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German Student Dictionary — Part 28
Dictionary entries, alphabetical: Gegenstand – Gemälde.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
der Gegenstand — subject / object
Plural: die Gegenstände. The dictionary glosses it as "subject" (the topic-of-discussion sense in its own example below), but in everyday German "Gegenstand" more often means a physical "object" or "item" — as in "persönliche Gegenstände" (personal belongings).
Nom Was ist der Gegenstand dieser Diskussion?
What is the subject of this discussion?
der Gegenstand, ä-e (maskulin) = subject/object · die Diskussion, -en = discussion. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ. Gegenstand is the predicate noun after "sein," matched by "was." The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Akk Ich verstehe den Gegenstand nicht.
I don't understand the subject.
verstehen = to understand. "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den). Gegenstand is the direct object.
Dat Sie beschäftigt sich seit Wochen mit dem Gegenstand.
She has been dealing with the subject for weeks.
sich beschäftigen mit = to deal with/study (+ Dativ) · seit + Dativ = since/for. "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem) after "mit."
Nom Ein Gegenstand liegt auf dem Boden.
An object is lying on the floor.
der Boden, ö- = floor/ground. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ, same pattern as "der." Here "Gegenstand" shows its everyday "object" sense.
Akk Er hebt einen Gegenstand vom Boden auf.
He picks an object up off the floor.
aufheben = to pick up (separable) · vom = von + dem (contraction). "Einen" because maskulin Akkusativ indefinite (ein → einen) — mirrors der → den.
Dat Die Polizei findet Fingerabdrücke an den Gegenständen.
The police find fingerprints on the objects.
der Fingerabdruck, ü-e = fingerprint · an + Dativ (fixed location) = on. Plural Dativ: the article is "den", and Gegenstand adds "-n" (Gegenstände → Gegenständen) since it doesn't already end in -n or -s.
das Gegenteil — opposite
Plural: die Gegenteile (uncommon — this word is usually singular). Fixed phrase im Gegenteil = "on the contrary," used to contradict what was just said, worked into the Dativ example below. The dictionary's own context sentence: "Du sagst, dass du Hunde lieber magst als Katzen." = "You say that you prefer dogs to cats" (corrected from the OCR-garbled "daß").
Nom Bei mir ist es genau das Gegenteil.
For me it is exactly the opposite.
das Gegenteil (neutral) = opposite · genau = exactly. "Das" — neutral Nominativ; Gegenteil is the predicate noun after "ist." The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Akk Ich behaupte das Gegenteil.
I claim the opposite.
behaupten = to claim/assert. Neutral Akkusativ keeps the same form as Nominativ (das → das). Gegenteil is the direct object.
Dat Im Gegenteil, das stimmt nicht.
On the contrary, that's not true.
im = in + dem (contraction) · stimmen = to be correct/true. "Im Gegenteil" is a fixed Dativ phrase (in → im before neutral Dativ) used to contradict a previous statement.
Nom Ein Gegenteil existiert für jedes Wort.
An opposite exists for every word.
existieren = to exist · das Wort, ä-er = word. "Ein" — no ending before neutral Nominativ, same as "das."
Akk Sie sucht ein Gegenteil für dieses Wort.
She's looking for an opposite for this word.
suchen = to look for. Neutral Akkusativ indefinite looks identical to Nominativ — the article never changes for neuter nouns between these two cases.
Dat Bei den Gegenteilen gibt es oft Ausnahmen.
With opposites there are often exceptions.
bei + Dativ = with/in the case of · die Ausnahme, -n = exception. Plural Dativ: the article is "den", and Gegenteil adds "-n" (Gegenteile → Gegenteilen) since it doesn't already end in -n or -s.
gegenüber — opposite; across (from) (preposition, + Dativ)
Always governs Dativ. Unusually flexible word order: it can come before its noun ("gegenüber dem Bahnhof") or after it ("dem Bahnhof gegenüber") — both are correct. Corrected from the OCR-garbled headword "gegenuber."
