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German Phrase

Ich möchte mit der zuständigen Person sprechen.

/ɪç ˈmœçtə mɪt deːɐ̯ ˈtsuːstɛndɪɡən pɛʁˈzoːn ˈʃprɛçən/
Meaning"I would like to speak with the responsible person."
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Meaning

‘I would like to speak with the person who is responsible.’ The sentence is a polite, formal request often used in business or customer‑service situations.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you need to be transferred to the employee in charge of a specific matter – e.g., at a reception desk, in a call centre, or when you arrive at an office and want to talk to the decision‑maker.

✦Grammar Breakdown

IchmöchtemitderzuständigenPersonsprechen

1

möchte (Konjunktiv II)

‘möchte’ is the subjunctive II of ‘mögen’ and is used to make polite requests, similar to ‘would like to’ in English.

2

mit + Dativ

The preposition ‘mit’ always governs the dative case; therefore the noun phrase that follows must be in dative.

3

Definite article in dative feminine

‘Person’ is feminine; in the dative singular the definite article is ‘der’.

4

Adjective declension after definite article

When an adjective follows a definite article in the dative, it takes the weak ending ‘‑en’, giving ‘zuständigen’.

5

Infinitive verb at the end

In German main clauses the infinitive ‘sprechen’ appears at the end of the sentence.

🗨In Conversation

A

Entschuldigung, ich möchte mit der zuständigen Person sprechen.

Excuse me, I would like to speak with the responsible person.

Einen Moment bitte, ich hole sie für Sie.

One moment, please; I’ll get them for you.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich möchte mit die zuständige Person sprechen.

    ‘die’ is accusative; after ‘mit’ you need dative ‘der’.

  • Ich möchte mit dem zuständigen Person sprechen.

    ‘Person’ is feminine, so the dative article is ‘der’, not ‘dem’.

  • Ich möchte mit der zuständige Person sprechen.

    After a definite article in the dative, the adjective takes the weak ending ‘‑en’.

↔Alternatives

  • Ich würde gern mit der verantwortlichen Person sprechen.

    I would like to speak with the person in charge.

  • Könnte ich bitte mit der zuständigen Person sprechen?

    Could I please speak with the responsible person?

  • Ich möchte gern mit der zuständigen Person reden.

    I would like to talk with the responsible person.

de

Cultural Tip

In German business communication, using ‘möchte’ together with ‘bitte’ signals respect and professionalism. Always address the interlocutor with the formal ‘Sie’. The adjective ‘zuständig’ is common in offices, but ‘verantwortlich’ can be used when you want to stress accountability. Remember that the dative case after ‘mit’ is mandatory – a slip here sounds ungrammatical to native speakers.