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German Student Dictionary — Part 69
Dictionary entries, alphabetical: seit – sieben.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
seit — since
A preposition that always governs Dativ. "Seit wann?" = since when? Related to "seitdem" (since then, as an adverb) — not covered separately here.
Ich bin schon seit vier Uhr hier.
I've been here since four o'clock.
The dictionary's own example. seit = since (always + Dativ) · vier Uhr = four o'clock. Any noun after "seit" takes Dativ, e.g. "seit dem Sommer" (since the summer).
die Seite — side; page
Plural: die Seiten. Also used for page numbers without an article, as in the dictionary's other example: "Schlagen Sie ihr Buch auf Seite 36 auf." (Turn to page 36 in your book.) "Die Außenseite" (outside, an earlier part) is a compound built on this word.
Nom Die Seite ist leer.
The page is blank.
die Seite (feminin) = side/page · leer = blank/empty. "Die" — feminin Nominativ.
Akk Ich lese die Seite noch einmal.
I read the page once more.
lesen = to read · noch einmal = once more. "Die" stays "die" in Akkusativ.
Dat Er wohnt auf der anderen Seite der Straße.
He lives on the other side of the street.
The dictionary's own example. wohnen = to live · die Straße = street. "Der" because feminin Dativ (die → der) after "auf" for location.
Nom Eine neue Seite beginnt hier.
A new page begins here.
beginnen = to begin. "Eine" — no ending before feminin Nominativ.
Akk Ich schreibe eine Seite pro Tag.
I write a page a day.
schreiben = to write · pro Tag = per day. "Eine" — feminin Akkusativ indefinite, unchanged.
Dat Es gibt Bilder auf den Seiten.
There are pictures on the pages.
Plural Dativ: article "den"; Seite adds -n → Seiten.
der Sekretär — secretary
Plural: die Sekretäre. Feminine: die Sekretärin — the dictionary's own example uses this form: "Meine Sekretärin beantwortet das Telefon." (My secretary answers the phone.) A regular strong noun — unlike the similar-looking "der Bär," it does NOT take a weak -en ending; Akkusativ/Dativ singular stay "den/dem Sekretär."
Nom Der Sekretär ist freundlich.
The secretary is friendly.
der Sekretär (maskulin) = secretary · freundlich = friendly. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ.
Akk Der Chef ruft den Sekretär.
The boss calls the secretary.
der Chef = boss · rufen = to call. "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den).
Dat Ich gebe dem Sekretär die Post.
I give the secretary the mail.
geben = to give (+ Dativ for the recipient) · die Post = mail. "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem).
Nom Ein neuer Sekretär beginnt heute.
A new secretary starts today.
beginnen = to begin/start. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ.
Akk Die Firma sucht einen Sekretär.
The company is looking for a secretary.
die Firma = company · suchen = to look for. "Einen" because maskulin Akkusativ indefinite (ein → einen).
Dat Der Chef dankt den Sekretären.
The boss thanks the secretaries.
danken = to thank (+ Dativ). Plural Dativ: article "den"; Sekretär adds -en → Sekretären.
selbst — myself; -self
An invariant intensifier — the same word regardless of person: ich selbst (I myself), du selbst (you yourself), sie selbst (she herself). Not to be confused with the reflexive pronoun "sich" (below), which changes the meaning of the verb rather than just adding emphasis.
Ich habe das Kleid selbst gemacht.
I made the dress myself.
The dictionary's own example. das Kleid = dress · machen = to make.
der Sellerie — celery
Usually a mass noun, like "der Pfeffer" or "das Papier" (earlier parts) — this drill sticks mostly to the definite article. The dictionary's own example uses no article at all: "Meine Mutter kauft Sellerie im Supermarkt." (My mother buys celery at the supermarket.)
Nom Der Sellerie ist frisch.
The celery is fresh.
der Sellerie (maskulin) = celery · frisch = fresh. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ.
Akk Ich schneide den Sellerie klein.
I chop the celery into small pieces.
schneiden = to cut/chop · klein = small. "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den).
Dat Die Suppe schmeckt nach dem Sellerie.
The soup tastes of the celery.
die Suppe = soup · schmecken nach = to taste of (+ Dativ). "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem).
selten — rare
Regular adjective: eine seltene Briefmarke, seltene Tiere.
Hast du seltene Briefmarken?
Do you have any rare stamps?
The dictionary's own example. die Briefmarke = stamp. "Seltene" — plural Akkusativ ending -e (no article, strong adjective declension).
seltsam — odd; strange
Regular adjective. "Seltsam" and "komisch" are close synonyms for "strange/odd."
Das ist seltsam! Sie kommt nie zu spät zur Arbeit.
That's odd! She is never late for work.
The dictionary's own example, corrected from the OCR-garbled "spat". zu spät = late · die Arbeit = work.
der Senf — mustard
A mass noun/condiment, like "der Pfeffer" (an earlier part) — this drill sticks to the definite article only.
Nom Der Senf ist scharf.
