German Student Dictionary — Part 36

Dictionary entries, alphabetical: herum – hinweisen auf.

Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural

herum — around (preposition, used in the circumfix "um ... herum," + Akkusativ)

Doesn't stand alone in meaning — it completes the circumfix "um ... herum" (around), with "um" taking Akkusativ. Compare the plain preposition "um" (around/at) on its own.

Die Kinder sind alle um mich herum.

The children are all around me.

um ... herum = around (circumfix, + Akkusativ) · alle = all. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

Wir sitzen um das Feuer herum.

We sit around the fire.

sitzen = to sit · das Feuer, - = fire.

das Herz — heart

Plural: die Herzen. Irregular noun — unlike ordinary neuter nouns, Herz adds "-en" in the Dativ singular too: "dem Herzen," not "dem Herz." (Nominativ and Akkusativ singular stay plain "das Herz.") The dictionary's own example, corrected from OCR (umlauts restored: "läuft," "schlägt").

Nom Wenn man läuft, schlägt das Herz schneller.

When you run, the heart beats faster.

das Herz (neutral) = heart · laufen = to run · schlagen = to beat. "Das" — neutral Nominativ; Herz is the subject of "schlägt," even though it follows the verb here (inversion after the fronted "wenn"-clause).

Akk Der Arzt untersucht das Herz des Patienten.

The doctor examines the patient's heart.

der Arzt, ä-e = doctor · untersuchen = to examine · der Patient, -en = patient (weak noun). Neutral Akkusativ unchanged (das → das).

Dat Das Museum liegt in dem Herzen der Stadt.

The museum is located in the heart of the city.

das Museum, Museen = museum · die Stadt, ä-e = city. "Dem Herzen" — Herz's irregular Dativ singular adds "-en," unlike a regular neuter noun (which would stay "dem Herz").

Nom Ein Herz ist ein wichtiges Organ.

A heart is an important organ.

wichtig = important · das Organ, -e = organ. "Ein" — no ending before neutral Nominativ, same pattern as "das."

Akk Sie hat ein großes Herz.

She has a big heart.

Idiom: "ein großes Herz haben" = to be kind-hearted/generous. "Ein" stays "ein" in Akkusativ — neuter indefinite is unchanged from Nominativ, the same pattern as "das"/"das" for the definite article.

Dat Der Arzt hilft den kranken Herzen mit neuer Medizin.

The doctor helps the sick hearts with new medicine.

helfen (+ Dativ) = to help · krank = sick · die Medizin = medicine. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Herz's plural is already "Herzen" (ends in "-en"), so no further ending is added.

das Heu — hay

Mass noun, like "Gummi" or "Käse" — no natural indefinite article or plural in everyday use, so this entry skips those drills. Bundled in the source with the distinct standalone noun Heufieber (hay fever) — its own entry just below. The dictionary's own example named the eaters as "Kinder" (children), which clashes with both the verb "fraßen" (a form of "fressen," used only for animals eating, not "essen" for people) and the given English translation "the cattle" — corrected here to "Rinder" (cattle), a one-letter OCR misread that fits both the verb and the translation.

Nom Das Heu riecht nach Sommer.

The hay smells like summer.

das Heu (neutral) = hay · riechen nach = to smell of/like. "Das" — neutral Nominativ; Heu is the subject.

Akk Die Rinder fraßen das Heu, das wir ihnen gegeben hatten.

The cattle ate the hay we had given them.

fressen = to eat (animals) · das Rind, -er = cattle/ox. Neutral Akkusativ unchanged (das → das). The dictionary's own example, corrected from "Kinder" to "Rinder" (see help note above).

Dat Die Kuh steht bis zum Bauch in dem Heu.

The cow stands belly-deep in the hay.

die Kuh, ü-e = cow · der Bauch, ä-e = belly. "Dem" because neutral Dativ (das → dem) after "in" (location — Wechselpräposition).

das Heufieber — hay fever

Compound: das Heu (hay) + das Fieber (fever) — matching the English term exactly. Like most illness names (compare "die Grippe"), often used without an article ("Ich habe Heufieber"); "das"/"ein" are added below to drill the case forms. Bundled with "Heu" in the source dictionary, which gives no separate example sentence for it, so all six below are original.

Nom Das Heufieber beginnt im Frühling.

