ich hätte gerne
The English phrase "I would like to have" is expressed in German as ich hätte gerne.
This phrase is a polite way to request something, such as food or a drink, in a shop or restaurant.
Which one should you use?
While Ich möchte… is also a polite way to say "I would like…", Ich hätte gerne is the standard, idiomatic way to order specific items like food or drinks in a service setting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Bavaria, a common phrase used is I hätt gern'….
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is typically followed directly by the noun phrase representing the item you want to order. If the object you are ordering is a masculine noun in the accusative case, such as der Kaffee, the article must change to einen (e.g., Ich hätte gerne einen Kaffee).
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using Ich will (I want) when ordering in a restaurant, as it sounds demanding and impolite in German.
Did you know?
- In German, you are literally saying 'I would have gladly', which makes the request sound much softer than the English 'I would like to have'.
- The word ich shares a common ancient ancestor with the English word 'I' and the Latin word 'ego'. They all stem from the same Proto-Indo-European root used to denote the self.
- The word hätte in this phrase is actually the subjunctive form of the verb haben. This grammatical mood is used specifically to create a sense of politeness and distance, softening the request to make it less demanding.
Examples in context
- Ich hätte gerne eine Tasse Kaffee.I would like to have a cup of coffee.Tatoeba #1052006 by Esperantostern, translation #454413 by saasmath
- Ich hätte gerne ein Stück Käse, bitte.I would like to have a piece of cheese, please.Tatoeba #2146047 by freddy1, translation #8184701 by Ariel120292
- Ich hätte gerne etwas zu mampfen zu meinem Bier.I would like to have something to munch on with my beer.Tatoeba #759406 by Esperantostern, translation #34850 by CC
- Ich möchte gerne ein Glas Wasser, bitte.I would like to have a glass of water, please.
- Ich hätte gerne ein bisschen mehr Zeit.I would like to have a bit more time.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hannah and Maximilian are at a bakery.
- HannahHallo, ich hätte gerne ein Buttercroissant.Hello, I would like to have a butter croissant.
- MaximilianGerne. Möchten Sie sonst noch etwas?Certainly. Would you like anything else?
- HannahNein, danke. Das ist alles.No, thank you. That is all.
- MaximilianDas macht zwei Euro, bitte.That will be two euros, please.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
