German Student Dictionary — Part 24

Dictionary entries, alphabetical: Flugzeug – Fräulein.

Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural

das Flugzeug — airplane

Plural: die Flugzeuge. Built from "fliegen" (to fly) + "das Zeug" (stuff/contraption) — literally "flying-thing," the same pattern as "das Fahrzeug" (vehicle, literally "driving-thing"). The dictionary's own fixed phrase in einem Flugzeug = "in an airplane" is worked into the Dativ example below.

Nom Das Flugzeug ist sehr groß.

The airplane is very big.

das Flugzeug (neutral) = airplane · groß = big. "Das" — neutral Nominativ. Flugzeug is the subject.

Akk Wir sehen das Flugzeug am Himmel.

We see the airplane in the sky.

sehen = to see · der Himmel = sky. Neutral Akkusativ keeps the same form as Nominativ (das → das).

Dat Wir fliegen mit dem Flugzeug nach Frankreich.

We're going to France by airplane.

fliegen = to fly · mit = with (always Dativ) · Frankreich = France. "Dem" because neutral Dativ (das → dem) after "mit." The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

Nom Ein Flugzeug startet gerade.

An airplane is just taking off.

starten = to take off · gerade = just now. "Ein" — no ending before neutral Nominativ, same as "das."

Akk Wir sehen ein Flugzeug über der Stadt.

We see an airplane over the city.

über + Dativ (fixed location) = over · die Stadt, ä-e = city. Neutral Akkusativ indefinite looks identical to Nominativ — the article never changes for neuter nouns between these two cases.

Dat Wir fliegen mit den Flugzeugen der neuen Fluggesellschaft.

We fly with the airplanes of the new airline.

die Fluggesellschaft, -en = airline. Plural Dativ: the article is "den", and Flugzeug adds "-n" (Flugzeuge → Flugzeugen) since it doesn't already end in -n or -s.

der Fluss — river

Plural: die Flüsse (umlaut + -e). Built from "fließen" (to flow). Modern spelling uses "ss" after the short vowel; some older texts show the pre-reform "ß." The dictionary's own example uses the fixed phrase in der Nähe + Genitiv = "near/in the vicinity of": "Das beste Ackerland liegt in der Nähe des Flusses." = "The best farmland is near the river."

Nom Der Fluss ist sehr breit.

The river is very wide.

der Fluss, ü-e (maskulin) = river · breit = wide. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ. Fluss is the subject.

Akk Wir sehen den Fluss von der Brücke aus.

We see the river from the bridge.

sehen = to see · die Brücke = bridge · von ... aus = from (a vantage point). "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den). Fluss is the direct object.

Dat Die Kinder schwimmen in dem Fluss.

The children swim in the river.

schwimmen = to swim · in + Dativ (fixed location) = in. "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem).

Nom Ein Fluss fließt durch die Stadt.

A river flows through the city.

fließen = to flow · durch + Akkusativ = through · die Stadt, ä-e = city. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ, same as "der."

Akk Man sieht einen Fluss auf der Karte.

You can see a river on the map.

die Karte = map. "Einen" because maskulin Akkusativ indefinite (ein → einen) — mirrors der → den.

Dat Wir angeln oft an den Flüssen der Region.

We often fish by the region's rivers.

angeln = to fish · an + Dativ (fixed location) = by/at · die Region, -en = region. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Fluss's plural takes an umlaut (Fluss → Flüsse), then adds "-n" (Flüsse → Flüssen) since it doesn't already end in -n or -s.

das Flusspferd — hippopotamus

Plural: die Flusspferde. Built from "der Fluss" (river) + "das Pferd" (horse) — literally "river horse," a German calque of the Greek-derived "hippopotamus." The dictionary's own example, corrected from the OCR-garbled "Flufipferd"/"Flufi": "Das Flusspferd steht im Fluss." = "The hippopotamus stands in the river."

Nom Das Flusspferd steht im Fluss.

The hippopotamus stands in the river.

das Flusspferd (neutral) = hippopotamus · stehen = to stand · im = in + dem (contraction) · der Fluss = river. "Das" — neutral Nominativ. Flusspferd is the subject. The dictionary's own example, corrected.

