Appearance
Vocab: Body — A1 (1)
Body vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
anfassen — to touch, handle; to tackle, deal with
Anfassen takes an accusative object. In a main clause its prefix an separates, but after a modal verb, würde, or another verb form that requires an infinitive, the infinitive stays together as anfassen.
Das Kind fasst die heiße Tasse nicht an.
The child does not touch the hot cup.
das Kind is the child, heiß means hot, and die Tasse is the cup. die heiße Tasse is accusative because anfassen takes a direct object; the finite verb is in position two and the prefix an is at the end.
Ich habe den Stoff kurz angefasst.
I touched the fabric briefly.
der Stoff is the fabric or material and kurz means briefly. den Stoff is accusative as the direct object, and angefasst stands at the end with habe as the auxiliary.
Sie fasste den Knopf vorsichtig an.
She carefully touched the button.
der Knopf is the button and vorsichtig means carefully. den Knopf is accusative because it is the object; in the simple past, fasste is in position two and an is separated to the end.
Fass das nicht an!
Don't touch that!
das means that or it, and nicht means not. This informal singular imperative takes the accusative object das; the prefix an goes to the end.
Ich würde die nasse Farbe nicht anfassen.
I would not touch the wet paint.
nass means wet and die Farbe is the paint. die nasse Farbe is accusative as the direct object, and the infinitive anfassen remains together at the end after würde.
Du wirst den alten Computer nicht anfassen.
You will not touch the old computer.
alt means old and der Computer is the computer. den alten Computer is accusative because it is the object, and the complete infinitive anfassen goes to the end after wirst.
Im Gespräch fasste das schwierige Thema an.
In the conversation, she tackled the difficult topic.
im Gespräch means in the conversation, and das schwierige Thema is the difficult topic. das schwierige Thema is accusative as the object; fasste is in position two and the prefix an goes to the end.
Wir wollen das Problem morgen anfassen.
We want to tackle the problem tomorrow.
das Problem is the problem and morgen means tomorrow. das Problem is accusative because it is the object, while the infinitive anfassen goes to the end after the modal verb wollen.
arm — poor
arm usually means having little money. It can also mean lacking something, as in arm an Erfahrung; its comparison is ärmer, am ärmsten.
Die Familie ist arm.
The family is poor.
Die Familie means the family. arm is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Sie wohnen in einem armen Dorf.
They live in a poor village.
wohnen means live and das Dorf means village. einem armen Dorf is dative because in describes a fixed location here; armen has the dative adjective ending after einem.
Heute sind viele Menschen ärmer als früher.
Today many people are poorer than before.
heute means today, viele Menschen means many people, and früher means before or in the past. ärmer als compares two situations; after sind, the comparative is predicative and has no ending.
Das ist das ärmste Viertel der Stadt.
That is the poorest district in the city.
das Viertel means the district and die Stadt means the city. das ärmste Viertel is a superlative noun phrase, and ärmste has an adjective ending after das; der Stadt is genitive after a noun phrase showing which city.
der Arm — arm; armrest, side support
This noun der Arm means the body part; it is different from the adjective arm, meaning poor. Its plural is die Arme, with an umlaut and -e.
Der Arm tut mir weh.
My arm hurts.
tut weh means hurts, and mir means to me. Der Arm is nominative because it is the subject, while mir is dative because wehtun describes whose body part hurts; the finite verb tut stands in position two.
Ich hebe den Arm.
I raise my arm.
hebe means raise or lift. den Arm is accusative because heben takes a direct object; the finite verb hebe stands in position two.
Sie gibt mir den Arm.
She gives me her arm.
gibt means gives and mir means to me. mir is dative as the recipient, while den Arm is accusative as the thing given; the finite verb gibt stands in position two.
Die Bewegung des Arms ist eingeschränkt.
The movement of the arm is restricted.
die Bewegung means the movement and eingeschränkt means restricted. des Arms is genitive because it identifies which body part the movement belongs to; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Beide Arme sind müde.
Both arms are tired.
beide means both and müde means tired. Beide Arme is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb sind agrees with the plural and stands in position two.
Die Tasche liegt auf dem Arm des Sessels.
The bag is lying on the arm of the armchair.
die Tasche means the bag, liegt means is lying, and der Sessel means the armchair. auf dem Arm is dative because auf describes a fixed location, while des Sessels is genitive to show which chair the arm belongs to.
Der Arm des Stuhls ist kaputt.
The arm of the chair is broken.
der Stuhl means the chair and kaputt means broken. Der Arm is nominative as the subject, and des Stuhls is genitive to show possession; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
das Auge — eye; eye; loop, eyelet
das Auge is the body organ used for seeing; its plural is die Augen. The expression ein Auge zudrücken means “to overlook something,” not literally to close one eye in most contexts.
Das Auge tut mir weh.
My eye hurts.
tut weh means “hurts,” and mir means “to me.” Das Auge is nominative because it is the subject, while mir is dative for the person who experiences the pain.
Ich reibe das Auge, weil es juckt.
I am rubbing my eye because it itches.
ich reibe means “I rub,” weil means “because,” and juckt means “itches.” das Auge is accusative because reiben takes a direct object; in the weil clause, the finite verb juckt goes to the end.
Sie gibt dem Auge eine Pause.
She gives her eye a break.
gibt means “gives,” eine Pause means “a break,” and the phrase means to let the eye rest. dem Auge is dative because it is the recipient of gibt, while eine Pause is the accusative thing given.
Die Farbe des Auges ist ungewöhnlich.
The colour of the eye is unusual.
die Farbe means “the colour,” and ungewöhnlich means “unusual.” des Auges is genitive because it means “of the eye”; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Seine Augen sind grün.
His eyes are green.
seine means “his,” and grün means “green.” Augen is the plural subject, so it takes the plural verb sind; the adjective after sein has no ending.
Der Faden passt nicht durch das Auge der Nadel.
The thread does not fit through the eye of the needle.
der Faden means “the thread,” passt nicht means “does not fit,” and durch means “through.” das Auge is accusative after durch, while der Nadel is genitive because it specifies which eye it is.
In dem Stoff ist ein Auge, das sich leicht verzieht.
There is a loop in the fabric that easily becomes distorted.
der Stoff means “the fabric,” sich verziehen means “to become distorted,” and leicht means “easily.” in dem Stoff is dative because in describes a location; the relative-clause verb verzieht comes after the reflexive sich and before the end.
die Augenbraue — eyebrow
The plural Augenbrauen is regular. It refers to the hair above the eye, not to the eye itself.
Die Augenbraue ist sehr dünn.
The eyebrow is very thin.
dünn means thin. Die Augenbraue is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich sehe die Augenbraue.
I can see the eyebrow.
sehen means to see. Die Augenbraue is accusative because sehen takes a direct object, while sehe stands in position two.
Ich gebe der Augenbraue etwas Farbe.
I give the eyebrow some colour.
geben means to give, and etwas Farbe means some colour. Der Augenbraue is dative because it is the person or thing receiving something; gebe is in position two.
Die Form der Augenbraue gefällt mir.
I like the shape of the eyebrow.
die Form means the shape, and gefällt mir means pleases me, or I like it. Der Augenbraue is genitive because it identifies whose shape it is; the finite verb gefällt is in position two.
Ihre Augenbrauen sind dunkel.
Her eyebrows are dark.
ihre means her, and dunkel means dark. Augenbrauen is plural, so it takes sind rather than ist; the possessive word has the plural ending -e here.
die Backe — cheek; cheek or buttock; buttock, backside
For the face, die Backe usually means cheek. In colloquial speech it can also mean buttock; the context makes the meaning clear.
Ihre Backe ist ganz rot.
Her cheek is very red.
ganz rot means very red. Ihre Backe is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich küsse ihn auf die Backe.
I kiss him on the cheek.
küsse means kiss and ihn means him. die Backe is accusative after auf here because auf die Backe describes the target of the kiss; the finite verb küsse is in position two.
Er gibt seiner Tochter einen Kuss auf die Backe.
He gives his daughter a kiss on the cheek.
seiner Tochter means to his daughter and einen Kuss means a kiss. seiner Tochter is dative because geben gives the receiver dative, while einen Kuss is accusative as the thing given.
Die Farbe der Backe ist ungewöhnlich.
The colour of the cheek is unusual.
die Farbe means the colour and ungewöhnlich means unusual. der Backe is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Bei Kälte werden die Backen schnell rot.
In cold weather, cheeks quickly turn red.
bei Kälte means in cold weather and schnell means quickly. die Backen is the plural subject, and werden stands in position two even though the sentence begins with a prepositional phrase.
Er ist auf die Backe gefallen.
He fell on his backside.
gefallen means fallen, and auf den Boden would mean onto the ground. auf die Backe is accusative because the fall is described as movement towards a target; the perfect auxiliary ist comes second and gefallen goes to the end.
Das Kind hat sich auf beide Backen gesetzt.
