Dinner plans over text with a friend
A real situation from the OGIMA community · Everyday Life
The scene
Your friend just texted 'Abendessen heute?' and now you need to suggest a time, a place, and maybe make a reservation.
Why this moment is tricky in Germany
Coordinating dinner by text in Germany follows unwritten punctuality norms. Germans tend to propose specific times (not 'around sevenish' but 'um 19 Uhr') and expect a clear yes or counter-offer. The phrase 'Wann passt es dir?' (when works for you?) is the standard opener, and 'Lass uns um 19 Uhr treffen' (let's meet at 7 PM) is a typical firm proposal. Unlike cultures where 'let's grab dinner sometime' is a vague social placeholder, a German dinner text usually means tonight or within the next few days. Restaurant reservations (Reservierung) are common even at casual spots — walking in without one on a Friday evening in Berlin can mean a 30-minute wait. In texting, friends use 'du' exclusively and casual abbreviations like 'LG' (Liebe Grüße / best regards) to sign off, while 'Sie' in a text would signal a formal or professional relationship.
Rehearse it before it happens
This situation is practised out loud in OGIMA: you speak, an AI conversation partner answers back, and you rerun it until the real thing feels routine.
Prefer to read first? Our guide covers this territory: Du or Sie? Navigating Formal and Informal German