Akk Wir füttern das Flusspferd im Zoo.

We feed the hippopotamus at the zoo.

füttern = to feed · der Zoo, -s = zoo. Neutral Akkusativ keeps the same form as Nominativ (das → das).

Dat Der Pfleger gibt dem Flusspferd frisches Gras.

The keeper gives the hippopotamus fresh grass.

der Pfleger = keeper/caretaker · geben = to give (+ Dativ for the recipient) · das Gras = grass. "Dem" because neutral Dativ (das → dem).

Nom Ein Flusspferd lebt meist im Wasser.

A hippopotamus mostly lives in the water.

leben = to live · meist = mostly · das Wasser = water. "Ein" — no ending before neutral Nominativ, same as "das."

Akk Im Zoo sehen wir ein Flusspferd.

At the zoo we see a hippopotamus.

der Zoo, -s = zoo. Neutral Akkusativ indefinite looks identical to Nominativ — the article never changes for neuter nouns between these two cases.

Dat Der Ranger nähert sich langsam den Flusspferden.

The ranger slowly approaches the hippos.

der Ranger, - = ranger · sich nähern = to approach (+ Dativ) · langsam = slowly. Plural Dativ: the article is "den", and Flusspferd adds "-n" (Flusspferde → Flusspferden) since it doesn't already end in -n or -s.

folgen — to follow

Governs Dativ, not Akkusativ — "jemandem folgen" (to follow someone), never "jemanden folgen," the same pattern as "helfen" and "danken." Conjugation: ich folge, du folgst, er/sie/es folgt, wir folgen.

Wir folgen immer den Anweisungen unseres Professors.

We always follow our professor's directions.

folgen = to follow (always + Dativ) · die Anweisung, -en = instruction/direction · der Professor, -en = professor. "Den Anweisungen" is Dativ plural — folgen never takes an Akkusativ object. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

Der Hund folgt seinem Herrn überallhin.

The dog follows its owner everywhere.

der Herr, -en (weak noun) = master/owner · überallhin = everywhere (with motion). "Seinem Herrn" — Dativ, following the "folgen + Dativ" rule; Herr is itself a weak noun and also takes "-n" here.

die Form — shape / form

Plural: die Formen. The dictionary's own example uses the separable reflexive verb "sich etwas ansehen" (to look at/check out something): "Schau dir die Form dieser Wolke an!" = "Look at the shape of that cloud!"

Nom Die Form des Hauses ist ungewöhnlich.

The shape of the house is unusual.

die Form (feminin) = shape · das Haus, ä-er = house · ungewöhnlich = unusual. "Die" — feminin Nominativ. Form is the subject.

Akk Schau dir die Form dieser Wolke an!

Look at the shape of that cloud!

ansehen = to look at (separable: sich etwas ansehen) · die Wolke = cloud. Feminine nouns keep "die" in both Nominativ and Akkusativ — here Form is the direct object of "ansehen." The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

Dat Er erkennt den Vogel an der Form seiner Flügel.

He recognizes the bird by the shape of its wings.

erkennen an = to recognize by (+ Dativ) · der Vogel, ö- = bird · der Flügel, - = wing. "Der" because feminin Dativ (die → der) after "an."

Nom Eine ungewöhnliche Form fällt sofort auf.

An unusual shape stands out immediately.

auffallen = to stand out (separable) · sofort = immediately. "Eine" — feminin Nominativ indefinite, no extra ending.

Akk Der Künstler zeichnet eine geometrische Form.

The artist draws a geometric shape.

der Künstler = artist · zeichnen = to draw · geometrisch = geometric. "Eine" stays "eine" in Akkusativ — feminine indefinite is unchanged from Nominativ, the same pattern as "die"/"die" for the definite article.

Dat Die Kinder spielen mit den bunten Formen aus Holz.

The children play with the colorful wooden shapes.

bunt = colorful · das Holz = wood. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Formen already ends in "-n" (from its own "-en" plural), so no further "-n" is added.

sich fortbewegen — to move

Reflexive + separable verb: sich fortbewegen (fort + bewegen). Present tense: ich bewege mich fort, du bewegst dich fort, er/sie bewegt sich fort. The dictionary's own example: "Der alte Mann bewegt sich langsam durch den Schnee fort." = "The old man is moving slowly through the snow."

