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Vocab: Communication & media — A1 (1)
Communication & media vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
die Abkürzung — abbreviation, shortened form
An Abkürzung shortens a word or phrase in writing. Do not confuse it with Abkürzung meaning a shortcut on a route; that is a different sense.
Die Abkürzung steht auf dem Formular.
The abbreviation is on the form.
steht means is written or stands, and das Formular means the form. Die Abkürzung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich kenne die Abkürzung nicht.
I do not know the abbreviation.
kennen means know or be familiar with, and nicht means not. die Abkürzung is accusative because it is the direct object of kennen; nicht negates the sentence.
Mit der Abkürzung spart man Zeit.
Using the abbreviation saves time.
mit means with or by using, spart means saves, and Zeit means time. mit always takes the dative, so der Abkürzung is dative; man is the general subject and spart is in position two.
Die Bedeutung der Abkürzung ist unklar.
The meaning of the abbreviation is unclear.
die Bedeutung means the meaning and unklar means unclear. der Abkürzung is genitive because it specifies which meaning; the finite verb ist is in position two.
In diesem Text stehen viele Abkürzungen.
There are many abbreviations in this text.
in diesem Text means in this text, and viele means many. Abkürzungen is plural after viele; in takes the dative here because the sentence describes a fixed location, not movement.
das Alphabet — alphabet
Alphabet is a neuter noun: das Alphabet in the singular and die Alphabete in the plural. Its genitive singular is des Alphabets, with -s, not des Alphabete.
Das Alphabet hat sechsundzwanzig Buchstaben.
The alphabet has twenty-six letters.
sechsundzwanzig means twenty-six and Buchstaben means letters. Das Alphabet is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb hat stands in position two.
Die Kinder lernen das Alphabet.
The children are learning the alphabet.
die Kinder means the children and lernen means learn. das Alphabet is accusative because lernen takes a direct object, while the finite verb lernen stands in position two.
Mit dem Alphabet kann man viele Wörter schreiben.
With the alphabet, you can write many words.
mit means with, viele Wörter means many words, and schreiben means write. dem Alphabet is dative because mit always takes the dative; kann is in position two and the infinitive schreiben goes to the end.
Der Anfang des Alphabets ist leicht.
The beginning of the alphabet is easy.
der Anfang means the beginning and leicht means easy. des Alphabets is genitive because it tells us the beginning of what, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die verschiedenen Alphabete haben unterschiedliche Zeichen.
The different alphabets have different characters.
verschiedenen means different, unterschiedliche also means different, and Zeichen means characters or symbols. Die Alphabete is the plural subject, and the finite verb haben stands in position two.
die Anleitung — instructions; guide
die Anleitung can mean written instructions or a guide for using something. The plural is die Anleitungen; do not confuse this noun with the verb anleiten, meaning to instruct someone.
Die Anleitung ist sehr klar.
The instructions are very clear.
klar means clear, and sehr means very. Die Anleitung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich lese die Anleitung.
I am reading the instructions.
lese means read. die Anleitung is accusative because lesen takes a direct object, while the finite verb lese is in position two.
Ich folge der Anleitung.
I follow the instructions.
folge means follow. der Anleitung is dative because folgen governs the dative; the finite verb folge stands in position two.
Die Schritte der Anleitung sind einfach.
The steps in the instructions are simple.
die Schritte means the steps, and einfach means simple. der Anleitung is genitive because it identifies whose steps they are; the plural subject die Schritte controls sind.
Die Anleitungen liegen auf dem Tisch.
The instructions are lying on the table.
liegen means are lying, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Anleitungen is the plural subject, while dem Tisch is dative because auf describes a fixed location.
anrufen — to call, to telephone
anrufen is separable: in a main clause, an moves to the end, as in ich rufe dich an. Its perfect uses haben, not sein, and the person called is accusative.
Ich rufe meine Mutter heute Abend an.
I am calling my mother this evening.
meine Mutter means my mother and heute Abend means this evening. meine Mutter is accusative because anrufen takes the person called as a direct object; the finite verb rufe is in position two and an goes to the end.
Ich habe gestern meinen Bruder angerufen.
I called my brother yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and meinen Bruder means my brother. meinen Bruder is accusative after anrufen; habe is the auxiliary in position two and angerufen closes the clause.
Sie rief mich nach der Arbeit an.
She called me after work.
mich means me and nach der Arbeit means after work. mich is accusative because it is the person called; in the simple past, rief stands in position two and an goes to the end.
Ruf mich später an!
Call me later!
später means later. mich is accusative because it is the person called, and the imperative keeps the prefix an at the end.
Ich würde dich morgen anrufen.
I would call you tomorrow.
dich means you and morgen means tomorrow. dich is accusative after anrufen; würde marks a hypothetical idea, while the complete infinitive anrufen stays at the end.
Wir werden dich heute Abend anrufen.
We will call you this evening.
wir means we and heute Abend means this evening. dich is accusative because anrufen takes a direct object; werden is in position two and the infinitive anrufen goes to the end.
anschauen — to look at, to watch
For looking at something, anschauen takes an accusative object. With a person as the viewer, German often uses sich etwas anschauen or sich etwas ansehen.
Wir schauen heute Abend einen Film an.
We are watching a film tonight.
wir means we, heute Abend means tonight, and einen Film means a film. The finite verb schauen is in position two and an goes to the end; einen Film is accusative because anschauen takes an accusative object.
Ich habe mir das Foto angeschaut.
I looked at the photo.
ich means I, mir means to myself, and das Foto means the photo. The perfect uses habe plus angeschaut at the end; mir is dative for the person looking, while das Foto is the accusative object.
Er schaute die Nachrichten an.
He watched the news.
er means he and die Nachrichten means the news. The past form schaute is in position two and an is separated to the end; die Nachrichten is accusative.
Schau dir dieses Bild an!
Look at this picture!
dir means to yourself, dieses Bild means this picture, and dieses is the form of this before a neuter noun. The informal imperative is schau, while an goes to the end; dieses Bild is accusative.
Ich würde mir den neuen Film anschauen.
I would watch the new film.
mir means to myself, den neuen Film means the new film, and neu means new. Würde plus the infinitive anschauen expresses a hypothetical action, and the infinitive stays together at the end; den neuen Film is accusative.
Sie wird sich das Museum anschauen.
She will look around the museum.
sie means she, sich means herself, and das Museum means the museum. Future uses wird in position two and anschauen at the end; das Museum is accusative, while sich is the reflexive pronoun.
die Antwort — answer, reply; solution, answer
For a reply to a person or message, German commonly uses auf plus the accusative: auf eine Frage antworten. A question can have eine Antwort, while a person gives eine Antwort.
Die Antwort ist richtig.
The answer is correct.
richtig means correct. Die Antwort is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kenne die Antwort.
I know the answer.
kenne means know. Die Antwort is accusative because kennen takes a direct object; with a feminine noun, the article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Der Lehrer hilft mir bei der Antwort.
The teacher helps me with the answer.
der Lehrer means the teacher, and hilft means helps. Bei der Antwort is dative because bei always takes the dative; mir is also dative because helfen takes a dative person.
Der Inhalt der Antwort ist klar.
The content of the answer is clear.
der Inhalt means the content, and klar means clear. Der Antwort is genitive because it shows which answer the content belongs to; feminine nouns do not add an ending in the genitive.
Die Antworten stehen auf dem Blatt.
The answers are on the sheet of paper.
stehen means stand or are written, and das Blatt means the sheet of paper. Die Antworten is plural nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Blatt is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Kannst du die Antwort auf diese Aufgabe finden?
Can you find the answer to this exercise?
kannst du means can you, diese Aufgabe means this exercise, and finden means find. Die Antwort is accusative because it is the object of finden; after the modal verb kann, the infinitive finden goes to the end.
Die Schüler vergleichen ihre Antworten.
The pupils compare their answers.
die Schüler means the pupils, and vergleichen means compare. Ihre Antworten is accusative because it is the object of vergleichen; Antworten has the plural ending -en.
antworten — to answer, to reply
The person being answered is usually in the dative: jemandem antworten. For the subject or topic of the answer, use auf plus the accusative, as in auf eine Frage antworten.
Ich antworte dir später.
I’ll answer you later.
später means later. dir means to you; it is dative because antworten normally names the person receiving the reply in the dative, while the finite verb antworte stands in position two.
Sie hat ihm sofort geantwortet.
She answered him immediately.
sofort means immediately, and ihm means to him. ihm is dative because antworten takes a dative person; hat is in position two and geantwortet goes to the end.
Der Schüler antwortete dem Lehrer höflich.