Der Parkplatz liegt gegenüber dem Bahnhof.
The parking lot is opposite the train station.
liegen = to lie/be situated · der Bahnhof, ö-e = train station. "Dem Bahnhof" is Dativ after "gegenüber." The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Sie wohnen gegenüber der Schule.
They live across from the school.
wohnen = to live · die Schule, -n = school. "Der Schule" is feminin Dativ (die → der). The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
das Geheimnis — secret; mystery
Plural: die Geheimnisse (nouns ending in "-nis" double the "s" in the plural, like "das Ereignis" → "die Ereignisse"). The adjective geheimnisvoll ("mysterious," literally "full of secrets") is bundled with this word in the dictionary and gets its own entry just below.
Nom Das Geheimnis ist gut versteckt.
The secret is well hidden.
das Geheimnis (neutral) = secret · verstecken = to hide. "Das" — neutral Nominativ. Geheimnis is the subject.
Akk Kannst du das Geheimnis behalten?
Can you keep the secret?
behalten = to keep. Neutral Akkusativ keeps the same form as Nominativ (das → das). Adapted from the dictionary's own example (originally "ein Geheimnis") to show the definite article.
Dat Niemand weiß von dem Geheimnis.
Nobody knows about the secret.
wissen von = to know about (+ Dativ). "Dem" because neutral Dativ (das → dem).
Nom Ein Geheimnis verbindet die beiden Freunde.
A secret bonds the two friends.
verbinden = to bond/connect · der Freund, -e = friend. "Ein" — no ending before neutral Nominativ, same as "das."
Akk Kannst du ein Geheimnis behalten?
Do you know how to keep a secret?
Neutral Akkusativ indefinite looks identical to Nominativ — the article never changes for neuter nouns between these two cases. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Dat Sie erzählt ihrer Schwester von den Geheimnissen.
She tells her sister about the secrets.
erzählen = to tell · die Schwester, -n = sister. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Geheimnisse already ends in "-e," so it just adds "-n" (Geheimnisse → Geheimnissen).
geheimnisvoll — mysterious
Built from "das Geheimnis" (secret) + "-voll" (full of) — literally "full of secrets." Bundled with "Geheimnis" in the dictionary's own entry.
Der alte Turm wirkt geheimnisvoll.
The old tower seems mysterious.
der Turm, ü-e = tower · wirken = to seem/appear. Predicate adjective after "wirken" — no ending.
Sie lächelte auf eine geheimnisvolle Weise.
She smiled in a mysterious way.
lächeln = to smile · auf eine Weise = in a way (fixed phrase, Akkusativ). "-e" ending — feminin Akkusativ indefinite (weak adjective ending after "eine").
gehen — to go; to walk
Conjugation, reconstructed from the dictionary's garbled table: ich gehe, du gehst, er/sie/es geht, wir gehen, ihr geht, sie gehen. Fixed phrase bundled with this entry: zu Bett gehen = "to go to bed." A whole family of separable-prefix verbs built on "gehen" — hinaufgehen, hineingehen, hinuntergehen, spazierengehen, weggehen, zurückgehen — are also bundled here and get their own entries just below. "Ausgehen" (to go out) is covered in Part 5.
Geh!
Go!
Informal du-imperative — just the stem, no ending. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Wir gehen bald nach Hause.
We'll be going home soon.
bald = soon · nach Hause = home(ward). The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
hinaufgehen — to go up
Separable verb: hinauf + gehen ("hinauf" = up and away from the speaker). Present: ich gehe hinauf, du gehst hinauf. Perfekt: ist hinaufgegangen. Bundled with "gehen" in the dictionary's own entry.
Wir gehen die Treppe hinauf.
We're going up the stairs.
die Treppe, -n = stairs. "Gehen...hinauf" — the separable prefix moves to the end of the main clause.
Er ist schnell hinaufgegangen.
