Asking for directions and checking in at a clinic | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Asking for directions and checking in at a clinic to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Entschuldigung, wo ist der Warteraum?

ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, voh ist dayr VAHR-tuh-rowm? Excuse me, where is the waiting room?

Gehen Sie an der Anmeldung vorbei.

GAY-en zee ahn dayr AHN-mel-doong fohr-BYE. Go past the front desk.

Er ist auf Ihrer linken Seite.

air ist owf YEE-rer LING-ken ZY-tuh. It will be on your left.

Muss ich mich anmelden, bevor ich mich hinsetze?

MOOS ikh mikh AHN-mel-den, buh-FOHR ikh mikh hin-SET-suh? Do I need to check in before I sit down?

Füllen Sie zuerst dieses Formular aus.

FUUL-en zee TSOO-erst DEE-zes for-MOO-lahr ows. Fill out this form first.

Dann geben Sie es an der Anmeldung ab.

dahn GAY-ben zee es ahn dayr AHN-mel-doong ahp. Then hand it to the desk.

Ruft mich jemand auf, wenn ich an der Reihe bin?

ROOFT mikh YAY-mahnt owf, ven ikh ahn dayr RYE-uh been? Will someone call me when it's my turn?

Eine Pflegekraft sollte gleich Ihren Namen aufrufen.

EYE-nuh PFLEH-guh-krahft ZOL-tuh GLYKH YEE-ren NAH-men OWF-roo-fen. A nurse should call your name shortly.

Soll ich meine Versicherungskarte bereithalten?

ZOL ikh MY-nuh fer-ZIKH-er-oongs-KAR-tuh buh-RYTE-hahl-ten? Should I keep my insurance card ready?

Halten Sie sie griffbereit, falls die Anmeldung sie noch einmal braucht.

HAL-ten zee zee GRIF-buh-RYTE, fals dee AHN-mel-doong zee nokh EYE-nahl browkht. Keep it handy in case the desk needs it again.

Word by Word

Entschuldigung “Entschuldigung” is a polite “excuse me” used to open the question to the clinic staff. It is useful when getting someone’s attention before asking for help.

wo “wo” asks where something is located. In “wo ist der Warteraum?”, it introduces a location question.

ist “ist” means “is” and links the waiting room with its location. It is the form of the verb “sein” used in this question.

der “der” means “the” in the noun phrase “der Warteraum”. It marks the waiting room as a specific room.

Warteraum “Warteraum” means “waiting room”, the room where visitors wait at the clinic. It is the place being located in “wo ist der Warteraum?”.

Gehen “Gehen” tells the visitor to go or walk. In the formal direction “Gehen Sie an der Anmeldung vorbei”, it is a polite instruction; its citation form is “gehen”.

Sie In “Gehen Sie an der Anmeldung vorbei”, “Sie” addresses one person formally. In “falls die Anmeldung sie noch einmal braucht”, the lowercase “sie” refers back to the insurance card, so the same spelling pattern can have a different function.

an “an” contributes the meaning “at” or “by” in the route phrase “an der Anmeldung vorbei”. It combines with a place and “vorbei” to show that the visitor should pass that place.

Anmeldung “Anmeldung” means the reception or check-in desk in this clinic context. The visitor passes it in “an der Anmeldung vorbei” and later gives the form there.

vorbei “vorbei” means past or by in “an der Anmeldung vorbei”. Together, the phrase gives a direction to pass the reception desk.

Er “Er” means “it” here because it refers to “der Warteraum”, which is treated as masculine in German. In “Er ist auf Ihrer linken Seite”, it refers to the waiting room’s location.

auf In “auf Ihrer linken Seite”, “auf” means “on”. In “Ruft mich jemand auf”, it is the separated particle of “aufrufen”, which means to call someone’s name out.

Ihrer “Ihrer” means “your” when addressing the visitor formally in “auf Ihrer linken Seite”. It belongs to the location phrase describing the visitor’s left side.

linken “linken” means “left” in “Ihrer linken Seite”. It identifies which side the waiting room will be on.

Seite “Seite” means “side” in the location phrase “auf Ihrer linken Seite”. The complete phrase tells the visitor where to find the waiting room.

Muss “Muss” asks whether something is necessary in “Muss ich mich anmelden?”. It is the form of “müssen” used with “ich” to ask about an obligation.

ich “ich” means “I” and identifies the visitor as the person who must check in and sit down. It is used as the subject in “Muss ich mich anmelden?”.

mich “mich” means “me” in the reflexive expression “mich anmelden”. It refers back to “ich”, showing that the visitor checks in personally.

anmelden “anmelden” means to check in or register in the clinic. In “mich anmelden”, it is used with the visitor as the person registering; after “Muss”, the infinitive stays at the end of the question.

bevor “bevor” means “before” and introduces the action that must wait: “bevor ich mich hinsetze”. It connects checking in with sitting down in the required order.

hinsetze “hinsetze” means “sit down” in “bevor ich mich hinsetze”. It is the first-person form belonging to “sich hinsetzen”, used because the visitor is talking about sitting down.

Füllen “Füllen” tells the visitor to fill something out. In “Füllen Sie zuerst dieses Formular aus”, it is the formal command part of the separable verb “ausfüllen”, completed by “aus”.

zuerst “zuerst” means “first” and tells the visitor which step comes before handing in the form. It marks the beginning of the clinic check-in sequence.

dieses “dieses” means “this” and points to the form that is being given to the visitor. In “dieses Formular”, it identifies one specific form nearby.

