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Vocab: Phone & internet — B2 ​
Phone & internet vocabulary at B2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
das Impressum — legal notice, imprint ​
An Impressum is legally required on many German websites and publications. It often gives the name and address of the person or organisation responsible for the content.
Das Impressum der Website ist leicht zu finden.
The website’s legal notice is easy to find.
die Website means the website and leicht zu finden means easy to find. Das Impressum is nominative because it is the subject, while der Website is genitive because it says whose legal notice it is.
Bitte lesen Sie das Impressum.
Please read the legal notice.
bitte means please and lesen Sie is the polite form of read. Das Impressum is accusative because lesen takes a direct object.
Im Impressum steht die Adresse des Vereins.
The association’s address is stated in the legal notice.
die Adresse means the address and der Verein means the association or club. Im Impressum is short for in dem Impressum; in takes the dative for a fixed location, and steht is in position two.
Die Angaben des Impressums mĂĽssen aktuell sein.
The information in the legal notice must be up to date.
die Angaben means the information and aktuell means up to date. Des Impressums is genitive because it identifies which information is meant; after mĂĽssen, the infinitive sein goes to the end.
Viele Impressums enthalten eine E-Mail-Adresse.
Many legal notices contain an email address.
viele means many, enthalten means contain, and die E-Mail-Adresse means email address. Impressums is the plural subject, while eine E-Mail-Adresse is accusative after enthalten.
der Kabelsalat — cable tangle, cable mess ​
This compound combines Kabel (cable) and Salat (salad), humorously describing a tangled mass of wires. The plural is Kabelsalate, not Kabelsalats.
Der Kabelsalat hinter dem Schreibtisch nervt mich.
The cable mess behind the desk annoys me.
hinter dem Schreibtisch means behind the desk, and nervt mich means annoys me. Der Kabelsalat is nominative because it is the subject; mich is accusative because it is the person affected, and nervt stands in position two.
Ich hasse den Kabelsalat unter dem Tisch.
I hate the cable mess under the table.
hasse means hate, unter dem Tisch means under the table, and der Tisch is the table. Den Kabelsalat is accusative because hassen takes a direct object, and hasse stands in position two.
Mit dem Kabelsalat kann niemand arbeiten.
No one can work with the cable mess.
mit means with, niemand means no one, and arbeiten means work. Dem Kabelsalat is dative because mit always takes the dative; the modal verb kann is in position two and arbeiten goes to the end.
Die Ursache des Kabelsalats ist unklar.
The cause of the cable mess is unclear.
Die Ursache means the cause and unklar means unclear. Des Kabelsalats is genitive because it identifies the cause, and ist stands in position two.
In vielen BĂĽros gibt es Kabelsalate.
There are cable tangles in many offices.
In vielen BĂĽros means in many offices, and gibt es means there are. Kabelsalate is plural; after es gibt, the thing that exists is accusative, although the plural article is omitted here, and gibt stands in position two.
das Mobil — mobile device; mobile unit; mobile unit, mobile facility ​
As a technology word, das Mobil means a mobile device, but the noun can also mean a mobile unit that can be moved or deployed. It is not the same part of speech as the adjective mobil, meaning mobile or portable.
Das Mobil liegt auf dem Tisch.
The mobile device is lying on the table.
liegt means is lying, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Das Mobil is the nominative subject; the finite verb liegt stands in position two, while auf dem Tisch gives a fixed location.
Ich lade das Mobil jeden Abend.
I charge the mobile device every evening.
lade ... means charge, and jeden Abend means every evening. das Mobil is accusative because laden takes an accusative object; the finite verb lade is in position two.
Mit dem Mobil kann ich unterwegs arbeiten.
I can work on the move with the mobile device.
unterwegs means on the way or on the move, and arbeiten means to work. mit always takes the dative, so dem Mobil is dative; the modal verb kann is in position two and the infinitive arbeiten goes to the end.
Die Akkulaufzeit des Mobils ist sehr gut.
The battery life of the mobile device is very good.
die Akkulaufzeit means battery life, and sehr gut means very good. des Mobils is genitive because it identifies the battery life of the device; the verb ist stands in position two.
Die Mobile der Teilnehmer liegen in einer Box.
The participants’ mobile devices are in a box.
die Teilnehmer means the participants, liegen means are lying or are located, and eine Box is a box. Mobile is the plural subject; der Teilnehmer is genitive for possession, and liegen stands in position two.
Das medizinische Mobil fährt heute in die Dörfer.
The mobile medical unit is going to the villages today.
medizinisch means medical, fährt means travels or drives, and die Dörfer means the villages. Das medizinische Mobil is the nominative subject; in die Dörfer uses the accusative because it expresses movement towards a destination.
Mehrere Mobile stehen vor dem Stadion.
Several mobile units are standing in front of the stadium.
mehrere means several, stehen means are standing, and vor dem Stadion means in front of the stadium. Mobile is a plural subject, and vor takes the dative here because the units are in a fixed location, not moving towards it.
der Modus — mode, setting; grammatical mood; grammatical mood ​
In everyday technical language, der Modus is a mode or setting. In grammar, it can mean grammatical mood, such as the indicative or subjunctive; the plural is the irregular Latin form die Modi.
