Electronics

1. das Handy

   Mobile phone

   Usage

   A German invention that looks English but is not — it has nothing to do with the adjective "handy" and no English speaker will follow it. Switzerland also says "das Natel"

2. das Tablet

   Tablet

   Usage

   Security will ask you to take it out of your bag. A pill is "die Tablette", with the extra ending

3. der Laptop

   Laptop

   Usage

   "Das Notebook" works equally well. Show it when looking for a seat with a socket

4. das Ladegerät

   Charger

   Usage

   For losing one, buying one or borrowing one: "können Sie mir ein Ladegerät leihen?"

5. das Ladekabel

   Charging cable

   Usage

   Say the connector too — "USB-C" or "Lightning". Since the end of 2024 the EU requires USB-C on new portable devices

6. die Powerbank

   Power bank

   Usage

   German uses the English word as is. Lithium cells must travel in your hand luggage, never in the hold

7. der Reiseadapter

   Travel adapter

   Usage

   Germany and Austria use the round two-pin Type F (Schuko) at 230V. Switzerland has its own narrower Type J, and a chunky German adapter often will not fit its sockets

8. die Steckdose

   Power socket

   Usage

   Show it when hunting for a socket: "darf ich die Steckdose benutzen?". The plug itself is "der Stecker"

9. die Mehrfachsteckdose

   Power strip

   Usage

   One adapter plus one of these charges the whole party. Also called "die Steckdosenleiste"

10. die Batterien

    Batteries

    Usage

    Sizes are simply "AA" and "AAA". German law requires take-back, so supermarkets have a collection box by the entrance

11. das WLAN

    Wi-Fi

    Usage

    Germans say "WLAN", pronounced vay-lahn, and that is what the signs read. The opening question is "haben Sie WLAN?", though "WiFi" is understood too

12. das WLAN-Passwort

    Wi-Fi password

    Usage

    Show it and staff will write it on your receipt. To check the case, ask "groß geschrieben?" — with capitals?

13. die SIM-Karte

    SIM card

    Usage

    A prepaid one is "eine Prepaid-Karte". German law requires identity verification with your passport before it works, done in the shop or online. An eSIM is "die eSIM"

14. die Speicherkarte

    Memory card

    Usage

    Show it at an electronics shop such as Saturn or MediaMarkt when your camera fills up. "Die SD-Karte" works too

15. die Kopfhörer

    Headphones

    Usage

    Literally "head hearers". The in-ear kind are "In-Ear-Kopfhörer" or "Ohrhörer"

16. der Lautsprecher

    Speaker

    Usage

    Literally "loud speaker". Point at it to ask for the volume down

17. die Kamera

    Camera

    Usage

    Show it when asking whether photos are allowed: "darf ich fotografieren?". Museums post "Fotografieren verboten"

18. die Taschenlampe

    Torch / Flashlight

    Usage

    Literally "pocket lamp". Needed for caves and power cuts. A head torch is "eine Stirnlampe"

19. die Klimaanlage

    Air conditioning

    Usage

    Sometimes clipped to "die Klima". Many German homes and hotels have none — the habit is to open the windows instead — so check before booking in summer

20. die Fernbedienung

    Remote control

    Usage

    Literally "remote operation". For asking reception where the TV or aircon remote has got to

21. der Ventilator

    Fan

    Usage

    Ask for one where there is no aircon. "Der Lüfter" is also heard

22. der Kühlschrank

    Fridge

    Usage

    Literally "cooling cupboard". The one in a hotel room is "die Minibar" and its contents are usually charged

23. der Wasserkocher

    Kettle

    Usage

    Literally "water boiler". German hotel rooms often lack one, so ask at reception

24. die Mikrowelle

    Microwave

    Usage

    Literally "micro wave". "Können Sie das warm machen?" is how you ask for something to be heated up

25. die Waschmaschine

    Washing machine

    Usage

    A coin laundry is "ein Waschsalon" and the dryer "der Trockner". In German apartment blocks it is customary not to run a wash on a Sunday

26. der Föhn

    Hairdryer

    Usage

    Named after the warm wind that blows down off the Alps. The formal word is "der Haartrockner", but everyone says "Föhn": "haben Sie einen Föhn?"

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