Hay fever begins in spring.

das Heufieber (neutral) = hay fever · der Frühling, -e = spring. "Das" — neutral Nominativ; Heufieber is the subject.

Akk Viele Menschen bekommen im Mai das Heufieber.

Many people get hay fever in May.

bekommen = to get/receive · der Mensch, -en = person (weak noun). Neutral Akkusativ unchanged (das → das).

Dat Sie leidet seit Jahren an dem Heufieber.

She has suffered from hay fever for years.

leiden an (+ Dativ) = to suffer from. "Dem" because neutral Dativ (das → dem) after "an."

Nom Ein Heufieber kann mehrere Wochen dauern.

A bout of hay fever can last several weeks.

dauern = to last · die Woche, -n = week. "Ein" — no ending before neutral Nominativ, same pattern as "das."

Akk Er hat ein starkes Heufieber.

He has a bad case of hay fever.

stark = strong/severe. "Ein" stays "ein" in Akkusativ — neuter indefinite is unchanged from Nominativ, the same pattern as "das"/"das" for the definite article.

Dat Die Ärzte forschen an den verschiedenen Heufiebern der Region.

The doctors research the various types of hay fever in the region.

forschen an (+ Dativ) = to research/investigate · verschieden = various. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Heufieber's plural is unchanged (like "das Fenster, -"), then adds "-n" (Heufieber → Heufiebern) since it doesn't already end in -n or -s.

die Heuschrecke — grasshopper

Plural: die Heuschrecken. Compound: das Heu (hay) + schrecken (to startle) — the insect that startles up out of the hay/grass when disturbed. The dictionary's own example, corrected from OCR (umlaut restored: "hüpfte").

Nom Die Heuschrecke hüpfte vor der Katze weg.

The grasshopper hopped away from the cat.

die Heuschrecke (feminin) = grasshopper · weghüpfen (separable) = to hop away · die Katze, -n = cat. "Die" — feminin Nominativ; Heuschrecke is the subject.

Akk Der Junge fängt die Heuschrecke im Gras.

The boy catches the grasshopper in the grass.

fangen = to catch · das Gras, ä-er = grass. "Die" stays "die" — feminine Nominativ and Akkusativ are identical; Heuschrecke is the direct object here.

Dat Der Vogel folgt der Heuschrecke durch die Luft.

The bird follows the grasshopper through the air.

folgen (+ Dativ) = to follow · der Vogel, ö- = bird · die Luft, ü-e = air. "Der" because feminin Dativ (die → der).

Nom Eine Heuschrecke sitzt auf dem Blatt.

A grasshopper is sitting on the leaf.

das Blatt, ä-er = leaf. "Eine" — feminin Nominativ indefinite, no extra ending.

Akk Ich beobachte eine grüne Heuschrecke.

I observe a green grasshopper.

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

Dat Die Bauern haben Probleme mit den vielen Heuschrecken auf dem Feld.

The farmers have problems with the many grasshoppers in the field.

der Bauer, -n (weak noun) = farmer · das Feld, -er = field. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Heuschrecken already ends in "-n" (from its own "-n" plural), so no further "-n" is added.

heute — today

Contrasts with "gestern" (yesterday) and "morgen" (tomorrow). Fixed combo: "heute Abend" = tonight/this evening.

Heute ist mein Geburtstag.

Today is my birthday.

der Geburtstag, -e = birthday. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

Was machst du heute Abend?

What are you doing tonight?

heute Abend = tonight/this evening (fixed combo).

hier — here

Fixed pairing bundled in the source: hier ist / hier sind = "here is / here are" (sg./pl.), used to hand something over or point something out — demonstrated in the dictionary's own example below.

Hier ist das Buch, das du gesucht hast.

Here is the book you were looking for.

suchen = to search for. "Hier ist" = here is (the plural companion is "hier sind" = here are). The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

Ich wohne hier seit zwei Jahren.

I've lived here for two years.

wohnen = to live/reside · seit (+ Dativ) = since/for (time).

die Himbeere — raspberry

Plural: die Himbeeren. The dictionary's own example uses a bare plural with no article ("Ich esse sehr gern frische Himbeeren." = "I love to eat fresh raspberries.") — a general statement like that skips the article entirely, so it doesn't slot cleanly into the drills below; all six are built fresh instead, echoing the same fondness for raspberries in the indefinite Akkusativ and plural Dativ examples.

Nom Die Himbeere wächst am Strauch.