He went up quickly.
schnell = quickly. Perfekt tense: "ist...hinaufgegangen" — uses "sein" as the auxiliary, since "gehen" describes a change of location.
hineingehen — to go into
Separable verb: hinein + gehen ("hinein" = into and away from the speaker). Present: ich gehe hinein, du gehst hinein. Perfekt: ist hineingegangen. Bundled with "gehen" in the dictionary's own entry.
Sie geht in das Haus hinein.
She goes into the house.
das Haus, ä-er = house. "Geht...hinein" — the separable prefix moves to the end of the main clause.
Wir gehen zusammen hinein.
We go in together.
zusammen = together.
hinuntergehen — to go down
Separable verb: hinunter + gehen ("hinunter" = down and away from the speaker). Present: ich gehe hinunter, du gehst hinunter. Perfekt: ist hinuntergegangen. Bundled with "gehen" in the dictionary's own entry.
Er geht die Treppe hinunter.
He goes down the stairs.
die Treppe, -n = stairs. "Geht...hinunter" — the separable prefix moves to the end of the main clause.
Wir gehen zum Fluss hinunter.
We go down to the river.
zum = zu + dem (contraction) · der Fluss, ü-e = river.
spazierengehen — to go for a walk
Separable verb built from "spazieren" (to stroll) + "gehen," always treated as one unit. Present: ich gehe spazieren, du gehst spazieren, er/sie geht spazieren. Bundled with "gehen" in the dictionary's own entry.
Wir gehen im Park spazieren.
We go for a walk in the park.
der Park, -s = park. "Gehen...spazieren" — the separable prefix moves to the end of the main clause.
Gehst du heute mit dem Hund spazieren?
Are you taking the dog for a walk today?
der Hund, -e = dog.
weggehen — to go away
Separable verb: weg + gehen. Present: ich gehe weg, du gehst weg. Perfekt: ist weggegangen. Bundled with "gehen" in the dictionary's own entry.
Geh nicht weg!
Don't go away!
Informal du-imperative — "geh...weg," the separable prefix at the end.
Sie ist ohne ein Wort weggegangen.
She left without a word.
ohne + Akkusativ = without · das Wort, ä-er = word. Perfekt tense: "ist...weggegangen" — uses "sein" as the auxiliary.
zurückgehen — to go back
Separable verb: zurück + gehen. Present: ich gehe zurück, du gehst zurück. Perfekt: ist zurückgegangen. Corrected from the OCR-garbled "zuriickgehen." Bundled with "gehen" in the dictionary's own entry.
Wir gehen jetzt zurück.
We're going back now.
jetzt = now. "Gehen...zurück" — the separable prefix moves to the end of the main clause.
Sollen wir zum Auto zurückgehen?
Should we go back to the car?
sollen = should · zum = zu + dem (contraction) · das Auto, -s = car. With a modal ("sollen"), the separable verb stays together as the infinitive at the end.
das Gehirn — brain
Plural: die Gehirne. The dictionary's own example, corrected from the OCR-garbled "Schadel schiitzt": "Der Schädel schützt das Gehirn." = "The skull protects the brain."
Nom Das Gehirn ist sehr komplex.
The brain is very complex.
das Gehirn (neutral) = brain · komplex = complex. "Das" — neutral Nominativ. Gehirn is the subject.
Akk Der Schädel schützt das Gehirn.
The skull protects the brain.
der Schädel, - = skull · schützen = to protect. Neutral Akkusativ keeps the same form as Nominativ (das → das). The dictionary's own example, corrected.
Dat Der Arzt forscht an dem Gehirn.
The doctor is researching the brain.
forschen an = to do research on (+ Dativ) · der Arzt, ä-e = doctor. "Dem" because neutral Dativ (das → dem).
Nom Ein Gehirn wiegt etwa anderthalb Kilo.
A brain weighs about one and a half kilos.
wiegen = to weigh · anderthalb = one and a half. "Ein" — no ending before neutral Nominativ, same as "das."
