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Vocab: Communication & media — A1 (3)
Communication & media vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
das Video — video
Das Video is a neuter noun borrowed from English and commonly forms its plural with -s: die Videos. Do not use the English article in German; the correct article is das.
Das Video ist sehr lustig.
The video is very funny.
sehr lustig means very funny. Das Video is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir sehen das Video zusammen an.
We are watching the video together.
zusammen means together and ansehen means to watch or look at. Das Video is accusative because ansehen takes a direct object; the separable verb splits into sehen ... an, with the finite part in position two and the prefix at the end.
Ich schicke meiner Freundin einen Kommentar zu dem Video.
I am sending my friend a comment about the video.
schicken means send, meine Freundin means my female friend, and ein Kommentar means a comment. Zu means about here and always takes the dative, so das Video becomes dem Video; the finite verb schicke stands in position two.
Die Qualität des Videos ist schlecht.
The quality of the video is poor.
die Qualität means the quality and schlecht means poor or bad. Des Videos is genitive because it identifies which quality is meant; the neuter genitive article is des, while the noun keeps its usual form.
Meine Videos sind auf dem Handy.
My videos are on the phone.
mein Handy means my phone, and auf dem Handy means on the phone. Videos is plural and is the subject, so the verb is sind; nouns ending in a vowel often form the plural with -s.
die Visitenkarte — business card
Die Visitenkarte liegt auf dem Tisch.
The business card is on the table.
liegen means to be lying, and der Tisch means table. auf dem Tisch is dative because auf describes a fixed location here, and the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich brauche die Visitenkarte.
I need the business card.
brauchen means to need. die Visitenkarte is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object, while the finite verb brauche stands in position two.
Ich gebe meiner Kollegin die Visitenkarte.
I give my colleague the business card.
geben means to give, and meiner Kollegin means my female colleague. The recipient is dative, while die Visitenkarte is accusative as the thing given.
Die Rückseite der Visitenkarte ist leer.
The back of the business card is blank.
die Rückseite means the back side, and leer means blank or empty. der Visitenkarte is genitive because it identifies whose back side it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich habe gestern drei Visitenkarten bekommen.
I received three business cards yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and bekommen means to receive. drei Visitenkarten is a plural accusative object after bekommen; the participle bekommen goes to the end with habe.
die Vokabel — vocabulary item, word
die Vokabel normally means one word or expression being learned, while Vokabeln means several such items. For vocabulary in general, German also commonly uses the uncountable noun der Wortschatz.
Die Vokabel ist neu für mich.
The vocabulary item is new to me.
neu means new, and für mich means for me. die Vokabel is the nominative subject; für mich is accusative because für always takes the accusative, even though it translates as for.
Ich schreibe die Vokabel in mein Heft.
I write the vocabulary item in my notebook.
schreiben means to write, and mein Heft means my notebook. die Vokabel is accusative because it is the direct object of schreibe; the finite verb is in position two.
Der Lehrer hilft mir mit der Vokabel.
The teacher helps me with the vocabulary item.
der Lehrer means the teacher, and hilft means helps. mit always takes the dative, so der Vokabel is dative; mir is also dative because helfen takes a dative person.
Die Bedeutung der Vokabel kenne ich noch nicht.
I do not yet know the meaning of the vocabulary item.
die Bedeutung means meaning, and noch nicht means not yet. der Vokabel is genitive because it specifies which meaning; kenne is in position two, while ich follows because the object phrase comes first.
Ich lerne jeden Abend zehn Vokabeln.
I learn ten vocabulary items every evening.
jeden Abend means every evening, and zehn means ten. zehn Vokabeln is the plural accusative object of lerne; the noun takes the plural ending -n.
der Vorname — first name, given name
Der Vorname is the personal name given before the family name. In forms, Vorname means first name, while Nachname means surname or family name.
Mein Vorname ist Anna.
My first name is Anna.
mein means my, and Anna is a first name. Mein Vorname is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Bitte schreiben Sie Ihren Vornamen.
