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Vocab: Communication & media — A1 (2)
Communication & media vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
der Kugelschreiber — ballpoint pen
This compound combines Kugel (ball) and Schreiber (writer or writing instrument), but its normal meaning is simply ballpoint pen.
Der Kugelschreiber liegt neben dem Heft.
The ballpoint pen is lying next to the notebook.
liegt means is lying, neben means next to, and das Heft is the notebook. Der Kugelschreiber is nominative because it is the subject; dem Heft is dative because neben describes a location here.
Ich brauche einen Kugelschreiber.
I need a ballpoint pen.
brauche means need and einen means a in the masculine accusative. einen Kugelschreiber is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the finite verb brauche stands in position two.
Ich schreibe mit dem Kugelschreiber.
I write with the ballpoint pen.
schreibe means write and mit means with. dem Kugelschreiber is dative because mit always requires the dative; the preposition comes directly before the noun phrase.
Die Mine des Kugelschreibers ist leer.
The refill of the ballpoint pen is empty.
die Mine is the refill and leer means empty. des Kugelschreibers is genitive because it shows which pen the refill belongs to; the masculine noun adds -s in this form.
Die Kugelschreiber sind in der Schublade.
The ballpoint pens are in the drawer.
sind means are, in means in, and die Schublade is the drawer. Kugelschreiber has the same form in singular and plural, so the article die and the plural verb sind identify the plural.
der Kunde — customer, client
Kunde is a weak masculine noun. Use der Kunde only for the nominative singular; use Kunden after articles such as den, dem, or des, and in the plural.
Der Kunde wartet an der Kasse.
The customer is waiting at the checkout.
wartet means is waiting, an der Kasse means at the checkout, and Kasse means checkout or cash desk. Der Kunde is nominative as the subject; this is the only singular case in which the noun has no -n.
Die Verkäuferin berät den Kunden.
The sales assistant advises the customer.
die Verkäuferin is the sales assistant and berät means advises. den Kunden is accusative because beraten takes a direct object; the weak noun adds -n outside the nominative.
Ich helfe dem Kunden sofort.
I will help the customer immediately.
helfe means help and sofort means immediately. dem Kunden is dative because helfen governs the dative; Kunde must keep its -n.
Die Beschwerde des Kunden ist berechtigt.
The customer's complaint is justified.
die Beschwerde is the complaint and berechtigt means justified. des Kunden expresses possession in the genitive, and the weak noun again takes -n, not -s.
Die Kunden bezahlen mit Karte.
The customers pay by card.
bezahlen means pay and mit Karte means by card; Karte is card. Die Kunden is plural and has -n; mit takes the dative, although the feminine singular article is not visible here.
laut — loud; loudly; aloud, out loud
As an adjective, laut describes sound; it can also be used adverbially in phrases such as laut lesen, meaning to read aloud. Do not confuse this adjective with the separate preposition laut, meaning according to.
Die Musik ist sehr laut.
The music is very loud.
Musik means music and sehr means very. laut is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir hören laute Musik.
We are listening to loud music.
hören means listen to or hear, and Musik means music. laute Musik is an accusative object after hören; the adjective has -e because it follows the definite article die understood with this feminine noun.
Der Motor ist lauter als früher.
The engine is louder than before.
Motor means engine and früher means before or formerly. lauter is the comparative, and als introduces the thing used for comparison; after ist, the adjective is predicative and has no ending.
Von allen Kindern spricht Mia am lautesten.
Of all the children, Mia speaks the loudest.
von allen Kindern means of all the children and spricht means speaks. am lautesten is the adverbial superlative; am belongs to this form and does not introduce a noun.
Bitte sprich nicht so laut.
Please don't speak so loudly.
bitte means please, sprich means speak, and nicht so means not so. Here laut describes how someone speaks, so it is used adverbially without an ending; the command uses the du imperative.
Der Hund bellt laut, wenn jemand kommt.
The dog barks loudly when someone comes.
Hund means dog, bellt means barks, and jemand means someone. laut describes the manner of barking and has no ending; after wenn, the finite verb kommt goes to the end.
Bitte lies den Text laut vor.
Please read the text aloud.
lies means read, Text means text, and vor belongs to vorlesen, to read aloud. den Text is accusative because vorlesen takes a direct object; laut describes the manner and has no adjective ending.
Sie hat ihre Antwort laut gesagt.
She said her answer aloud.
Antwort means answer and gesagt means said. laut is an adverb meaning aloud, not an adjective before a noun; hat is in position two and gesagt closes the perfect-tense clause.
leise — quiet; quietly; soft
leise describes little sound and can be used before a noun or after sein. As an adverb, it describes how an action is done, as in leise sprechen.
Die Musik ist leise.
The music is quiet.
die Musik means the music. leise is a predicative adjective after ist, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir hören leise Musik.
We are listening to quiet music.
Wir hören means we are listening to or hear, and Musik means music. leise is attributive before the feminine mass noun Musik; after hören, the object is accusative, but the adjective has no ending here because the noun phrase has no article.
Bitte sprich leiser.
Please speak more quietly.
bitte means please, and sprich means speak. leiser compares the requested volume with the current one and is used adverbially; the imperative sprich comes first, while bitte softens the request.
Von allen Kindern spricht Mia am leisesten.
Of all the children, Mia speaks the most quietly.
von allen Kindern means of all the children, and spricht means speaks. von forces dative, shown by allen Kindern; am leisesten is the adverbial superlative and stays unchanged.
lesen — to read
lesen is a strong verb: lesen - las - hat gelesen. It takes haben in the perfect and an accusative object for the text or item being read.
Ich lese jeden Abend ein Buch.
I read a book every evening.
jeden Abend means every evening and ein Buch is a book. Ein Buch is accusative because lesen takes a direct object, and the finite verb lese stands in position two.
Sie hat den Brief gelesen.
She has read the letter.
der Brief is the letter. The perfect uses hat from haben and places gelesen at the end; den Brief is accusative because it is what she read.
Er las die Nachricht sofort.
He read the message immediately.
die Nachricht means the message and sofort means immediately. Las is the strong simple past form of lesen and stands in position two; die Nachricht is an accusative object.
Lies bitte die Anleitung!
Please read the instructions!
bitte means please and die Anleitung means the instructions. Lies is the informal singular imperative, with du omitted; die Anleitung is accusative after lesen.
Ich würde den ganzen Artikel lesen, wenn ich Zeit hätte.
I would read the whole article if I had time.
den ganzen Artikel means the whole article and wenn ich Zeit hätte means if I had time. Würde introduces the hypothetical form and lesen goes to the end of its clause; the article is accusative as the object.
Heute werde ich das Buch lesen.
Today I will read the book.
heute means today and das Buch means the book. Future tense uses werde in position two and the infinitive lesen at the end; das Buch is accusative after lesen.
die Liste — list
A Liste can be on paper or on a computer. In the fixed expression auf der Liste, auf takes the dative because the meaning is location, not movement.
Die Liste ist lang.
The list is long.
lang means long. Die Liste is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich schreibe eine Liste.
I am writing a list.
schreibe means write. Eine Liste is accusative because schreiben takes a direct object; the finite verb schreibe is in position two.
Ich vertraue meiner Liste nicht.
I do not trust my list.
vertraue means trust and nicht means not. Meiner Liste is dative because the verb vertrauen requires a dative object; nicht negates the sentence.
Die Länge der Liste überrascht mich.
The length of the list surprises me.
die Länge is the length, überrascht means surprises, and mich means me. Der Liste is genitive because it identifies which list has the length; mich is accusative because it is the person affected by überraschen.
Die Listen liegen auf dem Tisch.
The lists are on the table.
liegen means are lying and der Tisch is the table. Listen is plural and nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Tisch gives a location and therefore uses dative.
loben — to praise
loben takes an accusative object for the person or thing receiving praise. With für, the reason or achievement is also accusative.
Der Lehrer lobt die fleißige Schülerin.
The teacher praises the hardworking pupil.
der Lehrer is the teacher and die fleißige Schülerin is the hardworking pupil. die Schülerin is accusative because loben takes the person being praised as a direct object; the finite verb lobt stands in position two.
Die Eltern haben ihren Sohn gelobt.
The parents praised their son.
die Eltern means the parents and ihren Sohn means their son. ihren Sohn is accusative because loben takes a direct object; the auxiliary haben is in position two and gelobt goes to the end.
Die Trainerin lobte das ganze Team.
The coach praised the whole team.
die Trainerin is the female coach and das ganze Team means the whole team. das ganze Team is accusative as the direct object, and the weak past form lobte stands in position two.
Lob deine Schwester für ihre Hilfe!
Praise your sister for her help!
deine Schwester means your sister and ihre Hilfe means her help. The imperative lob comes first, and deine Schwester is accusative; für also always takes the accusative.
Ich würde dich für deine Geduld loben.
I would praise you for your patience.
dich means you and deine Geduld means your patience. The conditional form würde ... loben expresses a hypothetical action; dich is accusative because it is the person praised, and the infinitive loben stands at the end.
