Appearance
Vocab: Feelings — A2 (1)
Feelings vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
der Abschied — farewell, goodbye
Abschied is the separation itself or the occasion when people say goodbye. The common expression Abschied nehmen literally means to take farewell, but English normally says to say goodbye.
Der Abschied war sehr emotional.
The farewell was very emotional.
emotional means emotional and sehr means very. Der Abschied is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Ich hasse den Abschied.
I hate saying goodbye.
hassen means to hate. Den Abschied is accusative because hassen takes an accusative object, while the subject ich is nominative.
Nach dem Abschied ging sie nach Hause.
After the farewell, she went home.
nach means after here, ging means went, and nach Hause means home. The preposition nach forces the dative, so dem Abschied is dative; the finite verb ging is in position two.
Die Dauer des Abschieds war kurz.
The farewell was brief.
die Dauer means the duration and kurz means short. Des Abschieds is genitive because it identifies whose duration is meant; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Viele Abschiede sind schwer.
Many farewells are difficult.
viele means many and schwer means difficult or hard. Viele Abschiede is a plural nominative subject, so the verb is sind, not singular ist.
der Albtraum — nightmare
The spelling Albtraum is standard; Alptraum is also widely seen. The plural changes au to äu: Albträume.
Der Albtraum war letzte Nacht sehr schlimm.
The nightmare was very bad last night.
war means was, letzte Nacht means last night, and schlimm means bad or frightening. Der Albtraum is nominative because it is the subject, and war is the past form of sein in position two.
Ich hatte einen Albtraum.
I had a nightmare.
hatte means had, and einen means a in the masculine accusative. Einen Albtraum is accusative because haben takes a direct object; the finite verb hatte stands in position two.
Nach dem Albtraum konnte ich nicht mehr einschlafen.
After the nightmare, I could not fall asleep again.
nach means after, konnte means could, and einschlafen means fall asleep. Dem Albtraum is dative because nach governs the dative; with the modal verb konnte, the infinitive einschlafen goes to the end.
Die Bilder des Albtraums bleiben mir im Kopf.
The images of the nightmare stay in my head.
die Bilder means the images, bleiben means stay, and im Kopf means in my head. Des Albtraums is genitive because it means of the nightmare, while mir is dative for the person affected.
Viele Albträume verschwinden nach dem Aufwachen schnell.
Many nightmares disappear quickly after waking up.
viele means many, verschwinden means disappear, and Aufwachen means waking up. Viele Albträume is a plural nominative subject; nach dem Aufwachen uses the dative after nach.
der Alptraum — nightmare; nightmare; terrible situation
The plural is Alpträume; the related spelling Albtraum is also common. The noun is masculine, so use der, einen and dem in the singular.
Der Alptraum war schrecklich.
The nightmare was terrible.
schrecklich means terrible. Der Alptraum is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb war stands in position two.
Ich hatte einen Alptraum.
I had a nightmare.
hatte means had. Einen Alptraum is accusative because haben takes a direct object, and the finite verb hatte is in position two.
Ich erzählte meiner Schwester von einem Alptraum.
I told my sister about a nightmare.
erzählte means told, and meiner Schwester means my sister. Von takes the dative, so einem Alptraum is dative; the finite verb erzählte stands in position two.
Die Bedeutung des Alptraums war unklar.
The meaning of the nightmare was unclear.
die Bedeutung means the meaning, and unklar means unclear. Des Alptraums is genitive because it shows whose meaning it is, while the finite verb war stands in position two.
Nachts habe ich oft Alpträume.
At night I often have nightmares.
nachts means at night, and oft means often. Alpträume is the plural after habe; the finite verb habe is in position two, and oft can stand before the noun phrase.
Die lange Reise war ein Alptraum.
The long journey was a nightmare.
die lange Reise means the long journey, and lang means long. Ein Alptraum is a noun phrase after sein, so it is nominative rather than accusative; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Für die Eltern wurde der Umzug zum Alptraum.
For the parents, the move became a nightmare.
für die Eltern means for the parents, and der Umzug means the move. Für takes the accusative, while zum Alptraum means into a nightmare or a nightmare as a result; the finite verb wurde stands in position two.
angenehm — pleasant, comfortable, enjoyable
angenehm describes a pleasant experience, feeling, temperature, sound, or situation. For people, it can also mean agreeable or nice to be with.
Die Musik ist angenehm.