The child sat down on both buttocks.
das Kind means the child, beide means both, and gesetzt means sat down. auf beide Backen is accusative because sich setzen describes movement onto a place, while sich is the reflexive accusative object.
der Bart — beard
The normal meaning is facial hair. German uses Bart for the whole beard, while individual hairs can be called Barthaare.
Der Bart meines Vaters ist grau.
My father's beard is grey.
grau means grey, and mein Vater means my father. Der Bart is nominative because it is the subject; meines Vaters is genitive because it shows whose beard it is.
Ich sehe den Bart auf dem Foto.
I can see the beard in the photo.
sehen means to see, and das Foto means the photo. Den Bart is accusative because sehen takes a direct object, while the finite verb sehe stands in position two.
Ich gebe dem Bart meines Vaters etwas Pflege.
I give my father's beard some care.
geben means to give, and etwas Pflege means some care. Dem Bart is dative because geben gives something to someone or something; meines Vaters is genitive and means my father's.
Die Farbe des Bartes gefällt mir.
I like the colour of the beard.
die Farbe means the colour, and gefallen means to please or be liked. Des Bartes is genitive after die Farbe to show which beard is meant; gefällt is in position two.
Viele Männer tragen Bärte.
Many men wear beards.
viele Männer means many men, and tragen means wear. Bärte is plural and accusative because it is the direct object of tragen; notice the umlaut in the plural.
der Bauch — belly, stomach; belly
der Bauch is the outside body area, but it is also used for the stomach area in everyday speech. For actual stomach pain, German commonly uses the plural expression Bauchschmerzen.
Der Bauch tut mir weh.
My stomach hurts.
tut weh means hurts, and mir means to me. Der Bauch is nominative as the thing that hurts, while mir is dative for the person affected.
Ich wasche den Bauch des Babys.
I wash the baby's stomach.
wasche means wash, and des Babys means of the baby or the baby's. den Bauch is accusative because waschen takes a direct object; des Babys is genitive possession.
Das Kind liegt auf dem Bauch.
The child is lying on its stomach.
das Kind is the child and liegt means is lying. auf dem Bauch is dative because auf describes a fixed location, not movement; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Die Form des Bauchs ist rund.
The shape of the belly is round.
die Form means the shape and rund means round. des Bauchs is genitive masculine and shows whose shape it is; ist rund is a linking verb plus a predicative adjective.
Nach dem Essen sind unsere Bäuche voll.
After the meal, our stomachs are full.
nach dem Essen means after the meal, unsere means our, and voll means full. Bäuche is plural nominative as the subject; nach takes the dative, so dem Essen is dative.
Sie hat einen dicken Bauch.
She has a big belly.
sie means she, hat means has, and dick means big or fat. einen dicken Bauch is accusative because haben takes a direct object; the adjective has the ending -en after einen.
Der Hund schläft auf dem Bauch.
The dog is sleeping on its belly.
der Hund is the dog and schläft means sleeps. auf dem Bauch is dative because auf gives the location here; the finite verb schläft stands in position two.
das Bein — leg; bone; leg of furniture; leg of meat
For the whole leg, German uses das Bein; a foot is der Fuß. In some contexts Bein also means a bone, especially when talking about meat.
Mein Bein tut weh.
My leg hurts.
mein means my and tut weh means hurts. Mein Bein is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb tut stands in position two; weh belongs with tun in this expression.
Ich habe mir das Bein verletzt.
I injured my leg.
verletzt means injured, and mir means to myself. Das Bein is accusative because it is the object of verletzt, while mir is dative because the injury affects the speaker; the perfect auxiliary habe stands in position two and verletzt goes to the end.
Der Arzt gibt dem Bein eine Bandage.
The doctor puts a bandage on the leg.
der Arzt is the doctor and eine Bandage is a bandage. Dem Bein is dative because geben gives something to a recipient or affected part, while eine Bandage is accusative; the finite verb gibt is in position two.
Die Farbe des Beins ist ungewöhnlich.
The colour of the leg is unusual.
die Farbe means the colour and ungewöhnlich means unusual. Des Beins is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Nach dem Lauf tun mir die Beine weh.
My legs hurt after the run.
nach dem Lauf means after the run, and mir means to me. Die Beine is plural and nominative because it is the subject; nach takes the dative, and tun is plural while weh completes the expression weh tun.
Der Tisch hat ein kaputtes Bein.
The table has a broken leg.
der Tisch is the table and kaputt means broken. Ein kaputtes Bein is accusative because it is the object of hat, and the adjective ending -es agrees with the neuter noun after ein.
Zum Abendessen esse ich ein Hühnerbein.
I am eating a chicken leg for dinner.
zum Abendessen means for dinner, esse means eat, and Hühner- means chicken. Ein Hühnerbein is accusative because it is the object of esse, and the finite verb esse stands in position two.
der Blick — look, glance; view
Blick can mean a brief look or the view seen from a place. The common expression auf den ersten Blick means “at first glance”; Blick is not the same as Ansicht in every context.
Der Blick aus dem Fenster ist schön.
The view from the window is beautiful.
aus dem Fenster means from the window and schön means beautiful. Der Blick is nominative because it is the subject; aus takes the dative, while aus dem Fenster describes the source of the view.
Wir werfen einen Blick auf die Karte.
We take a look at the map.
werfen means throw, but einen Blick werfen means take a look, and die Karte is the map. Einen Blick is accusative because the fixed expression uses werfen with a direct object; auf die Karte uses accusative because the look is directed at the map.
Sie gab mir einen Blick und lächelte.
She gave me a look and smiled.
gab means gave and lächelte means smiled. Mir is dative because geben gives something to someone, while einen Blick is accusative as the thing given.
Die Wirkung des Blicks war überraschend.
The effect of the look was surprising.
die Wirkung means the effect and überraschend means surprising. Des Blicks is genitive because it identifies the look whose effect is meant; der Blick takes des and -s.
Ihre Blicke trafen sich.
Their eyes met.
ihre means their and sich treffen means meet each other; literally, the sentence says that their looks met. Blicke is the plural subject, and sich is a reflexive pronoun referring back to the two subjects.
blond — blond
The adjective describes hair colour and can be used before a noun or after sein. The related noun die Blondine means a blond woman, but blond itself is also used for men and children.
Mein Bruder ist blond.
My brother is blond.
mein Bruder means my brother. Blond is a predicative adjective after sein, so it has no ending, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Sie hat ein blondes Pferd.
She has a blond horse.
ein Pferd means a horse, and hat means has. Ein blondes Pferd is accusative because haben takes an accusative object; the adjective gets -es after the indefinite article ein.
Tom ist blonder als sein Bruder.
Tom is blonder than his brother.
als sein Bruder means than his brother. The comparative blonder follows sein without an ending, and als introduces the person used for comparison.
Von allen Kindern ist Mia am blondesten.
Of all the children, Mia is the blondest.
von allen Kindern means of all the children. Von takes the dative, while the predicative superlative uses am blondesten; do not add a noun ending after am.
Das blonde Mädchen sitzt im Garten.
The blond girl is sitting in the garden.
das Mädchen means the girl, sitzt means is sitting, and im Garten means in the garden. Blonde stands before the noun and has the adjective ending -e after das; im is short for in dem and marks location.
der Daumen — thumb
The plural of der Daumen is also Daumen, with no ending change. In Daumen drücken, the phrase literally means pressing thumbs but is used to wish someone good luck.
Der Daumen tut mir weh.
My thumb hurts.
tut weh means hurts, and mir means to me. Der Daumen is the nominative subject; mir is dative because this expression describes a sensation affecting someone, and the finite verb tut stands in position two.
Ich habe den Daumen verletzt.
I injured my thumb.
ich means I and verletzt means injured. den Daumen is accusative because verletzen takes an accusative object; the perfect uses habe in position two and verletzt at the end.
Er zeigt mir dem Daumen?
He shows me the thumb?
er zeigt means he shows and mir means to me. This sentence is not natural with dem Daumen as the object: zeigen normally takes a person in the dative and the thing shown in the accusative, so say Er zeigt mir den Daumen; this is a useful case trap.
Die Spitze des Daumens ist rot.
The tip of the thumb is red.
die Spitze means the tip and rot means red. des Daumens is genitive because it shows that the tip belongs to the thumb; the masculine noun adds -s in the genitive, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Im Winter sind meine Daumen oft kalt.
In winter my thumbs are often cold.
im Winter means in winter, oft means often, and kalt means cold. Daumen is plural but has no ending change; im is short for in dem, which is dative here because it gives a time or location setting.
dick — thick; fat, overweight
Dick usually describes the physical thickness of an object. Before a noun it takes an adjective ending, as in ein dicker Pullover, but after sein it stays unchanged.
Das Buch ist dick.
The book is thick.
das Buch is the book, and dick means thick. Dick is a predicative adjective after ist, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das ist ein dicker Pullover.
That is a thick sweater.
ein dicker Pullover means a thick sweater, and das means that. Dicker stands before the masculine noun Pullover after ein, so it takes the strong masculine ending -er; ist is in position two.
Dieser Mantel ist dicker als meiner.
This coat is thicker than mine.
dieser Mantel means this coat, and meiner means mine. Dicker is the comparative of dick and is followed by als; as a predicative adjective, it has no ending.