The pupil answered the teacher politely.
der Schüler is the pupil, der Lehrer is the teacher, and höflich means politely. dem Lehrer is dative because he receives the answer, and the finite preterite verb antwortete is in position two.
Antworte bitte auf meine Frage!
Please answer my question!
bitte means please, and meine Frage means my question. The imperative addresses one person; auf meaning in response to takes the accusative here, so meine Frage is accusative.
Ich würde dir gern antworten, aber ich kenne die Lösung nicht.
I’d be happy to answer you, but I don’t know the solution.
gern means gladly, aber means but, and die Lösung is the solution. würde introduces a polite or hypothetical form, while dir is dative because antworten takes a dative person.
Wir werden morgen auf Ihre E-Mail antworten.
We will answer your email tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow and Ihre E-Mail means your email in the formal Sie form. werden stands in position two and the infinitive antworten goes to the end; auf takes the accusative here.
aufschreiben — to write down; to record, to note down
Aufschreiben means writing information down, usually so you can remember or use it later. The information written down is normally an accusative object.
Er schreibt die Telefonnummer auf.
He writes down the telephone number.
er means he, and die Telefonnummer is the telephone number. Die Telefonnummer is accusative because it is the direct object; schreibt is in position two and auf goes to the end.
Er hat die Telefonnummer aufgeschrieben.
He wrote down the telephone number.
er means he, and die Telefonnummer is the telephone number. The object is accusative, while aufgeschrieben is the Partizip II at the end with haben.
Er schrieb die Telefonnummer auf.
He wrote down the telephone number.
er means he, and die Telefonnummer is the telephone number. Schrieb is the strong past form, and the prefix auf is separated and placed at the end.
Schreib bitte die Adresse auf.
Please write down the address.
bitte means please, and die Adresse is the address. The imperative schreib comes first and auf goes to the end; die Adresse is accusative.
Du würdest die Adresse aufschreiben.
You would write down the address.
du means you, and würdest expresses a hypothetical action. The infinitive aufschreiben stays together at the end after würdest, and die Adresse is accusative.
Du wirst die Adresse aufschreiben.
You will write down the address.
du means you, and wirst forms the future. The infinitive aufschreiben goes to the end as one word, and die Adresse is the accusative object.
Ich schreibe den Termin in meinen Kalender auf.
I write the appointment in my calendar.
der Termin means the appointment, and mein Kalender is my calendar. Den Termin is accusative because it is the thing recorded; in meinem Kalender is dative because it describes a location, not movement.
Die Schülerin hat die Hausaufgaben aufgeschrieben.
The schoolgirl wrote down the homework.
die Schülerin is the schoolgirl, and die Hausaufgaben means the homework. The homework is accusative, and aufgeschrieben is placed at the end with haben.
bedanken — to thank, to express one's thanks
This verb is normally reflexive: sich bedanken. The person thanked follows bei plus dative, and the thing thanked for follows für plus accusative: sich bei jemandem für etwas bedanken.
Ich bedanke mich bei Ihnen.
I thank you.
Ihnen is the formal you, and bei means with or to in this expression. Mich is accusative because sich bedanken is reflexive, while bei Ihnen is dative because bei takes the dative; the finite verb bedanke is in position two.
Wir haben uns für die Hilfe bedankt.
We thanked them for the help.
die Hilfe means the help, and für means for. The perfect uses haben plus bedankt at the end; uns is the reflexive accusative pronoun and für die Hilfe is accusative because für takes the accusative.
Er bedankte sich nach dem Gespräch.
He thanked them after the conversation.
nach dem Gespräch means after the conversation. Bedankte is the regular simple past, and sich is the reflexive pronoun; the finite verb remains in position two.
Bedank dich bei deiner Nachbarin!
Thank your neighbour!
deine Nachbarin means your female neighbour. Bedank dich is the informal singular imperative with the reflexive pronoun dich, and bei deiner Nachbarin is dative because bei takes the dative.
Ich würde mich gern für das Geschenk bedanken.
I would like to thank you for the present.
gern means gladly, and das Geschenk means the present or gift. Würde expresses a polite or hypothetical wish, while the infinitive bedanken goes to the end; für das Geschenk is accusative after für.
Sie wird sich morgen bei ihrem Lehrer bedanken.
She will thank her teacher tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and ihr Lehrer means her teacher. Wird is the finite future auxiliary in position two, while bedanken goes to the end; bei ihrem Lehrer is dative after bei.
das Bild — picture; image; photograph; impression; idea
Das Bild can mean a picture, photograph or image. The plural is die Bilder, and the genitive is des Bildes; learners often forget the -es in the genitive.
Das Bild hängt an der Wand.
The picture is hanging on the wall.
hängen means to hang, and die Wand is the wall. Das Bild is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb hängt stands in position two.
Ich sehe das Bild.
I see the picture.
sehen means to see. Das Bild is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, das is the same in nominative and accusative.
Ich gebe dem Bild einen neuen Rahmen.
I give the picture a new frame.
geben means to give, ein neuer Rahmen is a new frame, and neu means new. Dem Bild is dative because it is the recipient or thing receiving something, while einen neuen Rahmen is the accusative object.
Die Farbe des Bildes ist sehr dunkel.
The colour of the picture is very dark.
die Farbe means the colour, and dunkel means dark. Des Bildes is genitive because it means of the picture; the neuter noun has the ending -es in the genitive.
An der Wand hängen viele Bilder.
Many pictures are hanging on the wall.
viele means many, and an der Wand means on the wall. Bilder is plural with the ending -er; an der Wand is dative because it describes a fixed location, not movement.
Jetzt habe ich ein Bild von der Situation.
Now I have an idea of the situation.
jetzt means now, die Situation is the situation, and eine Idee von etwas haben means to have an idea of something. Ein Bild is accusative because haben takes a direct object; von der Situation uses von with the dative.
Sie macht sich ein Bild von dem neuen Kollegen.
She forms an impression of the new colleague.
sich ein Bild machen means to form an impression, and der Kollege is the colleague. Ein Bild is accusative as the object of machen, while the reflexive pronoun sich is dative and von dem neuen Kollegen follows von with the dative.
das Blatt — leaf; sheet of paper; sheet of paper
The plural Blätter covers both the leaf and paper-sheet meanings. The compound Blatt Papier means a sheet of paper, while Blatt alone often means a leaf.
Das Blatt ist grün.
The leaf is green.
grün means green. Das Blatt is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich sehe das Blatt.
I see the leaf.
sehen means to see. Das Blatt is accusative because sehen takes a direct object, and the finite verb sehe is in position two.
Ich schreibe auf dem Blatt.
I am writing on the sheet.
schreiben means to write, and auf means on. Dem Blatt is dative because auf describes a fixed location here; the finite verb schreibe stands in position two.
Die Farbe des Blatts ist hellgrün.
The colour of the leaf is light green.
die Farbe means the colour, and hellgrün means light green. Des Blatts is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the genitive article des and the ending -s are important.
Im Herbst fallen viele Blätter.
In autumn, many leaves fall.
im Herbst means in autumn, fallen means fall, and viele means many. Blätter is the plural subject, with the plural article omitted after viele; its umlaut must not be forgotten.
Bitte gib mir ein Blatt.
Please give me a sheet of paper.
bitte means please, gib means give, and mir means to me. Ein Blatt is accusative because geben takes the thing given as a direct object; the imperative gib comes first.
Auf dem Blatt stehen wichtige Informationen.
Important information is written on the sheet.
stehen means stand or be written, and wichtige Informationen means important information. Auf dem Blatt is dative because auf describes location; the finite verb stehen follows the fronted phrase and remains in position two.
der Brief — letter
A Brief is normally a letter sent by post, not an email. The verb antworten takes the dative: jemandem antworten means to reply to someone.
Der Brief liegt auf dem Tisch.
The letter is lying on the table.
liegt means is lying and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Der Brief is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich lese den Brief heute Abend.
I am reading the letter this evening.
lese means read and heute Abend means this evening. Den Brief is accusative because lesen takes a direct object; the finite verb lese stands in position two.
Ich antworte dem Brief nicht.
I am not replying to the letter.
antworte means reply and nicht means not. Antworten takes a dative object, so der Brief becomes dem Brief; the finite verb is in position two.
Der Inhalt des Briefes ist wichtig.
The content of the letter is important.
der Inhalt means the content and wichtig means important. Des Briefes is genitive because it identifies whose content it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Heute kommen drei Briefe.