The music is pleasant.
die Musik means the music, and angenehm describes something enjoyable or comfortable. After the linking verb ist, the adjective is predicative and has no ending; ist stands in position two.
Wir hatten einen angenehmen Abend.
We had a pleasant evening.
hatten means had, and einen Abend means an evening. einen angenehmen Abend is accusative because haben takes a direct object, and the adjective takes -en after einen.
Dieses Bett ist angenehmer als das Sofa.
This bed is more comfortable than the sofa.
dieses Bett means this bed, and das Sofa means the sofa. angenehmer is a predicative comparative after ist, so it has no ending; als introduces the comparison.
Am Strand ist es am angenehmsten.
The beach is the most pleasant place.
am Strand means at the beach, and es is an impersonal subject meaning it. am angenehmsten is the predicative superlative after ist; here am belongs to the superlative, not to the location phrase.
aufregen — to upset, to excite; sich aufregen: to get upset
The transitive pattern is jemanden aufregen: the person who becomes upset is accusative. The common reflexive pattern is sich über etwas aufregen, meaning to get upset about something; the verb is separable in main clauses.
Die laute Musik regt die Nachbarn auf.
The loud music upsets the neighbours.
die laute Musik means the loud music, and die Nachbarn are the neighbours. die Nachbarn is accusative because aufregen takes the person who is affected as an accusative object; the finite part regt is in position two and auf goes to the end.
Der Lärm hat mich sehr aufgeregt.
The noise upset me a lot.
der Lärm means the noise, mich means me, and sehr means very or a lot. aufgeregt is the Partizip II and pairs with hat because aufregen takes haben; the participle stands at the end.
Die Nachricht regte ihn sofort auf.
The news upset him immediately.
die Nachricht is the news, ihn means him, and sofort means immediately. ihn is accusative because he is the person affected; in the Präteritum main clause, regte comes in position two and auf goes at the end.
Reg dich nicht auf!
Don’t get upset!
sich aufregen means to get upset, and nicht means not. dich is accusative because this reflexive use requires an accusative reflexive pronoun; the imperative is reg and the separable prefix auf goes at the end.
Wenn ich mehr darüber wüsste, würde ich mich nicht so aufregen.
If I knew more about it, I would not get so upset.
wenn means if, wüsste means knew, and darüber means about it; mehr means more. mich aufregen is the reflexive phrase, and after würde the infinitive aufregen stays whole at the end of the clause.
Das Gespräch wird ihn bestimmt aufregen.
The conversation will surely upset him.
das Gespräch means the conversation and bestimmt means surely. ihn is accusative because he is the person affected; wird is the finite verb in position two and the infinitive aufregen goes to the end.
aufregend — exciting, thrilling
aufregend describes something that causes excitement, while aufgeregt describes the person who feels excited or upset. Do not confuse the two: a film can be aufregend, but a person is usually aufgeregt.
Der Film ist wirklich aufregend.
The film is really exciting.
der Film means the film, and wirklich means really. aufregend follows ist as a predicative adjective, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir hatten eine aufregende Reise.
We had an exciting journey.
hatten means had and die Reise is the journey. eine aufregende Reise is an accusative object after hatten, so the adjective takes the ending -e after eine.
Die zweite Folge war aufregender als die erste.
The second episode was more exciting than the first.
die zweite Folge means the second episode, and die erste means the first one. aufregender is comparative and follows war without an ending; als introduces the comparison.
Das war der aufregendste Moment des Tages.
That was the most exciting moment of the day.
der Moment is the moment and des Tages means of the day. der aufregendste Moment is nominative after war, and the adjective takes -ste plus the ending -e; des Tages is genitive to show belonging.
die Aufregung — excitement, agitation, disturbance; commotion, fuss
Aufregung can mean positive excitement or anxious agitation, depending on the context. The plural Aufregungen is used for separate incidents or disturbances and is less common than the singular.
Die Aufregung vor dem Konzert war groß.
The excitement before the concert was great.
vor dem Konzert means before the concert, and groß means great or intense. die Aufregung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Ich spüre die Aufregung meiner Tochter.
I can feel my daughter’s excitement.
spüren means to feel, and meine Tochter is my daughter. die Aufregung is accusative because it is the object of spüren; meiner Tochter is genitive and shows whose excitement it is.
Vor der Prüfung hilft mir die Aufregung nicht.
The excitement does not help me before the exam.
die Prüfung is the exam and helfen means to help. Vor der Prüfung is dative because vor expresses a time situation here, while mir is also dative because helfen requires a dative person; die Aufregung is the nominative subject.