Von allen Büchern ist dieses am dicksten.
Of all the books, this one is the thickest.
von allen Büchern means of all the books, and dieses means this one. Von takes the dative, so Büchern is dative plural; am dicksten is the predicative superlative and has no adjective ending.
Der Hund ist ziemlich dick.
The dog is quite fat.
der Hund is the dog, and ziemlich means quite or rather. Dick is predicative after ist, so it has no ending; when describing people, this word can sound direct or impolite, so übergewichtig is more neutral.
Er trägt eine dicke Jacke.
He is wearing a thick jacket.
er trägt means he is wearing or carrying, and eine dicke Jacke means a thick jacket. Eine dicke Jacke is accusative because tragen takes a direct object; the feminine adjective after eine takes the ending -e.
das Duschgel — shower gel
das Duschgel is a count noun in German, so it has a regular plural: die Duschgele. It is used for a liquid body cleanser, not usually for shampoo, which is das Shampoo.
Das Duschgel steht in der Dusche.
The shower gel is in the shower.
steht means is standing or is located, and in der Dusche means in the shower. Das Duschgel is nominative because it is the subject; steht is in position two, and in takes dative here because this describes a location.
Ich kaufe das Duschgel im Supermarkt.
I am buying the shower gel at the supermarket.
kaufe means buy, and im Supermarkt means at the supermarket. das Duschgel is accusative because kaufen takes an accusative object; the neuter article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Meine Schwester gibt mir das Duschgel.
My sister gives me the shower gel.
meine Schwester means my sister, and gibt means gives. mir is dative for the recipient, while das Duschgel is accusative for the thing given; the finite verb gibt stands in position two.
Der Duft des Duschgels ist angenehm.
The scent of the shower gel is pleasant.
der Duft means the scent and angenehm means pleasant. des Duschgels is genitive because it tells whose scent it is; the neuter genitive adds -s to the noun, and ist stands in position two.
Im Laden stehen viele Duschgele.
There are many shower gels in the shop.
im Laden means in the shop, stehen means are standing, and viele means many. Duschgele is the plural of das Duschgel; viele is followed by the bare plural, and stehen is in position two.
dünn — thin, slender
For physical objects, dünn is the opposite of dick. For people, it can mean slim, but schlank is often more polite and positive.
Der Pullover ist dünn.
The sweater is thin.
der Pullover is the sweater. Dünn comes after ist and is predicative, so it has no adjective ending; it describes the subject rather than standing directly before a noun.
Sie trägt einen dünnen Mantel.
She is wearing a thin coat.
trägt means is wearing and der Mantel is the coat. Einen dünnen Mantel is accusative because tragen takes a direct object; after einen, the adjective gets the ending -en.
Dieses Papier ist dünner als das andere.
This paper is thinner than the other one.
dieses Papier means this paper and das andere means the other one. Dünner compares two things and is followed by als; after ist, the comparative is predicative and has no ending.
Diese Nadel ist am dünnsten.
This needle is the thinnest.
die Nadel is the needle. Am dünnsten is the predicative superlative, formed with am plus the adjective ending -sten; it does not take a noun ending here.
fett — fat; fatty; fatty; greasy; rich
For a person or animal, fett usually means fat; for food, it can mean fatty or greasy. Do not confuse lowercase fett with capitalized das Fett, which means fat as a substance.
Der Hund ist fett.
The dog is fat.
der Hund means the dog. The adjective fett comes after ist because it is a predicative adjective, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Das ist ein fetter Hund.
That is a fat dog.
das means that, and ein Hund means a dog. fetter stands before the masculine noun Hund and takes an -er ending after ein; ist remains in position two.
Dieser Hund ist fetter als meiner.
This dog is fatter than mine.
dieser Hund means this dog, and meiner means mine. fetter compares two dogs and is followed by als; after ist, the comparative is predicative and therefore has no adjective ending.
Unser Hund ist am fettesten.
Our dog is the fattest.
unser Hund means our dog. am fettesten is the predicative superlative with am; it follows ist, while the finite verb stays in position two.
Die Suppe ist zu fett.
The soup is too greasy.
die Suppe means the soup, and zu means too. fett is predicative after ist, so it has no ending; zu fett means too greasy, not simply very fat.
Ich mag keine fette Soße.
I do not like fatty sauce.
mögen means to like, keine means no or not any, and die Soße is sauce. fette Soße is the accusative object of mag, and the feminine adjective takes -e after keine.
der Finger — finger
Der Finger can refer to a finger or, in some contexts, a finger used for pointing or operating something. The singular and plural have the same noun form, but their articles differ: der Finger and die Finger.
Der Finger tut weh.
The finger hurts.
tut weh means hurts. Der Finger is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb tut stands in position two; weh is separated from tut in this fixed expression.
Ich habe den Finger verletzt.
I injured my finger.
verletzt means injured. Den Finger is accusative because it is the direct object of verletzt; habe verletzt is the perfect and the participle goes to the end.
Sie gibt dem Finger etwas Ruhe.
She gives the finger a little rest.
gibt means gives, etwas Ruhe means a little rest. Dem Finger is dative because geben assigns dative to the recipient, while etwas Ruhe is the accusative thing given.
Die Spitze des Fingers ist rot.
The fingertip is red.
die Spitze means the tip, and rot means red. Des Fingers is genitive because it says whose tip is meant; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Meine Finger sind kalt.
My fingers are cold.
meine means my, sind means are, and kalt means cold. Finger is plural but has no ending; meine Finger is nominative because it is the subject, and sind agrees with it.
der Fingernagel — fingernail
Fingernagel is a compound of Finger (finger) and Nagel (nail). Its plural is Fingernägel, with an umlaut and -e; do not use the plural of Finger for this word.
Der Fingernagel ist zu lang.
The fingernail is too long.
zu lang means too long. Der Fingernagel is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich schneide den Fingernagel.
I am cutting the fingernail.
schneide means cut. Den Fingernagel is accusative because it is the direct object of schneiden; the finite verb schneide is in position two.
Sie gibt dem Fingernagel Zeit zu wachsen.
She gives the fingernail time to grow.
gibt means gives, Zeit means time, and zu wachsen means to grow. Dem Fingernagel is dative because it is the recipient of gibt; the infinitive phrase zu wachsen comes at the end.
Die Farbe des Fingernagels ist schön.
The colour of the fingernail is beautiful.
die Farbe means the colour, and schön means beautiful. Des Fingernagels is genitive because it identifies which colour is meant; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Fingernägel wachsen langsam.
Fingernails grow slowly.
wachsen means grow, and langsam means slowly. Fingernägel is plural, marked by the umlaut and -e, and it is nominative because it is the subject.
der Fuß — foot; foot, base, lower part
der Fuß has the irregular plural die Füße, with a vowel change from u to ü. It can also be used in measurements, for example ein Fuß is a foot as a unit of length.
Mein Fuß tut weh.
My foot hurts.
mein means “my” and tut weh means “hurts”. Mein Fuß is nominative because it is the subject; the fixed expression wehtun is split here, with weh at the end.
Ich wasche meinen Fuß.
I wash my foot.
ich wasche means “I wash” and meinen means “my” in the masculine accusative. meinen Fuß is accusative because waschen takes a direct object.
Sie steht auf einem Fuß.
She is standing on one foot.
sie steht means “she is standing” and einem means “one” in the dative masculine. auf takes the dative here because the sentence describes a fixed position, not movement onto the foot.
Die Sohle des Fußes ist nass.
The sole of the foot is wet.
die Sohle means “the sole” and nass means “wet”. des Fußes is genitive because it shows which foot the sole belongs to; the noun also adds -es in this case.
Nach dem langen Spaziergang tun mir die Füße weh.
After the long walk, my feet hurt.
nach dem langen Spaziergang means “after the long walk”, mir means “to me”, and weh tun means “hurt”. die Füße is plural and the subject, so the verb is tun; mir is dative because the person experiencing the pain is expressed with a dative pronoun.
Wir stehen am Fuß des Berges.
We are standing at the foot of the mountain.
wir stehen means “we are standing” and der Berg means “the mountain”. am Fuß is dative because an describes a location here, while des Berges is genitive to show which mountain.
Am Fuß der Statue liegt eine Blume.
There is a flower at the base of the statue.
die Statue means “the statue”, liegt means “lies”, and eine Blume means “a flower”. am Fuß is dative after an for location, and der Statue is genitive because it identifies the statue’s base.
das Gesicht — face; expression; character, appearance
Gesicht normally means the physical face. In expressions such as ein bekanntes Gesicht, it can also mean a familiar person, but the plural remains Gesichter.
Sein Gesicht ist sehr freundlich.
His face is very friendly-looking.
Sein means his, and freundlich means friendly. Sein Gesicht is nominative because it is the subject; the adjective freundlich is predicative after ist and therefore has no ending.
Ich sehe dein Gesicht.
I can see your face.
Ich sehe means I see, and dein means your. Dein Gesicht is accusative because sehen takes an accusative object; the finite verb sehe stands in position two.