Three letters are arriving today.
heute means today and drei means three. Briefe is the plural of der Brief, formed with -e and an umlaut; the finite verb kommen is in position two.
der Briefkasten — mailbox, letter box
A Briefkasten can be a public mailbox or a private mailbox at a house. In the compound, Brief means letter and Kasten means box.
Der Briefkasten steht vor dem Haus.
The mailbox is in front of the house.
steht means stands or is located, and vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Der Briefkasten is nominative because it is the subject; steht is the finite verb in position two.
Ich suche den Briefkasten.
I am looking for the mailbox.
suche means am looking for. Den Briefkasten is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the finite verb suche is in position two.
Sie geht zu dem Briefkasten.
She goes to the mailbox.
geht means goes and zu means to. Zu always forces the dative, so der Briefkasten becomes dem Briefkasten; the finite verb geht stands in position two.
Die Farbe des Briefkastens ist blau.
The colour of the mailbox is blue.
die Farbe means the colour and blau means blue. Des Briefkastens is genitive because it shows which box the colour belongs to; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Vor dem Haus stehen zwei Briefkästen.
There are two mailboxes in front of the house.
vor dem Haus means in front of the house and zwei means two. Briefkästen is the plural of der Briefkasten, with an umlaut and -en; the plural subject comes after the verb because the location phrase occupies position one.
die Briefmarke — postage stamp
A Briefmarke is the stamp used to pay for sending post. Do not translate it as a mark on a letter; Marke here means a stamp or label.
Die Briefmarke klebt auf dem Umschlag.
The postage stamp is stuck on the envelope.
klebt means is stuck, auf dem Umschlag means on the envelope, and der Umschlag is the envelope. Die Briefmarke is nominative because it is the subject; auf takes the dative here because the stamp is in a fixed location, not moving onto it.
Ich kaufe die Briefmarke am Schalter.
I am buying the postage stamp at the counter.
kaufe means buy, am Schalter means at the counter, and der Schalter is the service counter. Die Briefmarke is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufe is in position two.
Ich gebe dem Brief der Briefmarke bei.
I add the stamp to the letter.
gebe ... bei means add or enclose, and der Brief is the letter. Der Briefmarke is dative because beigeben takes the thing being added as a dative object in this use; the separable verb has gebe in position two and bei at the end.
Die Farbe der Briefmarke ist rot.
The colour of the postage stamp is red.
die Farbe means the colour and rot means red. Der Briefmarke is genitive because it shows which stamp the colour belongs to; with a feminine noun, the genitive article is der.
Im Album kleben viele Briefmarken.
Many postage stamps are stuck in the album.
im Album means in the album, viele means many, and kleben means are stuck. Briefmarken is the plural with -n; the plural subject follows the location phrase, while the finite verb kleben stays in position two.
der Briefumschlag — envelope
Briefumschlag is a compound of Brief, “letter”, and Umschlag, “cover”. It means the paper envelope, not the letter itself; the plural changes a to ä.
Der Briefumschlag liegt auf dem Schreibtisch.
The envelope is on the desk.
liegt means “is lying”, and der Schreibtisch means “the desk”. Der Briefumschlag is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich brauche den Briefumschlag.
I need the envelope.
brauche means “need”. Den Briefumschlag is accusative because brauchen takes an accusative object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Ich schreibe die Adresse auf dem Briefumschlag.
I write the address on the envelope.
schreibe means “write”, and die Adresse means “the address”. Dem Briefumschlag is dative because auf describes a fixed location here, not movement onto the envelope; with a two-way preposition, location takes dative.
Die Farbe des Briefumschlags ist blau.
The colour of the envelope is blue.
die Farbe means “the colour”, and blau means “blue”. Des Briefumschlags is genitive to show possession, meaning “of the envelope”; the noun takes -s and the article is des.
Die Briefumschläge liegen neben den Briefmarken.
The envelopes are next to the stamps.
liegen means “are lying”, and neben den Briefmarken means “next to the stamps”. Die Briefumschläge is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural has an umlaut and -e.
buchstabieren — to spell
Buchstabieren takes an accusative object, such as ein Wort. It is a regular -ieren verb: buchstabierte, hat buchstabiert, without ge- in the participle.
Sie buchstabiert ihren Namen.
She spells her name.
ihren Namen means her name. Ihren Namen is accusative because buchstabieren takes the word being spelled as a direct object, and buchstabiert stands in position two.
Er hat das Wort buchstabiert.
He spelled the word.
das Wort means the word. The perfect uses hat plus buchstabiert; because buchstabieren ends in -ieren, its participle has no ge- and goes to the end.
Früher buchstabierte ich jede Adresse laut.
I used to spell every address aloud.
früher means formerly or in the past, jede Adresse means every address, and laut means aloud. Buchstabierte is the regular preterite in position two, while jede Adresse is accusative.
Buchstabiere bitte deinen Nachnamen!
Please spell your surname!
bitte means please and deinen Nachnamen means your surname. The imperative puts buchstabiere first and leaves out du; the object is accusative.
Wenn ich den Namen besser kennen würde, buchstabierte ich ihn richtig.
If I knew the name better, I would spell it correctly.
wenn means if, besser kennen means know better, richtig means correctly, and ihn means it. The finite verb würde goes to the end of the wenn-clause, while buchstabierte comes second in the main clause.
Morgen buchstabiert der Lehrer das neue Wort an der Tafel.
Tomorrow the teacher will spell the new word on the board.
morgen means tomorrow, der Lehrer means the teacher, neu means new, and die Tafel means board. German often uses the present for a planned future, so buchstabiert is in position two; the time word makes the future meaning clear.
chatten — to chat online
Chatten is a regular weak verb borrowed from English and normally means exchanging written messages online. It takes haben in the perfect and commonly appears with mit plus the dative for the person you chat with.
Ich chatte jeden Abend mit meiner Schwester.
I chat with my sister every evening.
jeden Abend means every evening, and meine Schwester is my sister. The finite verb chatte is in position two; mit forces the dative, so meiner Schwester means “with my sister”.
Wir haben gestern lange gechattet.
We chatted for a long time yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and lange means for a long time. The perfect uses haben plus gechattet; haben is in position two and the Partizip II goes to the end.
Früher chattete er jeden Tag mit Freunden.
He used to chat with friends every day.
früher means in the past, and Freunde are friends. Chattete is the weak-verb preterite in position two; mit Freunden is dative after mit.
Chatte nicht während des Unterrichts!
Do not chat during the lesson!
nicht means not, während means during, and der Unterricht is the lesson. Chatte is the du imperative and the subject is omitted; während takes the genitive here, so des Unterrichts means “during the lesson”.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, chattete ich öfter mit ihnen.
If I had more time, I would chat with them more often.
mehr Zeit means more time, öfter means more often, and ihnen means them. The sentence expresses an unreal condition; in careful German, würde chatten is more usual than using the preterite-looking form chattete, and the finite verb in the wenn clause goes to the end.
Morgen werde ich mit meiner Cousine chatten.
Tomorrow I will chat with my cousin.
morgen means tomorrow, and meine Cousine is my female cousin. Future uses werden in position two and the infinitive chatten at the end; mit meiner Cousine is dative after mit.
danke — thank you; thanks
Danke is used both on its own and with für plus the accusative to say what you are thankful for.
Danke für deine Hilfe.
Thank you for your help.
deine Hilfe means your help. für means for and takes the accusative; the interjection Danke stands independently at the start.
„Möchtest du Kaffee?“ – „Nein, danke.“
“Would you like coffee?” – “No, thank you.”
Möchtest du Kaffee? means Would you like coffee?, and nein means no. Danke is an interjection, so it has no case or verb position and can stand after nein in a short reply.
danken — to thank
danken takes the dative for the person thanked: jemandem danken. What the thanks are for is commonly introduced by für plus the accusative, and the perfect uses haben: hat gedankt.
Ich danke dir für das Geschenk.
I thank you for the present.
dir means to you, das Geschenk means the present, and für means for. dir is dative because danken governs the person thanked in the dative, while für das Geschenk is an accusative prepositional phrase; the finite verb danke is in position two.
Wir haben der Ärztin gedankt.
We thanked the doctor.
wir means we and der Ärztin means the female doctor. der Ärztin is dative because danken requires the person thanked in the dative; haben is the auxiliary and gedankt goes to the end.
Er dankte seinem Nachbarn für die schnelle Hilfe.
He thanked his neighbour for the quick help.
seinem Nachbarn means his neighbour, schnell means quick, and die Hilfe means the help. seinem Nachbarn is dative because of danken, while für die schnelle Hilfe is accusative after für; the finite verb dankte is in position two.
Danke deiner Schwester!
