Currency and how to read prices in German

Understanding prices and currencies is essential for daily communication in Germany. The primary currency used in the country is the Euro (€). This lesson will introduce you to the currency in Germany, how to ask and answer about prices, and how to pronounce prices correctly.

1. Currency in Germany

In Germany, the Euro is the primary currency, and there are two main forms of money:

One Euro is equivalent to 100 cents.

2. Asking and Answering About Prices in German

To ask about prices, you can use several phrases:

• Was kostet... ? (What does it cost?)
• Wie viel kostet... ? (How much does it cost?)

To respond:

• Es kostet... (It costs…)

Example:

• Was kostet diese Jacke? (What is the price of this jacket?)
  → Sie kostet 75€. (It costs 75 Euros.)

Also:
Wie teuer ist die Fahrkarte? (What does the ticket cost?)
→ Sie ist 10€. (It is 10 Euros.)

3. Properly Pronouncing Prices

Here are two primary methods for stating prices:

a. Short pronunciation

One only states the Euro amount and then pauses before the cent:

b. Full pronunciation

Here, both the Euro and cent amounts are clearly stated:

This method is especially useful when cent amounts are rounded or less than ten.

Summary

After this lesson, learners will confidently ask about and discuss prices in Euros, while also understanding how to pronounce them correctly in German.