Wegen der Aufregung konnte er nicht schlafen.
Because of the excitement, he could not sleep.
wegen means because of, konnte means could, and schlafen means to sleep. der Aufregung is genitive because wegen traditionally governs the genitive; the modal verb konnte is in position two and the infinitive goes to the end.
Die vielen Aufregungen machten ihn müde.
The many disturbances made him tired.
vielen means many, machten means made, and müde means tired. Aufregungen is plural and is the nominative subject, while ihn is accusative because he is the person affected by machen.
Die Nachricht sorgte für große Aufregung.
The news caused a great commotion.
die Nachricht is the news, sorgen für means to cause or create, and groß means great. für große Aufregung is accusative because für always governs the accusative; the separable verb sorgte ... für is not being taught here, because sorgen für is a fixed phrase.
Nach dem Streit gab es viel Aufregung.
There was a lot of commotion after the argument.
nach dem Streit means after the argument, and gab es means there was. nach dem Streit is dative because nach governs the dative; viel Aufregung is an uncountable amount, so the singular form is used.
bedauern — to regret; to be sorry about; to pity; to feel sorry for
The object of bedauern is normally in the accusative, as in etwas bedauern. It is also used in the formal phrase Ich bedauere ... when giving an apology or expressing regret.
Ich bedauere meine Entscheidung.
I regret my decision.
meine Entscheidung means “my decision”. The noun is accusative because bedauern takes an accusative object, and the finite verb bedauere stands in position two.
Wir haben den Streit bedauert.
We regretted the argument.
der Streit means “the argument”. The perfect uses haben plus bedauert, and the Partizip II stands at the end; den Streit is accusative because it is the object of bedauern.
Sie bedauerte ihren Fehler.
She regretted her mistake.
ihren Fehler means “her mistake”. The regular past form bedauerte is in position two, and ihren Fehler is accusative because bedauern takes a direct object.
Bedauere ich die Absage?
Do I regret the cancellation?
die Absage means “the cancellation”. This example uses the singular imperative form as a question-like self-prompt; the object is accusative, and the imperative normally addresses one person directly.
Ich würde diese Gelegenheit bedauern.
I would regret this opportunity.
diese Gelegenheit means “this opportunity”. Würde ... bedauern expresses a hypothetical result, with the infinitive at the end; the object is accusative because bedauern governs the accusative.
Er wird seine Worte bedauern.
He will regret his words.
seine Worte means “his words”. In the future, wird is in position two and the infinitive bedauern goes to the end; the object is accusative.
Viele Menschen bedauern die junge Familie.
Many people feel sorry for the young family.
viele Menschen means “many people”, and die junge Familie means “the young family”. The family is accusative because it is the object of bedauern, while the finite verb is in position two.
Ich bedauere ihn nicht.
I do not feel sorry for him.
ihn means “him”, and nicht means “not”. Ihn is accusative because bedauern takes a direct object; nicht negates the verb phrase.
beeindrucken — to impress
Beeindrucken takes an accusative person or group: jemanden beeindrucken means to impress someone. Do not confuse the active verb with beeindruckt sein, which means to be impressed; the perfect auxiliary is haben.
Der große Saal beeindruckt die Besucher.
The large hall impresses the visitors.
der große Saal is the large hall and die Besucher are the visitors. Die Besucher is accusative because beeindrucken takes the person who is impressed as its direct object; the finite verb beeindruckt is in position two.
Die Reise hat mich sehr beeindruckt.
The trip impressed me a lot.
die Reise is the trip and sehr means very or a lot. The perfect uses hat plus beeindruckt, which goes to the end; mich is accusative because it is the person affected by beeindrucken.
Seine Rede beeindruckte das Publikum.
His speech impressed the audience.
seine Rede means his speech and das Publikum means the audience. Beeindruckte is the regular preterite, and das Publikum is accusative as the direct object; the finite verb is in position two.
Beeindrucke deine Freunde mit diesem Trick!
Impress your friends with this trick!
deine Freunde means your friends, mit means with, and dieser Trick is this trick. Beeindrucke is a singular command, and deine Freunde is accusative because it is the direct object.
Wenn du mich beeindrucken würdest, müsstest du besser vorbereitet sein.
If you wanted to impress me, you would have to be better prepared.
wenn means if, müsstest means would have to, and vorbereitet means prepared. Mich is accusative as the person to be impressed; würdest goes to the end of the wenn clause, while sein goes to the end of the main clause.
