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German Phrase

Wähle den Betrag.

/ˈvɛːlə deːn bəˈtʁaːk/
Meaning"Select the amount."
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Meaning

‘Wähle den Betrag.’ is a direct command telling the listener to pick or select a specific amount of money. It is concise and typical for user‑interface instructions, banking apps, or any situation where a numeric value must be chosen.

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When to use

Use this phrase on screens, ATMs, online banking forms, shopping carts, or any context where the user must decide how much money to transfer, pay, or withdraw. It is informal (du‑form) and works best when speaking to a single person you know well or when the UI adopts a friendly tone.

✦Grammar Breakdown

WähledenBetrag.

1

Imperative (du)

‘Wähle’ is the second‑person singular informal imperative of the verb ‘wählen’ (to choose).

2

Accusative masculine article

‘den’ is the accusative form of the definite article for masculine nouns, required because ‘Betrag’ is the direct object.

3

Noun gender

‘Betrag’ is a masculine noun, so it takes ‘der’ in the nominative and ‘den’ in the accusative.

4

Punctuation

The period marks the sentence as a command rather than a question.

🗨In Conversation

A

Wie viel möchten Sie überweisen?

How much would you like to transfer?

Wähle den Betrag.

Select the amount.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Wähle die Betrag.

    ‘Betrag’ is masculine, so the correct accusative article is ‘den’.

  • Wählen den Betrag.

    The verb must be in the imperative form ‘Wähle’, not the infinitive ‘Wählen’.

  • Wähle den Beträge.

    ‘Beträge’ is plural; the command refers to a single amount, so use the singular ‘Betrag’.

  • Wählen Sie den Betrag.

    While grammatically correct, this is the formal ‘Sie’ form and changes the register; use only if you need a polite tone.

↔Alternatives

  • Bestimme den Betrag.

    Determine the amount.

  • Wähle einen Betrag.

    Choose an amount.

  • Gib den Betrag ein.

    Enter the amount.

  • Bitte den Betrag auswählen.

    Please select the amount.

de

Cultural Tip

In German the informal imperative (‘Wähle’) is common in apps that aim for a friendly, conversational tone. In more formal settings—e.g., a bank clerk speaking to a customer—you would use the polite form: ‘Wählen Sie den Betrag.’ Also, remember that ‘Betrag’ is masculine; using the wrong article (e.g., *die Betrag*) is a frequent slip for learners.