Wir werden die Gewinner morgen loben.
We will praise the winners tomorrow.
die Gewinner means the winners and morgen means tomorrow. die Gewinner is accusative as the direct object; werden is in position two and the infinitive loben goes to the end.
das Logo — logo
Das Logo is a sign or design that identifies a company or product. The plural is die Logos, with -s, not an umlaut or -en ending.
Das Logo ist blau.
The logo is blue.
blau means blue. Das Logo is nominative because it is the subject of ist; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich sehe das Logo auf der Packung.
I can see the logo on the package.
sehen means to see, auf der Packung means on the packet, and Packung means package. Das Logo is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehe is in position two.
Ich vertraue dem Logo nicht.
I do not trust the logo.
vertrauen means to trust, and nicht means not. Dem Logo is dative because vertrauen takes a dative object; the finite verb vertraue stands in position two.
Die Farben des Logos passen gut zur Firma.
The colours of the logo fit the company well.
Farben means colours, passen means fit or suit, gut means well, and Firma means company. Des Logos is genitive because it shows whose colours they are; the preposition zur is short for zu der and takes the dative.
Viele Firmen ändern ihre Logos.
Many companies change their logos.
Viele Firmen means many companies, ändern means change, and ihre means their. Logos is the accusative plural because ändern takes a direct object; the plural article is omitted because the possessive ihre fills that determiner position.
die Lüge — lie, untruth; false story, cover-up
Die Lüge is a deliberate untrue statement. The common verb is lügen, while eine Lüge erzählen means “to tell a lie”; die Wahrheit is the opposite.
Die Lüge ist nicht nett.
The lie is not nice.
nicht nett means not nice. Die Lüge is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich glaube die Lüge nicht.
I do not believe the lie.
glauben means to believe, and nicht means not. Die Lüge is accusative because it is the thing believed; with a feminine noun, the nominative and accusative articles are both die.
Er gibt der Lüge eine neue Form.
He gives the lie a new form.
geben means to give, neu means new, and die Form means the form. Der Lüge is dative because it is the indirect object, while eine neue Form is accusative as the thing given.
Die Folgen der Lüge sind schwer.
The consequences of the lie are serious.
die Folgen means the consequences, and schwer means serious or difficult. Der Lüge is genitive after die Folgen to show which lie caused them; die Folgen is the plural subject of sind.
Kinder erzählen manchmal Lügen.
Children sometimes tell lies.
Kinder means children, erzählen means tell, and manchmal means sometimes. Lügen is plural and has no article here because it is an indefinite plural object; the finite verb erzählen stands in position two.
Seine Lüge kam später ans Licht.
His lie came to light later.
seine means his, später means later, and ans Licht kommen means to come to light or become known. Seine Lüge is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb kam is in position two.
Die Polizei deckte die Lüge auf.
The police uncovered the lie.
die Polizei means the police, and aufdecken means to uncover or expose. Die Lüge is accusative because it is the object of aufdecken; in the preterite main clause, deckte ... auf forms a sentence bracket because the prefix is separable.
lügen — to lie, to tell lies
Lügen means saying something untrue deliberately. The common expression jemanden anlügen means to lie to someone and uses an accusative person; its Partizip II is angelogen.
Er lügt nie.
He never lies.
nie means never. The verb lügt stands in position two in this short main clause; unlike jemanden anlügen, this use has no direct object.
Sie hat mich angelogen.
She lied to me.
mich means me. Angelogen is the Partizip II of the separable verb anlügen, meaning to lie to someone; it combines with haben and mich is accusative because anlügen takes the person lied to as its object.
Er log über seinen Grund.
He lied about his reason.
über seinen Grund means about his reason. Log is the strong preterite of lügen; über takes the accusative here, and the finite verb is in position two.
Lüg mich nicht an!
Don’t lie to me!
nicht means not, and mich means me. Lüg ... an is the du imperative of anlügen, with the separable prefix at the end; mich is accusative.
Wenn er die Wahrheit löge, wäre alles einfacher.
If he told the truth, everything would be easier.
wenn means if, die Wahrheit means the truth, and einfacher means easier. Löge is the Konjunktiv II of lügen and expresses an unreal condition; die Wahrheit is accusative as the thing he would lie.
Ich werde dir morgen nicht lügen.
I will not lie to you tomorrow.
dir means to you, morgen means tomorrow, and nicht means not. Werde ... lügen forms the future sentence bracket; dir is dative with the person addressed, and the infinitive stands at the end.
die Mail — email
Mail is common in everyday German and is often interchangeable with E-Mail. The plural is Mails, not Mailen; mailen is the related verb meaning to email.
Die Mail ist schon angekommen.
The email has already arrived.
schon means already and angekommen means arrived. Die Mail is nominative because it is the subject; ist angekommen is the perfect of ankommen, with the participle at the end.
Ich lese die Mail später.
I will read the email later.
lese means read and später means later. Die Mail is accusative because lesen takes a direct object; the finite verb lese is in position two.
Ich antworte der Mail heute nicht.
I am not replying to the email today.
antworte means reply, heute means today, and nicht means not. Der Mail is dative because antworten takes jemandem or etwas in the dative; the finite verb antworte is in position two.
Der Betreff der Mail ist klar.
The subject line of the email is clear.
Betreff means subject line and klar means clear. Der Mail is genitive because it identifies the subject line's email; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich bekomme jeden Tag viele Mails.
I receive many emails every day.
bekomme means receive, jeden Tag means every day, and viele means many. Mails is the plural with -s and is accusative because bekommen takes a direct object; bekomme is in position two.
die Nachricht — message; news, piece of news; news, news report
Nachricht can mean a personal message or a piece of news. In the plural, die Nachrichten often means the news as a TV or radio programme; context tells you which meaning is intended.
Die Nachricht ist wichtig.
The message is important.
wichtig means important. Die Nachricht is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two; the adjective comes after the linking verb.
Ich lese die Nachricht.
I am reading the message.
lese means read. Die Nachricht is accusative because lesen takes a direct object, but the feminine article looks the same in the nominative and accusative; the finite verb lese is in position two.
Ich antworte meiner Schwester auf die Nachricht.
I reply to my sister about the message.
antworte means reply, meiner Schwester means to my sister, and auf here means to or in response to. Meiner Schwester is dative because antworten takes a dative person; auf die Nachricht is accusative because this fixed use of auf refers to the message being answered.
Der Inhalt der Nachricht war klar.
The content of the message was clear.
Inhalt means content, war means was, and klar means clear. Der Nachricht is genitive because it identifies whose content is meant; the feminine noun has no special genitive ending.
Ich bekomme jeden Tag viele Nachrichten.
I receive many messages every day.
bekomme means receive, jeden Tag means every day, and viele means many. Nachrichten is plural and is accusative because bekommen takes the messages as its direct object; jeden Tag is an accusative time expression.
Kannst du mir eine Nachricht schicken?
Can you send me a message?
Kannst du means can you, mir means to me, and schicken means send. Mir is dative for the recipient and eine Nachricht is accusative for the thing sent; with the modal kann, the infinitive goes to the end.
Die Nachrichten beginnen um acht Uhr.
The news begins at eight o'clock.
beginnen means begin, and um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. Die Nachrichten is a plural form even when it refers to the news programme as a whole, so the verb is plural: beginnen, not singular.
Das sind gute Nachrichten.
That is good news.
Das sind means that is or those are, and gute means good. Nachrichten is plural here because gute Nachrichten means good news; German normally uses the plural in this expression, even when English uses an uncountable noun.
nennen — to call; to name; to describe as
Nennen is a mixed verb: nennen – nannte – hat genannt. The named person or thing is normally accusative, as in jemanden nennen; a name or description can follow as a second object or complement.
Er nennt seinen Hund Bello.
He calls his dog Bello.
seinen Hund means his dog, and Bello is the dog’s name. Seinen Hund is accusative because it is the person or thing named; the finite verb nennt is in position two.
Sie hat ihr Kind Anna genannt.
She named her child Anna.
ihr Kind means her child, and Anna is a first name. Ihr Kind is accusative because it is the object of nennen; hat is in position two and genannt goes to the end.
Man nannte ihn früher den Chef.
People used to call him the boss.
man means people or one, ihn means him, and früher means formerly. Ihn is accusative because he is the person named; nannte is the simple-past form in position two.
Nenn mir bitte deinen Namen!
Please tell me your name!
mir means to me, bitte means please, and deinen Namen means your name. Mir is dative because it marks the person receiving the information, while deinen Namen is accusative; the imperative nenn comes first.
Ich würde das nicht nennen.
I would not call that so.
das means that, and nicht means not. The pattern würde ... nennen expresses a cautious or hypothetical opinion; das is accusative and the infinitive nennen stands at the end.
Wir werden bald einen neuen Termin nennen.
We will soon name a new date.
bald means soon, neu means new, and der Termin means the appointment or date. Einen neuen Termin is accusative; werden is in position two and nennen goes to the end.
die Note — grade, mark; musical note; banknote; musical note
The meaning depends on context: die Note can be a school grade, a musical note, or a banknote. In music, it is often used with spielen, singen, or lesen.