Thank your sister!
deiner Schwester means your sister. The imperative Danke is an instruction, and deiner Schwester is dative because danken governs the person thanked; the possessive ending shows the dative feminine form.
Ich würde dir gern für deine Geduld danken.
I would like to thank you for your patience.
gern means gladly or would like to, and deine Geduld means your patience. dir is dative because it is the person thanked, für deine Geduld is accusative after für, and würde ... danken puts the infinitive at the end.
Morgen werde ich der ganzen Gruppe danken.
Tomorrow I will thank the whole group.
morgen means tomorrow and der ganzen Gruppe means the whole group. der ganzen Gruppe is dative because danken governs the person thanked; werde is in position two and the infinitive danken goes to the end.
deutlich — clear, distinct; clear in speech or meaning
The adjective deutlich describes something that is easy to understand, see, or hear. Its comparative and superlative are regular: deutlicher, am deutlichsten.
Die Ansage ist deutlich.
The announcement is clear.
die Ansage means the announcement. Deutlich is a predicative adjective after sein, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Bitte geben Sie mir eine deutliche Antwort.
Please give me a clear answer.
bitte means please, geben means give, and die Antwort means the answer. Eine deutliche Antwort is accusative because geben takes the thing given as an accusative object, and deutliche has the adjective ending after eine.
Seine Erklärung ist deutlicher als meine.
His explanation is clearer than mine.
seine Erklärung means his explanation, and meine means mine. Deutlicher is the comparative with -er; als introduces the thing used for comparison, while ist remains in position two.
Sprich bitte am deutlichsten.
Please speak as clearly as possible.
sprich means speak, and bitte means please. Am deutlichsten is the adverbial superlative, and the imperative verb sprich comes first; do not use the attributive form der deutlichste here.
deutlich — clearly; noticeably, considerably
As an adverb, deutlich modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb and never takes an adjective ending. It can mean clearly, as in deutlich sprechen, or considerably, as in deutlich mehr.
Bitte sprich deutlich.
Please speak clearly.
sprich means speak, and bitte means please. Deutlich is an adverb modifying the verb sprich, so it does not take an adjective ending; the imperative stands at the beginning.
Die Preise sind deutlich gestiegen.
Prices have risen considerably.
die Preise means prices and gestiegen means risen. Here deutlich means considerably, not simply clearly; sind ... gestiegen forms the perfect of steigen, with the participle at the end.
drucken — to print; to print, publish in print
Drucken takes a direct accusative object: etwas drucken. Do not confuse it with drücken, which means press or squeeze and has the vowel ü.
Ich drucke das Dokument aus.
I print out the document.
das Dokument means the document, and aus means out in this separable verb. Das Dokument is accusative because drucken takes a direct object; the finite verb drucke is in position two and the prefix aus goes to the end.
Ich habe das Dokument gedruckt.
I printed the document.
das Dokument means the document, and habe ... gedruckt means printed. Das Dokument is accusative after drucken; the auxiliary habe is in position two and the Partizip II gedruckt goes to the end.
Ich druckte das Dokument gestern.
I printed the document yesterday.
das Dokument means the document, and gestern means yesterday. Das Dokument is accusative because it is the direct object, and the finite preterite druckte stands in position two.
Druck bitte die Fahrkarte aus!
Please print out the ticket!
bitte means please, die Fahrkarte means the ticket, and aus means out. The imperative druck has no subject pronoun; die Fahrkarte is accusative, and the separable prefix aus moves to the end.
Wenn du den Brief drucken könntest, würde ich ihn sofort drucken.
If you could print the letter, I would print it immediately.
der Brief means the letter, ihn means it, and sofort means immediately. The wenn clause sends könntest to the end; in the main clause würde is in position two and drucken is at the end, with ihn as the accusative object.
Ich werde die Fahrkarte später drucken.
I will print the ticket later.
die Fahrkarte means the ticket, and später means later. Die Fahrkarte is accusative after drucken; the auxiliary werde is in position two and the infinitive drucken goes to the end.
Der Verlag druckt jedes Jahr neue Bücher.
The publishing house prints new books every year.
der Verlag means the publishing house, jedes Jahr means every year, and neue Bücher means new books. Neue Bücher is accusative because it is the object of druckt; the finite verb stands in position two.
Das Buch wird in mehreren Sprachen gedruckt.
The book is printed in several languages.
das Buch means the book, mehreren Sprachen means several languages, and wird ... gedruckt means is printed. Das Buch is nominative as the subject of the passive; in takes the dative here because it describes the language or context, not movement.
die DVD — DVD, digital video disc
DVD is an abbreviation for Digital Versatile Disc and is feminine: die DVD. Its plural is DVDs, pronounced with a German plural ending only in writing, not DVDen.
Die DVD liegt neben dem Fernseher.
The DVD is next to the television.
liegt means is lying, neben means next to, and der Fernseher means the television. Die DVD is nominative because it is the subject; dem Fernseher is dative because neben describes a location here.
Ich kaufe die DVD heute.
I am buying the DVD today.
kaufe means buy, and heute means today. Die DVD is accusative because it is the direct object of kaufe; the finite verb stands in position two.
Ich gebe meiner Schwester der DVD?
I give my sister the DVD?
meiner Schwester means to my sister, and gebe means give. This sentence is not natural with der DVD as the dative form: the DVD is accusative, so the correct sentence is Ich gebe meiner Schwester die DVD; the dative is forced by the recipient, not by the DVD.
Die Hülle der DVD ist blau.
The DVD case is blue.
die Hülle means the case or cover, and blau means blue. Der DVD is genitive because it identifies which case is meant; with a feminine noun, the genitive article is der and the noun has no ending.
Im Regal stehen viele DVDs.
There are many DVDs on the shelf.
im Regal means on or in the shelf, stehen means are standing, and viele means many. DVDs is the plural after viele; the location phrase im Regal contains dative dem Regal after in.
das E-Book — e-book
The English word E-Book is also used in German and is pronounced with German noun gender das. The plural is regular with -s.
Das E-Book liegt auf dem Tisch.
The e-book is on the table.
liegt means “is lying,” and auf dem Tisch means “on the table.” Das E-Book is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich lese das E-Book im Zug.
I am reading the e-book on the train.
lese means “read,” and im Zug means “on the train.” Das E-Book is accusative because lesen takes a direct object, while the finite verb lese stands in position two.
Ich lese auf dem Tablet in einem E-Book.
I am reading in an e-book on the tablet.
auf dem Tablet means “on the tablet,” and in einem E-Book means “in an e-book.” Einem E-Book is dative because the preposition in expresses location here, not movement into something.
Das Cover des E-Books ist blau.
The e-book’s cover is blue.
das Cover means “the cover,” and blau means “blue.” Des E-Books is genitive because it shows possession: the cover belongs to the e-book.
Die E-Books sind heute billiger.
The e-books are cheaper today.
sind means “are,” heute means “today,” and billiger means “cheaper.” Die E-Books is plural and is the nominative subject; the plural is made with -s.
die E-Mail — e-mail
E-Mail is feminine in German: die E-Mail. The usual plural is E-Mails, not an ending such as -en.
Die E-Mail ist schon da.
The e-mail is already here.
schon means “already,” and da means “here.” Die E-Mail is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich schreibe eine E-Mail.
I am writing an e-mail.
schreibe means “write.” Eine E-Mail is accusative because schreiben takes a direct object, and the finite verb schreibe is in position two.
Ich antworte auf eine E-Mail.
I am replying to an e-mail.
antworte means “reply,” and auf means “to” in this expression. Eine E-Mail is accusative because auf takes the accusative in the fixed phrase auf eine E-Mail antworten.
Der Betreff der E-Mail ist wichtig.
The subject line of the e-mail is important.
der Betreff means “the subject line,” and wichtig means “important.” Der E-Mail is genitive because it shows which message the subject line belongs to; with a feminine noun, the genitive article is der.
Ich bekomme jeden Tag viele E-Mails.
I receive many e-mails every day.
bekomme means “receive,” jeden Tag means “every day,” and viele means “many.” Viele E-Mails is accusative because bekommen takes a direct object, and the plural is formed with -s.
entschuldigen — to apologize; to excuse; to excuse someone; to accept as an excuse
With the meaning “to apologize,” entschuldigen is normally reflexive: sich entschuldigen. You apologize bei someone with the dative or für something with the accusative; the verb takes haben in the perfect.
Ich entschuldige mich für die Verspätung.
I apologize for being late.
die Verspätung means being late or the delay. sich entschuldigen is reflexive here, and für die Verspätung uses the accusative because für always requires the accusative; the finite verb entschuldige stands in position two.
