10 Luxembourgish expressions, conversation guide

It is important to know that more than 25,000 people arrive in Luxembourg every year. This represents nearly 4% of the population! In other words, knowing the essential expressions in Lëtzebuergesch will make it easier to make contact and get to know each other.

10 basic expressions to know in Luxembourgish

Moien/ Äddi

To make contact easier, remember these 2 simple Luxembourgish words: “Moïen” for “hello” and “Äddi” for “good-bye”.it’s important to know how to say “hello” and “good-bye” in the native language of the residents you’re addressing.

In the afternoon, you can say “Gudde Metteg”, and in the evening, you can say “Gudden Owend” or “Owend”.

Wéi geet et Iech/dir ?

The basic greeting in Luxembourgish is “Wéi geet et Iech? The answer is: ” Et geet mir gutt. A bäi dir?”. Which means: “I ‘m fine, how are you? What better way to start a conversation than with the famous ” how are you?

Villmools Thank you

Use the expression ” Merci ” or ” Villmols Merci” when you want to thank someone in Luxembourg.You’ll often get the response ” Keng Ursaach ” or ” Gär geschitt “, meaning “You’re welcome ” and “You’re welcome ” respectively.

Wann ech gelift

“Wann ech gelift” is widely used in Luxembourg. It’s the equivalent of“please”.

But this expression is more than just a polite way of asking for something. It’s used in stores, for example, when handing something to someone. This is the case for example when you pay for an item.

Ech heeschen (…)/ Ech si(nn)

When you introduce yourself to someone, after the “Moïen” say ” Ech heeschen ” followed by your first and last name.When trying to start a conversation with someone, it’s very important to introduce yourself. It’s a key step towards making contact with your Luxembourgish counterpart in the administration or in everyday life.

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

Et deet mer wierklech Leed

Would you like to apologize in Luxembourgish when you bump into someone in the street, or for any other reason? Use theLuxembourg apology expression “Et deet mir Leed“. It is the equivalent of our “sorry!

Ech sichen (…)

Are you lost in Luxembourg or are you looking for something in particular? To tell your Luxembourg interlocutor that you’re looking for something, use the expression “Ech sichen ” followed by the place, thing or person you’re looking for. This phrase is synonymous with “Je cherche (…)”.

Kënnt Dir e bësse méi lues schwätzen, wann ech gelift?

If you want to ask your interlocutor to speak more slowly, here is the Luxembourgish phrase to use: “Kënnt Dir e bësse méi lues schwätzen, wann ech gelift?”. It means “Can you speak more slowly, please?”.

Understanding native speakers when you arrive in a new country and learn the language can sometimes be complicated. You can justify your request by saying ” Ech schwätzen e bësse Lëtzebuergesch “, which means “I speak a little Luxembourgish “.

Kënnt Dir dat widderhuelen, wann ech gelift?

To ask someone to repeat what they have just told you in Luxembourgish, use ” Kënnt Dir dat widderhuelen, wann ech gelift?” which means “Could you please repeat that? ” .

Understanding someone in a foreign language the first time can be very difficult. This phrase will help your interlocutor understand that he’s talking too fast.

Wéi seet een dat op Lëtzebuergesch?

” Wéi seet een dat op Lëtzebuergesch ” means ” How do you say that in Luxembourgish? If you’re learning Luxembourgish, but don’t know the correct word to use for the thing you want to designate, use this phrase.

Wat kann ech fir Iech maachen?

This Luxembourgish phrase is the equivalent of “What can I do for you? It’s a useful phrase when someone asks you a question in Luxembourgish.

Luxembourgish conversation guide

Want to take your business with Luxembourgers to the next level? We’ve put together a short conversation guide for you. It should help you in your first outings in Luxembourg or when looking for a job.

When you arrive in Luxembourg and in order to integrate more easily, here are some useful words and phrases.

To facilitate their integration, children enrolled in the Luxembourg school system benefit from language support courses as soon as they arrive. In just a few months, they will quickly become bilingual.

LOD – Lëtzebuerger Online Dictionary

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

The LOD also includes all the basic grammar and conjugations. It should be useful to everyone… You can consult it on the website www.lod.lu .
It is also available now as a downloadable app on iOS and Google Play.

The Spellchecker.lu platform also allows you to check the spelling of a word in Luxembourgish.

All the good reasons to start learning Luxembourgish! Find out more about language courses in Luxembourg.