Der Modus lässt sich im Menü ändern.
The mode can be changed in the menu.
lässt sich ändern means can be changed, and das Menü means the menu. Der Modus is the nominative subject; sich is part of the construction sich ändern lassen, and the infinitive ändern stands at the end.
Wählen Sie den Modus für Nachtaufnahmen.
Choose the mode for night photography.
wählen means choose, and Nachtaufnahmen means night photographs or night photography. Den Modus is accusative because wählen takes a direct object; Wählen Sie is the formal imperative.
Mit dem Modus spart das Gerät Energie.
With this mode, the device saves energy.
sparen means save, das Gerät means the device, and Energie means energy. Dem Modus is dative after mit; the phrase Mit dem Modus is in position one, so the finite verb spart comes next.
Die Einstellungen des Modus sind kompliziert.
The settings of the mode are complicated.
Einstellungen means settings, and kompliziert means complicated. Modus is genitive after die Einstellungen, showing which mode the settings belong to; the genitive is marked by des, not by a changed noun ending.
Die verschiedenen Modi haben eigene Funktionen.
The different modes have their own functions.
verschieden means different, eigene means their own, and Funktionen means functions. Modi is the plural subject, so it takes the plural verb haben; this Latin plural must not be changed to Modusse.
Der Konjunktiv ist ein Modus der deutschen Grammatik.
The subjunctive is a mood in German grammar.
der Konjunktiv means the subjunctive, and deutsche Grammatik means German grammar. Ein Modus is a nominative predicate after ist; the verb ist stands in position two.
Im Deutschen gibt es mehrere Modi.
There are several moods in German.
im Deutschen means in German, gibt es means there are, and mehrere means several. Modi is plural after es gibt, which takes an accusative object; the phrase mehrere Modi therefore has no plural article.
portieren — to port, to adapt software ​
Portieren is a technical verb used mainly for software and programs. It normally takes an accusative object, often with auf plus the target platform.
Das Team portiert die App auf ein neues Betriebssystem.
The team is porting the app to a new operating system.
das Team means the team, die App means the app, and ein neues Betriebssystem means a new operating system. Die App is accusative because portieren takes the thing being adapted as a direct object, and the finite verb portiert is in position two.
Wir haben die Software auf Linux portiert.
We ported the software to Linux.
die Software means the software, and auf Linux means to Linux as a target platform. The perfect uses haben, with portiert at the end of the clause; die Software is accusative because it is the direct object.
Im letzten Jahr portierte sie das Spiel fĂĽr Handys.
Last year she ported the game for mobile phones.
im letzten Jahr means last year, das Spiel means the game, and Handys means mobile phones. The regular Präteritum form portierte is in position two, while das Spiel is accusative as the direct object.
Portier das Programm bitte auf die neue Plattform!
Please port the program to the new platform!
das Programm means the program, bitte means please, and die neue Plattform means the new platform. Portier is the du imperative; the program is accusative because it is the object being adapted.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, portierte ich das Programm selbst.
If I had more time, I would port the program myself.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and selbst means myself or personally. In the wenn-clause, the finite verb hätte goes to the end; das Programm is accusative, and portierte expresses the unreal result.
Nächstes Jahr werden wir die Anwendung auf ein neues System portieren.
Next year we will port the application to a new system.
nächstes Jahr means next year, die Anwendung means the application, and ein neues System means a new system. Futur I uses werden in position two and the infinitive portieren at the end; die Anwendung is accusative.
die Telekommunikation — telecommunications; telecommunications sector ​
Telekommunikation is normally a singular-only mass noun, so it has no ordinary plural. It is a more technical and formal word than Kommunikation.
Die Telekommunikation entwickelt sich schnell.
Telecommunications is developing quickly.
entwickelt sich means “is developing”, and schnell means “quickly”. Die Telekommunikation is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb entwickelt stands in position two.
Neue Technologien verändern die Telekommunikation.
New technologies are changing telecommunications.
neue Technologien means “new technologies”, and verändern means “change”. Die Telekommunikation is accusative because verändern takes a direct object; the finite verb verändern stands in position two.
Viele Menschen vertrauen der Telekommunikation nicht vollständig.
Many people do not fully trust telecommunications.
viele Menschen means “many people”, vertrauen means “trust”, and nicht vollständig means “not completely”. Der Telekommunikation is dative because vertrauen takes a dative object; the finite verb vertrauen stands in position two.
Die Zukunft der Telekommunikation ist digital.
The future of telecommunications is digital.
die Zukunft means “the future”, and digital means “digital”. Der Telekommunikation is genitive because it specifies which future is meant; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Im FrĂĽhling verbessert sich die Telekommunikation auf dem Land.