Die Note ist sehr gut.
The grade is very good.
sehr gut means very good. Die Note is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich bekomme eine gute Note.
I get a good grade.
bekommen means to get, and gute means good. Eine gute Note is accusative because it is the object of bekommen; the feminine adjective ending is -e after eine.
Meine Mutter hilft mir bei der Note.
My mother helps me with the grade.
meine Mutter is my mother, and hilft means helps. Mir is dative because helfen takes a dative person, and bei der Note is also dative because bei requires the dative.
Die Bedeutung der Note ist unklar.
The meaning of the grade is unclear.
die Bedeutung is the meaning, and unklar means unclear. Der Note is genitive to show which meaning is meant; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Die Schüler vergleichen ihre Noten.
The pupils compare their grades.
die Schüler are the pupils, vergleichen means compare, and ihre means their. Noten is plural and accusative because it is the object of vergleichen; the plural form ends in -n.
Welche Note hast du in Mathe?
What grade did you get in maths?
welche means which, hast du means have you, and Mathe means maths. Welche Note is accusative because it is the object of haben; the question word comes first and the finite verb hast stays in position two.
Sie singt eine hohe Note.
She sings a high note.
singt means sings, and hohe means high. Eine hohe Note is accusative because it is the object of singen; the adjective has the feminine accusative ending -e.
Die Noten liegen auf dem Klavier.
The sheet music is lying on the piano.
liegen means are lying, and auf dem Klavier means on the piano. Noten is plural and nominative as the subject; auf dem Klavier is dative because it describes a fixed location.
das Papier — paper; document, papers
Papier can mean the material, usually without a plural, or an individual paper/document, with the plural Papiere. The meaning is clear from context: Papier is material, while Papiere usually means documents or separate papers.
Das Papier ist weiß.
The paper is white.
weiß means white. das Papier is nominative because it is the subject, and ist links it to the predicative adjective weiß in position two.
Ich brauche ein Blatt Papier.
I need a sheet of paper.
brauche means need and ein Blatt means a sheet. ein Blatt Papier is an accusative object because brauchen takes accusative; Papier names the material and follows the counting word Blatt.
Ich schreibe auf dem Papier.
I write on the paper.
schreibe means write and auf means on. dem Papier is dative because auf describes a location here; with movement onto a surface, auf would take accusative instead.
Die Farbe des Papiers ist blau.
The colour of the paper is blue.
die Farbe means the colour and blau means blue. des Papiers is genitive because it shows what the colour belongs to; the neuter noun takes -s after des.
Die Papiere liegen auf dem Tisch.
The papers are lying on the table.
liegen means are lying, der Tisch means the table, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Papiere is the plural when Papier means separate papers or documents; auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes a location.
Ich male mit Papier und Stiften.
I draw with paper and pencils.
male means draw, mit means with, and Stifte means pencils. mit Papier is dative because mit always takes dative; material Papier is often used without an article.
Bitte zeigen Sie Ihre Papiere.
Please show your documents.
bitte means please, zeigen means show, and Ihre means your in formal address. Ihre Papiere is accusative because it is the object of zeigen; the formal request uses the infinitive at the start.
Meine Papiere sind nicht vollständig.
My documents are not complete.
meine means my, nicht means not, and vollständig means complete. Papiere is plural here because it means documents, so the verb is sind, not ist.
das Plakat — poster
A Plakat is normally a large poster displayed where many people can see it. For a small notice or paper, German may use Zettel instead.
Das Plakat hängt an der Wand.
The poster is hanging on the wall.
hängt means is hanging and an der Wand means on the wall. Das Plakat is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb hängt is in position two.
Ich sehe das Plakat im Bahnhof.
I see the poster at the railway station.
sehe means see and im Bahnhof means at the railway station. Das Plakat is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the neuter article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Neben dem Plakat steht ein Fahrrad.
A bicycle is standing next to the poster.
neben means next to and ein Fahrrad is a bicycle. Here neben describes a fixed location and takes the dative, so dem Plakat is dative.
Die Farbe des Plakats ist blau.
The colour of the poster is blue.
die Farbe means the colour and blau means blue. Des Plakats is genitive because it identifies the poster whose colour is meant; Plakat adds -s.
An der Schule hängen neue Plakate.
New posters are hanging at the school.
an der Schule means at the school and neu means new. Plakate is plural, formed with -e, and hängen agrees with the plural subject.
die Post — mail; post office, postal service
die Post is usually a mass noun when it means mail, so it normally has no plural. In zur Post gehen, it means going to the post office; zur is short for zu der.
Die Post kommt heute spät.
The mail is arriving late today.
kommt means arrives and heute spät means late today. die Post is the nominative subject, and the finite verb kommt stands in position two.
Ich hole die Post aus dem Briefkasten.
I collect the mail from the letterbox.
hole means collect or fetch, aus means from, and der Briefkasten is the letterbox. die Post is accusative because holen takes a direct object; aus dem Briefkasten is dative because aus always takes the dative.
Der Briefträger bringt der Post neue Pakete.
The postman brings the postal service new parcels.
der Briefträger is the postman, bringt means brings, and neue Pakete are new parcels. der Post is dative as the recipient of bringt, while neue Pakete is the accusative thing being brought; in everyday mail language, die Post is normally used as a mass noun.
Die Öffnungszeiten der Post stehen an der Tür.
The post office's opening hours are on the door.
die Öffnungszeiten means opening hours, stehen means are displayed, and an der Tür means on the door. der Post is genitive to show whose opening hours they are; an der Tür is dative because it describes a location.
Wir gehen morgen zur Post.
We are going to the post office tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow and gehen means go. zur Post is zu der Post; zu takes the dative and here means to the post office, not simply to some mail.
Die Post ist am Samstag geschlossen.
The post office is closed on Saturday.
am Samstag means on Saturday and geschlossen means closed. die Post is the subject, and geschlossen is a predicative adjective after ist, so it has no ending.
das Postamt — post office
das Postamt is a compound of die Post (post) and das Amt (office). Because the final part is das Amt, the whole compound is neuter: das Postamt.
Das Postamt ist heute geöffnet.
The post office is open today.
heute means today and geöffnet means open. das Postamt is the nominative subject, and geöffnet follows ist as a predicative adjective without an ending.
Ich suche das Postamt in der Innenstadt.
I am looking for the post office in the city centre.
suche means am looking for, in means in, and die Innenstadt is the city centre. das Postamt is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; in der Innenstadt is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Wir gehen dem Postamt gegenüber zur Bushaltestelle.
We are going to the bus stop opposite the post office.
gegenüber means opposite, gehen means go, and die Bushaltestelle is the bus stop. dem Postamt is dative after gegenüber; zur Bushaltestelle means to the bus stop, with zu also taking the dative.
Die Tür des Postamts ist geschlossen.
The door of the post office is closed.
die Tür means the door, geschlossen means closed, and ist means is. des Postamts is genitive because it identifies whose door it is; des and the ending -s mark the neuter genitive.
In unserer Stadt gibt es drei Postämter.
There are three post offices in our town.
in unserer Stadt means in our town, drei means three, and gibt es means there are. drei Postämter is accusative after the fixed expression es gibt; the plural changes a to ä and adds -er.
der Postbote — postman, postal worker
der Postbote is a weak masculine noun. It takes -n in the accusative and dative singular: den Postboten, dem Postboten; the plural is also die Postboten.
Der Postbote kommt jeden Morgen.
The postman comes every morning.
kommt means comes and jeden Morgen means every morning. der Postbote is the nominative subject, and the finite verb kommt is in position two.
Ich sehe den Postboten vor dem Haus.
I see the postman in front of the house.
sehe means see, vor dem Haus means in front of the house, and das Haus is the house. den Postboten is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; as a weak masculine noun, Postbote adds -n outside the nominative.
Ich gebe dem Postboten ein Trinkgeld.
I give the postman a tip.
gebe means give, ein Trinkgeld is a tip, and dem means to the in this context. dem Postboten is dative because geben takes a recipient in the dative; Postbote keeps the weak ending -n.
Das Fahrrad des Postboten steht im Hof.
The postman's bicycle is in the courtyard.
das Fahrrad means the bicycle, steht means is standing, and der Hof is the courtyard. des Postboten is genitive to show possession, and the weak noun again has -n; im Hof is short for in dem Hof and marks location.
Postboten verteilen Briefe und Pakete.
Postmen deliver letters and parcels.
verteilen means distribute, Briefe are letters, and Pakete are parcels. Postboten is plural nominative as the subject, while Briefe und Pakete are accusative objects; the plural form also ends in -n.
die Postkarte — postcard
Use die Postkarte for a card sent through the post, often while travelling. The common collocation is eine Postkarte schreiben.
Die Postkarte ist aus Berlin.
The postcard is from Berlin.
aus Berlin means from Berlin. Die Postkarte is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich schreibe eine Postkarte.
I am writing a postcard.
schreibe means write. Eine Postkarte is accusative because schreiben takes a direct object; the feminine article changes from die to eine in this case.
