German Phrase
Bitte leg deine Tasche auf die Waage.
Meaning
A polite request asking someone to place their bag on a scale. The sentence uses the informal ‘du’ form, suitable for friends, family, or staff in a casual setting.
When to use
Use this phrase at airports, train stations, or any place where luggage needs to be weighed. It works when you’re speaking to someone you address with ‘du’, such as a fellow traveler or a helpful employee in a relaxed environment.
✦Grammar Breakdown
BittelegdeineTascheaufdieWaage
Bitte (Polite particle)
Adds politeness to a request; it does not affect the verb form.
Imperative du‑form (leg)
For the informal ‘du’, drop the -e from the stem of ‘legen’ → leg.
Accusative object (deine Tasche)
‘Tasche’ is feminine, so the possessive ‘deine’ takes the accusative ending -e.
Preposition ‘auf’ + accusative
When ‘auf’ indicates movement onto a surface, it governs the accusative case (die Waage).
🗨In Conversation
Bitte leg deine Tasche auf die Waage.
Please put your bag on the scale.
Klar, danke!
Sure, thanks!
✕Common Mistakes
Bitte legen deine Tasche auf die Waage.
‘Legen’ is the infinitive; the correct informal imperative drops the -en and the -e ending.
Bitte leg dein Tasche auf die Waage.
‘Tasche’ is feminine, so the possessive must be ‘deine’ in the accusative.
Bitte leg deine Tasche auf der Waage.
When indicating movement onto a surface, ‘auf’ requires the accusative; using the dative ‘auf der Waage’ would mean ‘on the scale’ (static).
↔Alternatives
Bitte legen Sie Ihre Tasche auf die Waage.
Please place your bag on the scale. (formal)
Stell deine Tasche bitte auf die Waage.
Put your bag on the scale, please.
Könntest du deine Tasche auf die Waage legen?
Could you put your bag on the scale?
Cultural Tip
In German, adding ‘Bitte’ before a command softens it and makes it sound courteous. The informal imperative ‘leg’ is common among peers, but in professional or service contexts you should switch to the formal ‘legen Sie’. Also, German airports often have a separate scale for luggage, so the phrase is very practical for travelers.