Basic Words

1. Jo

   Yes

   Usage

   The basic affirmative reply; short and usable anywhere

   Grammar Note

   "Yes" is the particle jo; it corresponds to German ja but is spelled jo

2. Nee

   No

   Usage

   The basic negative reply; also works to decline an offer

   Grammar Note

   "No" is nee (German nein); there is no final -n

3. Wannechgelift

   Please

   Usage

   The word for "please", usually added to the end of a request. It is not the reply to thanks (that is Gär geschitt)

   Grammar Note

   Written as one word; German bitte is not used. It is not the reply to Merci

4. Merci

   Thank you

   Usage

   The standard way to say thanks (not German Danke). For more warmth say Merci villmools

   Grammar Note

   An interjection from French. The reply is Gär geschitt

5. Entschëllegt!

   Excuse me

   Usage

   A polite way to get a stranger's or staff member's attention or to pass by. Informally Sorry is also common

   Grammar Note

   The plural/polite imperative of entschëllegen, aimed at someone you address as Dir. Mind the spelling with ë

6. Et deet mir leed

   Sorry

   Usage

   Expresses an apology or regret; fine with anyone

   Grammar Note

   A fixed phrase from leeddoen; the person feeling sorry is in the dative (mir)

7. Alles an der Rei

   It's OK / I'm fine

   Usage

   Used to say everything is fine or that something is no problem. An der Rei! alone also means "no worries"

   Grammar Note

   An der Rei is a fixed phrase meaning "in order, fine" (Rei is feminine)

8. Ech verstinn net

   I don't understand

   Usage

   Say it when you do not follow; you can then ask Kënnt Dir dat widderhuelen? (can you repeat that)

   Grammar Note

   The 1st person of verstoen is verstinn. With an object the order is Ech verstinn dat net (object before net)

9. Ech verstinn

   I understand

   Usage

   A short reply meaning you have understood

   Grammar Note

   At the end of the sentence the final n of verstinn stays (n-rule)

10. Ech si fäerdeg

    I'm finished / Done

    Usage

    Says that you have finished a task or a meal. As a question to a polite addressee: Sidd Dir fäerdeg?

    Grammar Note

    Before the f of fäerdeg the n of sinn drops and the form is si (n-rule). Note the ä in fäerdeg

11. Waart wannechgelift

    Please wait

    Usage

    A polite imperative asking someone to wait

    Grammar Note

    A polite addressee gets the plural imperative Waart; the German word order Warten Sie is not used

12. E Moment, wannechgelift

    Just a moment, please

    Usage

    For asking someone to wait only briefly

    Grammar Note

    Moment is masculine, so the article is e (short form of een)

13. Een Erwuessenen, wannechgelift

    One adult, please

    Usage

    Say it at a ticket window or entrance to give the number of people. Erwuessenen means "adult"

    Grammar Note

    Erwuessene is a noun formed from an adjective; the masculine accusative takes -n. Een keeps its n before a vowel (n-rule)

14. Ech hu keng Reservatioun

    I don't have a reservation

    Usage

    Tells hotel or restaurant staff that you have no booking

    Grammar Note

    Before k the n of hunn drops (hu). Reservatioun is feminine, so keng is used

15. Ech hunn eng Reservatioun

    I have a reservation

    Usage

    Say it when checking in or arriving at a restaurant

    Grammar Note

    Because eng starts with a vowel, hunn keeps its n (n-rule)

16. Hëlleft mir, wannechgelift

    Please help me

    Usage

    A polite request for help. In an emergency just shout Hëllef!

    Grammar Note

    Hëllefen takes the dative, so mir (not mech). The plural imperative is used for a polite addressee

17. Nach eng Kéier, wannechgelift

    Once more, please

    Usage

    Asks someone to say it again when you did not catch it

    Grammar Note

    Nach eng Kéier means "one more time"; Kéier is feminine

18. Schwätzt wannechgelift méi lues

    Please speak more slowly

    Usage

    Asks a fast speaker to slow down. A sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words. Lues also works as an adverb meaning "slowly"

19. Ech schwätzen e bësse Lëtzebuergesch

    I speak a little Luxembourgish

    Usage

    Tells people you speak a little of the local language

    Grammar Note

    Schwätzen keeps its n before the vowel e, while bëssen drops it before L (bësse): the n-rule. Language names are capitalised

20. Schwätzt Dir Englesch?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    Asks whether the other person speaks English. French and German are also widely understood in Luxembourg

    Grammar Note

    The verb comes first in the question. Polite Dir takes the plural verb form schwätzt and is capitalised

21. Dat hei

    This one

    Usage

    Used with pointing for something near you

    Grammar Note

    Adding hei marks closeness. The demonstrative changes with gender (neuter dat, masculine deen, feminine déi)

22. Dat do

    That one

    Usage

    For something a little further away

    Grammar Note

    Do marks "that one there"; masculine deen do, feminine déi do

23. Dat dohannen

    That one over there

    Usage

    For something further away

    Grammar Note

    Dohannen is an adverb meaning "over there"

24. Hei

    Here

    Usage

    Points to a place close by

    Grammar Note

    A place adverb: Hei ass … means "here is …"

25. Do

    There

    Usage

    Points to a place a short distance away

    Grammar Note

    A place adverb; do can also reinforce a demonstrative

26. Dohannen

    Over there

    Usage

    Points to a place further away

    Grammar Note

    An adverb; before a word that does not start with a vowel or n d t z h it is written dohanne (n-rule)

27. Ech

    I / me

    Usage

    The word for "I", referring to yourself

    Grammar Note

    The subject "I" is ech; the object forms are mech and mir / mer

28. Dir

    You (polite)

    Usage

    The polite "you" for strangers and staff; du is used for friends

    Grammar Note

    Polite address is capitalised Dir with plural verbs (Dir sidd); object form Iech, possessive Är

29. Zesummen

    Together

    Usage

    Used when doing something together or paying together

    Grammar Note

    An adverb; before a consonant outside n d t z h it is written zesumme (n-rule)

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