Back to At The Restaurant

German Phrase

Habt ihr noch Tische frei?

/haːpt iːɐ̯ nɔx ˈtɪʃə ˈfʁaɪ̯/

Meaning"Do you still have any tables free?"

💡

Meaning

You are asking a restaurant or café staff whether there are any tables still available for you and your party. The question is informal and directed at a group of employees.

🎯

When to use

Use this sentence when you arrive at a dining place with a group and want to know if you can be seated without a reservation. It works well in casual settings, cafés, canteens, or when you’re calling ahead to check availability.

✦Grammar Breakdown

HabtihrnochTischefrei?

1

Habt (haben, 2nd pl.)

‘Habt’ is the present‑tense 2nd person plural form of ‘haben’, used here to ask a group.

2

ihr (personal pronoun)

‘ihr’ is the informal 2nd‑person plural pronoun, matching the verb form ‘habt’.

3

noch (adverb)

‘noch’ means ‘still’ or ‘any more’, indicating you’re checking the current availability.

4

Tische (plural noun, Acc.)

‘Tische’ is the plural accusative of ‘der Tisch’. It functions as the direct object of ‘haben’.

5

frei (predicative adjective)

‘frei’ is used predicatively without an article, describing the state of the tables.

🗨In Conversation

A

Habt ihr noch Tische frei?

Do you still have any tables free?

Ja, wir haben noch einen Tisch für Sie.

Yes, we still have a table for you.

B

✕Common Mistakes

Habt ihr noch Tisch frei?
‘Tisch’ must be plural ‘Tische’ because you’re asking about any number of tables.
Habt ihr noch freie Tische?
‘Freie’ is acceptable, but the more natural phrasing is ‘Tische frei’ – the adjective follows the noun in this fixed expression.
Haben Sie noch Tische frei?
If you use the formal ‘Sie’, the verb must be ‘haben’ (3rd person singular), not ‘habt’. The sentence is still correct, just a different register.

↔Alternatives

Gibt es noch freie Tische?
Are there any free tables left?
Können wir noch einen Tisch bekommen?
Can we still get a table?
Haben Sie noch einen freien Tisch?
Do you have a free table still?

Cultural Tip

In German‑speaking countries it’s polite to address staff with ‘Sie’ if you don’t know them, so you might also hear ‘Haben Sie noch einen freien Tisch?’ The informal ‘ihr’ version is common in smaller, family‑run places where the staff are on a first‑name basis. Also, Germans often appreciate a brief thank‑you after the answer, e.g., ‘Danke schön!’