English in Austria and Germany?
Do they speak English in Austria and Germany? my wife and I are planning to visit these countries at the end of august but we speak no German at all. I've heard that the Germans speak it very well but Austrians? We will visit Salzburg in Austria and Munich in Germany by car from Italy where we live.
If you have been there without knowing German at at all, tell me your experience.
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I lived in Mirandola, Italy for the last 13 years and traveled to Austria and Germany many times. I found it very easy to get around in English in the tourist areas in both countries.
They speak good English in those countries.
yes, Austrians speak fluent English. the Germans too but for example in East Germany is more difficult
All really depends on you. If you take the attitude of while you may start not knowing any, but you will leave knowing all you can. You will be fine.
If someone laughs at your pronunciation of a German word, laugh back and you will be treated well.
If you drive, I am pretty sure you will leave knowing one word, "Ausfahrt" also known by some as "The largest city in Germany". (Really it means "exit")
On the motorways and in the main tourist zones you will not have a problem as long as you learn a few words, Bitte (please) Danke (thank you), get a phrase book and memorize the key words to be able to point and say how many.
Menus are often bilingual in the tourist zones, staff are helpful but those few words make all of the difference.
My few words includes food, beer and wine and politness. Bloody marvelous country but...
Do not drop litter and be polite.
You won't have any problems finding people who speak English in either Germany or Austria, but it is appreciated if you leave a couple of basic phrases of German.
If you stay in tourist areas you will have no probelm.