Euphemism in Formal Discourse

German euphemisms at this level are very simple. You do not change the whole sentence structure. You usually change the adjective or add a small word. These small words are called "softeners." They take the edge off a sharp comment. Imagine you are at a fancy restaurant. The soup is cold. You could say Die Suppe ist kalt. That is direct and maybe a bit mean. Instead, you use a softener. You say Die Suppe ist leider ein bisschen kalt. See the difference? The word leider means unfortunately. The phrase ein bisschen means a little bit. Together, they make you sound like a polite guest. You are still saying the soup is cold. But you are being much nicer about it. It is like putting a pillow over a hard chair.

1. 1Creating a polite German sentence is easy. You can follow these three simple steps:
2. 2Use the "Not + Opposite" trick. Instead of a negative word, use nicht plus a positive word. For example, change schlecht (bad) to nicht so gut (not so good).
3. 3Add the word leider (unfortunately). Put it after the verb. It shows you are sorry to give bad news. Example: Ich habe leider keine Zeit (I unfortunately have no time).
4. 4Use "softening" adverbs. Words like etwas or ein bisschen mean "a bit." Use them before adjectives. Example: Das Zimmer ist ein bisschen klein (The room is a bit small).
5. 5Use the polite möchte (would like) instead of will (want). Ich will sounds like a toddler. Ich möchte sounds like a professional adult.
6. 6Add vielleicht (maybe) to requests. Haben Sie Zeit? is fine. Haben Sie vielleicht Zeit? is much more polite.

You should use these patterns in formal settings. This includes talking to your boss or a teacher. Use them when you are a customer in a shop. It is perfect for ordering food at a restaurant. If you are talking to someone older than you, use euphemisms. Use them when you have to give a negative opinion. If a friend asks "Do you like my shirt?" and you don't, use these! It keeps the friendship happy. Use them in emails to strangers. Basically, use them whenever you use the formal Sie. It shows you respect the other person. It makes you sound like you have great manners. Plus, people will be much more helpful to you!

Do not use these patterns in an emergency. If there is a fire, do not say "The room is a bit warm." Just yell Feuer!! Speed is more important than politeness then. Also, do not use them with very close friends. If you use leider and möchte with your best friend, they might laugh. They might ask why you are acting so strange. In casual settings, being direct is a sign of trust. Do not use euphemisms when you need to be extremely clear. For example, when giving safety instructions at work. If a machine is dangerous, say Gefährlich!. Do not say Nicht ganz sicher. You don't want anyone getting hurt for the sake of politeness.

Many learners use the word billig for things they buy. In German, billig often means "low quality." If you want to say something has a good price, say preiswert. It is a classic euphemism. Another mistake is forgetting the word bitte (please). No matter how many euphemisms you use, without bitte, you sound rude. Some learners also use Ich will when ordering food. This sounds very demanding in Germany. Always switch to Ich möchte. Another mistake is being *too* indirect. If you need a toilet, don't say "I might need a small break." Just say Wo ist die Toilette?. If you are too vague, nobody will understand you. Even politeness has its limits!

Let's compare being direct versus being polite. Direct: Das ist teuer (That is expensive). Polite: Das ist etwas teuer (That is somewhat expensive). The polite version sounds less like a complaint. Direct: Ich habe keine Lust (I don't feel like it). Polite: Ich kann leider nicht (I unfortunately cannot). The second version gives a reason without being blunt. Direct: Das ist hässlich (That is ugly). Polite: Das ist nicht so schön (That is not so beautiful). Using nicht so schön is the standard German way to criticize. It feels much softer to the ear. It is like a grammar traffic light. Green is direct, but yellow is these polite euphemisms. Most formal talk stays in the yellow zone.