Why Germans Often Reply in English—And What It Means for Language Learners

Let’s imagine you’re in a cafe in Berlin. You order a coffee and a pastry in perfect German. The cashier replies in English. You ask where the bathroom is, again in perfect German. Once again, the cashier replies in English. You end the exchange with a frustrated, “Danke… (for not helping me practice my German).” 

So, why do so many German people switch to English when a foreigner speaks their language? Is it helpful or a hindrance to language learners? And can you stop them? In this article, we’re going to answer all of these questions. 

• Why do Germans switch to English?
• How do Germans perceive this behavior?
• The impact on German learners: A missed opportunity?
• How to encourage Germans to stick to German

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Why do Germans switch to English?

High English proficiency in Germany

One reason Germans often switch to English is simply that they speak it more fluently than you speak German, particularly if you’ve just started learning. English proficiency in Germany is rated “high” on the EF English Proficiency Index. In fact, out of 116 countries, Germany ranked tenth. Most Germans start learning English in elementary school and so they have a considerable head start on people who begin their journey with German later in life. 

Cultural mindset: Efficiency and directness

Germans tend to communicate directly—what they say is what they mean. In many situations, conversations are functional and to the point. On the other hand, people trying to practice their language skills often pause, hesitate, and wrestle with words.  Many Germans see switching to English as the quickest way to communicate, and in a culture that values efficiency, faster often means better. As one user writes in Reddit’s 'Ask A German' forum, “I will immediately switch to english the second I realise the conversation will become inefficient otherwise.” 

A matter of politeness?

The tendency to switch to English also comes from politeness and empathy. As Reddit user muesham puts it in the r/German forum, “If the other person seems to be nervous about speaking German, then we automatically feel like we should accommodate them by switching to a language that would make them feel less nervous.”

Stereotypes about foreigners and language abilities

Many German people also recognize that their language can be difficult for foreigners to learn. From the case system to the intimidatingly long words, German poses multiple challenges. Wanting to ease the burden for foreigners, Germans sometimes switch to English. 

How do Germans perceive this behavior?

Often, Germans switch to English without even realizing it.Reddit user muesham continues, “[Switching to English is] not a conscious decision, it's just what we're automatically inclined to do.” Other Germans simply like speaking English and take any opportunity to do so, as a user writes in the 'Ask a German' forum. 

There’s also a practical side, as user MrsButtercheese says in the same Reddit forum: “It can be kinda difficult to speak German with someone who isn't also native or at least properly fluent, because you have to... [d]ial back your own accent, avoid slang and local dialect, slow down, etc.” 

So, if you find yourself frustrated because a German speaker keeps switching to English, remember they might not realize they’re doing it. They could just be trying to help—or practicing their English, too. 

The impact on German learners: A missed opportunity?

Constantly switching to English can affect German learners in several ways. Studies consistently show that immersion is one of the most effective ways to learn a new language. If you’re in Germany, being immersed in the language should be easy. But if everyone you talk to replies in English, your immersion is disrupted, which harms your ability to pick up the language. 

It can also be frustrating for learners who find themselves in a constant battle to get someone to reply in German. Many end up feeling stuck in a loop: they try to speak German, get a reply in English, and start questioning their skills. Ultimately, this lack of confidence will result in less speaking and slower progress. 

Stephen Krashen’s input hypothesis

When people switch to English, German learners are not only missing out on an opportunity to speak but on an opportunity to listen, too. Linguist Stephen Krashen, in his Input Hypothesis, states: “We acquire language in one way and only one way: when we are exposed to comprehensible input that is slightly beyond our current level.” So, having the chance to listen to and try to understand native German speakers is vital for learners who want to make progress in the language. 

How to encourage Germans to stick to German

Just ask, directly and politely

We already covered how German people favor a direct communication style, so use that to your advantage and ask them outright to speak German. Say this: 

• Ich möchte mein Deutsch verbessern, könnten wir bitte Deutsch sprechen? (I would like to improve my German. Could we please speak German?)

Take the advice of Scott Thornbury, author of How to Teach Speaking, when he says: “Language learning is about negotiation. If the conversation defaults to English, it’s the learner’s task to renegotiate the rules and steer it back to the target language — again and again.”

Use humor and self-deprecation

You can also take a more light-hearted approach when asking a German person to stick to German. Try these: 

• "Mein Deutsch ist noch nicht so gut, aber deins ist perfekt. Könntest du mir beim Üben helfen?" (My German isn’t very good, but yours is perfect! Can you help me practice?)
• "Dein Englisch ist schon so gut! Wäre es okay, wenn wir an meinem Deutsch arbeiten?" (Your English is already so good! Do you mind if we work on my German?)

If that fails, make yourself a badge that says “Nur Deutsch, bitte!” (German only, please!) and point to it when necessary. 

Show confidence and stick with it

If you don’t feel comfortable asking directly (or the person ignores your pleas), be persistent and keep replying to them in German. Don’t worry about why they’re replying in English; just keep your confidence up and plow on. 

Pick the right setting

Certain settings are better suited to having a conversation in German than others, and there are times when you may have to accept a reply in English. As Reddit user ExecWarlock writes, “If you are in a store, business environment or other similar situations, people are not your language teacher… it can be annoying and/or time-consuming for them to try to understand broken German.” However, if you get chatting with someone in a more relaxed, less transactional situation, it should be perfectly fine to ask your conversation partner to stick to German. 

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Striking a balance 

For English speakers who arrive in Germany eager to practice their budding German, it can be frustrating and discouraging when the locals reply in fluent English. It’s crucial to remember that this is mostly well-intentioned, whether the German person wants to save you some trouble, ensure more efficient communication, or just practice their own English. 

German learners need to become comfortable expressing their desire to practice while taking into consideration where and when they’re doing it. And Germans, too, can be mindful that constant switching might unintentionally discourage learners and slow down their learning progress. Ultimately, mutual understanding (and maybe a “Nur Deutsch, bitte” badge) leads to better language exchange experiences.

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