Getting ready for a visit to the market | A Coffee Break with Thomas

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Hallo und herzlich willkommen zu einer neuen Podcast-Folge von Coffee Break German. Mein Name ist Thomas und heute besuchen wir gemeinsam einen Markt. And it is not just any market we visit. Today we are going to Bern, the capital of Switzerland, and to one of its most famous markets. The Zibel Emerit! Or, without my poor Swiss-German accent, der Zwiebelmarkt. The Onion Market. Also, los geht's!

Every year on the fourth Monday in November, so in about two weeks time from the moment I'm recording this podcast, the Swiss capital Bern transforms into a sea of onions. More than 50... Tonnen Zwiebeln are sold. Those onions are arranged into beautiful wreaths. They are baked into Zwiebelkuchen, onion tarts, or shaped into funny little onion figures.

Dieser Tag ist wirklich wichtig für Bern. It's way more than just a market now for Bern and it's more an all-out celebration of culture, of food and of course the end of the harvesting season. And in fact, you can find similar markets, similar autumn markets or even other onion markets all across the German-speaking world. Like, for example, in Weimar, where there's another Zwiebelmarkt that lasts three full days.

and includes many performances from different artists, musicians, and lots and lots of activities. So should you be near either Bern or Weimar during November, make sure you check out the Zwiebelmarkt. I've actually never been lucky enough to go to either of those cities during this time. Aber, wie gesagt, there are many smaller markets well worth visiting in November. And nicht vergessen!

It's only a few weeks until the first Weihnachtsmärkte open their doors as well. So with all these markets going on and coming up.

Let's go over some useful phrases and vocabulary you might need on a German-speaking market. Let's start with how to ask for products or recommendations. I'll say each sentence once in German, then talk about the meaning, and then say it one more time, leaving some space afterwards for you to repeat it. Okay? Hier ist der erste Satz.

So in English, this would mean, do you also have regional products? And it's a great question if you're looking for something specific to the region where you are in. Whether it's maybe some culinary specialty or maybe something you want to take home as a memory. Also, one more time and I will leave some space afterwards for you to repeat the phrase. Wunderbar! Gut gemacht! Another sentence that is slightly similar would be...

Ich suche ein besonderes Mitbringsel. Okay? I am looking for a special souvenir. And you've probably heard the word souvenir in Deutsch before. However, there is also the word Mitbringsel, which I personally prefer. And it consists of the verb Mitbringen, so to bring along. But it's used as an out. So it's something that you bring with you. Okay. Noch einmal. Ich suche ein besonderes Mitbringsel. Okay, gut gemacht.

Sometimes it's also worth asking this question. Welche sorte empfehlen Sie? So in English, which variety or which type do you recommend? And we're using the formal... See here because you're addressing the salesperson on the market. I personally think it's one of the most useful questions you could ask because stalls sell something very specific. So they often have many different types of varieties of one thing.

And then it's always good to know what the expert would recommend before you make your choice. Also noch einmal langsam. Welche Sorte empfehlen Sie? Perfect. Again, if you are unsure about what choice to make, this is another useful phrase. Was ist der Unterschied zwischen diesem und jenem Käse?

Okay, a slightly longer phrase this time. It means what's the difference, so Unterschied is difference, between this cheese and that one. And of course you can use this phrase for anything, not just cheese. And the words diesem and jenem simply refer to this one here and that one over there. So you can even leave out what it is and just use your fingers and pointing.

Und jenem. And then you know more about the product you want to buy. Also noch einmal mit dem Beispiel Käse. Was ist der Unterschied zwischen diesem und jenem Käse?

Now, these are all freezes helping you to decide what you want to buy. Now, let's have a look at some freezes on how to actually order what you want to buy. Add some specific requests. Let's start with this one. So, could you please? Pack this in two separate bags. One for you and one for your loved ones that you're taking home with you. Okay, noch einmal. Könnten Sie das bitte in zwei separate...

Tüten einpacken. Good gemacht. There are some tricky words in there to pronounce. Separate Tüten. Separate Bags. Okay, noch ein Satz. Ich nehme drei Gläser Glühwein, aber bitte den weißen. Auf Englisch, I'll take three glasses of mulled wine, but the white one, please.

This phrase and especially the addition at the end is great if you want to be more specific about what you want. All you need to add at the end is aber bitte and then add the specification to make sure you get exactly what you like. Like in this case, you wanted the white malt wine. So you said, aber bitte den weißen. Okay, let's hear the whole phrase one more time and you can repeat it. Ich nehme drei Gläser Glühwein.

Aber bitte den weißen. Okay, one freeze. That is very important if you want to taste all there is on a market. Kann ich eine kleinere Portion bekommen? Can I get a smaller portion? And you can make this phrase more polite by either using könnte at the start. So könnte ich, could I? Get a smaller portion. Or of course, you can also add a bit here. So, könnte ich bitte eine kleinere Portion bekommen? It's a good phrase because there are so many things you can try on a market. And sometimes...

The best way to try them all is to have smaller portions of each. Let's hear it one more time and give you the chance to practice it. Okay, and then I have one last phrase for you. For those who like their bargains, their Schnäppchen. Gibt es einen Mengenrabatt, wenn ich mehrere kaufe? Okay, again slightly longer. First bit is, is there a bulk discount? Einen Mengenrabatt? Wenn ich mehrere kaufe. If I buy several. So just in case you're buying souvenirs for...

all the family and you found something they really like and you're planning to buy at least 20 of them, that might be the question you want to ask. And markets have always been good places to bargain. So it's always worth giving it a try.

Gibt es einen Mengenrabatt, wenn ich mehrere kaufe? Ausgezeichnet. Das ist, glaube ich, auch genug für heute. We have covered quite a few freezes. Feel free to skip back and listen to some of them again if you think they are particularly useful. Of course, you can also write them down so you are prepared for your next German-speaking market adventure. Das war's von mir, Thomas.

And I hope you get the chance to visit a market at this time of the year. And of course, try out some of today's freezes. Whether it's an onion market or a Christmas one. Whether you are just meeting some friends for a Glühwein or Punsch or if you're on a city break to do some Christmas shopping. Have fun, enjoy the atmosphere and make the most of your German skills. Viel Spaß! Bis bald und wie immer happy Coffee Breaking.

You have been listening to a Coffee Break Languages production for the Radiolingua Network. Copyright 2025, Radiolingua Limited. Recording copyright 2025, Radiolingua Limited. All rights reserved. Hear that? It's holiday cheer arriving at Ulta Beauty with gifts for everyone on your list. Treat them to fan favorite gift sets from Charlotte Tilbury and Peach and Lily. Go all out with timeless fragrances from YSL.

Ariana Grande and Carolina Herrera. And you can never go wrong with an Ulta Beauty gift card. Head to Ulta Beauty for gifts that make the holidays brighter and even more beautiful. Ulta Beauty. Gifting happens here.