What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Ich (I), brauche (need) and Geld (money).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal or professional contexts, you can use Ich benötige Geld or Ich brauche finanzielle Hilfe (I need financial help). If you want to describe your situation more formally, you might say Ich bin auf finanzielle Unterstützung angewiesen (I am dependent on financial aid) or Ich bin in finanziellen Schwierigkeiten (I am in financial difficulties). In informal settings, you can use Ich brauche Kohle to say you need cash or Ich bin knapp bei Kasse to say you are short on cash. You can also say Ich brauche ein bisschen Geld to mean you need a bit of money.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Bavaria and Southern Germany, you may hear I brauch an Batzen Geld to mean needing a substantial amount of money or I brauch a bissl Schotter to mean needing a bit of cash.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the request sound slightly less blunt than the direct Ich brauche Geld, you can say Ich brauche etwas Geld (I need some money). Using the subjunctive form Ich bräuchte Geld (I would need money) makes the statement sound more polite and less demanding.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Ich brauche ein Geld, which is a common mistake by English speakers. Geld is an uncountable noun in German and does not take the indefinite article ein.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Ich brauche Geld fürs Studium.I need money to go to college.This sentence is useful for specifying that the money is for university studies using the form Ich brauche Geld.Tatoeba #10263708 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10249791 by DJ_Saidez
- Ich brauche Geld.I need money.This is a simple way to state the need for money using the form Ich brauche Geld.Tatoeba #1109108 by jast, translation #436861 by lukaszpp
- Ich brauche Geld für die Miete.I need money for the rent.
Example conversation
Hannah and Julian are discussing their budget for a trip.
- HannahWillst du mit mir verreisen?Do you want to travel with me?
- JulianJa, aber ich brauche Geld.Yes, but I need money.
- HannahWie viel fehlt dir noch?How much are you still missing?
- JulianNur noch ein bisschen.Just a little bit more.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Geld, Ich, ich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