Sie gibt ihm einen Kuss auf das Gesicht.
She gives him a kiss on the face.
gibt means gives, ihm means to him, and einen Kuss means a kiss. Ihm is dative because geben gives the recipient the dative, while auf das Gesicht is accusative because auf describes a direction or placement onto the face.
Die Farbe des Gesichts hat sich verändert.
The colour of the face has changed.
Farbe means colour, sich verändert means has changed, and verändert means changed. Des Gesichts is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; hat sich verändert is a perfect reflexive verb phrase, and the participle is at the end.
Die Gesichter der Kinder waren müde.
The children's faces looked tired.
der Kinder means of the children, and müde means tired. Die Gesichter is plural nominative because it is the subject, while der Kinder is genitive to show possession; müde is predicative after waren and has no ending.
Nach dem Streit zeigte er ein ernstes Gesicht.
After the argument, he wore a serious expression.
Nach dem Streit means after the argument, zeigte means showed, and ernst means serious. Ein ernstes Gesicht is accusative because zeigen takes an accusative object; nach takes the dative here, so dem Streit is dative.
Das neue Gebäude gibt der Stadt ein modernes Gesicht.
The new building gives the city a modern character.
Gebäude means building, gibt means gives, and modern means modern. Der Stadt is dative because it is the recipient with geben, while ein modernes Gesicht is accusative because it is the thing given; the adjective ending changes with the article and case.
groß — big, large; tall; big, great; serious, strong
Groß can describe size, height or age, depending on the noun: ein großes Haus is a large house, while ein großes Kind can mean a tall or older child. Its comparison uses an umlaut: größer, am größten.
Meine Wohnung ist groß.
My flat is large.
die Wohnung means flat or apartment, and meine means my. Groß is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir suchen ein großes Zimmer.
We are looking for a large room.
suchen means to look for, das Zimmer means room, and wir means we. Ein großes Zimmer is accusative because suchen takes a direct object, and the neuter adjective ending after ein is -es.
Unser neues Auto ist größer als das alte.
Our new car is bigger than the old one.
unser neues Auto means our new car, and das alte means the old one. Größer is the comparative of groß; after sein it has no ending, and als introduces the comparison.
Dieses Gebäude ist am größten.
This building is the biggest.
dieses Gebäude means this building, and Gebäude means building. Am größten is the superlative used predicatively after sein; it is not an attributive form before a noun.
Der größte Raum ist im Erdgeschoss.
The largest room is on the ground floor.
der Raum means room, im Erdgeschoss means on the ground floor, and sein means to be. Größte is the attributive superlative before a masculine nominative noun and therefore has the ending -e.
Wir haben ein großes Problem.
We have a big problem.
das Problem means problem, and haben means to have. Ein großes Problem is accusative because haben takes a direct object; the neuter adjective after ein takes -es.
Sie hat große Angst vor Hunden.
She is very afraid of dogs.
Angst haben means to be afraid, der Hund means dog, and vor means of or from in this expression. Große Angst is accusative as the object of haben, while vor Hunden uses the dative after vor for the cause of the fear.
das Haar — hair; a hair
das Haar can refer to hair as a mass, while die Haare often refers to individual hairs or someone’s head of hair. The plural is therefore possible and common, not a mistake.
Mein Haar ist sehr lang.
My hair is very long.
mein means my and lang means long. Mein Haar is nominative because it is the subject; the adjective lang is predicative after sein and therefore has no ending.
Ich wasche mein Haar.
I wash my hair.
waschen means to wash and mein means my. mein Haar is accusative because waschen takes a direct object; the finite verb wasche stands in position two.
In ihrem Haar steckt eine Spange.
There is a hair clip in her hair.
in means in, ihrem means her, stecken means to be stuck or inserted, and die Spange is a hair clip. ihrem Haar is dative because in describes a fixed location; the verb steckt comes before the subject because the sentence begins with the location phrase.
Die Farbe des Haares ist dunkelbraun.
The colour of the hair is dark brown.
die Farbe means colour and dunkelbraun means dark brown. des Haares is genitive because it identifies which hair the colour belongs to; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ihre Haare sind blond.
Her hair is blond.
ihre means her, blond means blond, and sind means are. Ihre Haare is plural nominative, so the verb is plural sind; German uses the plural when referring to individual hairs or a person’s hairstyle.
die Haarbürste — hairbrush
die Haarbürste is a feminine compound noun made from das Haar and die Bürste. Its plural adds -n: die Haarbürsten.
Die Haarbürste liegt im Bad.
The hairbrush is in the bathroom.
liegen means to lie or be located, and das Bad means bathroom. Die Haarbürste is nominative because it is the subject; im Bad means in dem Bad and is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Ich nehme die Haarbürste.
I am taking the hairbrush.
nehmen means to take. die Haarbürste is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object; with a feminine noun, the article die looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Ich bürste meine Haare mit der Haarbürste.
I brush my hair with the hairbrush.
bürsten means to brush and meine Haare means my hair. meine Haare is accusative after bürsten, while mit der Haarbürste is dative because mit always takes the dative.
Der Griff der Haarbürste ist kaputt.
The handle of the hairbrush is broken.
der Griff means handle and kaputt means broken. der Haarbürste is genitive because it identifies which handle is meant; the feminine noun has no ending change, but its article is der.
Die Haarbürsten stehen im Regal.
The hairbrushes are standing on the shelf.
stehen means to stand or be upright, and das Regal means shelf. Die Haarbürsten is plural nominative and therefore takes stehen; im Regal is a fixed-location phrase in the dative.
der Hals — neck; throat; throat
der Hals usually means the outer neck, but it can also mean the throat inside the neck. Its plural is die Hälse, with an umlaut; it is not a weak masculine noun.
Der Hals tut mir weh.
My neck hurts.
tut weh means hurts, and mir means to me. Der Hals is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb tut is in position two, while the separable part weh stands at the end.
Ich wasche den Hals.
I wash my neck.
wasche means wash, and waschen means to clean with water. Den Hals is accusative because it is the direct object of wasche; the finite verb stands in position two.
Sie trägt einen Schal um den Hals.
She wears a scarf around her neck.
trägt means wears, and ein Schal is a scarf. Um takes the accusative here because the scarf is arranged around the neck, so den Hals is accusative rather than dative.
Er hat Schmerzen im Hals.
He has a sore throat.
Schmerzen means pains, and im means in the, from in dem. Im Hals is dative because in describes a location here; the phrase is the usual way to say that someone has a sore throat.
Im Winter schützen Schals die Hälse vor der Kälte.
In winter, scarves protect necks from the cold.
im Winter means in winter, Schals means scarves, schützen means protect, and die Kälte means the cold. Die Hälse is accusative because it is the object of schützen; vor takes the dative in vor der Kälte.
Ich habe Halsschmerzen.
I have a sore throat.
Halsschmerzen means a sore throat or throat pain. The phrase Halsschmerzen haben uses an accusative noun phrase, but the plural form has no article here because it is used as an uncounted complaint.
Nach dem Konzert ist mein Hals ganz rau.
After the concert, my throat is very hoarse.
nach dem Konzert means after the concert, ganz means very or completely, and rau means rough or hoarse. Mein Hals is nominative as the subject, and the finite verb ist remains in position two.
die Halsschmerzen — sore throat, throat pain
This word is normally used only in the plural: die Halsschmerzen. For one episode of throat pain, German still uses the plural, often with haben: Halsschmerzen haben.
Halsschmerzen sind oft ein Zeichen für eine Erkältung.
A sore throat is often a sign of a cold.
ein Zeichen means a sign, and eine Erkältung means a cold. Halsschmerzen is the nominative subject, and the finite verb sind is in position two.
Ich habe seit gestern Halsschmerzen.
I have had a sore throat since yesterday.
seit gestern means since yesterday. Halsschmerzen is the accusative object of habe; the finite verb habe stands in position two.
Bei Halsschmerzen trinke ich gern warmen Tee.
When I have a sore throat, I like drinking warm tea.
bei means when suffering from or in the case of, and warmen Tee means warm tea. bei always takes the dative, while trinke comes in position two in the main clause.
Die Ursache der Halsschmerzen ist noch nicht klar.
The cause of the sore throat is not yet clear.
die Ursache means the cause, and noch nicht klar means not clear yet. der Halsschmerzen is a genitive plural phrase showing what the cause is connected with; ist is in position two.
Meine Halsschmerzen werden langsam besser.
My sore throat is slowly getting better.
meine means my, and langsam besser means slowly better. Halsschmerzen is plural, so the verb is werden, and the subject comes before the finite verb in position two.
das Halsweh — sore throat
Halsweh is an uncountable neuter noun and is very close in meaning to plural Halsschmerzen. It is commonly used with haben: Halsweh haben means to have a sore throat.
Halsweh ist bei einer Erkältung ganz normal.
A sore throat is quite normal with a cold.
bei einer Erkältung means with a cold, and ganz normal means quite normal. Halsweh is the nominative subject, and ist stands in position two.
