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Vocab: City — B1
City vocabulary at B1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
der Bezirk — district, administrative area
Bezirk is an administrative division, especially one within a city. It is more official than Stadtteil, which usually means a neighbourhood or part of a city.
Der Bezirk ist sehr groß.
The district is very large.
sehr groß means very large. Der Bezirk is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Stadt plant den Bezirk neu.
The city is redesigning the district.
die Stadt is the city, plant means plans, and neu means anew or in a new way. Den Bezirk is accusative because planen takes an accusative object; the finite verb plant is in position two.
Im Bezirk gibt es viele Parks.
There are many parks in the district.
im Bezirk means in the district, gibt es means there are, and viele Parks means many parks. Im is short for in dem, and in takes the dative here because this describes a location, not movement; gibt is in position two.
Die Verwaltung des Bezirks veröffentlicht neue Regeln.
The district administration publishes new rules.
die Verwaltung is the administration, veröffentlicht means publishes, and neue Regeln means new rules. Des Bezirks is genitive because it identifies which administration is meant; the finite verb veröffentlicht stands in position two.
Die Bezirke arbeiten zusammen.
The districts work together.
arbeiten zusammen means work together. Bezirke is plural nominative because it is the subject; zusammenarbeiten is separable, so arbeiten is in position two and zusammen goes to the end.
In diesem Bezirk wohnen viele Familien.
Many families live in this district.
in diesem Bezirk means in this district, wohnen means live, and viele Familien means many families. Diesem Bezirk is dative because in describes a fixed location; the finite verb wohnen is in position two.
der Boulevard — boulevard, broad city street
The word is used especially for a broad, representative city street. It is pronounced approximately like the French loanword, but its plural is normally Boulevards.
Der Boulevard führt direkt zum Bahnhof.
The boulevard leads directly to the railway station.
führt direkt means leads directly, and der Bahnhof is the railway station. Der Boulevard is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb führt stands in position two.
Wir überqueren den Boulevard.
We are crossing the boulevard.
überqueren means cross. Den Boulevard is accusative because it is the direct object of überqueren; the finite verb überqueren is in position two.
An dem Boulevard stehen viele alte Bäume.
Many old trees stand along the boulevard.
stehen means stand, viele alte Bäume means many old trees, and alte means old. An dem Boulevard is dative because an describes a fixed location here; the subject comes after the verb, but stehen is still in position two.
Die Geschäfte des Boulevards schließen spät.
The shops on the boulevard close late.
die Geschäfte means the shops and schließen spät means close late. Des Boulevards is genitive because it identifies which shops; the finite verb schließen stands in position two.
Die Boulevards der Stadt sind abends sehr belebt.
The city's boulevards are very lively in the evenings.
der Stadt means of the city, abends means in the evenings, and belebt means lively. Die Boulevards is plural nominative as the subject; der Stadt is genitive and shows which city they belong to.
das Einwohnermeldeamt — residents’ registration office
This compound literally refers to an office for registering residents. In some places the office has another official name, such as Bürgeramt, but Einwohnermeldeamt is widely understood.
Das Einwohnermeldeamt ist heute geschlossen.
The residents’ registration office is closed today.
heute means today, and geschlossen means closed. Einwohnermeldeamt is neuter nominative because it is the subject; the adjective geschlossen follows the linking verb ist and stands at the end of the clause.
Ich besuche das Einwohnermeldeamt.
I am visiting the residents’ registration office.
besuche means visit, and ich means I. Einwohnermeldeamt is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the neuter article das is the same in nominative and accusative.
Wir müssen zum Einwohnermeldeamt gehen.
We have to go to the residents’ registration office.
müssen means have to, gehen means go, and zum means to the. zum is short for zu dem, and zu always forces the dative; with müssen, the infinitive gehen goes to the end.
Die Öffnungszeiten des Einwohnermeldeamts stehen online.
The registration office’s opening hours are online.
Öffnungszeiten means opening hours, stehen means are listed or can be found, and online means online. des Einwohnermeldeamts is genitive and shows which office the hours belong to; Amt adds -s in the genitive singular.
In Berlin gibt es mehrere Einwohnermeldeämter.
There are several residents’ registration offices in Berlin.
in Berlin means in Berlin, gibt es means there are, and mehrere means several. Einwohnermeldeämter is the plural after mehrere; Amt changes to Ämter, with an umlaut and -er.
