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German Student Dictionary — Part 48
Dictionary entries, alphabetical: Leben – Leopard.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
das Leben — life
Plural: die Leben (unchanged, like "das Zeichen"). Bundled in the dictionary's entry alongside "leben" (to live) and "lebhaft" (lively), given their own entries next, plus the idiom seinen Lebensunterhalt verdienen = to earn a living (literally "to earn one's life-support," built from Leben + der Unterhalt).
Nom Das Leben ist manchmal schwer.
Life is sometimes hard.
das Leben (neutral) = life · manchmal = sometimes · schwer = hard/difficult. "Das" — neutral Nominativ. Leben is the subject.
Akk Wasser ist notwendig für das Leben auf der Erde.
Water is necessary for life on Earth.
notwendig = necessary · für + Akkusativ = for · die Erde = Earth. Neutral Akkusativ keeps the same form as Nominativ (das → das). The dictionary's own example, with the umlaut restored in "für" (an OCR-stripped word in the source).
Dat Im Leben gibt es viele Herausforderungen.
In life, there are many challenges.
es gibt = there is/are · die Herausforderung, -en = challenge. "Im" absorbs "dem" — neutral Dativ (das → dem) after "in."
Nom Ein neues Leben beginnt für sie in Berlin.
A new life begins for her in Berlin.
beginnen = to begin · neu = new. "Ein" — no ending before neutral Nominativ, same as "das."
Akk Er führt ein ruhiges Leben auf dem Land.
He leads a quiet life in the countryside.
führen = to lead · ruhig = quiet · auf dem Land = in the countryside. Neutral Akkusativ indefinite looks identical to Nominativ — the article never changes for neuter nouns between these two cases.
Dat Der Bericht handelt von den Leben berühmter Persönlichkeiten.
The report is about the lives of famous public figures.
handeln von + Dativ = to be about · berühmt = famous · die Persönlichkeit, -en = (public) figure. Plural Dativ: article "den"; Leben already ends in "-n," so no further ending is added — like "das Mädchen → die Mädchen → den Mädchen."
leben — to live
Regular (weak) verb: ich lebe, du lebst, er/sie/es lebt, wir leben, ihr lebt, sie leben. Bundled in the dictionary's entry alongside "das Leben" — see that entry for the related noun and idiom.
Tiere leben im Wald.
Animals live in the forest.
das Tier, -e = animal · der Wald, ä-er = forest. Present tense, "sie"-form (plural): leben. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Wir leben seit zehn Jahren in dieser Stadt.
We have lived in this city for ten years.
seit + Dativ = since/for (a duration) · die Stadt, ä-e = city. German uses the present tense with "seit" for an action that started in the past and still continues — English uses "have lived."
lebhaft — lively
Comparative/superlative: lebhaft → lebhafter → am lebhaftesten (regular). Bundled in the dictionary's entry alongside "leben" and "das Leben."
Die Kinder sind heute sehr lebhaft.
The children are very lively today.
das Kind, -er = child · sehr = very. Predicate adjective after "sind" — no ending.
die Lebensmittel — food; groceries
Marked in the source as "n. pl." — the singular "das Lebensmittel" (a foodstuff/food item) exists but is rare; everyday usage is almost always the plural, meaning "food/groceries" collectively, drilled here. The dictionary's own example, in the next entry "Lebensmittelgeschäft," uses "Lebensmittel" as a bare plural with no article ("Wir kaufen Lebensmittel im Lebensmittelgeschäft") — general statements like that skip the article, so it doesn't slot cleanly into the drills below without adaptation.
Nom Die Lebensmittel sind heute im Angebot.
The groceries are on sale today.
die Lebensmittel (Pl.) = food/groceries · im Angebot sein = to be on sale. "Die" — Nominativ plural, the article used for every gender in the plural.
Akk Wir kaufen die Lebensmittel im Lebensmittelgeschäft.
We buy the groceries at the grocery store.
kaufen = to buy · das Lebensmittelgeschäft = grocery store. "Die" stays "die" in Akkusativ plural. Adapted from the dictionary's own example, which used the bare plural "Lebensmittel" with no article.
Dat Der Koch kocht mit den frischen Lebensmitteln aus dem Garten.