Der Film wird viele Zuschauer beeindrucken.
The film will impress many viewers.
der Film is the film and viele Zuschauer means many viewers. Future uses wird in position two and the infinitive beeindrucken at the end; viele Zuschauer is accusative as the direct object.
beleidigen — to insult, offend
The person who is insulted is the accusative object: jemanden beleidigen. Beleidigt sein means to be offended, while beleidigen means to offend someone else.
Er beleidigt seinen Bruder oft.
He often insults his brother.
seinen Bruder means his brother, and oft means often. Seinen Bruder is accusative because beleidigen takes an accusative object; the finite verb beleidigt stands in position two.
Sie hat ihre Kollegin beleidigt.
She insulted her colleague.
ihre Kollegin means her female colleague. The perfect uses hat plus beleidigt, which goes to the end; ihre Kollegin is accusative because she is the person affected by the insult.
Der Mann beleidigte den Kellner.
The man insulted the waiter.
der Mann is the man, and den Kellner is the waiter. Beleidigte is the simple-past form in position two; den Kellner is accusative because he is the object of beleidigen.
Beleidige niemanden!
Don’t insult anyone!
niemanden means nobody or anyone in a negative sentence. Beleidige is the du imperative, and niemanden is accusative because it is the object.
Wenn er mich beleidigte, würde ich gehen.
If he insulted me, I would leave.
wenn means if, mich means me, and würde ich gehen means I would leave. The finite verb beleidigte goes to the end of the wenn clause; mich is accusative because it is the object of beleidigen.
Er wird seine Freundin nicht beleidigen.
He will not insult his girlfriend.
seine Freundin means his girlfriend, and nicht means not. Future uses wird in position two and beleidigen at the end; seine Freundin is accusative.
die Beleidigung — insult, offence
Eine Beleidigung can be a spoken or written insult, or offensive behaviour. The related verb is beleidigen, and the person affected is expressed in the accusative: jemanden beleidigen.
Die Beleidigung hat ihn sehr verletzt.
The insult hurt him deeply.
hat ... verletzt means has hurt, and ihn means him. Die Beleidigung is nominative because it is the subject; ihn is accusative because verletzen takes an accusative object.
Ich habe die Beleidigung nicht vergessen.
I have not forgotten the insult.
nicht vergessen means not forgotten. Die Beleidigung is accusative because vergessen takes an accusative object; in the perfect, habe is in position two and vergessen goes to the end.
Er widerspricht der Beleidigung nicht.
He does not contradict the insult.
widerspricht means contradicts or objects to, and nicht means not. The verb widersprechen takes the dative, so der Beleidigung is dative; the finite verb remains in position two.
Die Folgen der Beleidigung waren ernst.
The consequences of the insult were serious.
die Folgen are the consequences, and ernst means serious. Der Beleidigung is genitive because it means of the insult; die Folgen is the plural nominative subject.
Solche Beleidigungen sind nicht akzeptabel.
Such insults are not acceptable.
solche means such, and nicht akzeptabel means not acceptable. Beleidigungen is plural nominative as the subject; after sind, the adjective phrase is predicative and has no ending.
beruhigen — to calm, to reassure
The transitive use means to calm or reassure someone and takes an accusative object. With sich beruhigen, the meaning is calm down; the reflexive pronoun is usually accusative.
Die Mutter beruhigt das weinende Kind.
The mother calms the crying child.
Die Mutter means the mother, weinend means crying, and das Kind means the child. Das weinende Kind is accusative because beruhigen takes a direct object; the finite verb beruhigt stands in position two.
Die Mutter hat das Kind beruhigt.
The mother calmed the child.
Die Mutter means the mother, and das Kind means the child. Das Kind is accusative as the object of beruhigen; hat is the auxiliary and beruhigt goes to the end.
Die Musik beruhigte das Baby.
The music calmed the baby.
Die Musik means the music, and das Baby means the baby. Das Baby is accusative because it is the object; the regular past form beruhigte stands in position two.
Beruhige das Kind bitte!
Please calm the child down!
Das Kind means the child, and bitte means please. The command uses the bare imperative beruhige; das Kind is accusative because it is the direct object.
Sie würde das Kind mit Musik beruhigen.
She would calm the child with music.
Mit Musik means with music. Das Kind is accusative as the direct object; würde expresses a hypothetical situation and the infinitive beruhigen stands at the end.