The raspberry grows on the bush.

die Himbeere (feminin) = raspberry · wachsen = to grow · der Strauch, ä-er = bush/shrub. "Die" — feminin Nominativ; Himbeere is the subject.

Akk Ich pflücke die Himbeere vorsichtig vom Strauch.

I pick the raspberry carefully from the bush.

pflücken = to pick · vorsichtig = carefully. "Die" stays "die" — feminine Nominativ and Akkusativ are identical; Himbeere is the direct object here.

Dat Der Kuchen schmeckt nach der süßen Himbeere.

The cake tastes of the sweet raspberry.

schmecken nach (+ Dativ) = to taste of · süß = sweet · der Kuchen, - = cake. "Der" because feminin Dativ (die → der).

Nom Eine reife Himbeere ist dunkelrot.

A ripe raspberry is dark red.

reif = ripe · dunkelrot = dark red. "Eine" — feminin Nominativ indefinite, no extra ending.

Akk Ich esse sehr gern eine frische Himbeere direkt vom Strauch.

I love eating a fresh raspberry straight from the bush.

Echoes the dictionary's own fondness for fresh raspberries ("Ich esse sehr gern frische Himbeeren"). "Eine" stays "eine" in Akkusativ — feminine indefinite is unchanged from Nominativ, the same pattern as "die"/"die" for the definite article.

Dat Wir backen einen Kuchen mit den frischen Himbeeren aus dem Garten.

We bake a cake with the fresh raspberries from the garden.

backen = to bake · der Garten, ä- = garden. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Himbeeren already ends in "-n" (from its own "-n" plural), so no further "-n" is added. The closest echo of the dictionary's own "frische Himbeeren" phrase, now in its natural plural Dativ home.

der Himmel — sky

Plural: die Himmel (unchanged) — rare in everyday speech, since the sky is usually spoken of as one; mostly reserved for poetic/literary use, e.g. "unter fremden Himmeln" ("under foreign skies").

Nom Die Sonne scheint; der Himmel ist blau; das Wetter ist toll!

The sun shines, the sky is blue, the weather is great!

der Himmel (maskulin) = sky · die Sonne, -n = sun · scheinen = to shine · toll = great. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ; Himmel is the subject. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

Akk Die Kinder beobachten den Himmel in der Nacht.

The children watch the sky at night.

beobachten = to observe/watch · die Nacht, ä-e = night. "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den). Himmel is the direct object.

Dat Der Vogel fliegt hoch an dem Himmel.

The bird flies high in the sky.

fliegen = to fly · hoch = high(ly). "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem) after "an" (location).

Nom Ein grauer Himmel hängt über der Stadt.

A grey sky hangs over the city.

grau = grey · hängen über (+ Dativ) = to hang over · die Stadt, ä-e = city. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ, same as "der."

Akk Der Maler malt einen roten Himmel.

The painter paints a red sky.

der Maler, - = painter · malen = to paint. "Einen" because maskulin Akkusativ indefinite (ein → einen) — mirrors der → den.

Dat Die Fotografin reist um die Welt und fotografiert unter den verschiedenen Himmeln.

The photographer travels the world and photographs under the various skies.

die Fotografin, -nen = photographer (f.) · fotografieren = to photograph. Plural Dativ: the article is "den," and Himmel's plural is unchanged (Himmel → Himmel), then adds "-n" (Himmel → Himmeln) since it doesn't already end in -n or -s — echoing the literary phrase "unter fremden Himmeln."

hinauf — up (motion away from the speaker)

Directional adverb: motion up and away from the speaker (paired with "hinunter," down and away — see below). Bundled in the source with the separable verb hinaufgehen (to go up), which the dictionary gives no separate example for — see Part 28 for that entry.

Die Katze kletterte auf den Baum hinauf und blieb stecken.

The cat climbed up the tree and got stuck.

klettern = to climb · der Baum, ä-e = tree · steckenbleiben (separable) = to get stuck. "Hinauf" reinforces the upward direction of "auf den Baum." The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

hinaufsteigen — to climb

Separable verb: hinauf + steigen (to step/climb). Present: ich steige hinauf, du steigst hinauf. Perfekt: ist hinaufgestiegen. "Steigen" describes ascending by walking or stepping (stairs, mountains), unlike "klettern" (climbing with hands and feet, e.g. up a tree, as in the "hinauf" entry above).

