6.22 Talking about money and salary — Epoché
What you will be able to do Recognise the taboo around salaries in German-speaking countries, and answer a direct question about money: Das sage ich dir nicht. Borrow and lend money among friends: Bitte leih mir Geld. Du musst es mir zurückzahlen. Pay in a restaurant: Zusammen oder getrennt? Das geht auf mich! Nächstes Mal zahle ich. Talk about pay rises and the cost of living: Ich brauche eine Gehaltserhöhung. Alles ist teurer geworden. Sentences from this lesson, before the explanation. Read the German aloud; all of them come back below. German English Sein Vater kann es sich nicht leisten, ihn nächstes Jahr studieren zu lassen. [1] His father can't afford to send him to college next year. Es spielt für mich keine Rolle, ob ich damit Geld verdiene oder nicht. [2] It doesn't matter to me whether or not I make money doing this. Ich verdiene nicht viel Geld. [3] I don't earn much. Er kann es sich nicht leisten. [4] He cannot afford it. Ich kann dir das Geld, das du mir geliehen hast, nicht zurückzahlen. [5] I can't pay you back the money you lent me. Bitte doch um eine Gehaltserhöhung! [6] Why don't you ask for a raise? Ich bezahle euch am Ende des Monats. [7] I'll pay you at the end of the month. Prerequisites : 6.21 — you need the economy vocabulary from 5.15 Vocabulary , the work vocabulary from 5.8 Vocabulary , and the restaurant phrases from 6.3 Conversation . Who is speaking to whom Two friends, Paul and Jana, in their late twenties, who say du . They talk about money over a meal: salaries, a loan, the bill, and the rising cost of living. A waiter speaks one line. The conversation is relaxed, but it shows the limits that German speakers keep even among friends. Money and manners in German-speaking countries You do not ask about salaries. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland it is generally considered impolite to ask someone how much they earn, even a close friend. Many people do not know what their colleagues or their parents earn. The saying is Über Geld spricht man nicht , one does not talk about money . English-speaking cultures differ among themselves, but an American asking Wie viel verdienst du? at a German dinner table will cause an awkward pause. If you are asked, you may decline without offence. Talking about prices is fine. The taboo covers personal income and wealth, not prices. Germans happily discuss rents, the cost of a holiday, the price of petrol, and complain that alles ist teurer geworden . Pay rises are discussed collectively, through unions and wage agreements, more openly than individual salaries. Splitting the bill. In restaurants, waiters routinely ask Zusammen oder getrennt? , together or separately? , and each person pays for what they ate. Inviting someone is explicit: Ich lade dich ein or Das geht auf mich , and the polite response is to thank and offer to pay next time. Tips are given by rounding up, usually five to ten per cent, and told to the waiter while paying rather than left on the table. Cash. Germans still use more cash than most English-speaking countries, and some small shops and cafés do not accept cards. Ich zahle bar is a common sentence at any counter. Exchange one — the question you do not ask Wie viel verdienst du? [8] How much are you making? Das sage ich dir nicht. [9] I'm not telling you. Ich verdiene gut. [10] I make a good living. Alles ist teurer geworden. [11] Everything has got more expensive. Jana refuses the question politely but clearly, then gives a vague answer. Paul changes the subject to prices, which is safe ground. A blunter refusal would be Das geht dich nichts an , that's none of your business , which is rude between friends. Exchange two — a loan between friends Ich muss mir Geld leihen. [12] I need to borrow some money. Bist du pleite? [13] Are you skint? Bitte leih mir Geld. [14] Please lend me some money. Du musst es mir zurückzahlen. [15] You have to pay me back. Ich bezahle dich am Ende des Monats. [16] I'll pay you at the end of the month. leihen means both lend and borrow : jemandem etwas leihen is to lend , sich etwas leihen is to borrow . Paul names a date for repayment, which is expected. Ich bezahle dich is casual; the clearer way to promise repayment is Ich zahle es dir am Ende des Monats zurück. Exchange three — the bill Zusammen oder getrennt? [17] Together or separately? Das geht auf mich! [18] It is on me. Das ist sehr nett von dir. [19] That's very kind of you. Nächstes Mal zahle ich. [20] I'll pay next time. Paul, who has just borrowed money, insists on paying: in German culture, inviting someone is a gesture that balances a favour. Jana accepts and promises to pay next time, which is the standard reply. Exchange four — the cost of living Ich brauche eine Gehaltserhöhung. [21] I need a raise. Die Gewerkschaft fordert eine zehnprozentige Lohnerhöhung. [22] The union is pressing for a ten-percent pay hike. Alles ist teuer. [23] Everything is expensive. Wir müssen sparen. [24] We need to save money. Jana talks about her need for a raise, not about her salary: the first is acceptable, the second private. Paul answers with the collective view, the union's demand, which is how pay is usually discussed in public. Talking about money, step by step A few rules keep money talk comfortable in German. Talk about prices, costs and the economy freely; avoid asking anyone what they earn or own. If you are asked, decline with a smile: Das sage ich dir nicht , or give a vague answer. When you borrow, name a date for repayment and keep it. When you eat out, expect to pay separately unless someone clearly invites you, and if they do, thank them and offer the next round. These habits matter more than vocabulary: a German speaker will forgive a grammatical error sooner than an indiscreet question. Word list Word (article, plural) Meaning Notes die Gehaltserhöhung（-en） de pay rise, raise Gender / part of speech feminine noun How English differs Gehalt + Erhöhung , salary increase . Ich brauche eine Gehaltserhöhung. [21] I n