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German Phrase

Ich suche 'nen Rabatt.

/ɪç ˈzuːxə nən raˈbat/
Meaning"I'm looking for a discount."
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Meaning

This phrase literally translates to "I am looking for a discount." It's a direct and common way to inquire about potential price reductions or special offers, often used in retail or service settings. The use of "'nen" is a colloquial shortening of "einen".

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When to use

You would typically use this phrase when shopping, negotiating a price, or asking about promotions in a store, market, or when booking services. It's suitable for situations where you want to politely but directly ask if there's a possibility of getting a better price.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ichsuche'nenRabatt

1

Ich (I)

Ich is the first-person singular pronoun, meaning 'I'. It's always capitalized at the beginning of a sentence.

2

suche (look for)

Suche is the first-person singular conjugation of the verb 'suchen' (to look for). It's a regular verb.

3

'nen (a/an)

'nen is a colloquial, shortened form of 'einen', the masculine accusative indefinite article. It's used informally in spoken German.

4

Rabatt (discount)

Rabatt is a masculine noun meaning 'discount'. In this phrase, it's in the accusative case because it's the direct object of 'suchen'.

🗨In Conversation

A

Ich suche 'nen Rabatt.

I'm looking for a discount.

Moment, ich schaue mal, was wir haben.

Moment, I'll see what we have.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich suche ein Rabatt.

    Rabatt is masculine, so it takes "einen" in the accusative case, not "ein".

  • Ich suche den Rabatt.

    This implies you're looking for a *specific* discount, not *any* discount.

  • Ich suche für einen Rabatt.

    The verb "suchen" (to look for) already implies the object, so no preposition like "für" (for) is needed.

↔Alternatives

  • Gibt es einen Rabatt?

    Is there a discount?

  • Haben Sie Angebote?

    Do you have any offers?

  • Kann ich einen besseren Preis bekommen?

    Can I get a better price?

  • Ist der Preis verhandelbar?

    Is the price negotiable?

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Cultural Tip

Germans are generally quite direct, and asking for a discount is acceptable in many retail situations, especially for larger purchases or in smaller, independent shops. However, don't expect discounts in every situation, particularly in supermarkets or chain stores with fixed prices. The use of "'nen" is informal and common in spoken German, but in very formal settings, "einen" would be preferred.