Which one should you use?
While Moment is the most common way to say "moment", the word Sekunde (second) is often used interchangeably in casual speech to mean the same thing. You might also use the idiomatic expression Moment mal to say "Wait a second" or "Hold on" when you are interrupted or notice something unexpected.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Einen Moment bitte is a polite and common way to ask someone to wait, especially in professional or service settings. Adding bitte makes the phrase significantly more polite. For a formal way to communicate the same idea, you can use Einen Augenblick bitte. In informal situations, you can use Einen Moment mal or Warte kurz to tell someone to wait briefly.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase Einen Moment is in the accusative case because it is an elliptical expression of Ich bitte Sie um einen Moment (I ask you for one moment).
Did you know?
- The word Moment shares its roots with the English word 'momentum', as both derive from the Latin 'momentum', which refers to a small weight or a brief movement.
- The phrase Moment mal is often accompanied by a specific physical gesture, such as raising a hand with a palm facing outward, to visually signal the request for a pause.
- Sometimes, instead of a time-based phrase, Germans use Gleich, which means 'soon' or 'immediately', to imply 'wait one moment' in a way that suggests the action will happen almost instantly.
Examples in context
- Ja, einen Moment bitte.Yes, one moment, please.
- Hey, kannst du mir mal kurz helfen?Hey, can you help me for a moment?
- Na klar, warte kurz.Sure, wait a moment.
- Natürlich, einen Augenblick bitte.Of course, one moment, please.
- Klar, einen Moment mal.Sure, one moment.
- Einen Moment bitte!One moment, please!
- Einen Moment, ich muss das kurz finden.One moment, I have to find that quickly.
- Warten Sie, nur einen Moment!Wait, just one moment!
Example conversation
Maximilian is looking for his keys while Laura waits at the door.
- MaximilianLaura, einen Moment!Laura, one moment!
- LauraHast du deinen Schlüssel vergessen?Did you forget your key?
- MaximilianJa, ich suche ihn gerade.Yes, I am looking for it right now.
- LauraKein Problem, ich warte hier.No problem, I will wait here.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Moment, CC BY-SA 4.0.