The cook cooks with the fresh groceries from the garden.
der Koch, ö-e = cook · frisch = fresh · der Garten, ä- = garden. "Den" — Dativ plural always uses this article; Lebensmittel adds "-n" (Lebensmitteln) since the plural doesn't already end in -n or -s.
das Lebensmittelgeschäft — grocery store
A compound of "Lebensmittel" (food) + "das Geschäft" (store/business) — declines like "das Geschäft": plural die Lebensmittelgeschäfte, Dativ plural die Lebensmittelgeschäften. The headword's umlaut was OCR-stripped in the source ("Lebensmittelgeschaft") and is restored here.
Nom Das Lebensmittelgeschäft ist um die Ecke.
The grocery store is around the corner.
das Lebensmittelgeschäft (neutral) = grocery store · um die Ecke = around the corner. "Das" — neutral Nominativ. Lebensmittelgeschäft is the subject.
Akk Ich betrete das Lebensmittelgeschäft um sieben Uhr.
I enter the grocery store at seven o'clock.
betreten = to enter. Neutral Akkusativ keeps the same form as Nominativ (das → das). Lebensmittelgeschäft is the direct object.
Dat Wir kaufen Lebensmittel im Lebensmittelgeschäft.
We buy food at the grocery store.
die Lebensmittel (Pl.) = food/groceries. "Im" absorbs "dem" — neutral Dativ (das → dem) after "in." The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Nom Ein kleines Lebensmittelgeschäft eröffnet nächste Woche.
A small grocery store opens next week.
klein = small · nächste Woche = next week. "Ein" — no ending before neutral Nominativ, same as "das."
Akk Wir suchen ein gutes Lebensmittelgeschäft in der Nähe.
We are looking for a good grocery store nearby.
suchen = to look for · in der Nähe = nearby. Neutral Akkusativ indefinite looks identical to Nominativ.
Dat In den neuen Lebensmittelgeschäften findet man frisches Obst.
In the new grocery stores, you can find fresh fruit.
finden = to find · das Obst = fruit. Plural Dativ: article "den"; Lebensmittelgeschäft adds "-en" (Lebensmittelgeschäfte → Lebensmittelgeschäften), the same pattern as "das Geschäft → die Geschäfte → den Geschäften."
leer — empty
Comparative/superlative: leer → leerer → am leersten (regular). Opposite: voll (full).
Stellen Sie die leeren Flaschen auf den Ladentisch!
Put the empty bottles on the counter!
stellen = to put/place (upright) · die Flasche, -n = bottle · der Ladentisch, -e = (shop) counter. "Leeren" — plural weak adjective ending after "die," attributive before the noun. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
legen — to lay; to put; to place
Regular (weak) verb: ich lege, du legst, er/sie/es legt, wir legen, ihr legt, sie legen. Part of the classic legen/liegen pair: "legen" (to lay something down, an action) vs. "liegen" (to be lying, a state) — the same pattern as stellen/stehen and setzen/sitzen.
Marie legt ihre Bücher auf den Tisch.
Marie lays her books on the table.
das Buch, ü-er = book · der Tisch, -e = table. "Auf den Tisch" — Akkusativ, because placing something is a motion onto a surface. The dictionary's own example, with the umlaut restored in "Bücher" (an OCR-stripped word in the source).
Leg das Handy bitte auf den Tisch.
Please put the phone on the table.
das Handy, -s = cell phone · bitte = please. Informal imperative: "leg" (du-form, drops the "-st").
die Legende — legend
Plural: die Legenden.
Nom Die Legende erzählt von einem verlorenen Schatz.
The legend tells of a lost treasure.
die Legende (feminin) = legend · erzählen von + Dativ = to tell of · der Schatz, ä-e = treasure. "Die" — feminin Nominativ. Legende is the subject.
Akk Kennst du die Legende von König Arthur?
Do you know the legend of King Arthur?
kennen = to know. Feminine nouns keep the same form in Nominativ and Akkusativ — no change here. Legende is the direct object. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Dat Der Film basiert auf der Legende eines Drachen.
The movie is based on the legend of a dragon.
basieren auf + Dativ = to be based on · der Drache, -n (weak noun) = dragon. "Der" because feminin Dativ (die → der) after "auf" (used here for a fixed location in an abstract sense, not motion).