Please write your first name.
bitte means please and schreiben means to write. Ihren Vornamen is accusative because schreiben takes a direct object; in the formal imperative, schreiben Sie comes first.
Auf dem Formular steht ein Vorname.
A first name is written on the form.
das Formular means the form and stehen means to be written or stand. Auf dem Formular uses the dative because it describes a fixed location; ein Vorname is nominative, and steht is in position two.
Die Schreibweise des Vornamens ist ungewöhnlich.
The spelling of the first name is unusual.
die Schreibweise means the spelling and ungewöhnlich means unusual. Des Vornamens is genitive because it shows which spelling is meant; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Vornamen stehen auf der Liste.
The first names are on the list.
stehen means are written or stand, die Liste means the list, and auf der Liste means on the list. Die Vornamen is a plural subject, so the verb is stehen; auf der Liste is dative because it gives a fixed location.
die Werbung — advertising; publicity
Werbung is usually an uncountable mass noun, so it normally has no plural. For one individual advertisement, German often uses eine Anzeige or ein Werbespot.
Werbung im Fernsehen ist oft laut.
Advertising on television is often loud.
im Fernsehen means on television, and laut means loud. Werbung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich sehe nicht gern Werbung.
I do not like watching advertising.
nicht gern means not gladly or do not like doing something. Werbung is accusative because sehen takes a direct object, and the finite verb sehe stands in position two.
Mit Werbung verdient der Sender Geld.
The channel earns money through advertising.
verdient means earns, der Sender means the channel, and Geld means money. Werbung is dative because mit always takes the dative; the subject der Sender is nominative.
Die Wirkung der Werbung ist schwer zu messen.
The effect of the advertising is difficult to measure.
die Wirkung means the effect, schwer means difficult, and zu messen means to measure. der Werbung is genitive because it identifies whose effect it is; ist remains in position two.
Viele Firmen machen Werbung im Internet.
Many companies advertise on the internet.
viele Firmen means many companies, and im Internet means on the internet. Werbung is normally an uncountable mass noun, so this plural slot shows the noun used as a mass concept rather than a true plural.
winken — to wave; to wave someone over, to wave down
The usual pattern is jemandem winken, to wave to someone, so the person is in the dative. The verb is weak: winken – winkte – hat gewinkt; the less standard form gewunken is heard in colloquial speech, but gewinkt is the safe learner form.
Ich winke meiner Nachbarin.
I wave to my neighbour.
meiner Nachbarin means my female neighbour. The person waved to is in the dative because winken commonly takes jemandem; the finite verb winke stands in position two.
Er hat am Bahnhof gewinkt.
He waved at the station.
der Bahnhof means the train station. gewinkt is the Partizip II and combines with hat because winken takes haben; hat is in position two and gewinkt goes to the end.
Sie winkte lange.
She waved for a long time.
lange means for a long time. winkte is the regular simple-past form of winken and stands in position two.
Wink deiner Mutter!
Wave to your mother!
deiner Mutter means to your mother. Wink is the du imperative, with the subject omitted; Mutter is dative because winken takes jemandem.
Ich würde dir winken, wenn ich dich sehen könnte.
I would wave to you if I could see you.
wenn means if, and sehen means to see. würde winken expresses a hypothetical action; dir is dative after winken, and the infinitive winken goes to the end of the subordinate clause.
Wir werden euch später winken.
We will wave to you later.
euch means to you, and später means later. werden is in position two and the infinitive winken goes to the end; euch is dative because it is the person waved to.
Der Polizist winkte den Bus heran.
The police officer waved the bus over.
der Polizist is the police officer and der Bus is the bus. In heranwinken, the bus is accusative because it is the direct object; the separable prefix heran stands at the end of the main clause.
Sie winkt ein Taxi heran.
She waves down a taxi.
ein Taxi means a taxi. The taxi is accusative as the direct object, and the finite part winkt is in position two while the prefix heran goes to the end.
das Wort — word; thing someone says; statement, promise, words
The plural depends on the meaning: Wörter usually means separate words or vocabulary items, while Worte often means connected speech, a statement, or a quotation. In the expression mit anderen Worten, Worten is dative plural after mit.