Akk Der Chirurg untersucht ein Gehirn.
The surgeon examines a brain.
der Chirurg, -en = surgeon · untersuchen = to examine. Neutral Akkusativ indefinite looks identical to Nominativ — the article never changes for neuter nouns between these two cases.
Dat Die Forscher untersuchen die Aktivität in den Gehirnen der Patienten.
The researchers examine the activity in the patients' brains.
der Forscher, - = researcher · die Aktivität, -en = activity · der Patient, -en (weak noun) = patient. Plural Dativ: the article is "den", and Gehirn adds "-n" (Gehirne → Gehirnen) since it doesn't already end in -n or -s.
gehorchen — to obey
Governs Dativ, not Akkusativ — "jemandem gehorchen" (to obey someone), the same pattern as "helfen" and "folgen." Conjugation: ich gehorche, du gehorchst, er/sie gehorcht. The adjective gehorsam ("obedient") is bundled with this word in the dictionary and gets its own entry just below.
Dieser Hund gehorcht seinem Herrn.
This dog obeys its master.
der Herr, -en (weak noun) = master · seinem Herrn = Dativ, since "gehorchen" always takes a Dativ object. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Die Kinder gehorchen ihren Eltern nicht immer.
Children don't always obey their parents.
die Eltern (Pl.) = parents · nicht immer = not always. "Ihren Eltern" — Dativ plural, the object of "gehorchen."
gehorsam — obedient
Built from "gehorchen" (to obey) + "-sam" (an adjective-forming suffix meaning roughly "-some," as in "sparsam" from "sparen"). Bundled with "gehorchen" in the dictionary's own entry.
Der Hund ist sehr gehorsam.
The dog is very obedient.
Predicate adjective after "sein" — no ending.
Ein gehorsames Kind hört auf seine Eltern.
An obedient child listens to its parents.
hören auf = to listen to/heed (+ Akkusativ) · die Eltern (Pl.) = parents. "-es" ending — neutral Nominativ indefinite (strong adjective ending, since "ein" itself carries no ending here).
gehören — to belong (to)
Governs Dativ — the owner is in Dativ, not the thing owned: "Dieser Koffer gehört meinem Vater" (this suitcase belongs to my father), not "meinen Vater." Conjugation: ich gehöre, du gehörst, er/sie gehört. Corrected from the OCR-garbled phonetic spelling in the source.
Dieser Koffer gehört meinem Vater.
This suitcase belongs to my father.
der Koffer, - = suitcase · meinem Vater = Dativ, the owner. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Wem gehört dieses Buch?
Whose book is this?
wem = to whom (Dativ question word) · das Buch, ü-er = book. "Wem" asks specifically for the Dativ owner — exactly what "gehören" requires.
die Geige — violin
Plural: die Geigen. The dictionary's own example uses the related compound "die Geigenmusik" (violin music) rather than "Geige" itself: "Magst du Geigenmusik?" = "Do you like violin music?" — it doesn't slot into the drills below, so all six are built fresh.
Nom Die Geige klingt wunderschön.
The violin sounds beautiful.
die Geige (feminin) = violin · klingen = to sound · wunderschön = beautiful. "Die" — feminin Nominativ. Geige is the subject.
Akk Er spielt die Geige seit zehn Jahren.
He has been playing the violin for ten years.
spielen = to play · seit + Dativ = since/for. "Die" stays "die" — feminine Nominativ and Akkusativ are identical; Geige is the direct object here.
Dat Der Junge spielt ein Lied auf der Geige.
The boy plays a song on the violin.
das Lied, -er = song · auf + Dativ (fixed location) = on. "Der" because feminin Dativ (die → der).
Nom Eine Geige liegt auf dem Tisch.
A violin is lying on the table.
der Tisch, -e = table. "Eine" — feminin Nominativ indefinite, no extra ending.
Akk Sie kauft eine Geige für ihre Tochter.