Der alte Mann bewegt sich langsam durch den Schnee fort.

The old man is moving slowly through the snow.

alt = old · langsam = slowly · der Schnee = snow. "Bewegt sich ... fort" — reflexive pronoun "sich" plus the separable prefix "fort," which moves to the end of the main clause. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

Kannst du dich schneller fortbewegen?

Can you move faster?

schneller = faster. "Dich...fortbewegen" — informal du-form reflexive pronoun; with a modal ("kannst"), the reflexive separable verb stays together at the end as the infinitive.

fortfahren, er fährt fort — to continue

Separable, stem-changing verb: ich fahre fort, du fährst fort, er/sie fährt fort. Can also mean "to drive away/depart," but paired with "mit + Dativ" it means "to continue (with something)."

Fahren wir mit dem Lesen fort, bis wir fertig sind.

Let's continue reading until we finish.

mit + Dativ = with · das Lesen = reading (infinitive as noun) · bis = until · fertig = finished. "Fahren...fort" — wir-form ("let's" construction); the separable prefix "fort" moves to the end. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

Sie fährt mit ihrer Arbeit fort.

She continues with her work.

die Arbeit = work. "Fährt...fort" — sie-form, stem change a → ä, prefix at the end of the main clause.

fortlaufen, er läuft fort — to run away

Separable, stem-changing verb: ich laufe fort, du läufst fort, er/sie läuft fort. Perfekt: ist fortgelaufen (uses "sein," like "laufen" itself).

Wenn der Hund hereinkommt, läuft die Katze fort.

When the dog comes in, the cat runs away.

hereinkommen = to come in (separable) · die Katze = cat. "Läuft...fort" — sie-form, stem change au → äu, prefix "fort" at the end. The dictionary's own example, corrected from the OCR-garbled "lauft" to "läuft."

Das Kind ist gestern von zu Hause fortgelaufen.

The child ran away from home yesterday.

von zu Hause = from home · gestern = yesterday. Perfekt tense: "ist...fortgelaufen" — uses "sein" as the auxiliary, since "laufen" describes a change of location.

der Fortschritt — progress

Plural: die Fortschritte. Built from "fortschreiten" (to progress, literally "to stride onward") — "der Schritt" alone means "step." Fixed phrase in the dictionary's own entry: Fortschritte machen = "to make progress," e.g. "Machen Sie Fortschritte bei Ihrem Experiment?" = "Are you making progress in your experiment?"

Nom Der Fortschritt ist deutlich sichtbar.

The progress is clearly visible.

der Fortschritt (maskulin) = progress · deutlich = clearly · sichtbar = visible. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ. Fortschritt is the subject.

Akk Ich sehe den Fortschritt in deiner Arbeit.

I see the progress in your work.

sehen = to see · die Arbeit = work. "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den). Fortschritt is the direct object.

Dat Wir sind mit dem Fortschritt zufrieden.

We are satisfied with the progress.

zufrieden sein mit = to be satisfied with (+ Dativ). "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem).

Nom Ein Fortschritt ist deutlich erkennbar.

Progress is clearly noticeable.

erkennbar = noticeable/recognizable. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ, same as "der."

Akk Sie machen einen großen Fortschritt.

They are making great progress.

groß = great/big. "Einen" because maskulin Akkusativ indefinite (ein → einen) — mirrors der → den. This echoes the fixed phrase "Fortschritte machen," singular here (einen Fortschritt machen).

Dat Der Lehrer ist mit den Fortschritten der Klasse zufrieden.

The teacher is pleased with the class's progress.

die Klasse = class. Plural Dativ: the article is "den", and Fortschritt adds "-en" (Fortschritte → Fortschritten) since it doesn't already end in -n or -s.

das Foto — photo

Plural: die Fotos. Short for "die Fotografie," which is more formal/technical — in everyday speech Germans almost always say "das Foto." The dictionary's own example, corrected from the OCR-garbled "Urgrofieltern": "Sie hat alte Fotos von unseren Urgroßeltern." = "She has old photos of her great-grandparents."