Ich schicke meiner Freundin eine Postkarte.
I am sending my friend a postcard.
schicke means send, and meiner Freundin means to my female friend. Meiner Freundin is dative because she receives the postcard, while eine Postkarte is accusative as the thing sent.
Die Briefmarke der Postkarte ist schön.
The stamp on the postcard is nice.
die Briefmarke means the stamp and schön means nice or beautiful. Der Postkarte is genitive to show which postcard the stamp belongs to; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Im Urlaub kaufe ich viele Postkarten.
On holiday I buy many postcards.
im Urlaub means on holiday, kaufe means buy, and viele means many. Postkarten is plural and accusative because it is the object of kaufe; the plural ending is -n.
der Punkt — point, dot; full stop; point, score
For a punctuation mark, der Punkt means a full stop; in an argument, it can mean a point. The plural Punkte is regular.
Der Punkt am Ende des Satzes ist wichtig.
The full stop at the end of the sentence is important.
am Ende des Satzes means “at the end of the sentence”, and wichtig means important. Der Punkt is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Setz bitte einen Punkt hier.
Please put a full stop here.
setz means put or place, bitte means please, and hier means here. Einen Punkt is accusative because setzen takes a direct object; the imperative setz comes first.
Ich gebe dem Punkt eine neue Farbe.
I am giving the dot a new colour.
gebe means give, eine neue Farbe means a new colour, and neu means new. Dem Punkt is dative because it is the recipient of geben, while eine neue Farbe is accusative as the thing given.
Die Bedeutung des Punktes ist nicht klar.
The meaning of the point is not clear.
die Bedeutung means the meaning and klar means clear. Des Punktes is genitive because it identifies whose meaning is being discussed; the noun takes -es in this formal genitive phrase.
Auf der Karte sind drei Punkte.
There are three dots on the map.
auf der Karte means on the map, and drei means three. Punkte is plural after drei; auf takes the dative here because the dots are in a fixed location, not moving onto the map.
Der Punkt ist noch nicht erreicht.
The point has not yet been reached.
noch nicht means not yet, and erreicht means reached. Der Punkt is nominative as the subject of the passive sentence, and ist erreicht forms the present passive state.
Unsere Mannschaft hat einen Punkt gewonnen.
Our team won one point.
unsere Mannschaft means our team and gewonnen means won. Einen Punkt is accusative because gewinnen takes a direct object; hat gewonnen is the perfect tense.
Mit diesem Sieg bekommen wir drei Punkte.
With this victory we get three points.
mit diesem Sieg means with this victory, and bekommen means get or receive. Mit always takes the dative, while drei Punkte is accusative as the thing received.
das Radio — radio
Das Radio can mean the physical radio or radio broadcasting in general. Its plural is Radios, with the regular borrowed-word ending -s.
Das Radio läuft jeden Morgen in der Küche.
The radio is on in the kitchen every morning.
laufen means to be running or playing, jeden Morgen means every morning, and die Küche means the kitchen. Das Radio is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb läuft is in position two.
Ich höre das Radio beim Frühstück.
I listen to the radio at breakfast.
hören means to listen to or hear, beim Frühstück means at breakfast, and Frühstück means breakfast. Das Radio is accusative because hören takes a direct object; the finite verb höre is in position two.
Wir hören dem Radio nicht zu, weil es kaputt ist.
We are not listening to the radio because it is broken.
zuhören means to listen to, nicht means not, weil means because, and kaputt means broken. Dem Radio is dative because the verb zuhören takes a dative object; in the weil clause, ist goes to the end.
Die Lautstärke des Radios ist zu niedrig.
The volume of the radio is too low.
die Lautstärke means the volume, zu niedrig means too low, and sein means to be. Des Radios is genitive because it identifies whose volume it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
In unserem Hotel gibt es drei Radios.
There are three radios in our hotel.
unserem Hotel means our hotel, drei means three, and es gibt means there is or there are. Radios is plural after drei; after es gibt, the thing that exists is in the accusative, although the plural article is not visible here.
rufen — to call, to shout
For a person called directly, rufen takes the accusative: jemanden rufen. With nach, it means to call for someone and takes the dative: nach jemandem rufen; do not confuse rufen with anrufen, meaning to phone someone.
Ich rufe meine Mutter.
I am calling my mother.
meine Mutter means my mother. Meine Mutter is accusative because rufen takes the person called as a direct object; the finite verb rufe stands in position two.
Er hat laut nach dem Arzt gerufen.
He called loudly for the doctor.
laut means loudly, and der Arzt is the doctor. Nach dem Arzt uses the dative because nach means calling for someone here; the perfect uses hat plus gerufen, with the Partizip II at the end.
Sie rief sofort die Polizei.
She immediately called the police.
sofort means immediately, and die Polizei means the police. Die Polizei is accusative as the direct object; rief is the strong preterite of rufen, not rufte.
Ruf mich bitte!
Please call me!
mich means me, and bitte means please. Ruf is the informal singular imperative, so du is omitted; mich is accusative because it is the person being called.
Wenn du Hilfe bräuchtest, riefest du mich.
If you needed help, you would call me.
Hilfe means help, and bräuchtest means needed. Riefest is the formal or literary Konjunktiv II of rufen; in everyday speech, würdest ... rufen is more common, and the finite verb stands at the end of the wenn-clause.
Ich werde dich später rufen.
I will call you later.
dich means you, and später means later. Future tense uses werde plus the infinitive rufen at the end; dich is accusative because it is the person called.
die Rufnummer — telephone number
Rufnummer is a neutral word for a telephone number; Telefonnummer is also very common. It can refer to a complete number or, in a company, to an internal extension.
Die Rufnummer steht auf der Rechnung.
The telephone number is on the bill.
die Rechnung means the bill. Die Rufnummer is nominative because it is the subject of steht; the finite verb is in position two.
Ich notiere die Rufnummer.
I write down the telephone number.
notieren means to write down. die Rufnummer is accusative because it is the direct object of notiere; the finite verb is in position two.
Ich schicke meiner Schwester die Rufnummer.
I send my sister the telephone number.
schicken means to send, and meiner Schwester means to my sister. meiner Schwester is dative for the recipient, while die Rufnummer is accusative as the thing sent.
Die Durchwahl der Rufnummer fehlt.
The extension of the telephone number is missing.
die Durchwahl means the extension number, and fehlen means to be missing. der Rufnummer is genitive because it means “of the telephone number”; the genitive phrase follows the noun it describes.
Bitte speichern Sie die neuen Rufnummern.
Please save the new telephone numbers.
neu means new, and speichern means to save. die Rufnummern is plural and accusative because it is the object of speichern; plural Rufnummern ends in -n.
Meine Rufnummer hat sich geändert.
My telephone number has changed.
meine means my, and sich ändern means to change. Meine Rufnummer is nominative because it is the subject; hat sich geändert is a perfect-tense verb phrase.
das Russisch — Russian (language)
Das Russisch names the Russian language and is a mass noun, so it normally has no plural. Do not confuse it with lowercase russisch, the adjective meaning Russian.
Das Russisch klingt schön.
Russian sounds beautiful.
klingt means sounds and schön means beautiful. Das Russisch is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb klingt stands in position two.
Ich lerne das Russisch in der Schule.
I am learning Russian at school.
lerne means am learning and in der Schule means at school. Das Russisch is accusative because lernen takes a direct object; this mass noun has the same form in nominative and accusative.
Mit dem Russisch komme ich gut zurecht.
I manage well with Russian.
mit means with and gut zurechtkommen means manage well. Dem Russisch is dative because mit always takes the dative; the phrase Mit dem Russisch occupies position one, so komme follows directly.
Die Aussprache des Russisch ist schwierig.
The pronunciation of Russian is difficult.
die Aussprache means pronunciation and schwierig means difficult. Des Russisch is genitive because it identifies whose pronunciation is meant; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Viele Menschen sprechen Russisch.
Many people speak Russian.
viele Menschen means many people and sprechen means speak. This language noun is normally uncountable and has no plural, so the example shows the bare language name after sprechen rather than a plural form.
sagen — to say, to tell; to express; to indicate
sagen can take a thing in the accusative and often a person in the dative: jemandem etwas sagen. For reported speech, use dass plus a clause whose finite verb goes to the end.
Ich sage die Wahrheit.
I am telling the truth.
die Wahrheit means the truth. die Wahrheit is accusative because sagen takes what is said as a direct object, and the finite verb sage stands in position two.
Sie hat mir die Antwort gesagt.
She told me the answer.
mir means to me and die Antwort means the answer. mir is dative for the person receiving the information, while die Antwort is accusative; hat is in position two and gesagt goes to the end.
Er sagte, dass er müde ist.
He said that he was tired.
dass means that and müde means tired. sagte is the regular simple-past form in the main clause; after dass, the finite verb ist goes to the end.
Sag mir bitte deinen Namen.
Please tell me your name.
bitte means please and deinen Namen means your name. mir is dative for the person being told, while deinen Namen is accusative; the informal imperative sag has no ending.
