my $user = 'test'; my $pass = 'passwd'; my $host = 'localhost'; my $db = 'datenbankname'; my $driver = "dbi:mysql:$db:$host"; my $dbh = DBI->connect($driver,$user,$pass) or die $DBI::errstr; my $string = 'Thueringen'; $string =~ s/ue/ΓΌ/g; my $string = $dbh->quote($string); my $test = $dbh->prepare("SELECT * FROM table WHERE zeile=$string;"); .... $dbh->disconnect();