Sie hat sich bei ihrem Lehrer entschuldigt.
She apologized to her teacher.
sie means she, and ihr Lehrer means her teacher. bei ihrem Lehrer is dative because bei requires the dative; the perfect uses hat plus entschuldigt, with the participle at the end.
Er entschuldigte sich sofort.
He apologized immediately.
sofort means immediately. The reflexive pronoun sich is accusative here, and the weak past form entschuldigte stands in position two; do not use the participle without hat in this tense.
Entschuldige mich bitte!
Please excuse me!
bitte means please. This is the du imperative, so the subject is omitted; mich is accusative because the speaker asks the listener to excuse them.
Wenn ich dich verletzt habe, würde ich mich entschuldigen.
If I had hurt you, I would apologize.
wenn means if, and verletzt means hurt or offended. dich is accusative as the object of verletzen; würde carries the conditional meaning and the infinitive entschuldigen goes to the end.
Ich werde mich morgen entschuldigen.
I will apologize tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow. The future uses werde plus the infinitive entschuldigen at the end, while mich is the accusative reflexive pronoun.
Die Lehrerin entschuldigt den Schüler.
The teacher excuses the pupil.
die Lehrerin is the female teacher, and der Schüler is the pupil. den Schüler is accusative because this sense of entschuldigen takes the person being excused as a direct object; the finite verb stands in position two.
Der Arzt hat meine Abwesenheit entschuldigt.
The doctor excused my absence.
der Arzt is the doctor, and meine Abwesenheit means my absence. The direct object is accusative, and the perfect uses hat with entschuldigt at the end.
die Entschuldigung — apology; excuse; excuse note
die Entschuldigung can mean an apology or an excuse note explaining an absence. Do not confuse it with die Schuld, which means guilt or blame.
Die Entschuldigung liegt auf dem Tisch.
The apology note is on the table.
liegt means is lying, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Die Entschuldigung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich schreibe eine Entschuldigung.
I am writing an excuse note.
schreibe means write. eine Entschuldigung is accusative because it is the direct object of schreiben; the feminine article changes from nominative eine to accusative eine, so the form looks the same.
Ich gebe dem Lehrer eine Entschuldigung.
I give the teacher an excuse note.
geben means give, and der Lehrer is the teacher. dem Lehrer is dative because it is the recipient, while eine Entschuldigung is accusative as the thing given.
Der Text der Entschuldigung ist sehr höflich.
The text of the apology is very polite.
der Text means the text, and höflich means polite. der Entschuldigung is genitive because it shows whose text it is; the feminine genitive article is der, not die.
Ich habe drei Entschuldigungen bekommen.
I received three excuses.
drei means three, and bekommen means receive. Entschuldigungen is plural and accusative because it is the object of bekommen; the perfect uses habe plus bekommen.
erklären — to explain; to declare; to pronounce
The common pattern is jemandem etwas erklären: the person is in the dative and the thing explained is in the accusative. The perfect is hat erklärt with haben.
Der Lehrer erklärt die neue Regel.
The teacher explains the new rule.
der Lehrer means teacher, neu means new, and die Regel means rule. Die neue Regel is accusative because erklären takes a direct object; erklärt is the finite verb in position two.
Die Lehrerin hat uns die Aufgabe erklärt.
The teacher explained the exercise to us.
die Lehrerin means female teacher, uns means to us, and die Aufgabe means exercise or task. Uns is dative for the person receiving the explanation, while die Aufgabe is accusative; the perfect is hat ... erklärt.
Er erklärte den Weg sehr langsam.
He explained the way very slowly.
der Weg means way or route, and sehr langsam means very slowly. Den Weg is accusative because it is the object of erklären; the weak preterite form erklärte is in position two.
Erkläre mir bitte diese Aufgabe!
Please explain this exercise to me!
mir means to me, bitte means please, and diese Aufgabe means this exercise. Mir is dative for the person receiving the explanation, and diese Aufgabe is accusative; the singular command has no subject pronoun.
Ich würde dir die Situation gern erklären.
I would be happy to explain the situation to you.
dir means to you, die Situation means situation, and gern means gladly or happily. Dir is dative and die Situation is accusative; würde takes position two and the infinitive erklären goes to the end.
Wir werden den Plan morgen erklären.
We will explain the plan tomorrow.
der Plan means plan, and morgen means tomorrow. Den Plan is accusative because it is the direct object; werden is in position two and erklären stands at the end.
Das Land erklärte dem Nachbarland den Krieg.
The country declared war on the neighboring country.
das Land means country, das Nachbarland means neighboring country, and der Krieg means war. Dem Nachbarland is dative for the recipient and den Krieg is accusative for what is declared; the formal expression is jemandem den Krieg erklären.
Der Richter erklärte den Vertrag für ungültig.
The judge declared the contract invalid.
der Richter means judge, der Vertrag means contract, and ungültig means invalid. Den Vertrag is accusative after erklären, and für ungültig states the result of the declaration; this sense is more formal than everyday explanation.
erzählen — to tell, to narrate
Erzählen commonly has a dative person and an accusative thing: jemandem etwas erzählen. It also often takes von plus dative when introducing the subject of the story.
Oma erzählt den Kindern eine Geschichte.
Grandma tells the children a story.
Oma means Grandma, den Kindern means to the children, and eine Geschichte means a story. Den Kindern is dative because it is the person being told something, while eine Geschichte is accusative; the finite verb erzählt stands in position two.
Er hat mir gestern eine lustige Geschichte erzählt.
He told me a funny story yesterday.
mir means to me, gestern means yesterday, and lustig means funny. Mir is dative for the listener and eine lustige Geschichte is accusative for what was told; the perfect uses haben, with erzählt at the end.
Der Lehrer erzählte uns von seiner Reise.
The teacher told us about his journey.
Der Lehrer means the teacher, uns means to us, seiner Reise means his journey, and Reise means journey or trip. Uns is dative for the listeners, and von forces the dative in von seiner Reise; the Präteritum erzählte is common in written narratives.
Erzähl mir bitte alles!
Please tell me everything!
mir means to me, bitte means please, and alles means everything. The imperative erzähl addresses one informal person; mir is dative for the listener and alles is accusative for the information.
Wenn ich mehr wüsste, erzählte ich dir die ganze Geschichte.
If I knew more, I would tell you the whole story.
Wenn means if, mehr means more, wüsste means knew, dir means to you, and die ganze Geschichte means the whole story. Here erzählte is the Konjunktiv II form as well as the Präteritum form; dir is dative for the listener and die ganze Geschichte is accusative.
Sie wird uns morgen von ihrem Urlaub erzählen.
She will tell us about her holiday tomorrow.
uns means to us, morgen means tomorrow, ihrem Urlaub means her holiday, and Urlaub means holiday or vacation. Uns is dative, and von takes the dative in von ihrem Urlaub; wird is in position two and the infinitive erzählen goes to the end.
fernsehen — to watch television
The separable verb fernsehen is normally used without an object: you say fernsehen, not a direct translation of “watch the television.” Its perfect auxiliary is haben, and its Partizip II is ferngesehen.
Ich sehe jeden Abend fern.
I watch television every evening.
jeden Abend means every evening. In a main clause, the finite part sehe is in position two and the separable prefix fern goes to the end; do not keep fernsehen together here.
Wir haben gestern ferngesehen.
We watched television yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and wir means we. The perfect uses haben plus ferngesehen; the Partizip II goes to the end, and the prefix is joined to the verb in this form.
Als Kind sah ich oft fern.
As a child, I often watched television.
als Kind means as a child, and oft means often. The strong past form is sah, while fern stays at the end of the main clause; sah is in position two.
Sieh heute Abend fern!
Watch television this evening!
heute Abend means this evening. The singular du command is sieh; the prefix fern separates and goes to the end, and the subject du is normally omitted.
Ich sähe gern öfter fern, wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte.
I would like to watch television more often if I had more time.
gern means gladly or would like to, öfter means more often, and mehr Zeit means more time. Sähe is the Konjunktiv II of sehen, with fern separated in the main clause; hätte expresses the unreal condition.
Morgen werde ich den ganzen Abend fernsehen.
Tomorrow I will watch television all evening.
morgen means tomorrow, and den ganzen Abend means all evening. Futur I uses werde in position two and the infinitive fernsehen at the end; the separable verb is whole in the infinitive.
das Fernsehen — television; television broadcasting
Das Fernsehen is the medium or activity, while der Fernseher is the physical television set. It is normally a mass noun with no plural in everyday use.
Das Fernsehen ist heute sehr beliebt.