Für die Anmeldung brauche ich das Einwohnermeldeamt.
I need the registration office for the registration process.
für means for, Anmeldung means registration, and brauche means need. für die Anmeldung expresses purpose, while das Einwohnermeldeamt is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object.
lokal — local, regional
Lokal usually means connected with a particular town or area. Its regular comparison is lokaler and am lokalsten; before a noun, remember the adjective ending, as in lokale Nachrichten.
Das Gemüse ist lokal.
The vegetables are local.
das Gemüse means vegetables. Lokal is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir kaufen lokales Gemüse auf dem Markt.
We buy local vegetables at the market.
kaufen means buy, das Gemüse means vegetables, and auf dem Markt means at the market. Lokales is attributive and takes -es because it describes neuter accusative Gemüse after no article; Gemüse is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object.
Diese Zeitung berichtet über lokalere Themen als die große Tageszeitung.
This newspaper reports on more local topics than the major daily newspaper.
diese Zeitung means this newspaper, berichten über means report on, das Thema means topic, and die Tageszeitung means daily newspaper. Lokalere is comparative and has the adjective ending -e before plural accusative Themen; über takes the accusative here.
Der lokalste Markt liegt im alten Stadtzentrum.
The most local market is in the old town centre.
der Markt means the market, liegen means be situated, alt means old, and das Stadtzentrum means town centre. Lokalste is the attributive superlative before masculine nominative Markt; im alten Stadtzentrum means in the old town centre and uses the dative after in for location.
die Metropole — metropolis, major city; international city, metropolis
A Metropole is more than simply a big city: it is important in a region or country. The word is common in descriptions of urban life and travel.
Die Metropole wächst jedes Jahr.
The metropolis grows every year.
wächst means grows and jedes Jahr means every year. Die Metropole is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb wächst stands in position two.
Viele Menschen besuchen die Metropole.
Many people visit the metropolis.
Viele Menschen means many people and besuchen means visit. die Metropole is accusative because it is the direct object of besuchen, while the finite verb is in position two.
In der Metropole gibt es viele Museen.
There are many museums in the metropolis.
in means in and Museen means museums. Here in describes a location, so it takes the dative der Metropole; in the es gibt construction, viele Museen is accusative.
Das Zentrum der Metropole ist sehr lebendig.
The centre of the metropolis is very lively.
Zentrum means centre and lebendig means lively. der Metropole is genitive because it means of the metropolis, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Große Metropolen ziehen Touristen an.
Large metropolises attract tourists.
Große means large, ziehen ... an means attract, and Touristen means tourists. Metropolen is the plural subject, so the finite verb ziehen follows it in position two.
London ist eine internationale Metropole.
London is an international metropolis.
internationale means international. After sein, the noun phrase eine internationale Metropole is predicative and stays in the nominative form; ist is the finite verb in position two.
In dieser Metropole leben Menschen aus aller Welt.
People from all over the world live in this metropolis.
dieser means this, Menschen means people, and aus aller Welt means from all over the world. in dieser Metropole is dative because in describes location, and the verb leben is in position two.
die Siedlung — settlement, residential development
The word can describe both a general settlement and a planned residential development. It is not usually used for one individual house.
Die Siedlung liegt am Stadtrand.
The settlement is on the edge of the city.
am Stadtrand means on the edge of the city. Die Siedlung is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb liegt stands in position two.
Wir besuchen die neue Siedlung.
We are visiting the new settlement.
besuchen means to visit, and neu means new. die neue Siedlung is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object, while besuchen stands in position two.
Die Gemeinde gibt der Siedlung einen neuen Namen.
The municipality gives the settlement a new name.
die Gemeinde is the municipality, and einen neuen Namen means a new name. der Siedlung is dative because it is the recipient of gibt, while einen neuen Namen is the accusative thing being given.
Die Geschichte der Siedlung ist interessant.
The history of the settlement is interesting.
die Geschichte means the history, and interessant means interesting. der Siedlung is genitive because it shows whose history it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
In der Region entstehen neue Siedlungen.
New settlements are being created in the region.
in der Region means in the region, and entstehen means are being created or develop. neue Siedlungen is plural nominative because it is the subject, and the verb entstehen agrees with the plural.
der Springbrunnen — fountain
A Springbrunnen is a fountain whose water rises or sprays. The word is a compound of springen (to jump) and Brunnen (fountain or well); its plural is unchanged.
