Learn Hardcore German: Hast du Bargeld dabei, oder brauchst du Münzen für das Wechselgeld? - Do you have cash with you, or do you need coins for the change?

In German yes/no questions, the finite verb comes first (V1 word order). So you get Hast du …? instead of Du hast …. The second clause is also a yes/no question, hence oder brauchst du …? with the verb first again.

What does dabei add to Hast du Bargeld dabei?

dabei (haben) means “to have something on you/with you right now.”

Hast du Bargeld? = Do you have cash (in general)?
Hast du Bargeld dabei? = Do you have cash on you (at this moment)?
Near-synonyms:
Hast du Bargeld bei dir? (very similar)
Hast du Bargeld mit? (colloquial/regional; common in southern Germany)
Avoid: mit dir here sounds unidiomatic.

What’s the difference between Bargeld and Geld?

Geld = money in general (can be in a bank account, on a card, etc.).
Bargeld = physical cash (coins + banknotes).
Related: bar (zahlen/bezahlen) = to pay in cash; in bar = in cash.

How do Münzen, Kleingeld, Wechselgeld, and Rückgeld differ?

Münzen = coins (the physical objects).
Kleingeld = small change, i.e., a mix of small coins (and sometimes small notes, but mostly coins) you carry.
Wechselgeld = the change given back in a transaction; also the “float/petty cash” a cashier uses to make change.
Rückgeld = the change you receive back (esp. common in Germany).
In the sentence, Münzen für das Wechselgeld means “coins for making/giving change.”

Why is it oder brauchst du and not oder du brauchst?

Because the second part is also a direct yes/no question. In such questions, German uses verb-first: brauchst du.

Hast du Bargeld dabei, oder brauchst du Münzen …? (two coordinated questions)
Hast du Bargeld dabei, oder du brauchst Münzen … would turn the second half into a statement and sounds wrong here.

Is the comma before oder required?

It’s optional when oder connects two main clauses. Both are correct:

Hast du Bargeld dabei, oder brauchst du Münzen …?
Hast du Bargeld dabei oder brauchst du Münzen …?
Many writers include the comma for clarity.

Why is there no article before Bargeld and Münzen?

Bargeld is a mass noun here and used in a general, non-specific sense—German often uses zero article in that case.
Münzen is an indefinite plural used generically (“any coins”), and German typically drops the article in such cases.
You would use an article if you specify: die Münzen, das Bargeld, etc.

Which case is used after für here, and what are the cases in the sentence?

für always takes the accusative: für das Wechselgeld (accusative neuter singular).
Münzen is the direct object of brauchst and is also in the accusative (plural looks like nominative).
Bargeld is the direct object of hast (accusative, no article).
du is nominative (subject).

What are the genders of the nouns in the sentence?

das Geld (neuter)
das Bargeld (neuter)
die Münze (feminine), plural die Münzen
das Wechselgeld (neuter)

How do I pronounce the tricky parts?

Hast du: “hahst doo.”
Bargeld: “BAR-geld” (German g as in “get,” not “gelled”).
dabei: “da-BYE” (German ei = “eye”).
brauchst du: “browkhst doo” (the au is like “ow”; keep the -chst cluster).
Münzen: “MYOON-tsen” (rounded ü like French “u” in “lune”; if you can’t do it, aim for “ue”).
Wechselgeld: “VEK-sel-geld” (German w = English “v”; chs here sounds like “ks”).
Tip: Don’t voice final consonants; the final d in Geld is unaspirated/devoiced.

How would I say this formally or to more than one person?

Formal (Sie): Haben Sie Bargeld dabei, oder brauchen Sie Münzen für das Wechselgeld?
Plural informal (ihr): Habt ihr Bargeld dabei, oder braucht ihr Münzen für das Wechselgeld?

Is fürs Wechselgeld correct?

Yes. fürs is the contraction of für das (neuter singular). So:

… Münzen fürs Wechselgeld = … Münzen für das Wechselgeld.
Note: für’s with an apostrophe is not standard.

Is there a more natural way to say the second half?

Your version is fine. Other idiomatic options include:

… oder brauchst du Münzen fürs Wechselgeld? (with the contraction)
… oder brauchst du Kleingeld zum Wechseln?
… oder brauchst du Münzen zum Wechseln?
… oder brauchst du Kleingeld als Wechselgeld?
These focus on having coins specifically to make/give change.

Can I just say Hast du Bargeld? What’s the difference?

Hast du Bargeld? asks if you possess cash (not necessarily on you).
Hast du Bargeld dabei? asks if you have cash on your person right now.
In real life, if you’re at a checkout, dabei is the better choice.

Where do time/place words go if I add them?

German prefers the order Time–Manner–Place. Examples:

Hast du heute Bargeld dabei, oder brauchst du noch Münzen fürs Wechselgeld?
Hast du jetzt Bargeld dabei, oder brauchst du hier Münzen fürs Wechselgeld?
The verb still stays first in each question clause.

What about oder? as a tag question?

oder? at the end of a statement works like “right?”/“isn’t it?”

Du hast Bargeld dabei, oder? = “You have cash on you, right?”
In your sentence, oder links two alternatives, not a tag.

How do I type Münzen if I can’t type ü?

Write Muenzen. In German, umlauts can be written as ae/oe/ue if the diacritics aren’t available. Avoid plain Munzen—that’s incorrect.