How to Say ‘What can I get you?’ in German
Was darf es sein?
vahs darf ess zine
[vahs darf ess zine]
💬 Usage Tip: [Was darf es sein?] is a fixed service phrase: literally more like [What may it be?], but used to mean [What can I get you?]. You'll hear the same pattern in shops and bakeries too.
Phrase Breakdown
Was
[vahs]
what
Question word used here to ask what the customer wants.
Im Café fragt man: Was darf es sein?
In the café one asks: What can I get you?
darf
[darf]
may / can
Polite helping verb in this service phrase.
Im Café fragt man: Was darf es sein?
In the café one asks: What can I get you?
es
[ess]
it
Pronoun in the idiomatic question 'Was darf es sein?'
Im Café fragt man: Was darf es sein?
In the café one asks: What can I get you?
sein
[zine]
be
Verb meaning 'be' in this fixed polite expression.
Im Café fragt man: Was darf es sein?
In the café one asks: What can I get you?
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