Flirting in German Like a Pro: 74 Useful Phrases to Flirt and Date in German

You planned a short trip to a German-speaking country but had other plans and held you there. Love!

Or maybe just a beautiful and handsome German person, and you want to know how fliritin in German works. Spring German (a project I co-founded) created an entertaining video about how you can flirt in German:

In this article, we’re going to go step-by-step to uncover every hidden secret about flirting in German.

1. The German flirting culture

Flirting and dating in Germany and other German-speaking countries can be quite different from what you might be used to in other countries. For example, it can be completely different than having a little bit of flirt in Spanish.

German locals are known for their directness. So, in these early stages of flirting, you might be surprised that Germans are less likely to engage in small talk. They are straightforward and sincere. But this doesn’t mean that they lack interest: they value honesty and transparency.

Just like in other areas of life, punctuality is very important for locals. If you’re late – that’s rude. And you’re starting with a bad impression. On the first few dates, you can split the bill – it’s a sign of independence and equality in relationships, but it’s also important to talk about it beforehand.

Physical contact and public displays of affection are typically more reserved compared to some other cultures. Hand-holding and light kisses are acceptable, but anything more intimate might be considered inappropriate in public settings.

Germans value their personal space. It may take longer to move from flirting to dating and to a more serious relationship.

2. The first step: walking up to someone

Yes, the first step is up to you. You have to be brave enough to approach someone, because without this, you won’t stand a chance.

However, if you do it, you have to be confident. If you know the most important German phrases for introduction and keeping the conversation going, you’re set!

When meeting someone for the first time, you could start with a friendly greeting such as “Hallo” (Hello) or “Guten Tag” (Good day). Then, you could follow it with your name, using the phrase “Ich heiße [Your Name]” (My name is [Your Name]) or “Mein Name ist [Your Name]” (My name is [Your Name]).

Pretty simple, right?

You could then add information about where you are from: “Ich komme aus [Your Country/City]” (I’m from [Your Country/City]). To keep the conversation flowing, you might ask a German question like “Und du?” (And you?) or “Wie heißt du?” (What’s your name?).

So, let’s see what phrases and chunk you might use in this situation:

3. Flirting in German: a couple ice-breakers

We wrote about the German flirting and dating culture, and there we already mentioned that sometimes, Germans are a little hard to reach. In this case, you can use some common ice breakers. Although they don’t do small talks like people do small talks in Spanish, you can still get someone talking.

Take a look at these:

4. German pick-up lines

If you’re still not engaging in a German conversation, you’re in a tough spot. Maybe a German pick-up line will help – either in a serious or in a humorous tone.

Just a little note: we don’t guarantee results with these German pick-up lines:

Okay, let’s not joke here: the previous tables included some common chunks. What are chunks? Chunks are basic building blocks of the language, and you can use these chunks in real conversations. One method that really focuses on these chunks is the Conversation Based Chunking. If you click this button now, you’ll get access to our essential German Conversation Chunking Based Guide + access our Full Practice Worksheet Library.

5. Keep the German conversation going

By now, you’re 100% in the middle of a German conversation. This isn’t the time you should freeze. And nor should you!

But how do you keep the German conversation going? For instance, show genuine interest. Listening is essential in every situation! Ask back: ask open-ended questions, so your flirting partner can answer in long, complex sentences using advanced German vocabulary.

After that, you can also share your own experiences.

6. Common German phrases for giving compliments

Let’s move onto German phrases for compliments. Because by now, you’re speaking partner is really paying attention to you and what you’re saying.

This is the best time to say some romantic phrases in German, and throw in some compliments!

7. Practice flirting in German with a worksheet

Practice flirting in German with us – before you practice in real-life situations!

If you’re looking for more, don’t worry! We’ve got you covered!

8. Avoid cheesy talk in German-speaking countries and date in German with Conversation Based Chunking

We have one more advice: avoid being too cheesy. Just like we mentioned it about the German dating and flirting culture, German native speakers are direct, but can be hard to reach. Be patient, don’t worry too much, keep your relaxed pose.

And although you can learn all of the phrases listed in this blog post by heart, it’s better to use Conversation Based Chunking. It’s a method that breaks down long sentences into manageable chunks, and teaches you the language that native speakers use all the time. No grammar drills, no boring vocabulary lists, just the chunks that you implement naturally into your German sentences.

Immerse yourself in the language as much as you can, and you’ll be well on your way. To take the first step, you only have to sign up to our email list, and in exchange, you’ll get a FREE German Conversation Based Chunking Guide with: a free, essential German chunking list, my favourite resources to learn German, access to our Full Practice Worksheet Library, and more!

Time to get flirting!