Die Musik wird das Baby beruhigen.
The music will calm the baby.
Die Musik means the music, and das Baby means the baby. Das Baby is accusative because it is the object; wird stands in position two and beruhigen goes to the end.
beschimpfen — to insult, to abuse verbally
beschimpfen is stronger than simply criticising: it means using angry or offensive words against someone. It takes an accusative object, for example jemanden beschimpfen, and forms the perfect with haben.
Der Mann beschimpft den Busfahrer.
The man is insulting the bus driver.
der Mann means the man, and den Busfahrer means the bus driver. den Busfahrer is accusative because beschimpfen takes the person being insulted as a direct object; the finite verb beschimpft stands in position two.
Der Mann hat den Busfahrer beschimpft.
The man has insulted the bus driver.
der Mann means the man, and der Busfahrer means the bus driver. The perfect uses hat and the Partizip II beschimpft at the end; den Busfahrer is accusative, not dative.
Der Mann beschimpfte den Busfahrer.
The man insulted the bus driver.
der Mann means the man, and der Busfahrer means the bus driver. The weak past form beschimpfte is in position two, and den Busfahrer is accusative as the direct object.
Beschimpfe den Busfahrer nicht!
Do not insult the bus driver!
nicht means not, and der Busfahrer means the bus driver. The imperative beschimpfe comes first; the person being insulted is accusative, shown by den.
Er beschimpfte den Busfahrer, wenn er gestresst war.
He would insult the bus driver when he was stressed.
wenn means when or if, and gestresst means stressed. The conditional form of this weak verb is identical to the simple past beschimpfte; in the wenn clause, war goes to the end.
Er wird den Busfahrer nicht mehr beschimpfen.
He will not insult the bus driver anymore.
nicht mehr means no longer, and der Busfahrer means the bus driver. Future tense puts wird in position two and the infinitive beschimpfen at the end; the object is accusative.
besorgt — worried, concerned
Besorgt describes a person who is worried or concerned; it commonly occurs with sein or wirken. It is also the Partizip II of besorgen, so learners must use the sentence context to distinguish the adjective from the verb form.
Ich bin besorgt, weil mein Sohn krank ist.
I am worried because my son is ill.
weil means because, mein Sohn means my son, and krank means ill. Besorgt is predicative after bin and therefore has no adjective ending; in the weil-clause, ist goes to the end.
Die besorgte Mutter wartet vor dem Krankenhaus.
The worried mother is waiting outside the hospital.
die Mutter means the mother, warten means to wait, and das Krankenhaus means hospital. Besorgte stands before the feminine nominative noun Mutter and takes -e after die; the finite verb wartet is in position two.
Heute wirkt er besorgter als gestern.
Today he seems more worried than yesterday.
heute means today, wirken means to seem, and gestern means yesterday. Besorgter compares his state today with yesterday; als introduces the comparison, and the adjective is predicative after wirkt, so it has no noun ending.
Von allen Eltern wirkt sie am besorgtesten.
Of all the parents, she seems the most worried.
von allen Eltern means of all the parents, and wirken means to seem. Von takes the dative, so allen Eltern is dative; am besorgtesten is the predicative superlative and has no adjective ending.
bewundern — to admire
Bewundern takes an accusative object for the person or thing admired: jemanden bewundern. It is a regular weak verb and forms the perfect with haben.
Ich bewundere meine Lehrerin.
I admire my teacher.
meine Lehrerin means my teacher, and bewundere means admire. Meine Lehrerin is accusative because bewundern takes the person admired as a direct object, and the finite verb bewundere stands in position two.
Wir haben den alten Mann bewundert.
We admired the old man.
wir means we, den alten Mann means the old man, and alt means old. Bewundert is the Partizip II and goes to the end, while haben forms the perfect; den alten Mann is accusative as the direct object.
Sie bewunderte den Mut ihrer Freundin.
She admired her friend’s courage.
den Mut means the courage, ihrer Freundin means of her female friend, and Mut means courage. Den Mut is accusative because it is what she admired, while ihrer Freundin is genitive and shows whose courage it was.
Bewundere die Aussicht!
Admire the view!
die Aussicht means the view. Bewundere is the du imperative, so the subject du is omitted; die Aussicht is accusative because it is the object of bewundern.
Ich würde ihre Geduld bewundern.
I would admire her patience.
ihre Geduld means her patience, and Geduld means patience. Würde carries the hypothetical meaning, while the infinitive bewundern goes to the end; ihre Geduld is accusative.