Ich würde dir die Wahrheit sagen.
I would tell you the truth.
würde expresses would and dir means to you. dir is dative for the listener and die Wahrheit is accusative; the infinitive sagen goes to the end after würde.
Morgen werde ich dir alles sagen.
Tomorrow I will tell you everything.
morgen means tomorrow and alles means everything. dir is dative for the person receiving the information; werde stands in position two and the infinitive sagen goes to the end.
Wie sagt man das auf Deutsch?
How do you say that in German?
wie means how, das means that, and auf Deutsch means in German. man is the general subject, and the finite verb sagt stands in position two.
Sein Gesicht sagt mehr als seine Worte.
His face says more than his words.
sein Gesicht means his face and seine Worte means his words. sein Gesicht is nominative as the subject; the comparison mehr als means more than, and sagt is in position two.
der Satz — sentence; phrase; set or rate
In grammar, der Satz usually means a sentence. It can also mean a set or a rate in expressions such as ein Satz Reifen, a set of tyres, but the plural Sätze is used for both common meanings.
Der Satz ist sehr kurz.
The sentence is very short.
kurz means short, and sehr means very. Der Satz is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich verstehe den Satz nicht.
I do not understand the sentence.
verstehen means to understand and nicht means not. den Satz is accusative because verstehen takes a direct object; the finite verb verstehe is in position two.
Die Lehrerin erklärt den Schülern den Satz.
The teacher explains the sentence to the pupils.
die Lehrerin is the teacher, erklären means to explain, and die Schüler are the pupils. Den Satz is accusative as the thing explained, while den Schülern is dative because they receive the explanation.
Die Bedeutung des Satzes ist klar.
The meaning of the sentence is clear.
die Bedeutung means meaning and klar means clear. Des Satzes is genitive because it shows whose meaning it is; the masculine noun has -es in the genitive.
Die Sätze stehen an der Tafel.
The sentences are on the board.
stehen means stand or are written, and die Tafel is the board. Die Sätze is plural with the umlaut and -e ending; an der Tafel is dative because it describes a fixed location.
das Schild — sign, plaque
Neuter das Schild means a sign or plaque. The plural is die Schilder; masculine der Schild is a different word meaning a shield and has the plural die Schilde.
Das Schild zeigt den Weg zum Bahnhof.
The sign shows the way to the station.
zeigt means shows, den Weg means the way, and zum Bahnhof means to the station. Das Schild is nominative because it is the subject; den Weg is accusative because zeigen takes a direct object.
Ich lese das Schild an der Tür.
I am reading the sign on the door.
lese means am reading, an der Tür means on the door, and die Tür means the door. Das Schild is accusative because lesen takes a direct object; neuter das looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Bitte folge dem Schild nach links.
Please follow the sign to the left.
bitte means please, folge means follow, and nach links means to the left. Dem Schild is dative because folgen always takes a dative object; dem shows the case.
Die Farbe des Schildes ist verblasst.
The colour of the sign has faded.
die Farbe means the colour and verblasst means faded. Des Schildes is genitive because it shows which sign's colour is meant; the neuter noun takes -es after des.
An der Straße stehen neue Schilder.
There are new signs along the road.
an der Straße means along the road, stehen means stand or are situated, and neue means new. Schilder is the plural subject; its meaning is signs, unlike Schilde, the plural of the masculine word for shields.
der Schrei — cry, scream, shout; cry or expression of a feeling
A Schrei can be made by a person or an animal and can express fear, pain, or anger. The common collocation einen Schrei ausstoßen means to let out a scream.
Der Schrei war im ganzen Haus zu hören.
The scream could be heard throughout the house.
das ganze Haus means the whole house, and zu hören means able to be heard. Der Schrei is nominative because it is the subject; war ... zu hören expresses possibility, with the finite verb in position two.
Ich hörte den Schrei meines Nachbarn.
I heard my neighbour's scream.
hören means to hear, and der Nachbar means the neighbour. Den Schrei is accusative because hörte takes a direct object, while meines Nachbarn is genitive possession.
Bei dem Schrei bekam das Kind Angst.
When it heard the scream, the child became afraid.
bei means during or when, das Kind means the child, and Angst bekommen means to become afraid. Dem Schrei is dative because bei always takes dative; the verb bekam is in position two.
Die Lautstärke des Schreis war überraschend.
The loudness of the scream was surprising.
die Lautstärke means the loudness, and überraschend means surprising. Des Schreis is genitive because it says whose loudness is meant; the masculine noun adds -s.
Plötzlich hörten wir mehrere Schreie.
Suddenly we heard several screams.
plötzlich means suddenly, mehrere means several, and hören means to hear. Schreie is plural and accusative because it is the direct object of hörten; the plural ending is -e.
Der Vogel stieß einen lauten Schrei aus.
The bird let out a loud cry.
der Vogel means the bird, laut means loud, and ausstoßen means to let out. Einen lauten Schrei is accusative after stieß ... aus, and the separable prefix aus moves to the end.
Ihr Jubel war ein Schrei der Freude.
Her cheering was a cry of joy.
ihr Jubel means her cheering, and die Freude means joy. Ein Schrei follows war as a predicative noun, while der Freude is genitive after the noun to show the feeling expressed.
Seine Nachricht war ein Schrei nach Hilfe.
His message was a cry for help.
seine Nachricht means his message, and die Hilfe means help. Ein Schrei nach Hilfe is a fixed expression; nach takes the dative, although the feminine noun has the same form after the article.
schreiben — to write; to write about; to work on a text
Schreiben normally takes the thing written as an accusative object and may take the recipient in the dative: jemandem etwas schreiben. It is a strong verb with schrieb - hat geschrieben and forms the perfect with haben.
Ich schreibe jeden Abend in mein Tagebuch.
I write in my diary every evening.
jeden Abend means every evening, and das Tagebuch means the diary. In mein Tagebuch is accusative because in expresses direction into the diary here; the finite verb schreibe stands in position two.
Sie hat einen Brief geschrieben.
She has written a letter.
sie means she, and ein Brief is a letter. Einen Brief is accusative because schreiben takes a direct object; hat is in position two and geschrieben goes to the end with haben.
Mein Vater schrieb mir gestern eine E-Mail.
My father wrote me an email yesterday.
mein Vater means my father, gestern means yesterday, and eine E-Mail is an email. Mir is dative for the recipient and eine E-Mail is accusative as the thing written; the strong preterite schrieb is in position two.
Schreib bitte deinen Namen hier.
Please write your name here.
bitte means please, dein Name means your name, and hier means here. Schreib is the singular du imperative, while deinen Namen is accusative because it is the direct object.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, schriebe ich dir jeden Tag.
If I had more time, I would write to you every day.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and jeden Tag means every day. In the wenn clause the finite verb hätte goes to the end; schriebe is Konjunktiv II for an unreal situation, and dir is dative for the recipient.
Morgen werde ich meiner Schwester eine Karte schreiben.
Tomorrow I will write my sister a card.
morgen means tomorrow, meine Schwester means my sister, and eine Karte means a card. Meiner Schwester is dative for the recipient and eine Karte is accusative; werde is in position two and the infinitive schreiben goes to the end.
Die Journalistin schreibt über das neue Gesetz.
The journalist is writing about the new law.
die Journalistin means the journalist, über means about, and das Gesetz means the law. Über takes the accusative when it means about, so das neue Gesetz is accusative; the finite verb is in position two.
Er schreibt gerade an seinem ersten Roman.
He is currently working on his first novel.
gerade means currently, sein erster Roman means his first novel, and an etwas schreiben means to work on a text. An takes the dative in this fixed expression, so seinem ersten Roman is dative; schreibt is in position two.
schreien — to shout, to scream; to cry out
Schreien can describe a loud voice caused by anger, fear, pain, or excitement. For a quieter raised voice, German often uses rufen, meaning to call or shout to someone.
Das Kind schreit laut.
The child is screaming loudly.
das Kind is the child and laut means loudly. The finite verb schreit is in position two, and das Kind is nominative because it is the subject.
Der Mann hat vor Angst geschrien.
The man screamed with fear.
der Mann is the man and vor Angst means out of fear. The perfect uses hat plus geschrien because schreien takes haben; the participle goes to the end of the clause.
Sie schrie nach ihrer Mutter.
She screamed for her mother.
nach ihrer Mutter means for her mother or calling for her mother. Schrie is the strong-verb past form, and nach takes the dative, shown by ihrer Mutter.
Schrei nicht so laut!
Don’t shout so loudly!
nicht means not and so laut means so loudly. Schrei is the singular du imperative and comes first; the subject pronoun du is omitted.
Wenn er Angst hätte, schreie er sofort.
If he were afraid, he would scream immediately.
Angst haben means be afraid and sofort means immediately. Schreie is the Konjunktiv II form in this sentence; the finite verb comes at the end of the wenn-clause, while er is the subject of the main clause.
Das Baby wird die ganze Nacht schreien.
The baby will scream all night.
das Baby is the baby and die ganze Nacht means all night. Future tense uses wird plus the infinitive schreien, which goes to the end; die ganze Nacht is an accusative time expression.
