German Phrase
Bitte warte kurz.
Meaning
Literally “Please wait briefly.” It is a polite, informal way to ask someone to hold on for a short moment, often used in everyday conversation or on the phone.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need a quick pause—e.g., while you’re looking something up, fetching an item, or putting someone on hold. It works well in both face‑to‑face and telephone contexts, and it’s appropriate for friends, colleagues, or anyone you address with the informal *du*.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Bittewartekurz.
Bitte
A polite particle meaning “please”; placed at the beginning or end of a request to soften the imperative.
warte
Second‑person singular imperative of the verb *warten* (to wait). It is used for informal “you”.
kurz
An adverb meaning “briefly” or “for a short time”, indicating the wait should be short.
🗨In Conversation
Bitte warte kurz.
Please wait a moment.
Klar, ich bin gleich zurück.
Sure, I’ll be right back.
✕Common Mistakes
Bitte warte bitte.
Repeating *bitte* is redundant; one *bitte* is enough to soften the imperative.
Bitte warte jetzt.
*Jetzt* means “now” and suggests an immediate action, not a short pause. Use *kurz* for a brief wait.
↔Alternatives
Warte bitte kurz.
Wait a moment, please.
Könntest du bitte kurz warten?
Could you please wait briefly?
Einen Moment bitte.
One moment, please.
Cultural Tip
In German the word *Bitte* can appear at the start or end of a request; placing it first (as in *Bitte warte kurz*) sounds slightly more formal and courteous. The imperative “warte” is softened by *bitte*, so it never feels harsh. Remember that *kurz* refers to time, not distance—don’t confuse it with *kurz* meaning “short” in a physical sense.