bitte bitte
/ˈbɪtə ˈbɪtə/word by word
The English phrase "pretty please" is expressed in German as bitte bitte.
The phrase is an emphatic interjection used to make commands more polite. By repeating the word, the speaker adds emphasis, functioning much like the English "pretty please" when a person is pleading or begging for something.
Meaning: an emphatic interjection to make commands more polite (intj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This phrase is highly informal. It is most commonly used by children or in very close, casual relationships.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbɪtə ˈbɪtə/
Did you know?
- If a German speaker says bitte? with a rising intonation, they are not being polite but are actually asking 'What did you say?' or 'Pardon?'
- If someone says bitte sehr or bitte schön, they are not asking for something but are instead offering an object or saying 'here you go'.
- The word bitte is actually a shortened version of a full sentence, 'ich bitte dich' or 'ich bitte Sie', which means 'I beg you'.
Examples in context
- Bitte bitte, darf ich noch ein Stück Kuchen?Pretty please, may I have another piece of cake?
- Komm doch mit, bitte bitte!Come along, pretty please!
- Kannst du mir helfen, bitte bitte?Can you help me, pretty please?
Example conversation
Sarah is asking Lukas for a small favor at home.
- SarahLukas, kannst du bitte das Fenster schließen?Lukas, can you please close the window?
- LukasEs ist mir gerade zu warm.It is too warm for me right now.
- SarahBitte bitte, es zieht hier!Pretty please, there is a draft here!
- LukasNa gut, Sarah, ich mache es.Alright, Sarah, I'll do it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pretty please” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (bitte) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bitte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