Das Kind schreit vor Schmerzen.
The child is crying out in pain.
vor Schmerzen means in pain, and Schmerzen are pains. The phrase vor Schmerzen explains the cause of the screaming; schreit is in position two because this is a main clause.
Die Fans haben vor Freude geschrien.
The fans screamed with joy.
die Fans are the fans and vor Freude means with joy. The perfect uses haben with geschrien, and the participle stands at the end of the main clause.
sehen — to see, to watch; to understand, to realize
Sehen takes an accusative object: jemanden or etwas sehen. Do not confuse it with schauen, which is often used with auf when directing your gaze at something.
Ich sehe einen schönen Film.
I am watching a good film.
einen schönen Film means a good film. Einen Film is accusative because it is the direct object of sehen, and the finite verb sehe stands in position two.
Wir haben den neuen Film gesehen.
We watched the new film.
den neuen Film means the new film. Gesehen pairs with haben because sehen takes a direct object; the Partizip II goes to the end, while den Film is accusative.
Gestern sah ich einen alten Freund.
Yesterday I saw an old friend.
gestern means yesterday, and ein alter Freund means an old friend. Sah is the irregular simple past of sehen and stands in position two; einen alten Freund is accusative as the object.
Sieh den Vogel dort!
Look at the bird there!
der Vogel means the bird, and dort means there. Sieh is the irregular du imperative, so the pronoun is omitted; den Vogel is accusative because it is what the person should look at.
Ich würde sehen, ob er zu Hause ist.
I would see whether he is at home.
ob means whether, and zu Hause means at home. Würde sehen expresses a hypothetical action; sehen goes to the end after würde, while ist goes to the end of the ob-clause.
Morgen werde ich meine Schwester sehen.
Tomorrow I will see my sister.
morgen means tomorrow, and meine Schwester means my sister. Werde is the finite future auxiliary in position two, while the infinitive sehen goes to the end; meine Schwester is accusative as the direct object.
Ah, jetzt sehe ich das Problem.
Ah, now I understand the problem.
jetzt means now, and das Problem means the problem. Here sehe means understand; das Problem is accusative as the object, and the finite verb is in position two.
Ich sehe, warum du traurig bist.
I understand why you are sad.
warum means why, and traurig means sad. Sehe means understand here; the warum-clause is its content, and bist goes to the end of that subordinate clause.
die Seite — page; side
In its common first sense, die Seite means a page in a book or document. It can also mean a side, for example die linke Seite is “the left side”; the plural is Seiten in both common senses.
Die Seite ist leer.
The page is blank.
leer means blank or empty. Die Seite is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich lese die Seite.
I am reading the page.
lese means read. Die Seite is accusative because lesen takes a direct object, while the finite verb lese is in position two.
Auf der Seite steht eine wichtige Information.
There is important information on the page.
auf means on, steht means stands or is written, and wichtige Information means important information. der Seite is dative because auf describes a fixed location here; the verb steht is in position two.
Die Farbe der Seite ist blau.
The colour of the page is blue.
Farbe means colour and blau means blue. der Seite is genitive because it shows whose colour it is, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das Buch hat zweihundert Seiten.
The book has two hundred pages.
Buch means book and zweihundert means two hundred. Seiten is plural and accusative because haben takes a direct object; the plural ending is -n.
Wir sitzen auf derselben Seite.
We are sitting on the same side.
sitzen means sit and derselben means the same. Seite is dative after auf because this sentence describes a location, not movement; auf derselben Seite means on the same side.
Welche Seite unterstützt du?
Which side do you support?
Welche means which and unterstützen means support. Seite is accusative because it is the direct object of unterstützt; in this question the finite verb comes before the subject du.
das Spanisch — Spanish; the Spanish language
As the name of a language, Spanisch is normally a singular-only noun and is often used without an article, as in Ich lerne Spanisch. The related adjective is spanisch, and the form das Spanische is also used when the language is treated as a substantivized adjective.
Das Spanisch klingt schön.
Spanish sounds beautiful.
klingt schön means “sounds beautiful”. Das Spanisch is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb klingt is in position two.
Ich lerne Spanisch.
I am learning Spanish.
lerne means “learn”. Spanisch is accusative as the object of lernen, but language names are often used without an article; the finite verb lerne stands in position two.
Mit Spanisch kann man in vielen Ländern sprechen.
With Spanish, you can speak in many countries.
mit means “with”, vielen Ländern means “many countries”, and sprechen means “speak”. Mit requires the dative, but the language name has no visible ending; kann is in position two and sprechen goes to the end.
Die Grammatik des Spanisch ist nicht einfach.
The grammar of Spanish is not easy.
die Grammatik means “the grammar”, and nicht einfach means “not easy”. Des Spanisch is genitive and identifies whose grammar it is; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
In der Schule lernen wir Spanisch.
We learn Spanish at school.
in der Schule means “at school”, and lernen means “learn”. Spanisch is a mass noun naming a language, so it has no normal plural; lernen follows the first element in position two.
die Sprache — language; speech; way of speaking; wording
Sprache most often means a language such as German or English. It can also mean the way someone speaks or communicates.
Die Sprache ist nicht schwer.
The language is not difficult.
nicht schwer means not difficult. Die Sprache is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich lerne die Sprache jeden Tag.
I learn the language every day.
lerne means learn, and jeden Tag means every day. Die Sprache is accusative because lernen takes a direct object; the finite verb lerne is in position two.
Wir sprechen mit der Sprache im Kurs.
We speak with the language in the course.
sprechen means speak, mit means with, and der Kurs is the course. Der Sprache is dative because mit always takes the dative; the finite verb sprechen is in position two.
Die Grammatik der Sprache ist interessant.
The grammar of the language is interesting.
die Grammatik means grammar, and interessant means interesting. Der Sprache is genitive because it shows whose grammar it is; the whole phrase is the nominative subject.
Sie spricht drei Sprachen.
She speaks three languages.
spricht means speaks, and drei means three. Sprachen is plural and accusative because it is the object of sprechen in this meaning; after a number, there is no plural article.
Der Text ist in einfacher Sprache geschrieben.
The text is written in simple language.
der Text means the text, einfach means simple, and geschrieben means written. In einfacher Sprache is a phrase describing the text; in takes the dative for a fixed state, so the adjective has the ending -er.
Seine Sprache klingt sehr höflich.
His way of speaking sounds very polite.
seine means his, klingt means sounds, and höflich means polite. Seine Sprache is nominative as the subject; the finite verb klingt is in position two.
sprechen — to speak, to talk
sprechen takes mit plus dative for the person you speak with and often über plus accusative for the topic. Its perfect uses haben, not sein.
Ich spreche jeden Tag Deutsch.
I speak German every day.
jeden Tag means every day, and Deutsch is German. The finite verb spreche is in position two; Deutsch is the language being spoken and has no article here.
Wir haben lange über den Urlaub gesprochen.
We talked about the holiday for a long time.
lange means for a long time, and der Urlaub means the holiday. über den Urlaub is accusative because this sense of sprechen commonly uses über for the topic; haben is in position two and gesprochen goes to the end.
Sie sprach gestern mit ihrer Nachbarin.
She spoke with her neighbour yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and die Nachbarin is the female neighbour. mit always takes the dative, so ihrer Nachbarin is dative; sprach is the strong-verb past form in position two.
Sprich bitte langsam!
Please speak slowly!
bitte means please, and langsam means slowly. Sprich is the informal singular imperative of sprechen; the subject du is left out.
Ich würde gern mit dir darüber sprechen.
I would like to talk to you about it.
gern means gladly or would like to, mit dir means with you, and darüber means about it. mit takes the dative, so dir is dative; the infinitive sprechen stands at the end after würde.
Morgen werde ich mit dem Arzt sprechen.
Tomorrow I will speak with the doctor.
morgen means tomorrow, and der Arzt is the doctor. mit dem Arzt is dative because mit requires dative; werde is in position two and sprechen goes to the end.
stehen — to stand; to be located; to be written; to say or state
Stehen normally describes an upright position or the location of an object. It uses haben in the perfect, unlike movement verbs such as gehen and steigen, which commonly use sein.
Ich stehe vor dem Haus.
I am standing in front of the house.
vor dem Haus means “in front of the house”, and Haus is a house. The finite verb stehe is in position two; dem Haus is dative because vor describes a fixed location.
Wir sind lange vor dem Bahnhof gestanden.
We stood in front of the station for a long time.
lange means “for a long time”, and der Bahnhof is the station. Sind is the finite form of sein, but here gestanden pairs with haben, so the natural sentence is: Wir haben lange vor dem Bahnhof gestanden. The participle gestanden goes to the end, and dem Bahnhof is dative after the location preposition vor.
Früher stand hier ein altes Haus.
There used to be an old house here.
früher means “formerly”, hier means “here”, and alt means old. Stand is the Präteritum of stehen; the subject ein altes Haus comes after the verb because Früher occupies position one.
Steh bitte hier!
Please stand here!
bitte means “please”, and hier means here. Steh is the du imperative and comes first; the pronoun du is normally omitted in a command.
