Conversation guide for expats

Settle in easily in Luxembourg with the Luxembourgish language

Moving to a new country is an exciting but often intimidating adventure. It can even be a real challenge, especially when it comes to understanding and speaking a new language.

In Luxembourg, where diversity is a source of richness, knowing a few words of Luxembourgish can transform your experience, making it more rewarding and exciting. By learning the basics of the local language, you’ll lay the groundwork for successful integration.

By mastering a few phrases in Luxembourgish, you’ll quickly be able to connect with your neighbors, interact with local government offices and businesses, and feel more at ease in your daily life. Showing that you’re making an effort to learn the local language is always greatly appreciated by Luxembourgers.

Here is a practical guide to help you get started with Luxembourgish and understand why this effort is so important.

Why learn a few words of Luxembourgish?

Knowing the local language builds bridges between expats and the local population. Each year, around 25,000 new residents settle in Luxembourg, representing nearly 4% of the population. By mastering simple phrases in Luxembourgish, you’ll be able to break the ice more easily and strike up conversations with native Luxembourgish speakers.

Speaking Luxembourgish, at least for basic phrases, will make your daily life easier. It will also show your interest in the local culture. This will be greatly appreciated by locals, who can sometimes feel overwhelmed by foreign newcomers.

Knowing a few everyday words will simplify your interactions with government offices, businesses, and your neighbors. For your part, you’ll feel more at ease in your daily life.

The 7 basic phrases you should know in Luxembourgish

When you arrive in Luxembourg, here are a few useful words and phrases tohelp you introduceyourself and strike up a conversation in Luxembourgish, making it easier to integrate.

Moien/Äddi – Essential greetings

To make it easier to strike up a conversation, remember these two very simple Luxembourgish words: "Moïen" means "hello" and"Äddi" translates to "goodbye."

Depending on the time of day, you can also greet the person you’re speaking to with:

• Gudde Mëtteg: Good afternoon
• Gudden Owend: Good evening

Wéi geet et Iech/dir? – How are you?

The basic greeting in Luxembourgish is “Wéi geet et Iech?” It’s perfect for starting a conversation. You’d reply to this with: “Et geet mir gutt. A bäi dir?” Which means: “I’m doing well, and you?”

Villmools Merci - Say thank you in the local language

Use the phrase “Merci” or “Villmols Merci” when you want to thank someone in Luxembourg. You’ll often hear “Keng Ursaach” or “Gär geschitt” in response, which mean “You’re welcome” and “No problem,” respectively.

Wann ech gelift - Please

"Wann ech gelift" is widely used in Luxembourg. It is the equivalent of"please."

But this expression goes beyond just a polite way to ask for something. It’s used especially in stores when handing something to someone. This is the case, for example, when you’re paying for an item.

Ech heeschen (...)/ Ech si(nn) - How to introduce yourself in Luxembourgish

When introducing yourself to someone, follow "Moïen" with " Ech heeschen," followed by your first and last name. When trying to start a conversation with someone, it’s very important to introduce yourself. This is a key step in connecting with your Luxembourgish counterpart in government offices or in everyday life.

When you call a local government office or a business, you can also introduce yourself by saying"Ech sinn d'Madamm ..."(I am Mrs. ...) or"Ech si den Här ..."(I am Mr. ...) followed by your name.

Is someone introducing themselves to you? You can respond with “Et freet mech,” which means “Nice to meet you.”

Et deet mir Leed - Apologizing in Luxembourgish

Do you want to apologize in Luxembourgish when you bump into someone on the street, or for any other reason? Use the Luxembourgish expression "Et deet mir Leed." It’s the equivalent of “I’m sorry!”

You can also use "Entschëllegt," which means "Excuse me."

Ech sichen (…) - I’m looking for

Are you lost in Luxembourg or looking for something specific? To let your Luxembourgish conversation partner know that you’re looking for something, use the phrase “Ech sichen” followed by the place, thing, or person you’re looking for. This phrase is synonymous with “I’m looking for (…)”.

Conversation Guide to Take Your Luxembourgish Further

Enrich your conversations with Luxembourgers

These few phrases will help you take your conversations further, especially if you’re looking for a job.

• Ech léiere Lëtzebuergesch: "I’m learning Luxembourgish."
• Kënnt Dir e bësse méi lues schwätzen, wann ech gelift?: "Could you speak more slowly, please?"
• Kënnt Dir dat widderhuelen, wann ech gelift?: "Could you repeat that, please?"
• How do you say that in Luxembourgish?: "How do you say that in Luxembourgish?".
• I speak a little Luxembourgish: "I speak a little Luxembourgish"
• How do you say that in Luxembourgish?: "How do you say that in Luxembourgish?"

Other useful expressions in Luxembourgish

• Ech si net averstanen: "I don’t agree."
• "A moment, please": "A moment, please."
• It’s no big deal: “It’s no big deal.”
• Wat kann ech fir Iech maachen?: "What can I do for you?"
• Wéi spéit ass et? / Wéivill Auer ass et?: "What time is it?".
• I don’t have any change: “I don’t have any change.”
• What’s the weather like?: “What’s the weather like?”. If the weather is nice, you can reply: “The weather is nice”.
• What’s the dish of the day?: “What’s the dish of the day?”.
• Gi mer e Patt huelen?: "Shall we have a drink?"

Free tools to improve your Luxembourgish

llo.lu, the Luxembourgish learning platform

The Luxembourg government has launched a free platform for learning Luxembourgish, llo.lu. There you’ll find various exercises and level tests.

LOD, the multilingual Luxembourgish dictionary

The Lëtzebuerger Online Dictionnaire is a multilingual online dictionary created by the Luxembourg Ministry of Culture. It lists words in the Luxembourgish language and provides their translations into German, French, English, and Portuguese.

The LOD also covers all the basics of grammar and verb conjugations. It should be useful to everyone... You can access it at www.lod.lu.
It is now also available as an app for download on iOS and Google Play.

Spellchecker.lu for spell-checking

The Spellchecker.lu platform also allows you to check the spelling of a word in Luxembourgish. This platform is also an initiative of the Luxembourg government.

All good reasons to start learning Luxembourgish! Find all the information about language courses in Luxembourg here.

In conclusion, you’ll be able to easily start conversations in Luxembourgish by learning these basics. Saying a few words in Luxembourgish makes it easier to interact with locals. By building these connections, you’ll integrate into Luxembourgish culture more quickly. So why not start today?

As for your children’s integration, you should know that every effort is made to help them adapt to the Luxembourgish school system. In fact, they receive language support classes as soon as they arrive . Within a few months, they’ll quickly become bilingual .

Ready to take the plunge into Luxembourgish?

Learning a few words of Luxembourgish is more than just a linguistic effort: it’s a gesture of openness and respect toward your new community.

You don’t need to speak Luxembourgish perfectly to fit in. Even a small start makes all the difference.

So why not start today? Moien an Äddi!

Would you like to learn more about the benefits and challenges of living in Luxembourg as an expat? Discover the motivations and positive impacts of Luxembourg as seen by expats.