Der Springbrunnen steht mitten auf dem Platz.
The fountain stands in the middle of the square.
mitten auf dem Platz means in the middle of the square. Der Springbrunnen is nominative because it is the subject, and steht is the finite verb in position two.
Die Kinder fotografieren den Springbrunnen.
The children are photographing the fountain.
die Kinder means the children, and fotografieren means to photograph. Den Springbrunnen is accusative because fotografieren takes a direct object.
Wir sitzen neben dem Springbrunnen.
We are sitting next to the fountain.
wir sitzen means we are sitting, and neben means next to. Dem Springbrunnen is dative because neben describes a location here, not movement toward it.
Das Geräusch des Springbrunnens ist angenehm.
The sound of the fountain is pleasant.
das Geräusch means the sound, and angenehm means pleasant. Des Springbrunnens is genitive because it says whose sound it is; the noun takes -s.
Am Abend leuchten die Springbrunnen im Park.
In the evening, the fountains light up in the park.
am Abend means in the evening, and leuchten means light up or shine. Die Springbrunnen is plural; the noun itself does not change, so die and the plural verb leuchten identify the number.
die Stadthalle — municipal hall, city hall
This compound combines Stadt (city) and Halle (hall); it normally refers to a public venue for events, not to the administrative offices of a city.
Die Stadthalle liegt im Zentrum.
The municipal hall is in the centre.
liegt means is located, and im Zentrum means in the centre. Die Stadthalle is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Die Gemeinde renoviert die Stadthalle.
The municipality is renovating the municipal hall.
die Gemeinde is the municipality, and renoviert means is renovating. Die Stadthalle is accusative because renovieren takes a direct object; the finite verb renoviert stands in position two.
Vor der Stadthalle warten die Besucher.
The visitors are waiting in front of the municipal hall.
vor means in front of, and die Besucher are the visitors. Der Stadthalle is dative because vor describes a fixed location here; the finite verb warten is in position two.
Das Dach der Stadthalle ist neu.
The roof of the municipal hall is new.
das Dach means the roof, and neu means new. Der Stadthalle is genitive because it identifies whose roof it is; the feminine noun keeps the ending -e.
Die Stadthallen in der Region sind gut ausgestattet.
The municipal halls in the region are well equipped.
in der Region means in the region, and gut ausgestattet means well equipped. Stadthallen is plural nominative as the subject; the plural ending is -n, and the verb sind agrees with it.
Wir gehen heute Abend in die Stadthalle.
We are going to the municipal hall this evening.
heute Abend means this evening, and gehen means go. In die Stadthalle is accusative because it expresses movement towards the hall; in der Stadthalle would be dative for a location.
der Standort — location, site
Der Standort usually means a physical site, especially for a company, shop, or facility. For a person’s geographical position, der Standort can also mean their current location.
Der neue Standort liegt außerhalb der Stadt.
The new location is outside the city.
neu means new, liegen means to be situated, and außerhalb der Stadt means outside the city. Der Standort is nominative because it is the subject; außerhalb takes the genitive in careful standard German.
Die Firma sucht einen besseren Standort.
The company is looking for a better location.
die Firma means the company, suchen means to look for, and besser means better. Einen besseren Standort is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the adjective has -en after the masculine accusative article einen.
An diesem Standort arbeiten zweihundert Menschen.
Two hundred people work at this site.
an diesem Standort means at this site, arbeiten means to work, and zweihundert Menschen means two hundred people. Diesem Standort is dative because an describes a fixed location; the verb arbeiten comes before the subject because the location occupies position one.
Die Kosten des Standorts sind überraschend niedrig.
The costs of the site are surprisingly low.
die Kosten means the costs, überraschend means surprisingly, and niedrig means low. Des Standorts is genitive and identifies which costs are meant; sind is in position two.
Das Unternehmen hat mehrere Standorte in Europa.
The company has several locations in Europe.
das Unternehmen means the company, mehrere means several, and Europa is Europe. Standorte is the regular plural of der Standort and is accusative because haben takes a direct object.
Der Standort ist für den Verkehr gut erreichbar.