Nom Das Foto ist wirklich gelungen.

The photo turned out really well.

das Foto (neutral) = photo · gelungen = successful/well turned-out. "Das" — neutral Nominativ. Foto is the subject.

Akk Ich zeige dir das Foto später.

I'll show you the photo later.

zeigen = to show · später = later. Neutral Akkusativ keeps the same form as Nominativ (das → das).

Dat Auf dem Foto erkenne ich meinen Opa.

In the photo I recognize my grandpa.

auf + Dativ (fixed location) = on/in · erkennen = to recognize · der Opa, -s = grandpa. "Dem" because neutral Dativ (das → dem).

Nom Ein Foto hängt an der Wand.

A photo hangs on the wall.

hängen = to hang · die Wand, ä-e = wall. "Ein" — no ending before neutral Nominativ, same as "das."

Akk Sie macht ein Foto von der Landschaft.

She takes a photo of the landscape.

machen = to make/take · die Landschaft = landscape. Neutral Akkusativ indefinite looks identical to Nominativ — the article never changes for neuter nouns between these two cases.

Dat Auf den alten Fotos erkennen wir unsere Großeltern.

In the old photos we recognize our grandparents.

die Großeltern (Pl.) = grandparents. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Fotos already ends in "-s" (from its own "-s" plural), so no further "-n" is added.

der Fotograf — photographer

Feminine: die Fotografin (plural die Fotografinnen). Weak noun — like "der Chinese," "der Chirurg" — adds "-en" in every case except Nominativ singular: der Fotograf, but den/dem Fotografen; plural die Fotografen.

Nom Der Fotograf macht viele Bilder.

The photographer takes many pictures.

der Fotograf, -en (maskulin, schwach) = photographer · das Bild, -er = picture. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ; weak nouns are unmarked in the Nominativ singular.

Akk Wir engagieren den Fotografen für die Hochzeit.

We hire the photographer for the wedding.

engagieren = to hire/engage · die Hochzeit = wedding. "Den Fotografen" — the weak noun adds "-en" in Akkusativ, unlike a regular masculine noun.

Dat Sie zeigt dem Fotografen die besten Plätze.

She shows the photographer the best spots.

zeigen = to show (+ Dativ for the recipient) · der Platz, ä-e = spot/place. "Dem Fotografen" — the weak noun keeps the "-en" in Dativ too.

Nom Ein Fotograf wartet vor dem Museum.

A photographer is waiting in front of the museum.

warten = to wait · das Museum, Museen = museum. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ; still no weak-noun ending here since it's Nominativ.

Akk Wir brauchen einen Fotografen für die Party.

We need a photographer for the party.

brauchen = to need. "Einen Fotografen" — the weak-noun "-en" appears here too, even after the indefinite article.

Dat Bei der Messe sprechen wir mit den Fotografen der Zeitung.

At the fair we talk with the newspaper's photographers.

die Messe = fair/trade show · die Zeitung = newspaper. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; "Fotografen" already ends in -n (from the plural and the weak-noun ending together), so no further change.

die Frage — question

Plural: die Fragen. Common phrase: eine Frage stellen = "to ask a question" (literally "to place/put a question").

Nom Die Frage ist sehr wichtig.

The question is very important.

die Frage (feminin) = question · wichtig = important. "Die" — feminin Nominativ. Frage is the subject.

Akk Können Sie die Frage wiederholen?

Can you repeat the question?

können = can/to be able to · wiederholen = to repeat. "Die" stays "die" — feminine Nominativ and Akkusativ are identical; Frage is the direct object of "wiederholen" here. The dictionary's own example, corrected from the OCR-garbled "Konnen."

Dat Er widmet sich der Frage nach dem Sinn des Lebens.

He devotes himself to the question of the meaning of life.

sich widmen = to devote oneself (+ Dativ) · der Sinn = meaning · das Leben = life. "Der" because feminin Dativ (die → der).

Nom Eine Frage bleibt offen.