Das Wort ist sehr lang.
The word is very long.
lang means long. Das Wort is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kenne das Wort nicht.
I do not know the word.
kennen means to know or be familiar with, and nicht means not. Das Wort is accusative because kennen takes a direct object; the finite verb kenne is in position two.
Kannst du mir das Wort erklären?
Can you explain the word to me?
können means can, erklären means to explain, and mir means to me. Mir is dative for the person receiving the explanation, while das Wort is accusative as the thing explained; the finite verb kannst comes first in this question.
Die Bedeutung des Wortes ist klar.
The meaning of the word is clear.
die Bedeutung means the meaning and klar means clear. Des Wortes is genitive because it tells us which meaning; the neuter noun has the ending -es after des.
Ich lerne jeden Tag neue Wörter.
I learn new words every day.
lernen means to learn, jeden Tag means every day, and neu means new. Wörter means separate words or vocabulary items and is accusative because lernen takes a direct object; its umlaut and -er must not be replaced by the plural Worte.
Er hält sein Wort.
He keeps his word.
halten means to keep in this expression, and sein means his. Sein Wort is accusative because halten takes the promise as its direct object; this fixed expression does not mean physically holding a word.
Sie sagte ein paar Worte.
She said a few words.
sagen means to say, ein paar means a few, and sie means she. Worte is used for a short piece of speech and is accusative because sagen takes what is said as its object.
zeichnen — to draw; to sign (a formal document)
zeichnen normally takes an accusative object for the thing being drawn. The perfect is formed with haben, not sein.
Ich zeichne ein Haus.
I am drawing a house.
ein Haus means a house. zeichne is the finite verb in position two, and ein Haus is accusative because zeichnen takes the thing being drawn as an accusative object.
Ich habe ein Tier gezeichnet.
I drew an animal.
ein Tier means an animal. The perfect uses habe plus gezeichnet; gezeichnet goes to the end, and ein Tier is accusative as the object of zeichnen.
Früher zeichnete sie jeden Tag.
She used to draw every day.
früher means formerly or in the past, and jeden Tag means every day. zeichnete is the weak-verb Präteritum in position two; sie is the subject.
Zeichne einen Baum!
Draw a tree!
einen Baum means a tree. zeichne is the informal singular imperative and comes first; einen Baum is accusative because it is the thing being drawn.
Wenn ich besser zeichnen könnte, würde ich ein Porträt machen.
If I could draw better, I would make a portrait.
besser means better, ein Porträt means a portrait, and machen means make. könnte sends the infinitive zeichnen to the end of the subordinate clause; ein Porträt is accusative after machen.
Morgen werde ich eine Landschaft zeichnen.
Tomorrow I will draw a landscape.
morgen means tomorrow, and eine Landschaft means a landscape. The future uses werde in position two and puts the infinitive zeichnen at the end; eine Landschaft is accusative as the object.
Die beiden Partner zeichneten den Vertrag.
The two partners signed the contract.
die beiden Partner means the two partners, and den Vertrag means the contract. zeichneten is the past-tense verb in position two, and den Vertrag is accusative as the document being signed.
Nach der Prüfung haben alle Beteiligten das Protokoll gezeichnet.
After the examination, all those involved signed the record.
nach der Prüfung means after the examination, alle Beteiligten means everyone involved, and das Protokoll means the record. gezeichnet is at the end with haben in the perfect, and das Protokoll is accusative.
zeigen — to show; to point out; to point; to indicate
The usual pattern is jemandem etwas zeigen: the person is dative and the thing shown is accusative. The perfect takes haben: hat gezeigt.
Ich zeige dir mein neues Fahrrad.
I am showing you my new bicycle.
dir means to you, mein neues Fahrrad means my new bicycle, and neu means new. dir is dative because it is the person shown something, while mein neues Fahrrad is accusative; zeige is in position two.