Television is very popular today.
heute means today, and beliebt means popular. Das Fernsehen is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Meine Kinder lieben das Fernsehen.
My children love watching television.
meine Kinder means my children, and lieben means love. Das Fernsehen is accusative because lieben takes a direct object; the neuter article stays das in both nominative and accusative.
Viele Menschen verbringen ihre Freizeit mit dem Fernsehen.
Many people spend their free time watching television.
viele Menschen means many people, verbringen means spend, and ihre Freizeit means their free time. Mit always takes the dative, so the noun phrase is dem Fernsehen; the finite verb verbringen is in position two.
Die Zukunft des Fernsehens ist digital.
The future of television is digital.
die Zukunft means the future, and digital means digital. Des Fernsehens expresses possession in the genitive; Fernsehen adds -s, and ist is in position two.
Am Abend schauen wir Fernsehen.
In the evening, we watch television.
am Abend means in the evening, and schauen means watch. Fernsehen is a mass noun in this meaning and has no plural; the phrase is used without an article after schauen.
der Fernseher — television set
Fernseher is the usual everyday word for the physical television set. Do not confuse it with Fernsehen, which means television as an activity or medium.
Der Fernseher ist neu.
The television is new.
neu means new. Der Fernseher is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich schalte den Fernseher ein.
I switch on the television.
einschalten means switch on, and ich means I. Den Fernseher is accusative because einschalten takes a direct object; the separable prefix ein goes to the end of the main clause.
Wir sitzen vor dem Fernseher.
We are sitting in front of the television.
sitzen means sit, and vor means in front of. For a location, vor takes the dative, so der Fernseher becomes dem Fernseher; the finite verb sitzen is in position two.
Die Fernbedienung des Fernsehers ist auf dem Tisch.
The television's remote control is on the table.
die Fernbedienung means remote control, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Des Fernsehers expresses possession in the genitive and adds -s; ist is in position two.
Im Laden stehen viele Fernseher.
There are many televisions in the shop.
im Laden means in the shop, and viele means many. Fernseher has no plural ending; because the sentence begins with Im Laden, the verb stehen comes before the plural subject.
der Fernsehkanal — television channel
The compound combines Fernsehen (television) and Kanal (channel). Do not confuse Kanal with a television programme: a Fernsehkanal is the service or station that broadcasts programmes.
Der Fernsehkanal zeigt heute einen alten Film.
The television channel is showing an old film today.
zeigt means shows, heute means today, and einen alten Film means an old film. Der Fernsehkanal is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb zeigt is in position two.
Ich schalte den Fernsehkanal um.
I change the television channel.
schalte ... um means change or switch over, and um is a separable part of the verb. Den Fernsehkanal is accusative because umschalten takes a direct object, and the finite verb is in position two while um goes to the end.
Wir sprechen über den Fernsehkanal.
We are talking about the television channel.
sprechen über means talk about. Although den Fernsehkanal looks like a dative masculine form here, über takes the accusative for this topic meaning; the finite verb sprechen is in position two.
Die Sendung des Fernsehkanals beginnt um acht.
The channel's programme begins at eight.
die Sendung means the programme, beginnt means begins, and um acht means at eight. Des Fernsehkanals is genitive because it identifies whose programme it is; the masculine noun has -s in this case.
Viele Fernsehkanäle senden Nachrichten.
Many television channels broadcast news.
viele means many, senden means broadcast, and Nachrichten means news. Fernsehkanäle is the plural of Fernsehkanal, with ä and -e; it is nominative because it is the subject.
der Film — film; movie; photographic film
For the movie meaning, Film is a countable noun with the plural Filme. Einen Film sehen means to watch a film; the article is accusative because sehen takes a direct object.
Der Film beginnt um acht Uhr.
The film starts at eight o'clock.
beginnt means starts and um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. Der Film is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Wir sehen heute Abend den Film.
We are watching the film this evening.
heute Abend means this evening and sehen means watch or see. Den Film is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehen is in position two.
Sie spricht über den Film.
She is talking about the film.
spricht means speaks or talks and über means about here. Den Film is accusative because über takes the accusative when it means about; this is not the location meaning of über.
Das Ende des Films war überraschend.
The ending of the film was surprising.
Das Ende means the ending, war means was, and überraschend means surprising. Des Films is genitive because it identifies which film the ending belongs to; Films takes -s.
Am Wochenende laufen viele Filme im Kino.
Many films are showing at the cinema at the weekend.
Am Wochenende means at the weekend, viele means many, and laufen means are showing here. Filme is plural after viele, and the verb laufen agrees with the plural subject.
Die Kamera hat keinen Film.
The camera has no film.
Die Kamera means the camera and keinen means no or not any. Film is accusative because haben takes a direct object, and the mass-material meaning is normally used without a plural here.
Früher fotografierte man oft auf Film.
In the past, people often photographed on film.
Früher means in the past, fotografierte means photographed, and oft means often. Auf Film means on film in photography; auf takes the dative for this fixed medium expression, and fotografierte is in position two.
das Foto — photo; photograph
Das Foto is the shorter everyday word for a photograph. The usual verb phrase is ein Foto machen, literally “make a photo”, meaning take a photo.
Das Foto ist sehr schön.
The photo is very beautiful.
schön means beautiful, and sehr means very. Das Foto is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich mache ein Foto von dem Hund.
I am taking a photo of the dog.
mache means make or take, von means of, and der Hund means the dog. Ein Foto is accusative because machen takes a direct object; the finite verb mache is in position two.
Ich zeige meiner Freundin das Foto.
I show my friend the photo.
zeige means show, and meiner Freundin means to my female friend. Das Foto is accusative as the thing shown, while meiner Freundin is dative as the person receiving it; the finite verb zeige is in position two.
Die Farbe des Fotos ist dunkel.
The colour of the photo is dark.
die Farbe means the colour, and dunkel means dark. Des Fotos is genitive because it means of the photo; the noun Foto takes -s, and ist is in position two.
Wir schicken unseren Eltern Fotos aus dem Urlaub.
We send our parents photos from our holiday.
schicken means send, unseren Eltern means our parents, and aus dem Urlaub means from the holiday. Fotos is the plural direct object, while unseren Eltern is dative for the people receiving the photos; Fotos takes -s in the plural.
die Frage — question; question, matter, issue
Eine Frage stellen means to ask a question, while eine Frage beantworten means to answer one. Do not translate the fixed expression word for word as machen eine Frage.
Die Frage ist sehr einfach.
The question is very easy.
sehr einfach means very easy. Die Frage is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich stelle eine Frage.
I am asking a question.
stelle means ask or put, and eine means a. Eine Frage is accusative because eine Frage stellen is the fixed expression for asking a question; stelle stands in position two.
Der Lehrer antwortet auf meine Frage.
The teacher answers my question.
der Lehrer means the teacher, and antwortet means answers. Auf meine Frage is an accusative prepositional phrase because antworten auf takes auf plus accusative; the verb antwortet is in position two.
Die Antwort der Frage steht im Buch.
The answer to the question is in the book.
die Antwort means the answer, steht means is or stands, and das Buch means the book. Der Frage is genitive after die Antwort to identify the question; im Buch means in the book.
Die Kinder haben viele Fragen.
The children have many questions.
die Kinder means the children, haben means have, and viele means many. Fragen is plural and accusative because it is the direct object of haben.
Die Kosten sind eine Frage der Zeit.
The costs are a question of time.
die Kosten means the costs, and die Zeit means time. Eine Frage is a predicate noun after sind, while der Zeit is genitive in the expression eine Frage der Zeit.
Ob wir fahren, ist eine Frage des Wetters.
Whether we go is a question of the weather.
ob wir fahren means whether we go, and das Wetter means the weather. The ob clause is the subject; eine Frage des Wetters is a predicate noun, with des Wetters in the genitive.
fragen — to ask
The person asked is accusative: jemanden fragen. For the information requested, use nach plus dative, as in nach dem Weg fragen; the perfect takes haben.
Ich frage den Lehrer nach dem Weg.
I ask the teacher for directions.
der Lehrer means the teacher, and der Weg means the way or route. Den Lehrer is accusative because fragen takes the person asked as its direct object, while nach dem Weg uses nach with the dative.
Sie hat mich nach meiner Adresse gefragt.
She asked me for my address.
mich means me, meine Adresse means my address, and nach means for or about here. The perfect uses hat plus gefragt, with the Partizip II at the end; mich is accusative as the person asked.
Er fragte seine Mutter nach dem Termin.
He asked his mother about the appointment.
seine Mutter means his mother, and der Termin means the appointment. Seine Mutter is accusative because it is the person asked, while nach dem Termin has dative after nach.