In spring, telecommunications improves in the countryside.
im Frühling means “in spring”, verbessert sich means “improves”, and auf dem Land means “in the countryside”. Die Telekommunikation is a singular-only mass noun, so this example uses the nominative singular even though the meaning is general; the finite verb verbessert remains in position two after the fronted time phrase.
Sie arbeitet in der Telekommunikation.
She works in telecommunications.
arbeitet means “works”, and in der Telekommunikation means “in telecommunications”. Der Telekommunikation is dative because in describes a field or location here, not movement; the finite verb arbeitet stands in position two.
Das Unternehmen investiert in die Telekommunikation.
The company invests in telecommunications.
das Unternehmen means “the company”, and investiert means “invests”. In die Telekommunikation is accusative because investieren in takes in with the accusative for the area receiving the investment; the finite verb investiert stands in position two.
die Weiterleitung — forwarding, redirect ​
die Weiterleitung is used for forwarding emails or calls and for redirecting web pages. In technical contexts, it can also mean a system instruction that sends a user or message somewhere else.
Die Weiterleitung der E-Mail dauert nur wenige Sekunden.
Forwarding the email takes only a few seconds.
die E-Mail means “the email”, dauert means “takes”, and wenige Sekunden means “a few seconds”. Die Weiterleitung der E-Mail is the subject in the nominative; der E-Mail is genitive and means “of the email”. The finite verb dauert is in position two, and nur means “only”.
Ich bestätige die Weiterleitung der Nachricht.
I confirm the forwarding of the message.
bestätige means “confirm”, and die Nachricht means “the message”. die Weiterleitung is accusative because it is the direct object of bestätigen; der Nachricht is genitive and means “of the message”. The finite verb bestätige stands in position two.
Nach dem Gespräch stimme ich der Weiterleitung zu.
After the conversation, I agree to the forwarding.
nach dem Gespräch means “after the conversation”, and zustimmen means “to agree”. der Weiterleitung is dative because zustimmen takes a dative object. The separable verb stimme ... zu has stimme in position two and zu at the end.
Die Ursache der Weiterleitung ist unklar.
The reason for the forwarding is unclear.
die Ursache means “the reason”, ist means “is”, and unklar means “unclear”. der Weiterleitung is genitive and means “of the forwarding”; it specifies which reason is meant. The subject is the whole phrase Die Ursache der Weiterleitung, so the finite verb ist is in position two.
Automatische Weiterleitungen sparen Zeit.
Automatic forwarding processes save time.
automatische means “automatic”, sparen means “save”, and Zeit means “time”. Weiterleitungen is plural and is the nominative subject, shown by the plural verb sparen. The adjective ending -e follows the plural article-less noun phrase.
die Übertragung — transmission, broadcast, transfer; adaptation, translation, rendering ​
The meaning depends on the context: die Ăśbertragung can be a broadcast, a transmission of data, or a transfer. For a financial transfer, German more often uses die Ăśberweisung.
Die Ăśbertragung beginnt pĂĽnktlich um acht.
The broadcast begins punctually at eight.
beginnt means begins, pünktlich means punctually, and um acht means at eight o’clock. Die Übertragung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Wir sehen die Ăśbertragung gemeinsam an.
We are watching the broadcast together.
gemeinsam means together, and ansehen means to watch or look at. Die Ăśbertragung is accusative because ansehen takes a direct object; the separable verb splits, so sehen is in position two and an goes to the end.
Nach der Ăśbertragung diskutierten die Zuschauer lange.
After the broadcast, the viewers discussed it for a long time.
nach means after, die Zuschauer means the viewers, and lange means for a long time. Der Ăśbertragung is dative because nach governs the dative; the verb diskutierten is in position two after the opening phrase.
Die Qualität der Übertragung war ausgezeichnet.
The quality of the transmission was excellent.
die Qualität means the quality, and ausgezeichnet means excellent. Der Übertragung is genitive because it identifies which quality is meant; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Heute laufen drei Ăśbertragungen gleichzeitig.
Three broadcasts are on at the same time today.
heute means today, drei means three, and gleichzeitig means at the same time. Ăśbertragungen is plural and forms the subject; the verb laufen is plural and stands in position two.
Die Ăśbertragung der Daten dauerte nur wenige Sekunden.
The transmission of the data took only a few seconds.
die Daten means the data, dauerte means took or lasted, and wenige Sekunden means a few seconds. Die Ăśbertragung is nominative as the subject, while der Daten is genitive and specifies what was transmitted.
Diese Ăśbertragung des Gedichts ist sehr gelungen.
This adaptation of the poem is very successful.
diese means this, das Gedicht means the poem, and gelungen means successful or well done. Diese Ăśbertragung is nominative because it is the subject; des Gedichts is genitive and identifies the work that was adapted.
Der Verlag veröffentlichte eine neue Übertragung des Romans.
The publisher released a new adaptation of the novel.
der Verlag means the publisher, veröffentlichte means released or published, and der Roman means the novel. Eine neue Übertragung is accusative after veröffentlichen, while des Romans is genitive and names the source work.