SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to Taking The Transport

German Phrase

Pass auf dein Portemonnaie und dein Handy auf.

/pas aʊf daɪn pɔʁtəmɔnˈnaɪ̯ə ʊnt daɪn ˈhɛndi aʊf/
Meaning"Watch your wallet and your phone."
💡

Meaning

The sentence is a warning or reminder to look after your wallet and your phone. It uses the informal ‘du’ form, so it’s appropriate when speaking to friends, family, or peers.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when you want to caution someone not to lose or damage their valuables – for example, before they go on a crowded train, a festival, or a night out.

✦Grammar Breakdown

PassaufdeinPortemonnaieunddeinHandyauf.

1

Trennbares Verb (aufpassen)

‘aufpassen’ is a separable verb; in the imperative the prefix ‘auf’ moves to the end of the sentence.

2

Possessivpronomen (dein)

‘dein’ is the possessive pronoun for ‘you (informal)’, matching the neuter nouns ‘Portemonnaie’ and ‘Handy’.

3

Nomen (Portemonnaie, Handy)

Both nouns are neuter (das Portemonnaie, das Handy) and take the article ‘das’ in the singular.

4

Konnektor (und)

‘und’ simply links two objects that share the same verb.

🗨In Conversation

A

Pass auf dein Portemonnaie und dein Handy auf!

Watch your wallet and your phone!

Mach ich, danke für den Hinweis.

I will, thanks for the heads‑up.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Pass auf dein Portemonnaie und dein Handy.

    The separable prefix ‘auf’ must be placed at the end in the imperative.

  • Pass auf deine Portemonnaie und dein Handy auf.

    ‘Portemonnaie’ is neuter, so the correct possessive is ‘dein’, not ‘deine’.

  • Pass auf dein Portemonnaie und dein Handy auf.

    If you use the formal ‘Sie’, the possessive changes to ‘Ihr’.

↔Alternatives

  • Achte auf dein Portemonnaie und dein Handy.

    Pay attention to your wallet and your phone.

  • Sei vorsichtig mit deinem Portemonnaie und deinem Handy.

    Be careful with your wallet and your phone.

  • Lass dein Portemonnaie und dein Handy nicht unbeaufsichtigt.

    Don’t leave your wallet and phone unattended.

de

Cultural Tip

In German‑speaking countries it’s common to use the informal ‘du’ when you’re on familiar terms. If you’re speaking to a stranger or someone older, switch to the formal ‘Sie’: ‘Passen Sie auf Ihr Portemonnaie und Ihr Handy auf.’ Also, the word ‘Portemonnaie’ is borrowed from French and is more common in Austria and southern Germany; in northern Germany many people simply say ‘Geldbörse.’