Wir werden die Bilder im Museum bewundern.
We will admire the pictures in the museum.
die Bilder means the pictures, im Museum means in the museum, and Museum means museum. Werden is in position two and the infinitive bewundern goes to the end; die Bilder is accusative.
die Beziehung — relationship, connection
Beziehung commonly means a personal or romantic relationship, but it can also mean a connection between things. With people, in einer Beziehung sein means to be in a relationship; zu takes the dative in phrases such as eine Beziehung zu jemandem.
Die Beziehung ist für beide wichtig.
The relationship is important to both of them.
beide means both, and wichtig means important. Die Beziehung is nominative because it is the subject; für beide uses the accusative after für, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Sie beendet die Beziehung.
She ends the relationship.
sie means she, and beendet means ends. Die Beziehung is accusative because beenden takes an accusative object; the finite verb beendet is in position two.
Er vertraut seiner Beziehung nicht mehr.
He no longer trusts his relationship.
vertraut means trusts, and nicht mehr means no longer. Seiner Beziehung is dative because vertrauen takes a dative object; the finite verb vertraut is in position two, and nicht mehr comes later in the clause.
Die Zukunft der Beziehung ist unklar.
The future of the relationship is unclear.
die Zukunft is the future, and unklar means unclear. Der Beziehung is genitive because it specifies whose future is meant; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Gute Beziehungen brauchen Vertrauen.
Good relationships need trust.
gute means good, brauchen means need, and Vertrauen means trust. Beziehungen is plural nominative because it is the subject, while Vertrauen is accusative because brauchen takes an accusative object.
Sie hat eine gute Beziehung zu ihrer Schwester.
She has a good relationship with her sister.
eine gute means a good, and Schwester means sister. Eine gute Beziehung is accusative because haben takes an accusative object; zu takes the dative, so ihrer Schwester is dative, and hat with the rest of the perfect phrase forms a sentence bracket.
bitter — bitter; unpleasantly sharp-tasting
For taste, bitter is the opposite of süß sweet. It can also describe a strongly negative feeling or experience, such as bittere Enttäuschung (bitter disappointment).
Der Kaffee ist bitter.
The coffee is bitter.
der Kaffee means the coffee. Bitter is predicative, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich trinke keinen bitteren Tee.
I do not drink bitter tea.
trinke means drink and keinen Tee means no tea. Bitteren describes the accusative object keinen Tee, so it takes the ending -en after keinen; the finite verb trinke is in position two.
Diese Medizin schmeckt bitterer als die andere.
This medicine tastes more bitter than the other one.
diese Medizin means this medicine, schmeckt means tastes, and die andere means the other one. Bitterer is the comparative and als introduces the thing used for comparison; the adjective is predicative and therefore has no ending.
Von allen Kräutern schmeckt dieses am bittersten.
Of all the herbs, this one tastes the most bitter.
von allen Kräutern means of all the herbs, and dieses means this one. Von takes the dative, so allen Kräutern is dative; am bittersten is the predicative superlative, with schmeckt in position two.
böse — evil; bad; nasty; angry; offended
Böse can describe moral evil, harmful behaviour, or something unpleasant. For a person who is simply angry, wütend is often more precise; the adjective has regular comparison: böse – böser – am bösesten.
Der Mann ist böse.
The man is evil.
der Mann means the man. Böse is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Sie hat einen bösen Hund.
She has an aggressive dog.
hat means has, and der Hund is the dog. Bösen stands before the noun and takes -en because einen Hund is masculine accusative; einen bösen Hund is the direct object of hat.
Dieser Film ist böser als der erste.
This film is more disturbing than the first one.
dieser Film means this film, erster means first one, and als means than. Böser compares two films and is predicative, so it has no adjective ending; als introduces the comparison.
Das war der böseste Kommentar des Tages.
That was the nastiest comment of the day.
der Kommentar means the comment, and des Tages means of the day. Böseste is the superlative before a noun and has -ste plus the ending -e after der; des Tages is genitive for possession.
Bist du noch böse auf mich?
Are you still angry with me?
noch means still, and mich means me. Böse auf takes auf plus accusative, so mich is accusative; the finite verb bist comes first because this is a yes-no question.
Er ist seiner Schwester böse.