Ich habe seit gestern Halsweh.
I have had a sore throat since yesterday.
seit gestern means since yesterday. Halsweh is the accusative object of habe, although its form does not change; habe is in position two.
Bei Halsweh hilft mir warmer Tee.
Warm tea helps me when I have a sore throat.
hilft means helps, and warmer Tee means warm tea. bei takes the dative, and mir is also dative because helfen requires a person in the dative.
Die Ursache des Halswehs ist unbekannt.
The cause of the sore throat is unknown.
die Ursache means the cause, and unbekannt means unknown. des Halswehs is genitive after Ursache and has the neuter ending -s; ist is in position two.
die Hand — hand; helping hand, assistance
The plural is die Hände, with an umlaut. In expressions such as jemandem die Hand geben, the person receiving the hand is in the dative.
Meine Hand tut weh.
My hand hurts.
tut weh means hurts. weh means painful or sore. Meine Hand is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb tut stands in position two; the separable-looking expression wehtun is split here.
Ich wasche mir die Hand.
I am washing my hand.
wasche means wash, and mir means to myself. die Hand is accusative because waschen takes the thing being washed as its direct object; mir is dative for the person whose hand it is.
Gib mir bitte die Hand.
Please give me your hand.
Gib means give, mir means to me, and bitte means please. mir is dative because it is the receiver, while die Hand is accusative because it is the thing given; Gib is an imperative.
Die Finger der Hand sind kalt.
The fingers of the hand are cold.
Finger means fingers and kalt means cold. der Hand is genitive because it shows whose fingers they are; the finite verb sind is in position two.
Beim Klatschen bewegen sich die Hände schnell.
When clapping, the hands move quickly.
Beim Klatschen means when clapping, bewegen means move, and schnell means quickly. Hände is the plural subject, and the reflexive pronoun sich belongs with bewegen; the verb remains in position two.
Kannst du mir die Hand geben?
Can you give me a hand?
Kannst du means can you, and geben means give. mir is dative because it names the person receiving help, while die Hand is accusative; after the modal verb kannst, the infinitive geben goes to the end.
Bei dem Umzug brauche ich viele Hände.
I need many helping hands for the move.
Bei dem Umzug means for the move, and brauche means need. viele Hände is accusative because brauchen takes an accusative object; here the plural is figurative and means helpers.
die Haut — skin; skin; film on a liquid or food
For a person's skin, die Haut is normally used as a singular mass noun. The plural die Häute is mainly used for animal skins or clearly separate types of skin, and it has an umlaut.
Meine Haut ist im Winter sehr trocken.
My skin is very dry in winter.
im Winter means in winter, sehr means very, and trocken means dry. Meine Haut is nominative because it is the subject; ist stands in position two and trocken is a predicate adjective.
Die Sonne verbrennt die Haut schnell.
The sun burns the skin quickly.
die Sonne means the sun, verbrennen means to burn, and schnell means quickly. Die Haut is accusative because it is the object affected by verbrennt.
Die Creme hilft der Haut.
The cream helps the skin.
die Creme means the cream, and helfen means to help. Der Haut is dative because helfen always takes a dative object; the feminine article changes from die to der.
Die Farbe der Haut verändert sich im Alter.
The colour of the skin changes with age.
die Farbe means colour, verändern means change, and im Alter means with age or in old age. Der Haut is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; sich belongs to the reflexive verb sich verändern.
Die Tierärztin untersucht verschiedene Häute.
The vet examines different skins.
die Tierärztin is the female vet, untersuchen means to examine, and verschiedene means different. Häute is plural and accusative because it is the object of untersucht; this plural normally refers to animal skins or distinct types of skin.
Auf der Milch bildet sich eine Haut.
A skin forms on the milk.
auf der Milch means on the milk, and sich bilden means to form. Eine Haut is nominative because it is the thing that forms, while auf der Milch is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Bitte nimm die Haut vom Pudding.
Please remove the skin from the pudding.
bitte means please, nehmen means to take or remove, and der Pudding is the pudding. Die Haut is accusative because it is the object of nimm; vom Pudding means from the pudding.
das Herz — heart; heart, feelings; courage or kindness
The plural is die Herzen, and the genitive is des Herzens. Herz can also mean the emotional centre of a person, as in von Herzen.
Mein Herz schlägt schnell.
My heart is beating quickly.
schlägt means beats, and schnell means quickly. Mein Herz is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb schlägt is in position two.
Der Arzt untersucht mein Herz.
The doctor examines my heart.
der Arzt is the doctor, and untersucht means examines. Mein Herz is accusative because untersuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb untersucht stands in position two.
Nach dem Sport tut mir das Herz weh.
My heart hurts after sport.
nach dem Sport means after sport, and weh tun means to hurt. Mir is dative for the person affected, while das Herz is nominative as the thing that hurts; tut is in position two.
Die Gesundheit des Herzens ist wichtig.
The health of the heart is important.
die Gesundheit means health, and wichtig means important. Des Herzens is genitive because it shows whose health it is; Herz takes -ens in this form.
Viele Herzen schlagen im gleichen Takt.
Many hearts beat in the same rhythm.
viele means many, schlagen means beat, and im gleichen Takt means in the same rhythm. Viele Herzen is the plural subject, so the verb is plural: schlagen, not schlägt.
Sie hat ein großes Herz.
She has a big heart.
groß means big, and haben means to have. Ein großes Herz is accusative because haben takes a direct object; the adjective has the ending -es after ein with a neuter noun.
Er spricht aus dem Herzen.
He speaks from the heart.
spricht means speaks, and aus means from or out of. Dem Herzen is dative because aus always takes the dative; the noun has the ending -en here.
hässlich — ugly, unattractive
Hässlich describes something that is unpleasant to look at. Its regular comparison is hässlicher and am hässlichsten; it is stronger than simply saying something is not attractive.
Das Kleid ist hässlich.
The dress is ugly.
das Kleid means the dress. Hässlich is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Sie trägt ein hässliches Kleid.
She is wearing an ugly dress.
trägt means is wearing, and ein Kleid means a dress. Ein hässliches Kleid is accusative because tragen takes a direct object, and the adjective has -es after ein in neuter accusative.
Dieses Kleid ist hässlicher als das andere.
This dress is uglier than the other one.
dieses Kleid means this dress, and das andere means the other one. Hässlicher is a predicate after ist, and als introduces the thing it is compared with.
Das ist das hässlichste Gebäude in der Straße.
That is the ugliest building in the street.
das Gebäude means the building, and in der Straße means in the street. The attributive superlative is das hässlichste, with -ste plus the adjective ending -e after das.
hübsch — pretty, attractive; nice, charming
hübsch usually means pretty or attractive, especially for people, clothes, rooms or objects. It is often warmer and less strong than schön, which can mean beautiful.
Das Kind ist hübsch.
The child is pretty.
das Kind means the child. hübsch is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; das Kind is nominative as the subject.
Sie trägt ein hübsches Kleid.
She is wearing a pretty dress.
trägt means is wearing and ein Kleid means a dress. ein hübsches Kleid is accusative because tragen takes a direct object, and the neuter adjective takes -es after ein.
Dieses Bild ist hübscher als das andere.
This picture is prettier than the other one.
dieses Bild means this picture and das andere means the other one. hübscher is predicative and is followed by als; it has no adjective ending.
Das ist der hübscheste Garten im Dorf.
That is the prettiest garden in the village.
der Garten means the garden, im Dorf means in the village, and das Dorf means the village. Before the masculine noun, the superlative is der hübscheste, with the ending -e after der.
Wir haben einen hübschen kleinen Ort gefunden.
We found a nice little place.
einen kleinen Ort means a small place, and gefunden means found. einen hübschen kleinen Ort is accusative because finden takes a direct object; both adjectives take -en after einen.
Das ist eine hübsche Idee.
That is a nice idea.
eine Idee means an idea. eine hübsche Idee is a nominative predicate noun after ist, and the feminine adjective takes -e after eine.
der Kamm — comb
der Kamm is the object used for combing hair. Its plural is irregular in spelling: der Kamm becomes die Kämme with an umlaut and -e.
Der Kamm liegt im Bad.
The comb is in the bathroom.
liegt means is lying and im Bad means in the bathroom. Der Kamm is nominative because it is the subject, and liegt stands in position two.
Ich brauche einen Kamm.
I need a comb.
brauche means need and einen means a. einen Kamm is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from ein to einen.
Sie gibt ihrem Bruder den Kamm.
She gives her brother the comb.
gibt means gives and ihrem Bruder means to her brother. ihrem Bruder is dative because geben gives something to someone, while den Kamm is the accusative thing being given.
Der Griff des Kamms ist kaputt.
The handle of the comb is broken.
der Griff means the handle and kaputt means broken. des Kamms is genitive because it shows which comb has the handle; ist is in position two.
Die Kämme liegen im Schrank.
The combs are in the cupboard.
liegen means are lying and der Schrank means the cupboard. Die Kämme is the plural subject, while im Schrank is dative because in describes a fixed location.
Ich kaufe einen neuen Kamm.