Nom Eine alte Legende erzählt von diesem Berg.
An old legend tells of this mountain.
der Berg, -e = mountain. "Eine" — feminin Nominativ indefinite; no ending change from the "die" pattern.
Akk Ich lese gern eine spannende Legende vor dem Schlafen.
I like to read an exciting legend before sleeping.
spannend = exciting/suspenseful · vor dem Schlafen = before sleeping. Feminine nouns don't change between Nominativ and Akkusativ (eine → eine).
Dat In den Legenden vieler Kulturen kommen Drachen vor.
Dragons appear in the legends of many cultures.
vorkommen = to occur/appear (separable) · die Kultur, -en = culture. Plural Dativ: article "den"; the plural "Legenden" already ends in "-n," so no further ending is added.
der Lehnstuhl — armchair
Plural: die Lehnstühle (umlaut + "-e"), Dativ plural die Lehnstühlen. A compound of "lehnen" (to lean/rest) + "der Stuhl" (chair).
Nom Der Lehnstuhl steht am Kamin.
The armchair stands by the fireplace.
der Lehnstuhl (maskulin) = armchair · am = an + dem · der Kamin, -e = fireplace. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ. Lehnstuhl is the subject.
Akk Setz' dich auf den bequemen Lehnstuhl!
Sit down in the comfortable armchair!
sich setzen auf + Akkusativ = to sit down on/in · bequem = comfortable. "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den). Adapted from the dictionary's own example, which used the demonstrative "diesen" instead of "den."
Dat Der Hund schläft unter dem Lehnstuhl.
The dog sleeps under the armchair.
der Hund, -e = dog · unter + Dativ (no motion) = under. "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem).
Nom Ein alter Lehnstuhl steht im Wohnzimmer.
An old armchair stands in the living room.
alt = old · das Wohnzimmer, - = living room. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ.
Akk Wir kaufen einen neuen Lehnstuhl für das Wohnzimmer.
We are buying a new armchair for the living room.
kaufen = to buy. "Einen" because maskulin Akkusativ indefinite (ein → einen).
Dat Sie saßen den ganzen Abend in den gemütlichen Lehnstühlen.
They sat in the cozy armchairs the whole evening.
gemütlich = cozy · den ganzen Abend = the whole evening (Akkusativ of duration). Plural Dativ: article "den"; Lehnstuhl takes an umlaut and adds "-n" (Lehnstühle → Lehnstühlen).
lehren — to teach
Regular (weak) verb: ich lehre, du lehrst, er lehrt, wir lehren, ihr lehrt, sie lehren. Can take two Akkusativ objects: "jemanden etwas lehren" = to teach someone something.
Meine Mutter lehrt an einem Gymnasium.
My mother teaches at a high school.
an + Dativ = at (a location) · das Gymnasium, Gymnasien = high school/academic secondary school. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Er lehrt uns Mathematik.
He teaches us math.
die Mathematik = math. "Uns" and "Mathematik" are both Akkusativ — "lehren" is one of the few German verbs that can take two direct objects.
der Lehrer — instructor; teacher
Marked in the source as "der (-in, f.)" — feminine: die Lehrerin, plural die Lehrerinnen. Masculine/mixed plural: die Lehrer (unchanged).
Nom Der Skilehrer ist großartig!
The ski instructor is great!
der Skilehrer (maskulin, a compound of "Ski" + "Lehrer") = ski instructor · großartig = great/terrific. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ. Skilehrer is the subject. Adapted from the dictionary's own example, which used the possessive "mein" instead of "der"; also restores the OCR-stripped "ß" in "großartig."
Akk Die Schüler mögen den Lehrer sehr.
The students like the teacher a lot.
der Schüler, - = student (male/general) · mögen = to like. "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den). Lehrer is the direct object.
Dat Wir danken dem Lehrer für seine Geduld.
We thank the teacher for his patience.
danken + Dativ = to thank · die Geduld = patience. "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem).
Nom Ein neuer Lehrer beginnt heute an unserer Schule.
A new teacher starts today at our school.
beginnen = to begin · die Schule, -n = school. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ.
Akk Wir brauchen einen erfahrenen Lehrer für Mathematik.
