What are common German phrases used to express politeness in daily conversation

Common German phrases used to express politeness in daily conversation include:

• Bitte (Please) — used to make requests more polite.
• Danke (Thank you) — expresses gratitude.
• Entschuldigung (Excuse me / Sorry) — used to get someone’s attention or apologize.
• Könnten Sie bitte…? (Could you please…?) — a polite way to ask someone to do something.
• Würden Sie…? (Would you…?) — another polite form of request.
• Es tut mir leid (I am sorry) — used to apologize sincerely.
• Darf ich…? (May I…?) — a polite way to ask for permission.
• Einen schönen Tag noch (Have a nice day) — polite farewell.
• Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe (Many thanks for your help) — showing appreciation formally.
• Verzeihen Sie (Pardon me) — polite form to get attention or ask forgiveness.

These phrases are commonly used to show respect, consideration, and kindness in everyday interactions, aligning with German social norms of politeness that often involve formal address and courteous expressions. ^{9, 20}

References

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