Collins German Phrasebook and Dictionary Gem Edition: Essential phrases and words in a mini, travel-sized format (Collins Gem)

Smaller and neater than I envisaged (8cms x 10.5cms), this wee book fitted into my handbag with no bother. I was on holiday in Berlin for a week, and though English is widely spoken there, I used the Menu Reader section every day (knowing what I'm ordering in restaurants is important to me since I'm a veggie!) I also frequently referred to the vocabulary lists (with pronunciation guide beside each word) in the Shopping and Eating Out sections. The colour coded sections were great for finding relevant pages quickly. The bit I used the most though, was the dictionary at the back - both German to English and English to German. This takes up more than a third of the book. It's much smaller and more concise than a full-blown dictionary, yet there are enough words in it for everyday use. The book also contains many other helpful topics like Key Phrases, Polite Expressions, Pronunciation and Asking the Way, and though I didn't personally refer to them during my short stay, it was reassuring to know they were handy! I give this invaluable wee travelling companion full marks for its compact size, easy layout and useful dictionary.

Good pocket sized guide - very handy for trips to Germany

Comprehensive and phonetics are useful

I bought this phrase book to replace the one I have been using for many years. It is smaller than my old one which is a bonus as it fits so much easier into my handbook and also it's much easier to have a quick look at without it being obvious you are reading a phrase book. I found it especially useful for dining out where a literal translation isn't always the correct translation. The book itself is very well laid out and it is very easy to navigate. I highly recommend this inexpensive holiday companion.

This is just what I hoped it would be. 100 pages dictionary (English - German and German - English) with the words you'll find useful. 18 page menu guide (not just words like chicken, but also ones like Kaiserschmarren). Also sections on travel, accommodation, clothing, travel. I just need this one slim book now when I visit Germany, Austria, Switzerland. I'll investigate the French and Italian ones now.

Writing a bit too small but small size to carry around

I bought this to take on a tour around the Rhine and it came in very handy on many occasions, not because of the lack of English speakers but more to translate menus and to ask for the bill or directions etc. OK the lovely people in the towns generally answered in English but it was nice to at least try and this book had everything that we needed. It tells you how to pronounce the words and covered many useful subjects.

I love this pocket-size dictionary.