I am buying a new comb.
kaufe means buy and neuen means new. einen neuen Kamm is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the adjective ending -en follows the masculine article einen.
Wo ist mein Kamm?
Where is my comb?
Wo means where and mein means my. mein Kamm is the nominative subject, and the verb ist comes directly after the question word.
das Knie — knee
das Knie has the same form in the singular and plural: das Knie, die Knie. The genitive singular is des Knies, with -s.
Mein Knie tut weh.
My knee hurts.
mein means my and tut weh means hurts. Knie is nominative because it is the subject; mein agrees with the neuter noun, and the finite verb tut stands in position two.
Ich habe mir das Knie gestoßen.
I knocked my knee.
ich habe mir ... gestoßen means I knocked or bumped, and mir means to myself. das Knie is accusative because it is the object of stoßen; mir is dative, and the participle gestoßen goes to the end.
Der Arzt hilft dem Knie mit einer Bandage.
The doctor helps the knee with a bandage.
der Arzt means the doctor, hilft means helps, and eine Bandage is a bandage. dem Knie is dative because helfen takes a dative object; mit einer Bandage is also dative because mit always takes dative.
Die Beweglichkeit des Knies ist eingeschränkt.
The mobility of the knee is limited.
die Beweglichkeit means mobility and eingeschränkt means limited. des Knies is genitive because it identifies whose mobility is meant; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Nach dem Fußballspiel tun mir beide Knie weh.
Both my knees hurt after the football match.
nach dem Fußballspiel means after the football match, beide means both, and weh tun means hurt. Knie is the unchanged plural subject, while mir is dative and means to me; the plural verb tun stands in position two.
der Knochen — bone
This word usually means a body bone. In food contexts, ein Knochen can also mean a bone given to an animal.
Der Knochen im Arm tut weh.
The bone in my arm hurts.
der Arm means the arm and tut weh means hurts. Der Knochen is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb tut stands in position two, while weh completes the fixed expression.
Der Arzt untersucht den Knochen.
The doctor examines the bone.
der Arzt is the doctor and untersucht means examines. Den Knochen is accusative because untersuchen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Sie gibt dem Hund einen Knochen.
She gives the dog a bone.
gibt means gives and der Hund is the dog. Dem Hund is dative because it is the recipient, while einen Knochen is accusative because it is the thing given.
Die Form des Knochens ist ungewöhnlich.
The shape of the bone is unusual.
die Form means shape and ungewöhnlich means unusual. Des Knochens is genitive because it tells whose shape it is; the noun adds -s and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Kinder haben starke Knochen.
Children have strong bones.
Kinder means children and stark means strong. Starke Knochen is accusative because haben takes a direct object; the plural form has no ending change, but the adjective shows the plural.
der Kopf — head; clever person; mind
Kopf is used for the body part and also in expressions about thinking or control, such as den Kopf verlieren. The fixed expression Kopfschmerzen haben means to have a headache.
Mein Kopf tut weh.
My head hurts.
mein means my and tut weh means hurts. Mein Kopf is the nominative subject; the separable verb wehtun appears as tut ... weh, with the finite part in position two.
Ich wasche mir den Kopf.
I wash my head.
wasche means wash and mir means to myself. den Kopf is accusative because it is the direct object, while mir is dative for the person affected.
Er hat sich den Kopf gestoßen.
He bumped his head.
gestoßen means bumped or hit, and sich means himself. In sich den Kopf stoßen, den Kopf is accusative and sich is dative for the person who is affected.
Die Form des Kopfes ist ungewöhnlich.
The shape of the head is unusual.
die Form means the shape and ungewöhnlich means unusual. des Kopfes is genitive and identifies whose shape it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Köpfe der Kinder sind nass.
The children’s heads are wet.
der Kinder means of the children, and nass means wet. Köpfe is the plural subject, while der Kinder is genitive and shows possession.
Sie ist ein kluger Kopf.
She is a clever person.
sie means she, klug means clever, and ist means is. ein kluger Kopf is a noun phrase after sein, so Kopf is nominative and the adjective takes -er after the masculine article ein.
Verlier nicht den Kopf!
Don’t lose your head!
verlier nicht means do not lose, and the phrase means do not panic. den Kopf is accusative because verlieren takes a direct object; the imperative places the verb first.
die Kopfschmerzen — headache, headaches
Kopfschmerzen is always plural in German, even when English says “a headache.” The common expression is Kopfschmerzen haben; do not create a singular form such as Kopfschmerz for ordinary use.
Kopfschmerzen sind unangenehm.
Headaches are unpleasant.
unangenehm means unpleasant. Kopfschmerzen is nominative and plural because it is the subject; this noun has no singular form, so use the plural verb sind.
Ich habe Kopfschmerzen.
I have a headache.
habe means have. Kopfschmerzen is accusative because haben takes a direct object, although the form looks the same as the nominative plural; German commonly says Kopfschmerzen haben without an article.
Der Arzt hilft mir gegen Kopfschmerzen.
The doctor helps me against headaches.
der Arzt is the doctor, hilft means helps, and gegen means against. Mir is dative because helfen takes a dative person, while gegen Kopfschmerzen is accusative because gegen always takes the accusative.
Wegen Kopfschmerzen bleibe ich heute zu Hause.
Because of a headache, I am staying at home today.
wegen means because of, bleibe means am staying, heute means today, and zu Hause means at home. Wegen normally governs the genitive, but the plural form Kopfschmerzen has no visible genitive ending; the finite verb bleibe is in position two after the opening phrase.
Kopfschmerzen können viele Ursachen haben.
Headaches can have many causes.
können means can, viele means many, and Ursachen means causes. Kopfschmerzen is plural-only and is the subject; with the modal können, the infinitive haben goes to the end.
das Kopfweh — headache
Kopfweh is a singular-only mass noun and is common in everyday speech, especially in the expression Kopfweh haben. It means the same as Kopfschmerzen, but Kopfschmerzen is the more standard plural noun in many contexts.
Das Kopfweh ist heute stark.
The headache is bad today.
heute means today and stark means strong or bad. Das Kopfweh is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich habe das Kopfweh seit gestern.
I have had the headache since yesterday.
habe means have, seit means since, and gestern means yesterday. Das Kopfweh is accusative because haben takes a direct object; the neuter article remains das in the accusative.
Der Arzt behandelt das Kopfweh.
The doctor treats the headache.
der Arzt means the doctor and behandelt means treats. Das Kopfweh is accusative because behandeln takes a direct object; the form of the neuter article is still das.
Wegen des Kopfwehs bleibe ich im Bett.
Because of the headache, I am staying in bed.
wegen means because of, bleibe means am staying, and im Bett means in bed. Des Kopfwehs is genitive because wegen traditionally governs the genitive; the neuter noun takes -s, and bleibe is in position two.
der Körper — body; solid, three-dimensional object
der Körper usually means the whole physical body, while der Leib is more literary or old-fashioned. In compounds, it appears in words such as Körperteil (body part) and Körpergewicht (body weight).
Der Körper braucht Bewegung.
The body needs movement.
braucht means needs and Bewegung means movement or exercise. Der Körper is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb braucht stands in position two.
Sport stärkt den Körper.
Sport strengthens the body.
Sport means sport or exercise and stärkt means strengthens. den Körper is accusative because stärken takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Nach dem Unfall tut mir der Körper weh.
After the accident, my body hurts.
Nach dem Unfall means after the accident and tut ... weh means hurts. mir is dative because the person experiencing pain is expressed with wehtun; der Körper is nominative as the thing that hurts.
Die Form des Körpers verändert sich mit dem Alter.
The shape of the body changes with age.
die Form means the shape, verändert sich means changes, and mit dem Alter means with age. des Körpers is genitive because it identifies whose shape is meant; the noun adds -s in the genitive.
Die Körper der Kinder wachsen schnell.
The children’s bodies grow quickly.
der Kinder means of the children, wachsen means grow, and schnell means quickly. Körper is plural and nominative as the subject; its spelling does not change, so die and the verb wachsen show the plural.
Der Würfel ist ein geometrischer Körper.
The cube is a geometric solid.
der Würfel means the cube, ist means is, and geometrisch means geometric. ein geometrischer Körper is nominative after sein because it identifies the subject; the adjective has the masculine ending -er.
Wir berechnen das Volumen eines Körpers.
We calculate the volume of a solid.
berechnen means calculate, das Volumen means the volume, and eines means of a. eines Körpers is genitive because it identifies whose volume is calculated, while das Volumen is accusative as the object of berechnen.
das Körperteil — body part
The compound Körperteil combines Körper, meaning body, with Teil, meaning part. It is a neuter noun, and its plural is Körperteile.
Das Körperteil tut mir weh.
The body part hurts.
tut weh means hurts, and mir means to me. das Körperteil is nominative because it is the subject, while mir is dative for the person who feels the pain; the separable expression wehtun places weh at the end of the main clause.
Der Arzt untersucht das Körperteil.
The doctor examines the body part.
der Arzt means the doctor and untersucht means examines. das Körperteil is accusative because untersuchen takes a direct object, while der Arzt is the nominative subject; the finite verb untersucht is in position two.