Formular “Formular” means “form”, specifically the document the visitor must complete. It is the object of “Füllen Sie ... aus” and is later referred to by “es”.

aus “aus” completes the separable verb “ausfüllen” in “Füllen Sie zuerst dieses Formular aus”. Together, the separated parts mean “fill out”, not simply “fill” and “out” as independent instructions.

Dann “Dann” means “then” and introduces the next step after filling out the form. It is useful for ordering instructions.

geben “geben” contributes the meaning “give” or “hand” in “geben Sie es an der Anmeldung ab”. Together with the separated particle “ab”, the expression means to hand the form in.

es “es” means “it” and refers to “dieses Formular”. In “geben Sie es ... ab”, it is the form that the visitor must hand in.

ab “ab” completes the separable verb “abgeben” in “geben Sie es an der Anmeldung ab”. The whole expression means to hand something in at the reception desk.

Ruft “Ruft” means “calls out” in the question “Ruft mich jemand auf?”. Together with “auf”, it is the separated form of “aufrufen”, used for calling a person’s name.

jemand “jemand” means “someone” and asks whether any person will call the visitor. It is the subject of “Ruft mich jemand auf?”.

wenn “wenn” means “when” in “wenn ich an der Reihe bin”. It introduces the point at which the nurse is expected to call the visitor.

Reihe “Reihe” means “turn” in the expression “an der Reihe sein”. The complete expression says that it is the visitor’s turn.

bin “bin” means “am” in “wenn ich an der Reihe bin”. It is the form of “sein” used with “ich” to complete the expression for being one’s turn.

Eine “Eine” means “a” or “an” and introduces one nursing staff member in “Eine Pflegekraft”. It presents the person who is expected to call the visitor.

Pflegekraft “Pflegekraft” means a nurse or nursing staff member in this clinic context. It is the person who should call the visitor’s name.

sollte “sollte” means “should” and expresses an expectation in “Eine Pflegekraft sollte ...”. It is the form of “sollen” used to say what is expected to happen.

gleich “gleich” means “shortly” or “in a moment” in “sollte gleich Ihren Namen aufrufen”. It reassures the visitor that the call is expected soon.

Ihren “Ihren” means “your” when addressing the visitor formally in “Ihren Namen”. It identifies whose name the nursing staff member should call out.

Namen “Namen” means “name” in “Ihren Namen aufrufen”. It is the name that the nurse is expected to call out; its citation form is “Name”.

aufrufen “aufrufen” means to call out, especially a person’s name in a waiting area. In “Ihren Namen aufrufen”, it describes announcing the visitor’s turn.

Soll “Soll” asks whether the visitor ought to do something in “Soll ich meine Versicherungskarte bereithalten?”. It is the form of “sollen” used with “ich” to ask for guidance or expected action.

meine “meine” means “my” and identifies whose card is being discussed. In “meine Versicherungskarte”, it refers to the visitor’s own insurance card.

Versicherungskarte “Versicherungskarte” means “insurance card”. It is the document the visitor may need to keep ready for the reception desk.

bereithalten “bereithalten” means to keep something ready and available. After “Soll ich”, it describes the action the visitor is asking whether to take with the insurance card.

Halten “Halten” tells the visitor to keep or hold something in a particular state. In “Halten Sie sie griffbereit”, it is a formal instruction to keep the card within reach; its citation form is “halten”.

griffbereit “griffbereit” means handy or within reach in “Halten Sie sie griffbereit”. It tells the visitor not to put the insurance card away.

falls “falls” means “in case” and introduces a possible reason for keeping the card ready. In “falls die Anmeldung sie noch einmal braucht”, the reception desk may need the card again.

noch “noch” contributes to the meaning “again” in the expression “noch einmal”. Here it indicates that the reception desk might need the card one more time.

einmal “einmal” combines with “noch” in “noch einmal” to mean “again”. The expression refers to a possible further request for the insurance card.

braucht “braucht” means “needs” in “falls die Anmeldung sie noch einmal braucht”. It is the form of “brauchen” used with “die Anmeldung” to describe a possible further need.

Grammar Points

sich anmelden / sich hinsetzen

Sie melden sich an und setzen sich hin.

zee MEL-den zikh ahn oont ZET-sen zikh hin.

You check in and sit down.

These verbs are reflexive: the pronoun changes with the subject, for example sich becomes Sie sich and ich mich.

falls + Verb am Ende

Falls jemand aufgerufen wird, ist er an der Reihe.

fals YAY-mahnt OWF-gay-roo-fen veert, ist air ahn dayr RYE-uh.

If someone is called, it is their turn.

After falls, the conjugated verb goes to the end of the clause.

German Vocabulary

abgeben verb

AHP-gay-ben to hand in; to hand over

Anmeldung noun

AHN-mel-doong reception desk; check-in

ausfüllen verb

OWS-fuul-en to fill out

Entschuldigung intj

ent-SHOOL-dee-goong excuse me; apology

Formular noun

for-MOO-lahr form

linke Seite phrase

LING-kuh ZY-tuh left side

sich anmelden verb

zikh AHN-mel-den to check in; to register

sich hinsetzen verb

zikh hin-SET-sen to sit down

vorbeigehen verb

fohr-BYE-gay-en to go past

Warteraum noun

VAHR-tuh-rowm waiting room

wo adv

voh where

zuerst adv

TSOO-erst first

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Excuse me, where is the waiting room?

Show Answer

Entschuldigung, wo ist der Warteraum?

Go past the front desk.

Show Answer

Gehen Sie an der Anmeldung vorbei.

It will be on your left.

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Er ist auf Ihrer linken Seite.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to fill out

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ausfüllen

to go past

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vorbeigehen

reception desk; check-in

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Anmeldung

waiting room

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Warteraum