He is angry with his sister.
seiner Schwester means his sister. In the expression böse sein, the person someone is angry with can be dative; seiner Schwester is therefore dative, and ist stands in position two.
cool — cool, stylish; slightly cold
In informal German, cool commonly means stylish, impressive, or pleasant, and it can also describe a low temperature. It is an indeclinable loan adjective in its basic form, but it takes normal adjective endings before nouns, as in ein cooler Film.
Der neue Club ist cool.
The new club is cool.
der neue Club means the new club. Cool is predicative after ist and therefore has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Sie trägt eine coole Jacke.
She is wearing a cool jacket.
sie trägt means she is wearing, and die Jacke is a jacket. Eine coole Jacke is accusative because tragen takes a direct object; coole has an adjective ending because it stands before the noun after eine.
Dieser Film ist cooler als der andere.
This film is cooler than the other one.
dieser Film means this film, and der andere means the other one. Cooler compares two films and is followed by als; after ist, the adjective is predicative and has no ending.
Von allen ist Lena am coolsten.
Of everyone, Lena is the coolest.
von allen means of everyone, and Lena is a person's name. Am coolsten is the predicative superlative after ist; von takes the dative, shown here by allen.
Das Wasser ist heute cool.
The water is cool today.
das Wasser means the water, and heute means today. Here cool means slightly cold rather than fashionable; it is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending.
cool — coolly, calmly; in a stylish way
As an adverb, cool describes how something happens or how someone reacts, often meaning calmly or impressively. It does not change its form, so it remains cool even when it modifies a verb.
Das klingt cool.
That sounds cool.
das klingt means that sounds, and klingen means to sound. Cool modifies the verb phrase and is therefore an adverb here; the finite verb klingt stands in position two.
Er blieb cool, obwohl alle nervös waren.
He stayed calm although everyone was nervous.
er blieb means he stayed, obwohl means although, and nervös means nervous. Cool describes how he remained and is used adverbially; the verb waren goes to the end of the obwohl clause.
dankbar — grateful, thankful
The usual pattern is jemandem für etwas dankbar sein: the person is in the dative and the thing is introduced by für plus the accusative. Do not confuse dankbar with danke, which is used to say thank you.
Ich bin dir sehr dankbar.
I am very grateful to you.
dir means to you, and sehr means very. dankbar stands after the linking verb bin in the predicative form; the person who receives the thanks is in the dative, so dir is dative.
Sie ist eine dankbare Kundin.
She is a grateful customer.
sie means she, and die Kundin is the female customer. Before the feminine noun Kundin, the adjective has the ending -e after eine: eine dankbare Kundin.
Ich bin dir heute noch dankbarer als gestern.
Today I am even more grateful to you than yesterday.
heute noch means even today, and gestern means yesterday. The comparative dankbarer is followed by als for the comparison; dir remains dative because the adjective describes the person receiving the thanks.
Für deine Hilfe bin ich dir am dankbarsten.
I am most grateful to you for your help.
für deine Hilfe means for your help. für takes the accusative, while dir is dative for the person receiving the thanks; am dankbarsten is the predicative superlative after bin.
einsam — lonely, solitary; isolated, remote
Einsam usually describes a person who feels lonely, but it can also describe a place that is isolated. It is a regular adjective: einsamer and am einsamsten.
Ich fühle mich einsam.
I feel lonely.
sich fühlen means to feel, and mich means myself here. Einsam is a predicative adjective after fühlen with sich; it has no ending, and the finite verb fühle is in position two.
Er führt ein einsames Leben.
He leads a lonely life.
er means he, führt means leads, and ein Leben is a life. Ein einsames Leben is accusative because it is the object of führen; the adjective has the ending -es after the neuter article ein.
Nach dem Umzug fühlte sie sich einsamer.
After moving, she felt lonelier.
nach dem Umzug means after the move, and fühlte sich means felt. Nach takes the dative, so dem Umzug is dative; the comparative einsamer is predicative and has no adjective ending.
Am Wochenende bin ich am einsamsten.
I am loneliest at the weekend.
am Wochenende means at the weekend. Am here combines an with the dative article and marks a time expression; the predicative superlative is am einsamsten, while bin stands in position two.
Das Haus liegt einsam im Wald.
The house stands isolated in the forest.
das Haus is the house, liegt means lies or stands, and im Wald means in the forest. Einsam is predicative after liegt, so it has no ending; im Wald is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Wir fanden eine einsame Hütte am See.