Wenn ich dort stünde, wäre ich näher an der Tür.
If I were standing there, I would be closer to the door.
dort means there, näher means closer, and die Tür is the door. Stünde is Konjunktiv II of stehen; in the wenn clause the verb goes to the end, and der Tür is dative after the location phrase an.
Morgen werde ich um acht Uhr vor dem Kino stehen.
Tomorrow I will stand in front of the cinema at eight o’clock.
morgen means tomorrow, um acht Uhr means at eight o’clock, and das Kino is the cinema. Werde is the finite verb in position two, while the infinitive stehen goes to the end; dem Kino is dative because vor describes a location.
Das Datum steht auf dem Brief.
The date is written on the letter.
das Datum is the date, and der Brief is a letter. Steht means “is written” here; dem Brief is dative because auf describes a fixed location.
Im Vertrag steht, dass die Miete steigt.
The contract says that the rent is going up.
der Vertrag is the contract, die Miete is the rent, and steigt means “rises” or “goes up”. In dass clause, the finite verb steigt goes to the end; steht is the finite verb of the main clause.
die Stelle — place, spot, point; job, position
Die Stelle is a specific place or point, often within a larger area, text, or situation. The fixed phrase an dieser Stelle means “at this point” and uses the dative after an.
Die Stelle ist frei.
The spot is free.
frei means free or unoccupied. Die Stelle is nominative because it is the subject, and frei is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending.
Ich kenne die Stelle gut.
I know the place well.
ich kenne means I know, and gut means well. Die Stelle is accusative because kennen takes a direct object; gut is an adverb and does not describe a noun here.
Wir treffen uns an der Stelle.
We are meeting at the spot.
wir treffen uns means we are meeting each other, and an der Stelle means at the spot. An takes the dative for a fixed location, so der Stelle is dative; uns is the reflexive object of treffen.
Die genaue Lage der Stelle ist unbekannt.
The exact location of the spot is unknown.
die genaue Lage means the exact location, and unbekannt means unknown. Der Stelle is genitive and means “of the spot”; die genaue Lage der Stelle is the nominative subject.
An mehreren Stellen ist der Weg kaputt.
In several places, the path is damaged.
mehreren means several, der Weg means the path, and kaputt means damaged or broken. An mehreren Stellen is dative plural because an describes location here; the plural ending -n is already part of Stellen.
Sie sucht eine neue Stelle.
She is looking for a new job.
sie sucht means she is looking for, and eine neue means a new. Eine neue Stelle is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the feminine adjective has the ending -e after eine.
Er hat eine Stelle bei einer Bank gefunden.
He found a job at a bank.
er hat ... gefunden means he found, bei einer Bank means at a bank, and gefunden is the Partizip II of finden. Eine Stelle is accusative as the object of gefunden, while bei einer Bank is dative because bei always takes the dative.
stellen — to put, to place; to ask, to pose
For a destination, stellen is used for upright objects; compare legen for laying something flat. It takes an accusative object, and a two-way preposition such as auf or in takes the accusative when there is movement to a destination.
Ich stelle die Vase auf den Tisch.
I put the vase on the table.
die Vase is a vase, and der Tisch is the table. die Vase is accusative because stellen takes the thing being placed as an accusative object; auf den Tisch is accusative because it expresses movement to a destination, and the finite verb stelle is in position two.
Wir haben die Stühle in den Garten gestellt.
We put the chairs in the garden.
die Stühle means the chairs, and der Garten means the garden. die Stühle is accusative because it is the object of stellen, while in den Garten is accusative because the chairs are moved into it; haben is in position two and gestellt goes to the end.
Er stellte die Kiste vor die Tür.
He put the box in front of the door.
die Kiste is the box, and die Tür is the door. die Kiste is accusative as the object of stellen, and vor die Tür is accusative because it shows movement to a place; the regular past form stellte stands in position two.
Stell die Tasche neben den Stuhl!
Put the bag next to the chair!
die Tasche means the bag, and der Stuhl means the chair. The command uses the singular imperative stell without a subject; die Tasche is accusative, and neben den Stuhl is accusative because it gives the destination.
Ich würde die Lampe auf den Schreibtisch stellen.
I would put the lamp on the desk.
die Lampe is the lamp, and der Schreibtisch is the desk. die Lampe is accusative because it is being placed, and auf den Schreibtisch is accusative because it expresses movement; würde carries the Konjunktiv II and the infinitive stellen goes to the end.
Morgen werden wir die Möbel ins neue Büro stellen.
Tomorrow we will put the furniture in the new office.
morgen means tomorrow, die Möbel means the furniture, and das neue Büro means the new office. die Möbel is accusative as the object, and ins neue Büro is accusative because it shows movement; werden is in position two and stellen closes the future-tense bracket.
Sie stellt eine wichtige Frage.
She asks an important question.
eine wichtige Frage means an important question. The question is accusative because stellen takes it as its direct object, and the finite verb stellt stands in position two.
Der Journalist stellte dem Minister drei Fragen.
The journalist asked the minister three questions.
der Journalist is the journalist, der Minister is the minister, and drei Fragen means three questions. dem Minister is dative for the person receiving the questions, while drei Fragen is accusative as the direct object; stellte is the regular Präteritum form in position two.
der Stift — pen; pencil; trainee; inexperienced young person
The masculine noun der Stift means a writing instrument. Do not confuse it with neuter das Stift, which means a religious foundation or institution.
Der Stift ist blau.
The pen is blue.
blau means blue. Der Stift is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Ich nehme den Stift.
I am taking the pen.
nehme means am taking. Den Stift is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object, and the finite verb nehme is in position two.
Ich schreibe mit dem Stift.
I am writing with the pen.
schreibe means am writing and mit means with. Dem Stift is dative because mit always takes the dative; do not use den after mit.
Die Farbe des Stifts ist dunkelblau.
The colour of the pen is dark blue.
die Farbe means the colour and dunkelblau means dark blue. Des Stifts is genitive because it shows which pen the colour belongs to.
Die Stifte liegen auf dem Tisch.
The pens are lying on the table.
liegen means are lying and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Stifte is plural with die understood here, and auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes a location.
Der neue Stift lernt schnell.
The new trainee learns quickly.
neu means new and lernt schnell means learns quickly. Der neue Stift is nominative as the subject, and lernt stands in position two.
Der Chef erklärt dem Stift die Aufgabe.
The boss explains the task to the trainee.
der Chef is the boss and die Aufgabe is the task. Dem Stift is dative for the person receiving the explanation, while die Aufgabe is accusative; erklärt is in position two.
still — quiet, silent; calm
still normally means quiet or silent, not the English adverb “still”; that meaning is often noch in German. It can describe low noise, as in ein stiller Raum, or a calm situation.
Bitte sei still!
Please be quiet!
bitte means please, and sei means be. still is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; sei is the imperative of sein.
Im stillen Raum kann ich gut lesen.
I can read well in the quiet room.
der Raum means the room, and lesen means to read. im is short for in dem and takes the dative for a location, so still has the ending -en in stillen; the finite verb kann is in position two.
Die Bibliothek ist stiller als das Café.
The library is quieter than the café.
die Bibliothek is the library, and das Café is the café. stiller is followed by als when two things are compared; after ist, the adjective is predicative and has no ending.
Hier ist es am stillsten.
It is quietest here.
hier means here. am stillsten is the superlative used predicatively; am belongs to the am + -sten pattern, and es is the impersonal subject.
die Stimme — voice; vote; vote
die Stimme can mean a person’s voice or a vote in an election. In the voting sense, common expressions include eine Stimme abgeben and Stimmen bekommen.
Die Stimme meiner Mutter ist sehr ruhig.
My mother's voice is very calm.
meiner Mutter means my mother’s, and ruhig means calm. Die Stimme is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two, and the possessive phrase is genitive-like in meaning.
Ich höre die Stimme meines Lehrers.
I hear my teacher's voice.
hören means to hear, and meines Lehrers means my teacher’s. die Stimme is accusative because hören takes a direct object; meines Lehrers is genitive and shows whose voice it is.
Ich vertraue der Stimme meiner Schwester.
I trust my sister's voice.
vertrauen means to trust, and meiner Schwester means my sister’s. vertrauen takes the dative, so der Stimme is dative; the finite verb vertraue is in position two.
Die Farbe der Stimme passt gut zum Lied.
The tone of the voice suits the song well.
die Farbe is the tone or quality, passen means to suit, and das Lied is the song. der Stimme is genitive and means of the voice; zum Lied is short for zu dem Lied and is dative because zu always takes the dative.
Im Chor singen viele Stimmen zusammen.
Many voices sing together in the choir.
der Chor is the choir, viele means many, and zusammen means together. Stimmen is plural and is the subject; im Chor is dative because in describes a location.
Sie hat ihre Stimme abgegeben.
She cast her vote.
abgeben means to cast or submit, and ihre means her. ihre Stimme is accusative because abgeben takes a direct object; in the perfect, hat is in position two and the Partizip II abgegeben goes to the end.
