost to get to _____?
- ( )
- Take me there, please.
- ( )
Lodging
[edit]- Do you have any rooms available?
- ( )
- How much is a room for one person/two people?
- ( )
- Does the room come with...
- ( )
- ...bedsheets?
- ( )
- ...a bathroom?
- ( )
- ...a telephone?
- ( )
- ...a TV?
- ( )
- May I see the room first?
- ( )
- Do you have anything quieter?
- ( )
- ...bigger?
- ( )
- ...cleaner?
- ( )
- ...cheaper?
- ( )
- OK, I'll take it.
- ( )
- I will stay for _____ night(s).
- ( )
- Can you suggest another hotel?
- ( )
- Do you have a safe?
- ( )
- ...lockers?
- ( )
- Is breakfast/supper included?
- ( )
- What time is breakfast/supper?
- ( )
- Please clean my room.
- ( )
- Can you wake me at _____?
- ( )
- I want to check out.
- ( )
Money
[edit]- Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
- ( )
- Do you accept British pounds?
- ( )
- Do you accept euros?
- ( )
- Do you accept credit cards?
- ( )
- Can you change money for me?
- ( )
- Where can I get money changed?
- ( )
- Can you change a traveler's check for me?
- ( )
- Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
- ( )
- What is the exchange rate?
- ( )
- Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
- ( )
Eating
[edit]- A table for one person/two people, please.
- ( )
- Can I look at the menu, please?
- ( )
- Can I look in the kitchen?
- ( )
- Is there a house specialty?
- ( )
- Is there a local specialty?
- ( )
- I'm a vegetarian.
- ech si Vegetarier ( )
- I don't eat pork.
- ( )
- I don't eat beef.
- ( )
- I only eat kosher food.
- ( )
- Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
- ( )
- fixed-price meal
- ( )
- a la carte
- ( )
- breakfast
- ( )
- lunch
- ( )
- tea (meal)
- ( )
- supper
- ( )
- I want _____.
- ( )
- I want a dish containing _____.
- ( )
- chicken
- ( )
- beef
- Rëndfleesch ( )
- fish
- Fësch ( )
- ham
- Ham ( )
- sausage
- Wurscht / Wuuscht ( )
- cheese
- Kéis ( )
- eggs
- Eeër ( )
- salad
- Zalot ( )
- (fresh) vegetables
- ( )
- (fresh) fruit
- ( )
- bread
- Brout ( )
- toast
- ( )
- noodles
- Nuddelen ( )
- rice
- Räis ( )
- beans
- Bounen ( )
- May I have a glass of _____?
- ( )
- May I have a cup of _____?
- ( )
- May I have a bottle of _____?
- ( )
- coffee
- Kaffi ( )
- tea (drink)
- Téi ( )
- juice
- Saaft ( )
- (bubbly) water
- Spruddelwaasser ( )
- (still) water
- Waasser ( )
- beer
- Béier ( )
- red/white wine
- ( )
- May I have some _____?
- ( )
- salt
- Salz ( )
- black pepper
- Peffer ( )
- butter
- Botter ( )
- Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
- ( )
- I'm finished.
- ( )
- It was delicious.
- ( )
- Please clear the plates.
- ( )
- The check, please.
- ( )
Bars
[edit]- Do you serve alcohol?
- ( )
- Is there table service?
- ( )
- A beer/two beers, please.
- ( )
- A glass of red/white wine, please.
- ( )
- A pint, please.
- ( )
- A bottle, please.
- ( )
- _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
- ( )
- whiskey
- ( )
- vodka
- ( )
- rum
- ( )
- water
- ( )
- club soda
- ( )
- tonic water
- ( )
- orange juice
- ( )
- Coke (soda)
- ( )
- Do you have any bar snacks?
- ( )
- One more, please.
- ( )
- Another round, please.
- ( )
- When is closing time?
- ( )
- Cheers!
- ( )
Shopping
[edit]- Do you have this in my size?
- ( )
- How much is this?
- ( )
- That's too expensive.
- ( )
- Would you take _____?
- ( )
- expensive
- ( )
- cheap
- ( )
- I can't afford it.
- ( )
- I don't want it.
- ( )
- You're cheating me.
- ( )
- I'm not interested.
- (..)
- OK, I'll take it.
- ( )
- Can I have a bag?
- ( )
- Do you ship (overseas)?
- ( )
- I need...
- ( )
- ...toothpaste.
- ( )
- ...a toothbrush.
- ( )
- ...tampons.
- . ( )
- ...soap.
- ( )
- ...shampoo.
- ( )
- ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
- ( )
- ...cold medicine.
- ( )
- ...stomach medicine.
- ... ( )
- ...a razor.
- ( )
- ...an umbrella.
- ( )
- ...sunblock lotion.
- ( )
- ...a postcard.
- ( )
- ...postage stamps.
- ( )
- ...batteries.
- ( )
- ...writing paper.
- ( )
- ...a pen.
- ( )
- ...English-language books.
- ( )
- ...English-language magazines.
- ( )
- ...an English-language newspaper.
- ( )
- ...an English-English dictionary.
- ( )
Driving
[edit]- I want to rent a car.
- ( )
- Can I get insurance?
- ( )
- stop (on a street sign)
- ( )
- one way
- ( )
- yield
- ( )
- no parking
- ( )
- speed limit
- ( )
- gas (petrol) station
- ( )
- petrol
- ( )
- diesel
- ( )
Authority
[edit]- I haven't done anything wrong.
- ( )
- It was a misunderstanding.
- ( )
- Where are you taking me?
- ( )
- Am I under arrest?
- ( )
- I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
- ( )
- I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
- ( )
- I want to talk to a lawyer.
- ( )
- Can I just pay a fine now?
- ( )