The mustard is spicy.
der Senf (maskulin) = mustard · scharf = spicy. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ.
Akk Ich möchte etwas Senf auf meinem Sandwich.
I would like some mustard on my sandwich.
The dictionary's own example (no article, since "Senf" here is a mass noun). möchten = would like.
Dat Das Sandwich schmeckt nach dem Senf.
The sandwich tastes of the mustard.
schmecken nach = to taste of (+ Dativ). "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem).
der September — September
One of the twelve month names — like "der Pazifik" (a unique named entity, an earlier part), months keep their article but have no plural and are rarely drilled with an indefinite article. All twelve months are masculine: der Januar, der Februar ... der Dezember.
Nom Der September ist warm.
September is warm.
der September (maskulin) = September · warm = warm. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ.
Akk Wir mögen den September.
We like September.
mögen = to like. "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den).
Dat Im September gehen wir wieder zurück zur Schule.
We go back to school again in September.
The dictionary's own example. zurückgehen = to go back (separable) · die Schule = school. "Im" = in + dem — maskulin Dativ, the standard contraction for naming a month.
der Service — service
An abstract noun in the "customer/restaurant service" sense used here — this drill sticks to the definite article only, no plural. (A different sense, "ein Service," can mean a matching set of dishes, with plural "die Services" — not the meaning drilled here.)
Nom Der Service ist sehr gut in diesem Restaurant.
The service is very good in this restaurant.
The dictionary's own example. das Restaurant = restaurant. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ.
Akk Wir loben den Service.
We praise the service.
loben = to praise. "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den).
Dat Die Gäste sind zufrieden mit dem Service.
The guests are satisfied with the service.
der Gast = guest · zufrieden mit = satisfied with (+ Dativ). "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem).
die Serviette — napkin
Plural: die Servietten.
Nom Die Serviette ist weiß.
The napkin is white.
die Serviette (feminin) = napkin · weiß = white. "Die" — feminin Nominativ.
Akk Sie legt die Serviette auf den Schoß.
She puts the napkin on her lap.
The dictionary's own example. legen = to put/lay · der Schoß = lap. "Die" stays "die" in Akkusativ.
Dat Er wischt sich den Mund mit der Serviette ab.
He wipes his mouth with the napkin.
sich abwischen = to wipe (oneself), separable · der Mund = mouth. "Der" because feminin Dativ (die → der) after "mit".
Nom Eine bunte Serviette liegt auf dem Tisch.
A colorful napkin is lying on the table.
bunt = colorful · liegen = to lie/be located. "Eine" — no ending before feminin Nominativ.
Akk Ich nehme eine Serviette.
I take a napkin.
nehmen = to take. "Eine" — feminin Akkusativ indefinite, unchanged.
Dat Es liegt frisches Besteck neben den Servietten.
Fresh cutlery is lying next to the napkins.
das Besteck = cutlery · liegen = to lie/be located (static, so "neben" + Dativ). Plural Dativ: article "den"; Serviette already ends in -n, unchanged → Servietten.
der Sessel — armchair
Plural: die Sessel (unchanged). "Der Stuhl" is a plain chair; "der Sessel" specifically implies a cushioned armchair.
Nom Dieser Sessel ist sehr bequem.
This armchair is very comfortable.
The dictionary's own example. bequem = comfortable. "Dieser" declines like "der" — maskulin Nominativ.
Akk Ich kaufe den Sessel.
I buy the armchair.
kaufen = to buy. "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den).
Dat Die Katze schläft in dem Sessel.
The cat sleeps in the armchair.
die Katze = cat · schlafen = to sleep. "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem) after "in" for location.
Nom Ein bequemer Sessel steht im Wohnzimmer.
A comfortable armchair stands in the living room.
das Wohnzimmer = living room. "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ.
Akk Wir kaufen einen neuen Sessel.
We buy a new armchair.
kaufen = to buy. "Einen" because maskulin Akkusativ indefinite (ein → einen).
Dat Es gibt zwei Kissen auf den Sesseln.
There are two cushions on the armchairs.
das Kissen = cushion. Plural Dativ: article "den"; Sessel adds -n → Sesseln.
das Shampoo — shampoo
A mass noun/toiletry, like "das Plastik" or "das Papier" (earlier parts) — this drill sticks to the definite article only, no plural.
Nom Das Shampoo lässt mein Haar frisch duften.
The shampoo makes my hair smell fresh.
The dictionary's own example, corrected from the OCR-garbled "laBt". lassen = to make/let · das Haar = hair · duften = to smell (nice). "Das" — neutrum Nominativ.
Akk Ich benutze das Shampoo.
I use the shampoo.
benutzen = to use. "Das" — neutrum Akkusativ, unchanged.
Dat Meine Haare riechen nach dem Shampoo.
My hair smells of the shampoo.
riechen nach = to smell of (+ Dativ). "Dem" because neutrum Dativ (das → dem).
die Shorts — shorts
Plural-only noun (Pl.), always used in the plural like English "shorts" or "pants" — there is no singular "die Short." Foreign plural: Dativ plural adds no further ending, since "Shorts" already ends in -s.
