Short answer: "please" in German is Bitte.
Bitte, the core translation
The default way to say "please" in German is Bitte. Pronounced roughly BIT-tuh.
When German speakers actually use it
Also means "you're welcome" and "here you go". Context sorts it out.
Practice this in a real German conversation
Reading a phrase and saying it out loud are two different skills. Skala's AI conversations let you drop "Bitte" into a real German exchange in your first 3-minute lesson, so it sticks the first time.
Start learning German today
Skala is free on iOS and Android. One 3-minute German lesson gets you your first 0.1%. Show up daily and the % climbs. That's the whole method.
FAQ
What's the most polite way to say "please" in German?
Bitte is the safe polite option in every register. Tone of voice does more work than word choice in German.
How do I pronounce Bitte?
Roughly BIT-tuh. Recording yourself once and comparing to a native audio inside Skala closes the gap faster than reading pronunciation guides.