We need an experienced teacher for math.
brauchen = to need · erfahren = experienced. "Einen" because maskulin Akkusativ indefinite (ein → einen).
Dat Die Schule dankt den Lehrern für ihren Einsatz.
The school thanks the teachers for their effort.
der Einsatz, ä-e = effort/commitment. Plural Dativ: article "den"; Lehrer (already ending in "-er") adds "-n" → Lehrern.
leicht — easy; light
Two distinct senses, both drilled below: "easy" (opposite: schwer/schwierig) and "light" in weight (opposite: schwer). Comparative/superlative: leicht → leichter → am leichtesten.
Diese Übungen sind zu leicht.
These exercises are too easy.
die Übung, -en = exercise. Predicate adjective after "sind" — no ending. The dictionary's own example, with the umlaut restored in "Übungen" (an OCR-stripped word in the source).
Der Koffer ist leicht.
The suitcase is light.
der Koffer, - = suitcase. Here "leicht" means "light" (in weight), not "easy" — the same word covers both senses. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
leid tun — to be sorry
An impersonal construction: "es tut mir leid" (literally "it does sorrow to me") — the person who's sorry appears in the Dativ (mir/dir/ihm/ihr/uns/euch/ihnen), while "leid" itself never changes form.
Es tut mir leid, dass ich so spät komme.
I am sorry I am late.
spät = late. "Mir" — Dativ, the person feeling sorry. The dictionary's own example, corrected from OCR garbling: the umlaut in "spät" and the letter "I" in the English translation were both misread.
Tut es dir leid, dass du nicht gekommen bist?
Are you sorry that you didn't come?
kommen, er kommt, ist gekommen = to come. "Dir" — Dativ, the person asked about. Question word order: "tut" moves to the front.
leider — unfortunately
A sentence adverb, invariable, often placed early in the clause (frequently in first position, pushing the verb to second position).
Leider haben wir kein Auto.
Unfortunately, we have no car.
kein = no/not a. "Leider" in first position, so "haben" (the verb) follows immediately in second position — standard German word order. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
leihen — to lend; to borrow
A strong verb: leihen, lieh, geliehen — the present tense (ich leihe, du leihst, er leiht) looks regular, but the past tense and participle change the stem vowel. Reflexive "sich etwas leihen" = to borrow something (for oneself).
Kannst du mir einen Dollar leihen?
Can you lend me a dollar?
der Dollar, -s = dollar. "Mir" (Dativ, the recipient) and "einen Dollar" (Akkusativ, the thing lent) — "leihen" takes both. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Ich habe mir das Buch von der Bibliothek geliehen.
I borrowed the book from the library.
die Bibliothek, -en = library. Reflexive "sich leihen" = to borrow — "mir" (Dativ) shows the book was borrowed for oneself. "Geliehen" — strong past participle, in the Perfekt tense.
leiten — to direct; to manage; to lead
Regular (weak) verb: ich leite, du leitest, er leitet, wir leiten, ihr leitet, sie leiten (inserts an "-e-" before endings that start with a consonant, since the stem ends in "-t"). Also used for "to conduct" electricity or heat.
Der Polizist leitet den Verkehr.
The police officer is directing traffic.
der Polizist, -en (weak noun) = police officer · der Verkehr = traffic. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Sie leitet die Abteilung seit zwei Jahren.
She has been managing the department for two years.
die Abteilung, -en = department · seit + Dativ = for/since (a duration). Here "leiten" means "to manage/head" rather than "to direct" traffic.
die Leiter — ladder
Plural: die Leitern. Not to be confused with "der Leiter" (masculine) = director/leader — same spelling, different gender and meaning.
Nom Die Leiter lehnt an der Wand.
The ladder leans against the wall.
die Leiter (feminin) = ladder · lehnen an + Dativ = to lean against · die Wand, ä-e = wall. "Die" — feminin Nominativ. Leiter is the subject.
Akk Mein Vater steigt die Leiter hinauf.
My father is climbing the ladder.
hinaufsteigen = to climb up. Feminine nouns keep the same form in Nominativ and Akkusativ — no change here. Leiter is the direct object. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Dat Der Maler steht oben auf der Leiter.
The painter is standing at the top of the ladder.
der Maler, - = painter · oben = at the top/above. "Der" because feminin Dativ (die → der) after "auf" (used here for a fixed position, not motion).