Ich zeige dem Arzt dem Körperteil.
I show the body part to the doctor.
zeige means show and dem Arzt means to the doctor. dem Körperteil is dative because zeigen can take the thing shown as a dative recipient in this sentence, while dem Arzt is also dative as the person shown it; this wording is less usual than Ich zeige dem Arzt das Körperteil, where dem Arzt is dative and das Körperteil is accusative.
Die Funktion des Körperteils ist wichtig.
The function of the body part is important.
die Funktion means the function and wichtig means important. des Körperteils is genitive because it identifies whose function it is, and the neuter noun adds -s; ist is in position two.
Viele Körperteile arbeiten zusammen.
Many body parts work together.
viele means many and zusammenarbeiten means to work together. Körperteile is the plural nominative subject, so the verb is arbeiten; zusammen is the separable prefix and stands at the end of the main clause.
der Magen — stomach
The plural is die Mägen, with an umlaut and -en. In medical contexts, der Magen is also used in compounds such as Magenschmerzen.
Mein Magen tut weh.
My stomach hurts.
weh tun means to hurt. Mein means my. Mein Magen is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb tut stands in position two.
Ich habe einen empfindlichen Magen.
I have a sensitive stomach.
empfindlich means sensitive. einen empfindlichen Magen is accusative because haben takes an accusative object; the adjective has the ending -en after einen.
Der Tee hilft meinem Magen.
The tea helps my stomach.
der Tee is tea and helfen means to help. meinem Magen is dative because helfen governs the dative; the finite verb hilft is in position two.
Die Gesundheit des Magens ist wichtig.
The health of the stomach is important.
die Gesundheit means health and wichtig means important. des Magens is genitive because it says whose health; Magen takes -s in the masculine genitive singular.
Zu viel Essen belastet die Mägen.
Too much food puts strain on the stomachs.
zu viel Essen means too much food and belasten means to put strain on. die Mägen is plural accusative because belasten takes an accusative object; the plural has an umlaut and -en.
die Magenschmerzen — stomach ache, stomach pains; stomach ache, stomach pains
Die Magenschmerzen is a plural-only noun: it has no singular form. German commonly uses the plural even when English says “stomach ache” in the singular.
Magenschmerzen sind unangenehm.
Stomach ache is unpleasant.
unangenehm means unpleasant. Magenschmerzen is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb sind stands in position two.
Ich habe starke Magenschmerzen.
I have severe stomach ache.
stark means severe or strong. Magenschmerzen is accusative because haben takes an accusative object; as a plural-only noun, it has the same form in the accusative.
Der Arzt hilft mir gegen die Magenschmerzen.
The doctor helps me with the stomach ache.
der Arzt means the doctor, helfen means to help, and gegen means against or for relief from. Mir is dative because helfen governs the dative, while die Magenschmerzen is accusative after gegen.
Wegen der Magenschmerzen kann sie nicht schlafen.
Because of the stomach ache, she cannot sleep.
wegen means because of, können means can, and schlafen means to sleep. Der Magenschmerzen is genitive after wegen; the finite verb kann stands in position two, while schlafen goes to the end.
Nach dem Essen bekomme ich oft Magenschmerzen.
I often get stomach ache after eating.
nach dem Essen means after eating, bekommen means to get, and oft means often. Magenschmerzen is an accusative object after bekomme; the plural-only noun keeps this form in the plural.
Seit gestern habe ich wieder Magenschmerzen.
I have stomach ache again since yesterday.
seit gestern means since yesterday and wieder means again. Magenschmerzen is the accusative object of habe; the time expression seit gestern comes first, but the finite verb still stays in position two.
Wenn die Magenschmerzen bleiben, gehe ich zum Arzt.
If the stomach ache continues, I will go to the doctor.
wenn means if, bleiben means to continue or remain, and zum Arzt means to the doctor. Magenschmerzen is nominative as the subject of the subordinate clause, whose verb bleiben moves to the end; zum is zu dem, which requires the dative.
die Massage — massage; massage technique; massaging
The usual verb is massieren, meaning to massage. For one treatment, German normally uses the countable noun eine Massage; the plural is Massagen.
Die Massage beginnt um zehn Uhr.
The massage starts at ten o'clock.
beginnt means starts, and um zehn Uhr means at ten o'clock. Die Massage is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Ich brauche die Massage heute.
I need the massage today.
brauche means need, and heute means today. Die Massage is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the finite verb brauche is in position two.
Nach der Arbeit gönne ich mir eine Massage.
After work, I treat myself to a massage.
nach der Arbeit means after work, and gönne ich mir means I treat myself to. The pronoun mir is dative because it names the person who benefits, while eine Massage is accusative because it is the thing given or enjoyed; the finite verb gönne is in position two.
Die Wirkung der Massage hält lange an.
The effect of the massage lasts a long time.
die Wirkung is the effect, and hält lange an means lasts a long time. Der Massage is genitive because it identifies whose effect it is; the separable verb anhalten appears as hält ... an in the main clause.
Die Massagen sind sehr beliebt.
The massages are very popular.
sind means are, and sehr beliebt means very popular. Die Massagen is plural nominative because it is the subject, and the plural noun ends in -n.
Diese Massage ist besonders sanft.
This massage is especially gentle.
Diese means this, and besonders sanft means especially gentle. Massage is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist comes in position two.
Die Therapeutin erklärt die richtige Massage.
The therapist explains the correct massage technique.
die Therapeutin is the therapist, erklärt means explains, and die richtige means the correct one. Massage is accusative because it is the object of erklären; richtige has the adjective ending required after the definite article die.
der Mund — mouth; mouth, estuary (of a river)
The plural Münder is used for human or animal mouths. In expressions such as den Mund halten, the literal meaning is to hold one’s mouth, but the actual meaning is to keep quiet.
Der Mund tut mir weh.
My mouth hurts.
tut weh means hurts, and mir means to me. Der Mund is nominative because it is the subject, while mir is dative for the person experiencing the pain.
Mach den Mund auf!
Open your mouth!
Mach ... auf means open, and auf is the separable part of the verb aufmachen. den Mund is accusative because aufmachen takes a direct object; in this command, the verb comes first.
Sie gibt dem Mund etwas Wasser.
She gives the mouth some water.
gibt means gives, and etwas Wasser means some water. dem Mund is dative because geben assigns the recipient or target to the dative, while etwas Wasser is accusative.
Die Form des Mundes ist ungewöhnlich.
The shape of the mouth is unusual.
Form means shape, and ungewöhnlich means unusual. des Mundes is genitive because it identifies which mouth the shape belongs to; the noun takes the ending -es.
Die Kinder öffnen ihre Münder.
The children open their mouths.
Kinder means children, öffnen means open, and ihre means their. Münder is the plural of Mund and is accusative because it is the direct object of öffnen.
An der Mündung ist der Fluss sehr breit.
At the river mouth, the river is very wide.
Mündung means river mouth or estuary, Fluss means river, and breit means wide. An der Mündung is dative because an describes a fixed location here; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir fahren zur Mündung des Flusses.
We are travelling to the mouth of the river.
fahren means travel, zur means to the, and Fluss means river. zur Mündung is dative after zu, while des Flusses is genitive because it says which river the mouth belongs to.
der Nagel — fingernail, toenail; nail, metal spike
The body-part sense includes both fingernails and toenails. German uses Fingernagel and Zehennagel when the exact type matters.
Mein Nagel ist abgebrochen.
My nail has broken.
mein means my and abgebrochen means broken off. Mein Nagel is nominative because it is the subject; the perfect uses ist ... abgebrochen, with ist in position two and the participle at the end.
Ich schneide meinen Nagel.
I cut my nail.
schneide means cut and meinen means my. Meinen Nagel is accusative because schneiden takes a direct object; the finite verb schneide is in position two.
Unter dem Nagel steckt Schmutz.
There is dirt under the nail.
unter means under, steckt means is stuck or is located, and Schmutz means dirt. Unter dem Nagel is dative because it describes a fixed location; the finite verb steckt is in position two.
Die Farbe des Nagels ist dunkelrot.
The colour of the nail is dark red.
Farbe means colour and dunkelrot means dark red. Des Nagels is genitive because it means of the nail; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ihre Nägel sind kurz.
Her nails are short.
ihre means her and kurz means short. Ihre Nägel is plural nominative because it is the subject; the plural changes a to ä but adds no ending.
Der Nagel steckt in der Wand.
The nail is stuck in the wall.
steckt means is stuck or is located, and Wand means wall. In der Wand is dative because in describes a fixed location; the finite verb steckt is in position two.
Er schlägt den Nagel in das Holz.
He hammers the nail into the wood.
schlägt means hammers or hits, and Holz means wood. Den Nagel is accusative because it is the object of schlägt; in das Holz is accusative because in shows movement into a place.
die Nase — nose
Die Nase is feminine and has the regular plural die Nasen. In expressions about pain, wehtun takes the dative: Die Nase tut mir weh means “My nose hurts.”
