German · A1 · Family moment
Nursery drop-off in German
Warm, reassuring German phrases for nursery drop-off. Kita is a common everyday word for a nursery or daycare centre.
What you'll learn
- Say a calm, affectionate goodbye.
- Reassure your child that you will return.
- Use common verbs in the present tense.
German phrases for nursery drop-off
Wir sind in der Kita.
We are at nursery.
Wir sind means ‘we are’. In der Kita tells us where we are.
Gib mir einen Kuss.
Give me a kiss.
Gib is the informal command form of geben, used when speaking to one child.
Ich hole dich später ab.
I will pick you up later.
German naturally uses the present tense here. Später means ‘later’.
Hab einen schönen Tag.
Have a lovely day.
Hab is a common informal command form of haben.
Deine Freunde sind hier.
Your friends are here.
Deine means ‘your’ with plural nouns. Freunde can refer to boys or a mixed group; Freundinnen refers to an all-female group.
Ich vermisse dich auch.
I miss you too.
Dich means ‘you’ as the object of the verb. Auch means ‘too’.
Mama kommt immer zurück.
Mummy always comes back.
Immer means ‘always’. Zurück goes at the end of this statement.
Bis heute Nachmittag.
See you this afternoon.
A natural short goodbye. Heute Nachmittag means ‘this afternoon’.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
die Kita; plural: die Kitas
nursery; daycare centre
Short for Kindertagesstätte.
der Kuss; plural: die Küsse
kiss
Use einen Kuss after ‘give’ in Gib mir einen Kuss.
der Tag; plural: die Tage
day
Einen schönen Tag means ‘a lovely day’ in this farewell.
der Freund; plural: die Freunde
male friend; friend
The plural Freunde can also describe a mixed group of friends.
die Freundin; plural: die Freundinnen
female friend
Use Freundinnen for an all-female group of friends.
die Mama; plural: die Mamas
mummy; mum
Usually used without an article when it acts like a name: Mama kommt.
der Nachmittag; plural: die Nachmittage
afternoon
Heute Nachmittag means ‘this afternoon’, without an article.
abholen
to pick up; to collect
A separable verb: Ich hole dich ab.
vermissen
to miss someone
Ich vermisse dich means ‘I miss you’.
zurückkommen
to come back
A separable verb: Mama kommt zurück.
Common verbs in the present tense
The verb form changes with the subject. Regular verbs usually take -e with ich and -t with a singular subject such as Mama. Sein (‘to be’) is irregular: wir and plural subjects use sind.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ich — I | vermissen → ich vermisse | Ich vermisse dich auch. |
| Mama — she | kommen → Mama kommt | Mama kommt immer zurück. |
| wir — we | sein → wir sind | Wir sind in der Kita. |
| plural subject | sein → deine Freunde sind | Deine Freunde sind hier. |
Separable verbs and future plans
In a simple statement, abholen and zurückkommen split: the main verb changes to match the subject, and the prefix goes at the end. German often uses the present tense for a future plan when a time word makes the meaning clear.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pick up later | abholen → ich hole … ab | Ich hole dich später ab. |
| Come back | zurückkommen → Mama kommt … zurück | Mama kommt immer zurück. |
Short requests and wishes
When addressing one child, use the informal singular command form. These phrases normally leave out du (‘you’).
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| An affectionate request | geben → gib | Gib mir einen Kuss. |
| A friendly wish | haben → hab | Hab einen schönen Tag. |
More examples
Wir sind in der Kita. Deine Freunde sind hier.
We are at nursery. Your friends are here.
A gentle way to help your child settle in.
Ich hole dich heute Nachmittag ab.
I will pick you up this afternoon.
The present tense expresses a plan; heute Nachmittag gives the time.
Hab einen schönen Tag. Bis heute Nachmittag.
Have a lovely day. See you this afternoon.
A warm, simple goodbye.