Frag bitte deine Schwester!
Please ask your sister!
bitte means please, and deine Schwester means your sister. Frag is the short du imperative, and deine Schwester is accusative because she is the person being asked.
Ich fragte, wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte.
I would ask if I had more time.
wenn means if, and mehr Zeit means more time. Here fragte is Konjunktiv II and means would ask; the verb hätte goes to the end of the wenn clause.
Morgen werde ich den Arzt fragen.
Tomorrow I will ask the doctor.
morgen means tomorrow, and der Arzt means the doctor. Future I puts werde in position two and the infinitive fragen at the end; den Arzt is accusative as the person asked.
der Gruß — greeting, regards
der Gruß can be a greeting when meeting someone or regards in a message. Its plural is die Grüße, with both an umlaut and -e; the fixed closing mit freundlichen Grüßen means kind regards.
Der Gruß meines Nachbarn war sehr freundlich.
My neighbour's greeting was very friendly.
meines Nachbarn means my neighbour's, and sehr freundlich means very friendly. Der Gruß is nominative because it is the subject; meines Nachbarn is genitive because it shows whose greeting it was.
Ich erwidere den Gruß meiner Kollegin.
I return my colleague's greeting.
erwidere means return or answer, and meiner Kollegin means my female colleague's. den Gruß is accusative because erwidern takes a direct object; meiner Kollegin is genitive.
Ich antworte ihm mit einem Gruß.
I reply to him with a greeting.
antworte means reply, ihm means to him, and mit einem Gruß means with a greeting. ihm is dative because antworten takes a dative person, and mit also always takes the dative.
Die Worte des Grußes standen auf der Karte.
The words of the greeting were on the card.
Worte means words, standen means stood or were written, and Karte means card. des Grußes is genitive because it identifies which words; the noun adds -es in the genitive singular.
Viele Grüße aus Berlin!
Best wishes from Berlin!
Viele means many, and aus Berlin means from Berlin. Grüße is the plural used in messages and letters; this is a shortened greeting without a finite verb.
grüßen — to greet, to say hello to
The person greeted is an accusative object: jemanden grüßen. To say hello to someone informally, German also commonly uses jemanden begrüßen or simply Hallo sagen.
Er grüßt seine Nachbarin.
He greets his neighbour.
seine Nachbarin means his female neighbour. The person greeted is accusative because grüßen takes an accusative object, and the finite verb grüßt stands in position two.
Sie hat mich freundlich gegrüßt.
She greeted me warmly.
freundlich means warmly or in a friendly way, and mich means me. The perfect uses haben plus gegrüßt at the end; mich is accusative as the person being greeted.
Der Mann grüßte uns am Bahnhof.
The man greeted us at the station.
der Mann means the man, uns means us, and der Bahnhof means the station. uns is accusative, while am Bahnhof means at the station and am forces the dative.
Grüß deine Eltern von mir!
Say hello to your parents from me!
deine Eltern means your parents, and von mir means from me. The informal imperative has an understood du, and deine Eltern is accusative because they are the people to greet.
Wenn ich ihn sähe, grüßte ich ihn sofort.
If I saw him, I would greet him immediately.
wenn means if, ihn means him, and sofort means immediately. The wenn clause sends sähe to the end, while grüßte is Konjunktiv II in the main clause; both people marked ihn are accusative objects.
Morgen wird sie die Gäste grüßen.
Tomorrow she will greet the guests.
morgen means tomorrow, and die Gäste means the guests. Future uses wird in position two and the infinitive grüßen at the end; die Gäste is accusative.
hallo — hello, hi
hallo is used both when meeting people and when answering or beginning a phone call. It is commonly written lowercase in running text, but Hallo is also common at the start of a sentence.
Hallo, wie geht es dir?
Hello, how are you?
wie geht es dir means how are you, and dir means to you. Hallo is an interjection, so it is not part of the sentence grammar and is usually separated by a comma.
Hallo, ist dort die Praxis von Frau Weber?
Hello, is this Ms Weber's practice?
ist dort means is it there, and die Praxis means the medical practice or doctor's office. Hallo starts the telephone greeting; the question that follows has the finite verb ist in position two.
Hallo — hello, hi
Hallo is used both when meeting people and when answering or beginning a phone call. It is commonly written lowercase in running text, but the capitalized form is required at the start of a sentence and is also common as a greeting on its own.
Hallo, wie geht es dir?
Hello, how are you?
wie geht es dir means how are you, and dir means to you. Hallo is an interjection, so it is not part of the sentence grammar and is usually separated by a comma.
Hallo, ist dort die Praxis von Frau Weber?
Hello, is this Ms Weber's practice?
ist dort means is it there, and die Praxis means the medical practice or doctor's office. Hallo starts the telephone greeting; the question that follows has the finite verb ist in position two.
die Handynummer — mobile-phone number
Handynummer is a compound of Handy and Nummer; the last part, die Nummer, determines the feminine gender and plural ending.
Die Handynummer steht auf dem Zettel.
The mobile-phone number is on the note.
steht means is written or stands, and der Zettel is the note or slip of paper. Die Handynummer is nominative because it is the subject; steht is in position two.
Ich brauche die Handynummer.
I need the mobile-phone number.
brauche means need. Die Handynummer is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the finite verb brauche is in position two.
Ich schicke dir die Handynummer.
I am sending you the mobile-phone number.
schicke means send, and dir means to you. Dir is dative for the recipient, while die Handynummer is accusative as the thing sent.
Die Länge der Handynummer ist unterschiedlich.
The length of the mobile-phone number varies.
die Länge is the length, and unterschiedlich means different or varying. Der Handynummer is genitive because it identifies whose length is meant; ist stands in position two.
Die Handynummern stehen im Telefonbuch.
The mobile-phone numbers are in the telephone directory.
stehen means are listed or stand, and das Telefonbuch is the telephone directory. Die Handynummern is plural, so the verb is stehen, not singular steht.
das Heft — notebook, exercise book; booklet; booklet, magazine issue
das Heft most often means a school notebook or exercise book; it can also mean a thin booklet or magazine issue. The plural is die Hefte.
Das Heft liegt auf dem Tisch.
The notebook is lying on the table.
liegt means is lying, auf means on, and der Tisch is the table. Das Heft is nominative because it is the subject, and liegt stands in position two.
Ich kaufe das Heft.
I am buying the notebook.
ich kaufe means I am buying. das Heft is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, the article is still das in the accusative.
Ich schreibe in dem Heft.
I am writing in the notebook.
schreibe means write and in means in. Here in describes a fixed location, so it takes the dative: dem Heft, not das Heft.
Der Name des Heftes steht auf dem Umschlag.
The name of the notebook is on the cover.
der Name is the name, steht means is written or stands, and der Umschlag is the cover. des Heftes is genitive to show possession, while auf dem Umschlag is dative because it describes a location.
Die Hefte liegen im Rucksack.
The notebooks are in the backpack.
liegen means are lying, im Rucksack means in the backpack, and der Rucksack is a backpack. Hefte is the plural subject, while im is short for in dem and marks a location with the dative.
Das nächste Heft erscheint im Mai.
The next issue comes out in May.
nächste means next and erscheint means is published or comes out; im Mai means in May. Das nächste Heft is the nominative subject, and the finite verb erscheint stands in position two.
Ich lese ein Heft über Reisen.
I am reading a magazine issue about travel.
lese means am reading, über means about, and Reisen means travelling or travel. ein Heft is accusative because it is the object of lesen; über Reisen gives the subject of the issue.
heißen — to be called; to be named; to mean; that is to say
For names, heißen means to be called or named and normally has no direct object: Ich heiße Anna means I am called Anna. Its principal parts are heißen – hieß – hat geheißen, and the perfect takes haben.
Wie heißt du?
What is your name?
wie means how, and du means you. Heißt agrees with du in this fixed question about a name; because it is a question without a subject before the verb, the finite verb comes first.
Ich habe früher anders geheißen.
I used to have a different name.
früher means formerly or in the past, and anders means differently or different. The perfect uses habe plus geheißen because heißen takes haben; the auxiliary is in position two and the Partizip II is at the end.
Er hieß früher Paul.
He used to be called Paul.
früher means formerly, and Paul is a male first name. Hieß is the strong-verb preterite in a past narrative; the finite verb is in position two, and the name after heißen is a subject complement, not an accusative object.
Heiß deine Schwester nicht so!
Don’t call your sister that!
deine Schwester means your sister, and nicht so means not that or not like that. The imperative heiß addresses du; deine Schwester is accusative as the person being named, and nicht comes before the phrase being rejected.