Die Nase ist kalt.
The nose is cold.
kalt means cold. Die Nase is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is in position two; kalt is a predicative adjective and has no ending.
Ich putze die Nase.
I blow my nose.
putzen means to clean or blow, and ich means I. Die Nase is accusative because it is the direct object of putzen; German commonly says “clean the nose” where English says “blow my nose.”
Das Kind hat der Nase wehgetan.
The child’s nose hurt.
das Kind means the child and wehgetan means hurt. Der Nase is dative because wehtun takes the person or body part that hurts in the dative; hat ... wehgetan is the perfect form.
Die Spitze der Nase ist rot.
The tip of the nose is red.
die Spitze means the tip and rot means red. Der Nase is genitive and means “of the nose”; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Kinder haben rote Nasen.
The children have red noses.
die Kinder means the children and rote means red. Nasen is plural; it is accusative because it is the object of haben, while rote has the plural adjective ending -e.
das Ohr — ear; handle or loop on a cup or pot
Das Ohr is the body part used for hearing. In the fixed phrase jemandem ins Ohr flüstern, jemandem is dative for the person and ins Ohr is accusative because in expresses movement into the ear.
Mein Ohr tut weh.
My ear hurts.
mein means my, tut weh means hurts, and weh means painful. Mein Ohr is the nominative subject; with a singular neuter noun, the possessive form is mein, without an ending.
Ich wasche mein Ohr.
I wash my ear.
wasche means wash, and mein means my. Mein Ohr is accusative because waschen takes a direct object, but the neuter form of mein looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Sie flüstert mir ins Ohr.
She whispers in my ear.
flüstert means whispers, mir means to me, and ins Ohr means into the ear. In takes the accusative for movement into something, so ins means in das; mir is dative because jemandem flüstern means whisper to someone.
Die Farbe des Ohrs ist ungewöhnlich.
The colour of the ear is unusual.
die Farbe means the colour, and ungewöhnlich means unusual. Des Ohrs is genitive because it says whose colour it is; des marks the neuter genitive, and ist remains in position two.
Meine Ohren sind kalt.
My ears are cold.
meine means my, sind means are, and kalt means cold. Meine Ohren is a plural nominative subject, so the verb is plural sind; the noun changes from Ohr to Ohren.
Die Tasse hat ein Ohr.
The cup has a handle.
die Tasse means the cup, hat means has, and ein Ohr means a small handle. Ein Ohr is accusative because haben takes a direct object; this object sense is less common than the body-part sense.
Das Ohr der Tasse ist abgebrochen.
The cup's handle has broken off.
der Tasse means of the cup, and abgebrochen means broken off. Der Tasse is genitive because it identifies which handle; ist abgebrochen is a perfect-like state with the finite verb ist in position two.
die Pfote — paw
Die Pfote is normally used for an animal's foot; for a person's foot, use der Fuß. In informal speech, it can also describe a person's hand, but this is not the neutral word.
Die Katze hebt die Pfote.
The cat lifts its paw.
die Katze means the cat and hebt means lifts. Die Pfote is accusative because heben takes a direct object, while the finite verb hebt stands in position two.
Ich sehe die Pfote meines Hundes.
I can see my dog's paw.
ich sehe means I can see, and meines Hundes means of my dog. Die Pfote is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; meines Hundes is genitive and describes whose paw it is.
Ich gebe dem Hund ein Leckerli für die Pfote.
I give the dog a treat for its paw.
ich gebe means I give, dem Hund is the dog, and ein Leckerli is a treat. Für always takes the accusative, so die Pfote stays accusative after it; dem Hund is dative because it is the recipient.
Die Verletzung der Pfote heilt langsam.
The paw injury is healing slowly.
die Verletzung means the injury, heilt means heals, and langsam means slowly. Der Pfote is genitive after die Verletzung to show possession or association: the injury is of the paw.
Die Hunde haben schmutzige Pfoten.
The dogs have dirty paws.
die Hunde means the dogs, haben means have, and schmutzige means dirty. Pfoten is plural because there is more than one paw; after haben, the paws are a direct accusative object, although the plural article remains die.
Der Hund leckt die Pfote.
The dog is licking its paw.
der Hund means the dog and leckt means licks. Die Pfote is accusative because it is the direct object of lecken, and leckt is in position two.
putzen — to clean; to brush
Putzen usually means cleaning a room or object and takes an accusative object. It is also used for brushing teeth, as in sich die Zähne putzen; the reflexive pronoun is dative in that expression.
Ich putze jeden Samstag die Wohnung.
I clean the flat every Saturday.
jeden Samstag means every Saturday and die Wohnung means the flat or apartment. Die Wohnung is accusative because putzen takes a direct object; the finite verb putze is in position two.
Wir haben gestern das Bad geputzt.
We cleaned the bathroom yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and das Bad means the bathroom. Das Bad is accusative as the object, and haben geputzt forms the perfect; the participle geputzt goes to the end.
Sie putzte die Fenster am Morgen.
She cleaned the windows in the morning.
die Fenster means the windows and am Morgen means in the morning. Die Fenster is accusative because it is the object; putzte is the weak simple-past form in position two.
Putz bitte den Tisch!
Please clean the table!
bitte means please and der Tisch means the table. Den Tisch is accusative because putzen takes a direct object; the imperative putz comes first and the subject du is omitted.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, putzte ich die ganze Wohnung.
If I had more time, I would clean the whole flat.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and die ganze Wohnung means the whole flat. In this unreal condition, hätte is Konjunktiv II, but putzte has the same form as the simple past; in the wenn clause the finite verb goes to the end.
Morgen werde ich die Küche putzen.
Tomorrow I will clean the kitchen.
morgen means tomorrow and die Küche means the kitchen. Die Küche is accusative as the object; werde is in position two and the infinitive putzen goes to the end in the future tense.
Er putzt sich jeden Morgen die Zähne.
He brushes his teeth every morning.
sich means himself, jeden Morgen means every morning, and die Zähne means the teeth. In this body-care expression, sich is dative and die Zähne is accusative; the finite verb putzt stands in position two.
der Rasierapparat — electric shaver
Der Rasierapparat is an electric device, while a manual razor is usually der Rasierer. The word is a compound of rasieren and der Apparat.
Mein Rasierapparat ist kaputt.
My electric shaver is broken.
mein means my and kaputt means broken. Mein Rasierapparat is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is in position two.
Ich nehme den Rasierapparat mit.
I am taking the electric shaver with me.
nehmen means to take and mit means along or with. Den Rasierapparat is accusative because it is the direct object of nehme; mitnehmen is separable, so mit goes to the end.
Ich rasiere mich mit dem Rasierapparat.
I shave with the electric shaver.
mich means myself and mit means with. Mit dem Rasierapparat is dative because mit always takes dative.
Die Klinge des Rasierapparats ist neu.
The blade of the electric shaver is new.
die Klinge means the blade and neu means new. Des Rasierapparats is genitive because it shows which device the blade belongs to; ist remains in position two.
Im Geschäft stehen viele Rasierapparate.
There are many electric shavers in the shop.
im Geschäft means in the shop, stehen means stand or are located, and viele means many. Rasierapparate is the plural with -e; im is dative because it expresses location.
rasieren — to shave; to shave a particular body part
Rasieren can be transitive, as in shaving someone, or reflexive, as in sich rasieren, to shave oneself. It is a weak verb: rasieren – rasierte – hat rasiert, with haben in the perfect.
Ich rasiere mich jeden Morgen.
I shave every morning.
mich means myself and jeden Morgen means every morning. In the reflexive use, mich is accusative because it is the object of rasiere; the finite verb stands in position two.
Ich habe mich heute rasiert.
I shaved today.
heute means today. Rasiert is the Partizip II and goes to the end, while habe is the auxiliary in position two; this verb forms the perfect with haben.
Früher rasierte er sich jeden Abend.
He used to shave every evening.
früher means formerly or in the past, and jeden Abend means every evening. Rasierte is the weak-verb preterite in position two; sich is accusative reflexive for er.
Rasier dich vor dem Termin.
Shave before the appointment.
dich means yourself, vor means before, and der Termin means the appointment. The du imperative has no subject pronoun, and dich is accusative because the action is reflexive.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, rasierte ich mich täglich.
If I had more time, I would shave every day.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and täglich means every day. Hätte goes to the end of the wenn clause, while rasierte is in position two in the main clause; mich is accusative reflexive.
Morgen werde ich mich rasieren.
Tomorrow I will shave.
morgen means tomorrow. In the future, werde is the finite verb in position two and the infinitive rasieren goes to the end; mich is the accusative reflexive pronoun.
Sie rasiert ihrem Mann den Bart.
She shaves her husband's beard.
ihrem Mann means her husband and den Bart means the beard. Ihrem Mann is dative for the person receiving the action, while den Bart is accusative as the thing removed; the finite verb is in position two.
Er rasiert sich die Beine.
He shaves his legs.
sich means himself and die Beine means the legs. Here sich is dative because die Beine is the accusative object; learners often incorrectly use accusative ihn with this body-part construction.