One question remains open.

bleiben = to remain · offen = open. "Eine" — feminin Nominativ indefinite, same pattern as "die."

Akk Ich habe eine Frage.

I have a question.

haben = to have. "Eine" stays "eine" in Akkusativ — feminine indefinite is unchanged from Nominativ, the same pattern as "die"/"die" for the definite article.

Dat Die Lehrerin widmet sich den Fragen der Schüler.

The teacher devotes herself to the students' questions.

der Schüler, - = student/pupil. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Fragen already ends in "-n" (from its own "-n" plural), so no further "-n" is added.

fragen — to ask / to question

Transitive: jemanden fragen (+ Akkusativ) = "to ask someone." To ask about something, add "nach + Dativ": jemanden nach etwas fragen. Conjugation: ich frage, du fragst, er/sie/es fragt.

Er fragte mich.

He questioned me.

fragen = to ask/question (+ Akkusativ for the person asked) · fragte = Präteritum, er-form. "Mich" is the direct object — the person being questioned. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

Ich frage dich nach dem Weg.

I'm asking you for directions.

fragen nach = to ask about/for (+ Dativ) · der Weg, -e = way/directions. "Dich" (Akkusativ, the person asked) · "nach dem Weg" (Dativ, the thing asked about).

Frankreich — France

Neuter country name, used without an article (no "das Frankreich"), like most countries. Related words bundled in the dictionary's entry, corrected from the OCR-garbled "Franzose"/"franzosisch": Franzose, der (-in, f.) = a French person, and französisch = the adjective "French" — see their own entries just below.

Nom Frankreich liegt in Westeuropa.

France is located in Western Europe.

liegen = to lie/be located · Westeuropa = Western Europe. No article — Frankreich is the subject directly.

Akk Wir besuchen Frankreich im Frühling.

We are visiting France in the spring.

besuchen = to visit · der Frühling = spring. No article/ending change — country names without an article stay the same in every case.

Dat Kannst du Dijon auf der Landkarte von Frankreich finden?

Can you find Dijon on the map of France?

die Landkarte = map · finden = to find · von + Dativ = of/from. No article/ending change for the country name itself. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

der Franzose — French (person)

Feminine: die Französin (plural die Französinnen). Weak noun — like "der Chinese" — adds "-n" in every case except Nominativ singular: der Franzose, but den/dem Franzosen; plural die Franzosen.

Nom Der Franzose spricht drei Sprachen.

The Frenchman speaks three languages.

der Franzose, -n (maskulin, schwach) = French person/Frenchman · die Sprache, -n = language. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ; weak nouns are unmarked in the Nominativ singular.

Akk Ich kenne den Franzosen aus meinem Deutschkurs.

I know the Frenchman from my German class.

kennen = to know · der Deutschkurs, -e = German class/course. "Den Franzosen" — the weak noun adds "-n" in Akkusativ, unlike a regular masculine noun.

Dat Sie hilft dem Franzosen beim Umzug.

She helps the Frenchman with the move.

helfen + Dativ = to help · der Umzug, ü-e = move/relocation. "Dem Franzosen" — the weak noun keeps the "-n" in Dativ too.

Nom Ein Franzose wohnt neben uns.

A Frenchman lives next to us.

wohnen = to live · neben + Dativ (fixed location) = next to. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ; still no weak-noun ending here since it's Nominativ.

Akk Wir haben einen Franzosen in unserer Gruppe.

We have a Frenchman in our group.

die Gruppe = group. "Einen Franzosen" — the weak-noun "-n" appears here too, even though the article is indefinite.

Dat Der Lehrer gibt den Franzosen extra Zeit.

The teacher gives the Frenchmen extra time.

die Zeit = time. Plural Dativ: article "den"; "Franzosen" already ends in -n (from the plural and the weak-noun ending together), so no further change.

französisch — French (adjective)

Lowercase, unlike the nouns Franzose/Frankreich — compare: Amerika/amerikanisch, Deutschland/deutsch. Corrected from the OCR-garbled "franzosisch."

Ich esse gern französischen Käse.

I like eating French cheese.

der Käse = cheese. "-en" ending — maskulin Akkusativ with no preceding article (strong adjective ending).

