German Phrase

Wir brauchen auch Kontoauszüge.

/viːɐ̯ ˈbʁaʊ̯xən ˈaʊ̯χ ˈkɔntoˌaʊ̯sˌtsyːɡə/

Meaning"We also need account statements."

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Meaning

We also need account statements. The sentence is a straightforward request that the speaker’s side requires the bank to provide the documents, with ‘auch’ stressing that this is an additional need.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you are dealing with a bank, accountant, or any financial institution and you have to ask for monthly or yearly account statements, especially after already requesting other documents.

✦Grammar Breakdown

WirbrauchenauchKontoauszüge

Subject pronoun (Wir)

‘Wir’ is the first‑person plural pronoun and takes the verb ending –en in the present tense.

Verb conjugation (brauchen)

‘brauchen’ is a regular weak verb; with ‘wir’ the ending is –en (wir brauchen).

Adverb placement (auch)

‘auch’ (also/too) is placed directly before the element it modifies – here the noun ‘Kontoauszüge’.

Plural noun (Kontoauszüge)

‘Kontoauszug’ is masculine; its plural is formed with –e and an umlaut on the ‘a’ → Kontoauszüge.

🗨In Conversation

Könnten Sie uns bitte die letzten drei Monatsabrechnungen schicken?

Could you please send us the last three monthly statements?

Ja, wir brauchen auch Kontoauszüge.

Yes, we also need account statements.

✕Common Mistakes

Wir braucht auch Kontoauszüge.
‘braucht’ is the third‑person singular form; with ‘wir’ you must use ‘brauchen’.
Wir brauchen auch Kontoauszug.
When you need more than one statement, you must use the plural ‘Kontoauszüge’.
Wir auch brauchen Kontoauszüge.
‘auch’ should be placed before the noun it modifies, not between subject and verb.

↔Alternatives

Wir benötigen ebenfalls Kontoauszüge.
We also require account statements.
Wir brauchen ebenfalls Kontoauszüge.
We also need account statements.
Wir benötigen auch Kontoauszüge.
We also need account statements.

Cultural Tip

In German business correspondence it is common to phrase the request more formally: ‘Bitte senden Sie uns die Kontoauszüge.’ ‘brauchen’ is perfectly correct but slightly less formal than ‘benötigen’. Also remember that the plural ‘Kontoauszüge’ is required when you refer to more than one statement; the singular ‘Kontoauszug’ would refer to a single document.