Nom Eine lange Leiter steht im Garten.
A long ladder is standing in the garden.
lang = long · der Garten, ä- = garden. "Eine" — feminin Nominativ indefinite; no ending change from the "die" pattern.
Akk Wir brauchen eine stabile Leiter für die Reparatur.
We need a stable ladder for the repair.
stabil = stable/sturdy · die Reparatur, -en = repair. Feminine nouns don't change between Nominativ and Akkusativ (eine → eine).
Dat Die Feuerwehr arbeitet mit mehreren Leitern gleichzeitig.
The fire department works with several ladders at the same time.
die Feuerwehr = fire department · gleichzeitig = at the same time. Plural Dativ: article "den" (here replaced by "mehreren" = several); Leiter adds "-n" (Leitern) since the plural doesn't already end in -n or -s.
die Lektion — lesson
Plural: die Lektionen.
Nom Die Lektion ist heute besonders schwer.
The lesson is especially hard today.
die Lektion (feminin) = lesson · besonders = especially. "Die" — feminin Nominativ. Lektion is the subject.
Akk Verstehst du die Lektion?
Do you understand the lesson?
verstehen = to understand. Feminine nouns keep the same form in Nominativ and Akkusativ — no change here. Lektion is the direct object. The dictionary's own example, unchanged.
Dat Nach der Lektion machen wir eine Pause.
After the lesson, we take a break.
nach + Dativ = after · die Pause, -n = break. "Der" because feminin Dativ (die → der) after "nach."
Nom Eine neue Lektion beginnt morgen.
A new lesson begins tomorrow.
beginnen = to begin. "Eine" — feminin Nominativ indefinite; no ending change from the "die" pattern.
Akk Wir wiederholen eine alte Lektion.
We are reviewing an old lesson.
wiederholen = to review/repeat. Feminine nouns don't change between Nominativ and Akkusativ (eine → eine).
Dat Die Schüler folgen den Lektionen im Buch.
The students follow the lessons in the book.
folgen + Dativ = to follow. Plural Dativ: article "den"; the plural "Lektionen" already ends in "-n," so no further ending is added.
der Leopard — leopard
Weak noun — adds "-n/-en" in every case except Nominativ singular (den/dem/des Leoparden), the same pattern as "der Elefant" or "der Präsident." Plural: die Leoparden. The dictionary's own example uses a bare plural without an article ("Leoparden leben im Dschungel" — Leopards live in the jungle), a general statement that doesn't slot cleanly into the drills below, so all six are built fresh.
Nom Der Leopard schleicht durch das hohe Gras.
The leopard creeps through the tall grass.
der Leopard (maskulin) = leopard · schleichen = to creep/sneak · das Gras, ä-er = grass. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ. Weak nouns are unmarked in the Nominativ singular. Leopard is the subject.
Akk Der Fotograf beobachtet den Leoparden aus der Ferne.
The photographer observes the leopard from a distance.
der Fotograf, -en (weak noun) = photographer · beobachten = to observe · aus der Ferne = from a distance. "Den Leoparden" — the weak noun adds "-en" in Akkusativ, unlike a regular masculine noun.
Dat Der Tierpfleger nähert sich langsam dem Leoparden.
The zookeeper slowly approaches the leopard.
der Tierpfleger, - = zookeeper · sich nähern + Dativ = to approach. "Dem Leoparden" — the weak noun keeps the "-en" in Dativ too.
Nom Ein Leopard jagt meist allein.
A leopard usually hunts alone.
jagen = to hunt · meist = usually/mostly · allein = alone. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ; still no weak-noun ending here since it's Nominativ.
Akk Die Ranger entdeckten einen seltenen Leoparden im Reservat.
The rangers discovered a rare leopard in the reserve.
entdecken = to discover · selten = rare · das Reservat, -e = reserve. "Einen Leoparden" — the weak-noun "-en" appears here too, even though the article is indefinite.
Dat Der Dokumentarfilm folgt den Leoparden durch die Savanne.
The documentary follows the leopards through the savanna.
folgen + Dativ = to follow · die Savanne, -n = savanna. Plural Dativ: article "den"; "Leoparden" already ends in "-n" (from the plural and the weak-noun ending together), so no further change.