Social Luxembourgish at Work: Easy Tips to Talk to Your Co-workers

IN Business

You understand Luxembourgish… but still feel awkward talking to your co-workers?

Many people working in a Luxembourgish speaking environment tell me this:

“My job isn’t the problem, but social conversations at work are hard.”

The fast speech.
The slang and idioms.
The lunchroom noise.
The cultural codes no one ever explains.

That’s exactly why I recorded this episode of my podcast:

🎧 Social Luxembourgish at Work: Easy Tips to Talk to Your Co-workers

In this episode, we talk about social Luxembourgish and specifically:

Why understanding co-workers can feel so difficult (and how to make it easier)
How to connect socially at work – even if you’re shy or new
Simple small-talk strategies that actually work
Cultural differences, formality (du vs Dir), and unspoken workplace rules
Useful tips to open small talk conversations

Bass du prett? Da lass!

First, I want to talk about a challenge many Luxembourgish learners face when working in a Luxembourgish-speaking environment.

A very common problem is understanding colleagues who speak Luxembourgish every day. It’s not just the language itself — it’s how it’s spoken.

Native speakers often talk quite fast, they connect words together, and they use a lot of expressions or informal language. Just like in many other languages, this can make real-life conversations much harder to follow than what you learn in a course or a textbook.

All of these factors combined can make it difficult to understand what your coworkers are really saying.

I have written a full article https://luxembourgishwithanne.lu/2021/06/12/improve-your-luxembourgish-listening-skills-understand-better-native-speakers/ more easily. You’ll find the link in the show notes.

The first thing to focus on is becoming aware of what you already understand well and what still feels challenging at work, without judging yourself. You can use this awareness to support your progress.

So let me ask you something and really think about your own experience for a moment.

What feels easier for you?

Listening to one co-worker speaking to you in a quiet environment, like their office; or
trying to follow a conversation with two or more co-workers in a noisy environment, like the lunchroom?

You would probably say a) and you’re correct.

Why is this important: well if you’re trying to meet people in a Luxembourgish workplace environment, it’s good to take opportunities to meet colleagues one-on-one, so you just talk to one co-worker. This will help you stay focused and catch more easily what the other person is saying. Many learners also tell me they feel safer in these situations. There’s less pressure, less noise, and less fear of speaking.

Tip: So one-on-one moments are often the best way to start building connections and confidence in Luxembourgish.

The next problem a lot of people have when they’re learning a language and they’re working in a Luxembourgish environment is trying to make friends, or trying to meet your colleagues and get to know them. But this can get difficult because when you start at a company it will take time for people to get to know you and that’s normal.

So, here are my 2 tips for this:

Tip 1: Greet coworkers

Some colleagues may be more reserved or quieter and that’s completely normal in a professional environment. A simple “Moien” is often enough to create a positive connection.

Even if someone doesn’t engage in long conversations, most people appreciate being greeted. So if being friendly comes naturally to you, use that strength it helps create a respectful and welcoming atmosphere at work.

Tip 2: Take part in workplace social events

Many workplaces organise social events, like potlucks. A potluck is an event where everyone brings some food to share with the group.

And this is a great opportunity to get to know other people, you can bring food from your culture and then start talking about food. Food is an easy and friendly topic.

And, if your workplace offers social activities, try to take part when you can. It helps you learn more about the workplace culture and about the people you work with — without the pressure of formal meetings.

And if your workplace has a cafeteria, spend some time there. The more your colleagues see you in shared spaces, the more natural it becomes to connect and start small conversations.

Short conversation example (at a potluck)

A: Moien, dat gesäit gutt aus. Hues du dat selwer gekacht?
B: Jo, dat ass eng Lëtzebuergesch Spezialitéit.
A: Ah … an … wéi heescht dat?
B: Dat si Kniddelen. Kniddele mat Speck. Wëlls du probéieren?
A: Gären, merci. Et schmaacht ganz gutt!

You don’t need long sentences or perfect Luxembourgish. A few simple words, a friendly tone, and genuine interest are more than enough to create a positive connection.

At Luxembourgish With Anne you can learn more about we talked today. You can learn more about the workplace in Luxembourg in general, and you can learn to gain confidence by participating in our conversation classes.
Do you want to move beyond A2 and speak confidently at B1 in just four months?

If yes, join my B1 Bootcamp — a small, friendly group with a maximum of four motivated learners. You’ll practise speaking in small-group discussions, learn practical phrases you can use straight away, and really build confidence.
If that sounds good, you can find all the details at luxembourgishwithanne.lu/b1-hybrid-course.

Another challenge many people face when working in Luxembourg is understanding cultural differences. In a Luxembourgish-speaking environment, it’s not always obvious how to behave or what is expected.

There can be differences between generations, and also between people from different cultural backgrounds. For example, some people naturally speak louder, others very quietly. The same goes for personal space — in some cultures, standing close or touching is normal, while in others it isn’t.

It’s also important to remember that every company has its own culture. One key aspect in Luxembourgish workplaces is formal versus informal communication. In some companies, communication is quite formal, and you’re expected to use “Dir” instead of “du”. In others, people use first names and a very informal tone, even in emails.

That’s why paying attention to how people speak and interact around you is so important.

Communication is more than just words. One easy way to show a bit of yourself is through your workspace. You could decorate your desk with pictures of your family, pets, or even plants — anything that reflects what you like. These little details give people an opportunity to start a conversation with you.

For example, if a colleague notices a picture of your cat and dog, they might say:
“Oh, sinn dat deng Hausdéieren?”

And just like that, a small conversation begins, exactly what you want! You’re creating opportunities for connection.

Another idea is to bring something to share with colleagues, like homemade cookies or a cake. This is always appreciated and creates positive impressions. And again, it’s a natural conversation starter:
“Oh, dat ass awer léif. Hues du selwer gebak?”

Moments like these make it easier for co-workers to get to know you.

Small talk is the type of conversation you have with people you don’t know well. It could be about the weather, sports, or something recent in the news. At work, small talk is everywhere, so it’s worth taking some time to learn a few useful phrases.

For example, when you arrive in the morning, you could say:
“Oh, wat ass dat esou kal haut de Moien!” And someone might reply:
“‘T ass minus 6 dobaussen. Ech mengen ech ginn haut net an der Mëttespaus spadséieren.”

Small talk like this is simple, friendly, and a natural way to connect with your colleagues.

Or, on a Monday, you could ask:
“Wéi war däi Weekend?”

On a Friday, you might say:
“An wat méchs du dëse Weekend? Hues du schonn eppes geplangt?”

And on other days, a simple:
“An? Wat seet d’Aarbecht? Vill ze dinn?”

Small talk like this is friendly, simple, and a natural way to connect with your colleagues. Mastering these little phrases can really boost your confidence at work.

On my blog, I have lessons with practical examples like 15 phrases for small talk that builds confidence at work. that help you feel more comfortable starting conversations in Luxembourgish.