Willst du die Treppen hinaufsteigen oder den Fahrstuhl nehmen?

Do you want to climb the steps or take the elevator?

wollen = to want · der Fahrstuhl, ü-e = elevator · nehmen = to take. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

hinaus — out; outside (motion away from the speaker)

Directional adverb: motion outward and away from the speaker (compare "heraus," outward and toward the speaker).

Wir gehen hinaus, um nachts die Sterne zu sehen.

We go outside to see the stars at night.

nachts = at night · der Stern, -e = star. "Um...zu" + infinitive = in order to. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

hinter — behind (preposition, + Akkusativ or Dativ — Wechselpräposition)

Two-way preposition: + Akkusativ for motion toward a place behind something, + Dativ for location (as in the example below). Bundled in the source with Hintergrund, der (background) — its own entry just below, which the dictionary gives no separate example for.

Wer versteckt sich hinter dem Vorhang?

Who is hiding behind the curtain?

sich verstecken = to hide (oneself) · der Vorhang, ä-e = curtain. Dativ here ("dem Vorhang") because it answers "where," not "where to." The dictionary's own example, unchanged.

der Hintergrund — background

Plural: die Hintergründe (umlaut + -e, like "der Grund" → "die Gründe"). Built from "hinter" + "der Grund" — literally "behind-ground." Marked "(theater)" in the source, though it's used far more broadly (photo/painting backgrounds, someone's personal background, etc.). Bundled with "hinter" in the source, which gives no example sentence for it, so all six below are original.

Nom Der Hintergrund des Fotos ist unscharf.

The background of the photo is blurry.

der Hintergrund (maskulin) = background · das Foto, -s = photo · unscharf = blurry/out of focus. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ; Hintergrund is the subject.

Akk Der Maler malt den Hintergrund zuerst.

The painter paints the background first.

malen = to paint · zuerst = first. "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den). Hintergrund is the direct object.

Dat Die Schauspieler stehen vor dem Hintergrund der Bühne.

The actors stand in front of the stage background.

der Schauspieler, - = actor · die Bühne, -n = stage. "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem) after "vor" (location).

Nom Ein dunkler Hintergrund passt gut zu diesem Bild.

A dark background suits this picture well.

dunkel = dark · passen zu (+ Dativ) = to suit/match. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ, same as "der."

Akk Der Fotograf wählt einen weißen Hintergrund.

The photographer chooses a white background.

der Fotograf, -en (weak noun) = photographer · wählen = to choose · weiß = white. "Einen" because maskulin Akkusativ indefinite (ein → einen) — mirrors der → den.

Dat Der Künstler experimentiert mit den verschiedenen Hintergründen seiner Bilder.

The artist experiments with the various backgrounds of his pictures.

der Künstler, - = artist · experimentieren mit (+ Dativ) = to experiment with. Plural Dativ: the article is "den"; Hintergrund's plural takes an umlaut + "-e" (Hintergrund → Hintergründe), then adds "-n" (Hintergründe → Hintergründen) since it doesn't already end in -n or -s.

hinunter — down (motion away from the speaker)

Directional adverb: motion down and away from the speaker (paired with "hinauf," up and away — see above). Bundled in the source with the separable verb hinuntergehen (to go down) — see Part 28 for that entry. The dictionary's own example, corrected from OCR (umlaut restored: "Skiläufer," missing its umlaut in the source).

Die Skiläufer fahren den Berg hinunter.

The skiers go down the mountain.

der Skiläufer, - = skier · der Berg, -e = mountain · fahren = to go (by vehicle, ski, etc.). "Hinunter" as a directional adverb, placed at the end of the clause.

hinweisen auf — to point; to indicate

Separable verb + fixed preposition: hin + weisen + auf (+ Akkusativ) — literally "to point toward." Present: ich weise auf... hin, du weist auf... hin, er/sie weist auf... hin. The dictionary's own example sentence for this entry spills over into the next part of the dictionary, so both examples below are original.

Der Lehrer weist die Schüler auf den Fehler hin.

The teacher points out the mistake to the students.

der Schüler, - = student/pupil · der Fehler, - = mistake. "Weist...hin" — separable verb, prefix "hin" moves to the end of the clause; "auf" + Akkusativ marks what's being pointed at.

Der Wegweiser weist auf den Ausgang hin.

The signpost points to the exit.

der Wegweiser, - = signpost · der Ausgang, ä-e = exit.