How Germans Say Service

by Expath Language School

It will serve you well to know this.

Definition

The Geman word for “to serve” is dienen. From dienen we also get Diener for “servant”, and Dienst or Dienstleistung for “service” (the former more in the sense of “duty” or “employment”, e.g. in the military).

Note: the word servieren is only used for serving food.

Examples

Ich bin bereit zu dienen. I am ready to serve.

Womit kann ich dienen? Essentially “What can I do for you?

Sie dient ihrem Lande. She serves her country.

Das Abendessen ist serviert! Dinner is served!

Er ist ein zuverlässiger Diener. He’s a reliable servant.

Ich habe Dienst. I am on duty.

Er ist auf einer Dienstreise. He’s on a business trip.

Das sind unsere angebotenen Dienstleistungen. These are our services offered.

Good to Know

Einen Diener machen (literally “to make a servant”) is a German expression for “to make a bow” (as in, to bend the head).

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