She buys a violin for her daughter.
kaufen = to buy · die Tochter, ö- = daughter. "Eine" stays "eine" in Akkusativ — feminine indefinite is unchanged from Nominativ, the same pattern as "die"/"die" for the definite article.
Dat Das Orchester begleitet den Sänger mit den Geigen.
The orchestra accompanies the singer with the violins.
das Orchester, - = orchestra · begleiten = to accompany · der Sänger, - = singer. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Geigen already ends in "-n" (from its own "-n" plural), so no further "-n" is added.
der Geist — ghost
Plural: die Geister. The dictionary's own example uses a bare, article-free plural for a general statement: "Glaubst du an Geister?" = "Do you believe in ghosts?" It's adapted to a definite singular for the Akkusativ example below.
Nom Der Geist erscheint jede Nacht.
The ghost appears every night.
der Geist, -er (maskulin) = ghost · erscheinen = to appear · jede Nacht = every night. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ. Geist is the subject.
Akk Glaubst du an den Geist in diesem Schloss?
Do you believe in the ghost in this castle?
glauben an = to believe in (+ Akkusativ) · das Schloss, ö-er = castle. "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den). Adapted from the dictionary's own example (originally the bare plural "Geister") to show the definite article.
Dat Die Kinder haben Angst vor dem Geist.
The children are afraid of the ghost.
Angst haben vor = to be afraid of (+ Dativ). "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem).
Nom Ein Geist spukt im alten Haus.
A ghost haunts the old house.
spuken = to haunt · im = in + dem (contraction). "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ, same as "der."
Akk Niemand hat je einen Geist gesehen.
Nobody has ever seen a ghost.
je = ever · sehen = to see. "Einen" because maskulin Akkusativ indefinite (ein → einen) — mirrors der → den.
Dat Viele Legenden erzählen von den Geistern dieses Waldes.
Many legends tell of the ghosts of this forest.
die Legende, -n = legend · erzählen von = to tell of (+ Dativ) · der Wald, ä-er = forest. Plural Dativ: the article is "den", and Geist adds "-n" (Geister → Geistern) since it doesn't already end in -n or -s.
geizig — stingy
Regular adjective. The dictionary's own example uses it as a predicate adjective (after "sein"), where it takes no ending at all.
Er ist zu geizig, um sein Essen zu teilen.
He is too stingy to share his food.
teilen = to share · um...zu = in order to. Predicate adjective — no ending. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Meine Nachbarin ist ziemlich geizig.
My neighbor is quite stingy.
die Nachbarin, -nen = neighbor (f.) · ziemlich = quite/rather.
gelb — yellow
Regular adjective, no capital letter (unlike the noun "das Gelb" for the color itself).
Der Schulbus ist gelb.
The school bus is yellow.
der Schulbus, -se = school bus. Predicate adjective — no ending. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Sie trägt ein gelbes Kleid.
She's wearing a yellow dress.
tragen = to wear · das Kleid, -er = dress. "-es" ending — neutral Akkusativ indefinite (strong adjective ending, since "ein" carries no ending here).
das Geld — money
A mass noun like "Wasser" or "Blut" — you can't say "ein Geld," so this entry skips the indefinite-article drill; the everyday plural "die Gelder" (funds) is rare and mostly formal/financial, so the plural drill is skipped too. The compound Geldautomat, der ("automatic teller"/ATM) is bundled with this word in the dictionary and gets its own entry just below. The dictionary's own example, adapted from a possessive to the definite article: "Ich habe mein ganzes Geld ausgegeben." = "I have spent all my money."
Nom Das Geld liegt auf dem Tisch.
The money is lying on the table.
das Geld (neutral) = money · der Tisch, -e = table. "Das" — neutral Nominativ. Geld is the subject.
Akk Ich habe das ganze Geld ausgegeben.