Nom Die Shorts sind bequem.
The shorts are comfortable.
die Shorts (Pl.) = shorts · bequem = comfortable. "Die" — Nominativ plural.
Akk Wir tragen Shorts, wenn es heiß ist.
We wear shorts when it's hot.
The dictionary's own example, corrected from the OCR-garbled "heifi 1st" (no article — a general statement about clothing). tragen = to wear.
Dat Der Gürtel passt zu den Shorts.
The belt matches the shorts.
der Gürtel = belt · passen zu = to match/go with (+ Dativ). "Den" — Dativ plural; Shorts already ends in -s, so no further ending is added.
sich — herself; himself; itself; themselves
The 3rd-person reflexive pronoun (also used with formal "Sie"). Same form whether the sentence needs Akkusativ ("Er wäscht sich" — he washes himself) or Dativ ("Er kauft sich ein Buch" — he buys himself a book). 1st/2nd person reflexives use mich/dich/uns/euch instead.
Sie sah sich im Spiegel an.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
The dictionary's own example. sich ansehen = to look at (oneself), separable · der Spiegel = mirror.
sicher — certain; sure; safe
Regular adjective. "Die Sicherheit" (safety, below) is the related noun.
Ich bin sicher, dass sie heute Abend kommen.
I'm certain that they are coming this evening.
The dictionary's own example, corrected from the OCR-garbled "daB" and "abend". dass = that · heute Abend = this evening.
die Sicherheit — safety
An abstract noun — this drill sticks to the definite article only, no plural. "Der Sicherheitsgurt" (seatbelt, below) is a genuinely distinct compound built on this word.
Nom Die Sicherheit ist wichtig.
Safety is important.
die Sicherheit (feminin) = safety · wichtig = important. "Die" — feminin Nominativ.
Akk Der Bademeister ist für die Sicherheit der Schwimmer verantwortlich.
The lifeguard is responsible for the safety of the swimmers.
The dictionary's own example. der Bademeister = lifeguard · für ... verantwortlich = responsible for (+ Akkusativ) · der Schwimmer = swimmer. "Die" stays "die" in Akkusativ.
Dat Alles hängt von der Sicherheit ab.
Everything depends on the safety (measures).
abhängen von = to depend on (+ Dativ, separable). "Der" because feminin Dativ (die → der).
der Sicherheitsgurt — seatbelt; safety belt
Plural: die Sicherheitsgurte. A compound of "die Sicherheit" (safety) + "der Gurt" (belt/strap) — takes the gender of "Gurt." Bundled from the "Sicherheit" paragraph above — a genuinely distinct, everyday word.
Nom Der Sicherheitsgurt ist kaputt.
The seatbelt is broken.
der Sicherheitsgurt (maskulin) = seatbelt · kaputt = broken. "Der" — maskulin Nominativ.
Akk Ich lege den Sicherheitsgurt an.
I put on the seatbelt.
anlegen = to put on/fasten (separable). "Den" because maskulin Akkusativ (der → den).
Dat Wir fahren sicherer mit dem Sicherheitsgurt.
We drive more safely with the seatbelt.
fahren = to drive · mit = with (+ Dativ). "Dem" because maskulin Dativ (der → dem).
Nom Ein neuer Sicherheitsgurt wird eingebaut.
A new seatbelt is being installed.
einbauen = to install (separable, passive here). "Ein" — no ending before maskulin Nominativ.
Akk Der Mechaniker prüft einen Sicherheitsgurt.
The mechanic checks a seatbelt.
der Mechaniker = mechanic · prüfen = to check. "Einen" because maskulin Akkusativ indefinite (ein → einen).
Dat Bei den Sicherheitsgurten gibt es neue Vorschriften.
There are new regulations regarding seatbelts.
bei = regarding/with (+ Dativ) · die Vorschrift = regulation. Plural Dativ: article "den"; Sicherheitsgurt adds -en → Sicherheitsgurten.
sie; Sie — she, her, it, they, them; you
The same spelling covers several functions: lowercase "sie" = she/her/it, or they/them (plural); capitalized "Sie" (always capitalized, in any position in the sentence) = the formal "you," singular or plural. Also serves as the Akkusativ object form without changing spelling: "Ich liebe sie, und sie lieben mich." (I love them and they love me.) See also "dich" and "ihr" for the informal object pronouns (earlier parts).
Sie ist die Schwester meiner Mutter.
She is my mother's sister.
The dictionary's own example. die Schwester = sister. Lowercase "sie" = she (capitalized here only because it starts the sentence).
Wie viele Bücher haben Sie?
How many books do you have?
The dictionary's own example. das Buch = book. Capitalized "Sie" = the formal "you" — always capitalized, unlike "sie" (she/they).
sieben — seven
The number seven — invariant, doesn't decline like an adjective.
Die Woche hat sieben Tage.
There are seven days in the week.
The dictionary's own example. die Woche = week · der Tag = day.