Sie hat mir den Bahnhof gezeigt.
She showed me the station.
mir means to me, and der Bahnhof means the station. The perfect uses hat and puts gezeigt at the end; mir is dative and den Bahnhof is accusative.
Der Reiseführer zeigte uns den Weg.
The guide showed us the way.
der Reiseführer means the guide, uns means us, and der Weg means the way. zeigte is the weak-verb Präteritum in position two; uns is dative and den Weg is accusative.
Zeig mir bitte dein Ticket!
Please show me your ticket!
mir means to me, bitte means please, and dein Ticket means your ticket. Zeig is the informal singular imperative; mir is dative and dein Ticket is accusative.
Wenn du mir den Fehler zeigen könntest, wäre ich dankbar.
If you could show me the mistake, I would be grateful.
der Fehler means the mistake, and dankbar means grateful. In the subordinate clause, könntest sends the infinitive zeigen to the end; mir is dative and den Fehler is accusative.
Ich werde dir später die Fotos zeigen.
I will show you the photos later.
später means later, and die Fotos means the photos. The future uses werde in position two and puts zeigen at the end; dir is dative and die Fotos is accusative.
Er zeigt auf die Karte.
He points at the map.
die Karte means the map. The fixed phrase auf etwas zeigen uses auf with the accusative here, and zeigt is in position two.
Die Ampel zeigt Rot.
The traffic light shows red.
die Ampel means the traffic light, and Rot means red. zeigt is the finite verb in position two; Rot is a colour indication rather than a normal accusative object.
die Zeitung — newspaper
Die Zeitung is a newspaper, whereas die Zeitschrift is usually a magazine. It can mean the physical paper or the publication itself.
Die Zeitung liegt neben dem Kaffee.
The newspaper is next to the coffee.
liegt means is lying, neben means next to, and der Kaffee means the coffee. Die Zeitung is nominative because it is the subject; the fixed-location phrase uses the dative.
Ich lese die Zeitung am Morgen.
I read the newspaper in the morning.
lese means read, and am Morgen means in the morning. Die Zeitung is accusative because lesen takes a direct object; the feminine article remains die.
Ich gebe der Zeitung eine schlechte Bewertung.
I give the newspaper a bad review.
geben means give, schlechte means bad, and die Bewertung means the review or rating. Der Zeitung is dative because it is the recipient; the review is accusative.
Die Titelseite der Zeitung ist heute interessant.
The front page of the newspaper is interesting today.
die Titelseite means the front page, heute means today, and interessant means interesting. Der Zeitung is genitive because it identifies which newspaper the front page belongs to.
Am Bahnhof verkaufen sie viele Zeitungen.
They sell many newspapers at the station.
am Bahnhof means at the station, verkaufen means sell, and viele means many. Zeitungen is plural accusative because it is what they sell; the station phrase is dative.
Mein Vater kauft jeden Tag eine Zeitung.
My father buys a newspaper every day.
mein Vater means my father, kauft means buys, and jeden Tag means every day. Eine Zeitung is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; kauft stands in position two.
der Zettel — note, slip of paper; note, list
der Zettel can mean a short written note or a small slip of paper. Its plural is unusual because it stays Zettel without an ending.
Der Zettel liegt neben dem Telefon.
The note is next to the telephone.
liegt means is lying, neben means next to, and das Telefon means the telephone. Der Zettel is nominative because it is the subject; neben dem Telefon is dative because neben describes a fixed position.
Ich lese den Zettel.
I am reading the note.
ich lese means I am reading. den Zettel is accusative because lesen takes a direct object, and the finite verb lese stands in position two.
Ich schreibe etwas auf den Zettel.
I am writing something on the note.
schreibe means write and etwas means something. auf takes the accusative here because the writing is directed onto the paper, so den Zettel is accusative; a fixed location would require auf dem Zettel.
Die Farbe des Zettels ist blau.
The colour of the note is blue.
die Farbe means the colour and blau means blue. des Zettels is genitive and means “of the note”; the whole subject is Die Farbe, so the verb is singular ist.
