Shoes off at the door (usually)
Schuhe aus
In most German homes you take off your shoes at the door. Hosts may offer you slippers (Hausschuhe).
Many Germans take off their shoes when they come home, and many guests do the same. Look at the shoes by the door: if there are many, take yours off too.
Hosts sometimes keep slippers for guests (Hausschuhe, or Gästepantoffeln). Clean socks without holes are a good idea.
At a big party, or with older people, shoes may stay on. If you are unsure, just ask: „Soll ich die Schuhe ausziehen?“
This is a custom, not a rule, and families differ.
You may hear
Soll ich die Schuhe ausziehen?Should I take off my shoes?
India and Germany
Very similar to India, where shoes stay outside the home and the puja room. Indians usually feel at home with this one.
German words for this
- die Schuhe · shoes
- ausziehen · to take off
- die Hausschuhe · slippers
- die Socken · socks
This is a custom, not a rule: families and regions differ.
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