Die französische Sprache klingt sehr melodisch.

The French language sounds very melodic.

die Sprache = language · klingen = to sound · melodisch = melodic. "-e" ending after "die" (feminine Nominativ, weak adjective ending).

die Frau — woman; Mrs.

Plural: die Frauen. Also used as the polite title "Mrs./Ms." before a surname, as in the dictionary's own example, corrected from the OCR-garbled "Grofimutter": "Darf ich Ihnen bitte meine Großmutter vorstellen, Frau Schmidt." = "Please meet my grandmother, Mrs. Schmidt."

Nom Diese Frau ist meine Lehrerin.

This woman is my teacher.

die Frau (feminin) = woman · diese = this · die Lehrerin = teacher (f.). "Diese" agrees with feminin Nominativ; Frau is the subject. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

Akk Ich kenne die Frau aus dem Supermarkt.

I know the woman from the supermarket.

kennen = to know · der Supermarkt, ä-e = supermarket. "Die" stays "die" — feminine Nominativ and Akkusativ are identical; Frau is the direct object here.

Dat Wir danken der Frau für ihre Hilfe.

We thank the woman for her help.

danken = to thank (+ Dativ) · die Hilfe = help. "Der" because feminin Dativ (die → der).

Nom Eine Frau steht an der Tür.

A woman is standing at the door.

stehen = to stand · die Tür, -en = door. "Eine" — feminin Nominativ indefinite, no extra ending.

Akk Er begrüßt eine Frau am Eingang.

He greets a woman at the entrance.

begrüßen = to greet · der Eingang, ä-e = entrance. "Eine" stays "eine" in Akkusativ — feminine indefinite is unchanged from Nominativ, the same pattern as "die"/"die" for the definite article.

Dat Der Verein hilft den Frauen in der Nachbarschaft.

The association helps the women in the neighborhood.

der Verein = association/club · die Nachbarschaft = neighborhood. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Frauen already ends in "-n" (from its own "-en" plural), so no further "-n" is added.

das Fräulein — young lady / Miss

Plural: die Fräulein (unchanged — like all "-lein"/"-chen" diminutives, e.g. "das Dienstmädchen"). An old-fashioned form of address for an unmarried woman; modern German uses "Frau" for all adult women regardless of marital status. The dictionary's own example, corrected from the OCR-garbled "Fraulein"/"heiBt": "Unsere Lehrerin heißt Fräulein Pasko." = "Our teacher is Miss Pasko."

Nom Das Fräulein lächelt freundlich.

The young lady smiles kindly.

das Fräulein (neutral) = young lady/Miss · lächeln = to smile · freundlich = kindly/friendly. "Das" — neutral Nominativ. Fräulein is the subject.

Akk Der Ober bedient das Fräulein zuerst.

The waiter serves the young lady first.

der Ober, - = waiter · bedienen = to serve · zuerst = first. Neutral Akkusativ keeps the same form as Nominativ (das → das).

Dat Der Kellner bringt dem Fräulein die Speisekarte.

The waiter brings the young lady the menu.

der Kellner = waiter · bringen = to bring (+ Dativ for the recipient) · die Speisekarte = menu. "Dem" because neutral Dativ (das → dem).

Nom Ein Fräulein betritt den Salon.

A young lady enters the parlor.

betreten = to enter · der Salon, -s = parlor/salon. "Ein" — no ending before neutral Nominativ, same as "das."

Akk Der alte Herr grüßt ein Fräulein auf der Straße.

The old gentleman greets a young lady on the street.

der Herr, -en (weak noun) = gentleman · grüßen = to greet · die Straße = street. Neutral Akkusativ indefinite looks identical to Nominativ — the article never changes for neuter nouns between these two cases.

Dat Der Kellner dankt den Fräulein für ihr Trinkgeld.

The waiter thanks the young ladies for their tip.

danken = to thank (+ Dativ) · das Trinkgeld = tip. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Fräulein already ends in "-n," so no further "-n" is added — the same pattern as other "-lein"/"-chen" diminutives like "das Dienstmädchen."