Der Vorschlag bekam nur drei Stimmen.
The proposal received only three votes.
der Vorschlag is the proposal, bekam means received, and nur drei means only three. drei Stimmen is accusative after bekam; the plural has the ending -n, and the finite verb is in position two.
das Telefon — telephone, phone
Telefon can mean a landline telephone or a telephone as a device in general. For a mobile phone, German commonly uses Handy.
Das Telefon klingelt.
The telephone is ringing.
klingelt means is ringing. Das Telefon is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb klingelt stands in position two.
Ich höre das Telefon.
I can hear the telephone.
höre means hear, and ich means I. Das Telefon is accusative because hören takes a direct object; höre stands in position two.
Ich sitze neben dem Telefon.
I am sitting next to the telephone.
sitze means am sitting, and neben means next to. Dem Telefon is dative because neben describes a fixed location here; sitze stands in position two.
Die Nummer des Telefons steht hier.
The telephone's number is written here.
die Nummer means the number, steht means is written or stands, and hier means here. Des Telefons is genitive and shows whose number it is; the noun adds -s.
In diesem Büro gibt es drei Telefone.
There are three telephones in this office.
in diesem Büro means in this office, gibt es means there are, and drei means three. Telefone is plural after drei; in diesem Büro is dative because it describes location.
das Telefonbuch — telephone directory
The compound Telefonbuch combines Telefon, telephone, and Buch, book. In modern life, an online directory may also be called a Telefonbuch.
Das Telefonbuch liegt neben dem Telefon.
The telephone directory is next to the telephone.
liegt means is lying, and neben dem Telefon means next to the telephone. Das Telefonbuch is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich brauche das Telefonbuch.
I need the telephone directory.
brauche means need. Das Telefonbuch is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object, although the neuter article stays das.
Ich suche im Telefonbuch nach der Nummer.
I am looking for the number in the telephone directory.
suche ... nach means am looking for, and die Nummer is the number. Im Telefonbuch means in the directory; in takes dative here because it describes a location, and im is short for in dem.
Die Adresse des Telefonbuchs ist veraltet.
The address of the telephone directory is out of date.
die Adresse is the address and veraltet means out of date. Des Telefonbuchs is genitive because it identifies whose address it is; the neuter article is des and the noun ends in -s.
In der Bibliothek stehen alte Telefonbücher.
There are old telephone directories in the library.
in der Bibliothek means in the library, and alte means old. Telefonbücher is plural, formed with -er and ü; alte has the plural ending -e after stehen describes the subject.
telefonieren — to talk on the telephone, to phone
Use mit plus the dative for the person you talk to: mit jemandem telefonieren. Unlike anrufen, telefonieren normally describes the activity of talking by telephone, not the single act of calling someone.
Ich telefoniere jeden Abend mit meiner Mutter.
I talk to my mother on the telephone every evening.
jeden Abend means every evening, and meine Mutter is my mother. Mit always takes the dative, so meiner Mutter is dative; the finite verb telefoniere stands in position two.
Wir haben gestern lange telefoniert.
We talked on the telephone for a long time yesterday.
gestern means yesterday and lange means for a long time. The perfect uses haben plus telefoniert; because telefonieren ends in -ieren, its Partizip II has no ge-, and it stands at the end.
Sie telefonierte mit dem Arzt.
She talked to the doctor on the telephone.
der Arzt means the doctor. Mit dem Arzt is dative because mit requires the dative; telefonierte is the regular preterite and occupies position two.
Telefonier bitte später mit Oma.
Please phone Grandma later.
bitte means please, später means later, and Oma is Grandma. Mit Oma is dative after mit; the imperative is placed first, and the subject du is left out.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, telefonierte ich öfter mit meinen Freunden.
If I had more time, I would talk to my friends on the telephone more often.
mehr Zeit means more time, öfter means more often, and meinen Freunden means my friends. This sentence uses the simple-past-looking telefonierte for the Konjunktiv II because the verb is regular; the finite verb goes to the end of the wenn clause.
Ich werde morgen mit dem Kundendienst telefonieren.
I will phone customer service tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow and der Kundendienst means customer service. Future I uses werden in position two and the infinitive telefonieren at the end; mit dem Kundendienst is dative after mit.
die Telefonnummer — telephone number
The compound Telefonnummer combines Telefon, telephone, and Nummer, number. For a number used to call someone, German commonly uses die Telefonnummer rather than just die Nummer when the context is not clear.
Die Telefonnummer steht auf dem Zettel.
The telephone number is on the note.
steht means is written or is located, and der Zettel means the note or slip of paper. Die Telefonnummer is nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Zettel is dative because auf describes a fixed location.
Ich habe ihre Telefonnummer.
I have her telephone number.
ihre means her. Ihre Telefonnummer is accusative because haben takes a direct object; with a feminine noun, die and ihre look the same in the nominative and accusative.
Kannst du mir deine Telefonnummer geben?
Can you give me your telephone number?
Kannst du means can you, mir means to me, and deine means your. Mir is dative because it is the recipient, while deine Telefonnummer is accusative because geben takes the thing that is given as its direct object.
Die Vorwahl der Telefonnummer ist 030.
The area code of the telephone number is 030.
die Vorwahl means the area code. Der Telefonnummer is genitive because it means of the telephone number; feminine nouns show the genitive mainly through the article der, not a noun ending.
Bitte speichere die Telefonnummern in deinem Handy.
Please save the telephone numbers in your mobile phone.
bitte means please, speichere means save, and deinem Handy means your mobile phone. Die Telefonnummern is plural and accusative because speichern takes a direct object; in deinem Handy is dative because it describes where the numbers are stored.
der Text — text, written passage
Der Text can mean a short message, a written passage, or the words of a song. For the words of a song as separate items, German also uses der Liedtext.
Der Text ist kurz.
The text is short.
kurz means short. Der Text is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich lese den Text.
I am reading the text.
lese means am reading. Den Text is accusative because lesen takes a direct object, and the finite verb lese stands in position two.
Die Lehrerin hilft mir bei dem Text.
The teacher helps me with the text.
die Lehrerin means the female teacher, hilft means helps, and bei means with or during. Dem Text is dative because bei governs the dative; the finite verb hilft is in position two.
Der Anfang des Textes ist schwierig.
The beginning of the text is difficult.
der Anfang means the beginning, and schwierig means difficult. Des Textes is genitive because it shows which text the beginning belongs to; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Schüler lesen kurze Texte.
The pupils are reading short texts.
die Schüler means the pupils or students, and kurz means short. Kurze Texte is accusative plural because it is the object of lesen; the plural noun has the ending -e.
Wir schreiben heute einen Text über unsere Reise.
Today we are writing a text about our trip.
heute means today, über means about, and unsere Reise means our trip. Einen Text is accusative because schreiben takes a direct object, and the finite verb schreiben is in position two.
tschüs — bye, goodbye
tschüs is an informal spoken goodbye, especially to friends, family, or classmates. The spelling tschüss has the same meaning and is also very common.
„tschüs! Bis morgen!“
“Bye! See you tomorrow!”
Bis morgen means see you tomorrow, with morgen meaning tomorrow. tschüs is an interjection, so it has no case or verb position and is often used at the end of a conversation.
Sie winkte und sagte: „tschüs!“
She waved and said, “Bye!”
winkte means waved and sagte means said. The interjection is inside direct speech and does not change form; the surrounding verbs describe the action of saying goodbye.
tschüss — bye, goodbye
tschüss is an informal spoken goodbye. It is a spelling variant of tschüs; both forms are common, and neither takes an article or a grammatical ending.
„tschüss! Bis bald!“
“Bye! See you soon!”
Bis bald means see you soon, with bald meaning soon. tschüss is an interjection and therefore has no case or fixed place in the sentence.
Am Telefon sagte er: „tschüss!“
On the phone he said, “Bye!”
am Telefon means on the phone and sagte means said. The interjection appears in direct speech and does not affect the word order of the reporting clause.
das TV — television, TV
das TV is an abbreviation of das Fernsehen, television, and can mean television as a medium or a TV set. It is common in informal speech; der Fernseher is often preferred for the physical device.
Das TV läuft.
The TV is on.
läuft literally means runs, but here it means is on or is playing. Das TV is nominative because it is the subject, and läuft stands in position two.
Wir schauen das TV.
We watch TV.
schauen means watch, and wir means we. das TV is accusative because schauen takes an accusative object; the neuter article remains das.
Die Kinder sitzen vor dem TV.
The children sit in front of the TV.
die Kinder means the children, sitzen means sit, and vor means in front of. vor takes the dative for a fixed position, so dem TV is dative; sitzen is in position two.
Der Ton des TVs ist zu laut.
The TV's sound is too loud.
der Ton means the sound, and zu laut means too loud. des TVs is genitive because it shows which TV the sound belongs to; the abbreviation adds -s.
Im Laden stehen viele TVs.
There are many TVs in the shop.
im Laden means in the shop, stehen means stand or are displayed, and viele means many. TVs is plural after viele, while im is in dem and has dative because it describes location.