Learn about tips in Germany
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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture File: Germany series at GermanPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring essential information about Germany, German culture, and German people. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 5 - Tips in Germany. |
| You would think that cultural differences are disappearing due to globalization, but you’ll notice that even two Western cultures like Germany and America are still very different. You do have to pay attention to some of these differences to avoid misunderstandings, or in German, Missverständnis, such as when it comes to tipping. Tip in German is Trinkgeld. |
| Let’s say you are from America and are visiting your friend in Germany. You are eating out together and enjoying each other’s company. Finally it comes time to pay for the meal. If you put 15-20% on the table as a tip as you would in the United States, your friend would be surprised, because that would be much more than German people usually give as a tip. |
| In Germany, tips are much smaller than they are in the USA. Usually, German people give 5 to 10 percent of the price as a tip. Restaurant prices in Germany usually already include a service fee, and the wage, or Lohn, of a waiter, or Kellner, is also higher in than in the USA, so German servers don't depend on tips as much. |
| So if you visit Germany, and someone leaves a smaller tip than you would in the United States, don’t think of that person as stingy. But keep in mind that it’s still considered stingy, or in German, geizig, if you don’t provide a tip. |
| So listeners, how did you like this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| How much do you have to tip in your country? |
| Leave a comment telling us at GermanPod101.com, and we’ll see you in the next lesson! |
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