I have spent all the money.
ausgeben = to spend (separable) · ganz = whole/all. Neutral Akkusativ keeps the same form as Nominativ (das → das). Adapted from the dictionary's own example, which used the possessive "mein" instead of the article.
Dat Er kauft ein Auto mit dem Geld.
He buys a car with the money.
kaufen = to buy · mit + Dativ = with. "Dem" because neutral Dativ (das → dem).
der Geldautomat — automatic teller (ATM)
Plural: die Geldautomaten. Weak noun — "Automat" belongs to the same family as "der Präsident," "der Soldat," and "der Elefant" and adds "-en" in every case except Nominativ singular: der Geldautomat, but den/dem Geldautomaten. Built from "das Geld" (money) + "der Automat" (machine/automaton).
Nom Der Geldautomat funktioniert nicht.
The ATM isn't working.
der Geldautomat, -en (maskulin, schwach) = ATM · funktionieren = to work/function. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ; weak nouns are unmarked in the Nominativ singular.
Akk Ich benutze den Geldautomaten vor der Bank.
I use the ATM in front of the bank.
benutzen = to use · die Bank, -en = bank. "Den Geldautomaten" — the weak noun adds "-en" in Akkusativ, unlike a regular masculine noun.
Dat Sie hebt Geld an dem Geldautomaten ab.
She withdraws money at the ATM.
abheben = to withdraw (separable) · an + Dativ (fixed location) = at. "Dem Geldautomaten" — the weak noun keeps the "-en" in Dativ too.
Nom Ein Geldautomat steht an der Ecke.
An ATM stands on the corner.
die Ecke, -n = corner. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ; still no weak-noun ending here since it's Nominativ.
Akk Wir suchen einen Geldautomaten in der Nähe.
We're looking for an ATM nearby.
in der Nähe = nearby. "Einen Geldautomaten" — the weak-noun "-en" appears here too, even after the indefinite article.
Dat An den Geldautomaten der Stadt gibt es lange Schlangen.
There are long lines at the city's ATMs.
die Schlange, -n = line/queue. Plural Dativ: article "den"; "Geldautomaten" already ends in -n (from the plural and the weak-noun ending together), so no further change.
das Gemälde — picture; painting
Plural: die Gemälde (unchanged — like most neuter nouns ending in unstressed "-e"). Built from "malen" (to paint) via the collective prefix "Ge-," the same pattern as "das Gebirge" (mountains, from "der Berg"). The dictionary's own example spans the page break in the source: "Das Gemälde ist von Monet." = "The painting is by Monet."
Nom Das Gemälde ist von Monet.
The painting is by Monet.
das Gemälde (neutral) = picture/painting · von + Dativ = by (authorship). "Das" — neutral Nominativ. Gemälde is the subject. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Akk Wir betrachten das Gemälde lange.
We look at the painting for a long time.
betrachten = to look at/observe · lange = for a long time. Neutral Akkusativ keeps the same form as Nominativ (das → das).
Dat Der Rahmen passt gut zu dem Gemälde.
The frame goes well with the painting.
der Rahmen, - = frame · passen zu = to go with/match (+ Dativ). "Dem" because neutral Dativ (das → dem).
Nom Ein Gemälde hängt über dem Sofa.
A painting hangs above the sofa.
hängen = to hang · über + Dativ (fixed location) = above · das Sofa, -s = sofa. "Ein" — no ending before neutral Nominativ, same as "das."
Akk Der Künstler verkauft ein Gemälde.
The artist sells a painting.
der Künstler, - = artist · verkaufen = to sell. Neutral Akkusativ indefinite looks identical to Nominativ — the article never changes for neuter nouns between these two cases.
Dat Das Museum widmet den Gemälden einen eigenen Saal.
The museum dedicates a separate hall to the paintings.
widmen = to dedicate (+ Dativ for the recipient) · eigen = separate/own · der Saal, Säle = hall. Plural Dativ: the article is "den", and Gemälde adds "-n" (Gemälde → Gemälden) since it doesn't already end in -n or -s.