The location is easy to reach by transport.
der Verkehr means traffic or transport, and erreichbar means easy to reach. Der Standort is nominative as the subject, while für den Verkehr is accusative because für always takes the accusative; ist is in position two.
der Straßenkehrer — street sweeper
A Straßenkehrer is a person who cleans streets; the word is a masculine job title. The plural is unusual because der Straßenkehrer and die Straßenkehrer have the same noun ending.
Der Straßenkehrer arbeitet früh am Morgen.
The street sweeper works early in the morning.
arbeitet means works, and früh am Morgen means early in the morning. Der Straßenkehrer is nominative because it is the subject, and arbeitet stands in position two.
Ich sehe den Straßenkehrer vor dem Haus.
I see the street sweeper in front of the house.
sehen means to see, and vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Den Straßenkehrer is accusative because it is the direct object of sehe; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Ich danke dem Straßenkehrer für seine Arbeit.
I thank the street sweeper for his work.
danken means to thank, and seine Arbeit means his work. Danken always takes the dative, so dem Straßenkehrer is dative; für seine Arbeit is an additional phrase with accusative after für.
Die Arbeit des Straßenkehrers ist anstrengend.
The street sweeper’s work is tiring.
die Arbeit means the work, and anstrengend means tiring. Des Straßenkehrers is genitive because it shows whose work it is; the masculine noun adds -s.
Die Straßenkehrer beginnen um fünf Uhr.
The street sweepers start at five o’clock.
beginnen means start, and um fünf Uhr means at five o’clock. Die Straßenkehrer has the same noun form as the singular, but the plural article and the verb beginnen show that it is plural.
die Tram — tram, streetcar
Tram is common in Switzerland and southern Germany; Straßenbahn is also widely used. The plural is normally Trams, with -s.
Die Tram kommt in fünf Minuten.
The tram is coming in five minutes.
kommt means is coming and in fünf Minuten means in five minutes. Die Tram is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb kommt stands in position two.
Ich nehme die Tram zur Arbeit.
I take the tram to work.
nehmen means take and zur Arbeit means to work. die Tram is accusative because nehmen takes an accusative object; zur is short for zu der, and zu takes the dative.
Wir fahren mit der Tram zum Bahnhof.
We travel by tram to the station.
mit means by or with, and der Bahnhof is the station. mit der Tram is dative because mit always takes the dative; zum Bahnhof means to the station and also contains dative zu.
Die Türen der Tram schließen automatisch.
The tram’s doors close automatically.
die Türen are the doors and automatisch means automatically. der Tram is genitive because it shows which vehicle the doors belong to; the feminine noun itself has no genitive ending.
In der Stadt fahren viele Trams.
Many trams run in the city.
die Stadt is the city and viele means many. viele Trams is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the initial phrase In der Stadt is a fixed-location dative phrase.
zentral — central, centrally located; key, central
zentral can describe physical position, as in a place near the centre, or importance, as in eine zentrale Rolle. Its comparison is regular: zentraler, am zentralsten.
Der Bahnhof ist sehr zentral.
The railway station is very central.
der Bahnhof means the railway station, and sehr means very. zentral is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb is in position two.
Wir suchen eine zentrale Wohnung.
We are looking for a centrally located flat.
suchen means are looking for, and die Wohnung is the flat or apartment. eine zentrale Wohnung is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; zentrale has the feminine accusative ending -e.
Dieses Hotel liegt zentraler als das andere.
This hotel is more centrally located than the other one.
dieses Hotel means this hotel, liegt means is located, and das andere means the other one. The comparative zentraler is followed by als when two locations are compared; it is predicative and therefore has no ending.
Die Bibliothek liegt am zentralsten.
The library is in the most central location.
die Bibliothek means the library, and liegt means is located. am zentralsten is the predicative superlative with am; because it is not before a noun, there is no adjective ending.
zentral — centrally, in a central position
As an adverb, zentral describes where or how something happens and never takes an adjective ending. It can refer to a physical centre or to central control by an organisation.
Das Hotel liegt zentral.
The hotel is centrally located.
das Hotel means the hotel, and liegt means is located. zentral is an adverb modifying the location; it does not take an adjective ending, and the finite verb is in position two.
Die Firma organisiert alles zentral.
The company organises everything centrally.
die Firma means the company, and organisiert alles means organises everything. alles is accusative because organisieren takes a direct object, while zentral describes how the organising is done.