Wenn ich anders hieße, würde ich meinen Namen ändern.
If I had a different name, I would change my name.
wenn means if, anders means differently, würde means would, and ändern means change. In the wenn clause, the Konjunktiv II form hieße goes to the end; the conditional main clause uses würde plus the infinitive ändern.
Wie werde ich nach der Hochzeit heißen?
What will my name be after the wedding?
nach der Hochzeit means after the wedding. Future I uses werde in position two and the infinitive heißen at the end; the preposition nach takes the dative, so der Hochzeit is feminine dative.
Was heißt dieses Wort?
What does this word mean?
was means what, dieses Wort means this word, and bedeutet is another way to say means. Dieses Wort is accusative because heißen has the meaning mean here; the finite verb heißt follows the question word.
Das heißt, wir müssen jetzt gehen.
That means we have to leave now.
das heißt means that means or in other words, and jetzt means now. Here heißt is a fixed expression introducing an explanation; in the following clause, müssen is in position two and the infinitive gehen goes to the end.
das Italienisch — Italian (language)
das Italienisch names the Italian language and is a singular mass noun, so it normally has no plural. Do not confuse it with lowercase italienisch, the adjective meaning Italian.
Italienisch klingt schön.
Italian sounds beautiful.
klingt schön means sounds beautiful. Italienisch is the nominative subject, and the finite verb klingt stands in position two; language names are often used without an article.
Ich lerne Italienisch.
I am learning Italian.
lernen means to learn. Italienisch is an accusative object because lernen takes the thing learned as its object, but the article is normally omitted with a language name.
Mit dem Italienisch aus diesem Kurs komme ich gut zurecht.
I manage well with the Italian from this course.
aus diesem Kurs means from this course, and gut zurechtkommen means to manage well. mit always takes the dative, so dem Italienisch is dative; the separable verb zurechtkommen has komme in position two and zurecht at the end.
Die Grammatik des Italienischs ist nicht einfach.
The grammar of Italian is not easy.
die Grammatik means grammar and nicht einfach means not easy. des Italienischs is genitive because it identifies whose grammar is meant; ist remains in position two.
Wir sprechen Italienisch im Urlaub.
We speak Italian on holiday.
sprechen means to speak and im Urlaub means on holiday. Italienisch names the language and normally has no article after sprechen; the finite verb sprechen is in position two.
Mein Bruder versteht schon viel Italienisch.
My brother already understands a lot of Italian.
mein Bruder means my brother, verstehen means to understand, and schon viel means already a lot. Italienisch is the language understood and is an accusative object, while the finite verb versteht stands in position two.
ja — yes; indeed
As an adverb, ja can stand alone as the answer yes. In a sentence, it can also confirm something that is already known; do not confuse this use with the modal particle ja, which adds a speaker's attitude.
Ja, ich habe Zeit.
Yes, I have time.
Zeit haben means to have time. Ja gives a positive answer, and the finite verb habe stands in position two in the following main clause.
Du kommst ja morgen.
You are coming tomorrow, after all.
morgen means tomorrow and kommen means to come. Here ja confirms information the speaker expects the listener to know; the finite verb kommst is in position two, and this use is softer than a strong command.
das Japanisch — Japanese (language)
As a language name, Japanisch is a neuter noun and is usually used without an article after verbs such as lernen and sprechen. Do not confuse it with lowercase japanisch, the adjective.
Japanisch klingt sehr anders als Deutsch.
Japanese sounds very different from German.
klingt means “sounds”, sehr anders means “very different”, and Deutsch means “German”. Japanisch is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb klingt stands in position two.
Ich lerne Japanisch.
I am learning Japanese.
lerne means “am learning”. Japanisch is the accusative object of lernen, but language names used without an article have no visible accusative ending; the finite verb lerne is in position two.
Mit Japanisch kann ich mich in Tokio verständigen.
With Japanese, I can communicate in Tokyo.
mit means “with”, kann means “can”, mich verständigen means “communicate”, and in Tokio means “in Tokyo”. Japanisch is dative after mit; the modal verb kann stands in position two and verständigen goes to the end.
Die Aussprache des Japanisch ist schwierig.
The pronunciation of Japanese is difficult.
die Aussprache means “the pronunciation” and schwierig means “difficult”. Des Japanisch is genitive after Aussprache, showing what is being pronounced; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
die Kamera — camera
A Kamera can take photographs or record video. Do not confuse it with Kamerad, which means male friend or comrade.
Die Kamera ist neu.
The camera is new.
neu means new. Die Kamera is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe eine Kamera.
I am buying a camera.
kaufe means am buying. Eine Kamera is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the feminine indefinite article is eine in both nominative and accusative.
Er fotografiert mit der Kamera.
He takes photographs with the camera.
fotografiert means takes photographs, and mit means with. Der Kamera is dative because mit always governs the dative; the finite verb fotografiert is in position two.
Die Tasche der Kamera ist schwarz.
The camera bag is black.
die Tasche means the bag, and schwarz means black. Der Kamera is genitive because it identifies whose bag it is; ist stands in position two.
Die Kameras liegen auf dem Tisch.
The cameras are lying on the table.
liegen means are lying, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Die Kameras is the plural subject; auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes a fixed location.
der Kontakt — contact; connection; contact; communication
For personal relationships, Kontakt often appears in the fixed expressions Kontakt mit jemandem haben and in Kontakt bleiben. With a person, mit takes the dative: mit meiner Freundin.
Der Kontakt mit meiner Familie ist mir wichtig.
Contact with my family is important to me.
meine Familie is my family and wichtig means important. Der Kontakt is nominative because it is the subject, while mit meiner Familie is dative because mit always takes the dative; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich suche den Kontakt zu neuen Nachbarn.
I am seeking contact with new neighbours.
suche means seek or look for, and neue Nachbarn are new neighbours. Den Kontakt is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; zu neuen Nachbarn uses the dative after zu.
Wir bleiben mit unseren Freunden in Kontakt.
We stay in contact with our friends.
bleiben means stay and unsere Freunde are our friends. The fixed expression in Kontakt bleiben means stay in contact; mit unseren Freunden is dative because mit requires the dative.
Die Qualität des Kontakts war sehr gut.
The quality of the contact was very good.
die Qualität is the quality and sehr gut means very good. Des Kontakts is genitive because it identifies whose quality is meant; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Gute Kontakte helfen bei der Jobsuche.
Good contacts help with the job search.
gute means good, helfen means help, and die Jobsuche is the job search. Gute Kontakte is plural nominative as the subject; bei der Jobsuche is dative because bei takes the dative.
Bitte nehmen Sie Kontakt mit unserem Büro auf.
Please contact our office.
unser Büro is our office and aufnehmen means make or establish contact. Mit unserem Büro is dative because mit requires the dative; in the polite command nehmen ... auf, the separable verb splits around the object.
Der Kundendienst hat schnell Kontakt zu mir aufgenommen.
Customer service contacted me quickly.
der Kundendienst is customer service, schnell means quickly, and zu mir means with me or to me. The perfect uses hat aufgenommen; Kontakt is the accusative object, and zu mir is dative after zu.
die Kontaktdaten — contact details; contact information
Kontaktdaten is used only in the plural, even when it refers to one person's information. It is a compound of Kontakt and Daten and commonly includes a phone number, email address, or postal address.
Die Kontaktdaten stehen auf der Website.
The contact details are on the website.
stehen means are written or can be found, and die Website is the website. Die Kontaktdaten is plural nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb stehen is in position two.
Bitte schicken Sie mir Ihre Kontaktdaten.
Please send me your contact details.
schicken means send, mir means to me, and Ihre means your in the polite form. Ihre Kontaktdaten is accusative as the thing being sent, while mir is dative for the recipient; the polite command uses schicken Sie.
Können Sie mir Ihre Kontaktdaten geben?
Can you give me your contact details?
können means can, mir means to me, and geben means give. Ihre Kontaktdaten is accusative as the thing given, while mir is dative for the recipient; können is in position two and geben goes to the end.
Die Richtigkeit der Kontaktdaten ist wichtig.
The accuracy of the contact details is important.
die Richtigkeit is the accuracy or correctness, and wichtig means important. Der Kontaktdaten is genitive plural because it specifies whose accuracy is meant; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Aktuelle Kontaktdaten erleichtern die Kommunikation.
Up-to-date contact details make communication easier.
aktuelle means up-to-date, erleichtern means make easier, and die Kommunikation is communication. Aktuelle Kontaktdaten is plural nominative as the subject; the verb erleichtern agrees with the plural subject and die Kommunikation is accusative.