Auf dem Tisch liegen viele Zettel.
There are many notes on the table.
auf dem Tisch means on the table and viele means many. Zettel is an unchanged plural, and because the sentence begins with the location phrase, the finite verb liegen comes before the subject phrase.
Ich habe den Einkaufs-zettel zu Hause vergessen.
I forgot the shopping list at home.
der Einkaufszettel means the shopping list, zu Hause means at home, and vergessen means forgotten. The noun is part of a compound word; the whole compound is accusative after haben in the perfect.
Auf meinem Zettel stehen drei Dinge.
There are three things on my list.
auf meinem Zettel means on my list and drei Dinge means three things. meinem Zettel is dative because auf describes a fixed location, and the verb stehen comes before the subject after the initial location phrase.
zuhören — to listen to
Zuhören is an inseparable-in-meaning but separable-form verb: zu moves to the end in a main clause. It takes a dative person, as in jemandem zuhören, not an accusative person.
Ich höre meiner Lehrerin gern zu.
I like listening to my teacher.
meiner Lehrerin means to my teacher, and gern means gladly or like to. Zuhören takes a dative person, so meiner Lehrerin is dative; the finite part höre is in position two and zu goes to the end.
Wir haben dem Kind zugehört.
We listened to the child.
dem Kind means to the child. Zuhören takes haben in the perfect, and the Partizip II zugehört goes to the end; dem Kind is dative because it is the listener's target.
Früher hörte er seiner Großmutter oft zu.
He often listened to his grandmother in the past.
früher means in the past, seiner Großmutter means to his grandmother, and oft means often. The Präteritum form is split in a main clause: hörte is in position two and zu is at the end; the person is dative.
Hör mir bitte zu!
Please listen to me!
mir means to me, and bitte means please. This is the du imperative; hör comes first and the separable zu goes to the end, while mir is dative.
Wenn du mir zuhören würdest, würdest du es verstehen.
If you listened to me, you would understand it.
wenn means if, mir means to me, and verstehen means to understand. In the wenn clause, the infinitive zuhören stays whole at the end; mir is dative, and würdest expresses the unreal or hypothetical condition.
Ich werde dir später zuhören.
I will listen to you later.
dir means to you, and später means later. Zuhören takes a dative person, and in the future werde stands in position two while the whole infinitive zuhören goes to the end.
die Überschrift — heading, headline, title
Überschrift is used for a heading in a book, article or webpage and for a newspaper headline. Do not confuse it with Titel, which can also mean the name of a work, film or song.
Die Überschrift steht oben auf der Seite.
The heading is at the top of the page.
oben means at the top, and die Seite means the page. Die Überschrift is nominative because it is the subject; auf der Seite is dative because it describes a fixed location, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich lese die Überschrift zuerst.
I read the heading first.
lesen means to read, and zuerst means first. Die Überschrift is accusative because it is the direct object of lesen; the finite verb lese stands in position two.
Wir folgen der Überschrift im Text.
We follow the heading in the text.
folgen means to follow, and im Text means in the text. Der Überschrift is dative because folgen takes a dative object; this is a common trap because its English equivalent usually has no special case.
Die Bedeutung der Überschrift ist klar.
The meaning of the heading is clear.
die Bedeutung means the meaning, and klar means clear. Der Überschrift is genitive because it identifies which meaning is meant; the finite verb ist follows the singular subject die Bedeutung.
Die Zeitung druckt große Überschriften.
The newspaper prints large headlines.
die Zeitung means the newspaper, druckt means prints, and große means large. Überschriften is plural accusative because it is the direct object of drucken; the adjective ending -e follows the plural article keine, which is absent here but understood by the form.
Bitte schreiben Sie eine Überschrift für den Artikel.
Please write a heading for the article.
bitte means please, schreiben means to write, and der Artikel means the article. Eine Überschrift is accusative because it is the object of schreiben; the formal imperative uses schreiben Sie, with the verb first.