We found an isolated hut by the lake.
fanden means found, eine Hütte is a hut, and am See means by the lake. Eine einsame Hütte is accusative because it is the object of fanden; the feminine adjective ending is -e after eine.
enttäuschen — to disappoint, to let down
Enttäuschen takes an accusative object: jemanden enttäuschen means to disappoint someone. It uses haben in the perfect, and its Partizip II is enttäuscht without ge- because of the inseparable prefix ent-.
Das Ergebnis enttäuscht mich.
The result disappoints me.
das Ergebnis means the result and mich means me. Mich is accusative because enttäuschen takes an accusative object, and the finite verb enttäuscht stands in position two.
Der Film hat mich enttäuscht.
The film disappointed me.
der Film means the film and mich means me. The perfect uses hat enttäuscht with haben; mich is the accusative object, and the Partizip II enttäuscht goes to the end.
Die Nachricht enttäuschte meine Eltern.
The news disappointed my parents.
die Nachricht means the news and meine Eltern means my parents. Meine Eltern is accusative because they are the people affected; the regular past form enttäuschte stands in position two.
Enttäusch deine Freunde nicht!
Don’t disappoint your friends!
deine Freunde means your friends and nicht means not. Enttäusch is the singular imperative, and deine Freunde is accusative because it is the object.
Wenn du mich enttäuschen würdest, wäre ich traurig.
If you disappointed me, I would be sad.
wenn means if, traurig means sad, and würdest means would. In the wenn-clause, the infinitive enttäuschen goes to the end; mich is accusative.
Die lange Wartezeit wird die Besucher enttäuschen.
The long waiting time will disappoint the visitors.
lang means long, die Wartezeit means waiting time, and die Besucher means the visitors. Futur I uses wird ... enttäuschen; die Besucher is the accusative object and the infinitive enttäuschen goes to the end.
die Enttäuschung — disappointment
Die Enttäuschung can mean the feeling of disappointment or the disappointing event itself. It is a feminine noun, and its plural is die Enttäuschungen.
Die Enttäuschung war groß.
The disappointment was great.
groß means great or strong. Die Enttäuschung is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb war stands in position two.
Ich spüre die Enttäuschung.
I can feel the disappointment.
ich means I and spüren means to feel. Die Enttäuschung is accusative because it is the object of spüren; the finite verb spüre stands in position two.
Mit der Enttäuschung hatte sie gerechnet.
She had expected the disappointment.
mit means with, rechnen means expect or count on, and sie means she. Der Enttäuschung is dative because mit governs the dative; the verb phrase hatte gerechnet is split around the middle-field words.
Wegen der Enttäuschung blieb er zu Hause.
Because of the disappointment, he stayed at home.
wegen means because of, blieb means stayed, and zu Hause means at home. Der Enttäuschung is genitive because formal wegen governs the genitive; the finite verb blieb stands in position two.
Solche Enttäuschungen tun weh.
Disappointments like that hurt.
solche means such or that kind of, and weh tun means hurt. Enttäuschungen is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the verb phrase tun weh is split, with weh at the end.
erstaunt — surprised, amazed
erstaunt describes a person’s reaction, while erstaunlich describes the thing that causes the reaction. It is historically the Partizip II of erstaunen, but it is also used as an ordinary adjective and therefore takes adjective endings before nouns.
Ich bin erstaunt.
I am surprised.
ich bin means I am. erstaunt is a predicative adjective after bin, so it has no adjective ending; the verb bin is in position two.
Er macht ein erstauntes Gesicht.
He makes a surprised face.
ein Gesicht means a face, and macht means makes. ein erstauntes Gesicht is an accusative object after machen, so the neuter adjective takes the ending -es.
Sie sieht heute erstaunter aus als gestern.
She looks more surprised today than yesterday.
heute means today, gestern means yesterday, and sieht ... aus means looks. erstaunter is predicative after aussehen and is followed by als; the separable verb places aus at the end.
Von allen Gästen war er am erstauntesten.
Of all the guests, he was the most surprised.
von allen Gästen means of all the guests. von takes the dative, shown by Gästen; am erstauntesten is the predicative superlative after war, so it has no adjective ending.
fantastisch — fantastic, excellent
In everyday German, fantastisch often means simply “excellent” or “great,” not only imaginary. The comparison is regular: fantastisch – fantastischer – am fantastischsten.
Der Film ist fantastisch.
The film is fantastic.
der Film is the film. Fantastisch is predicative, so it comes after ist and has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Das war ein fantastischer Abend.
That was a fantastic evening.
das war means that was, and der Abend is the evening. fantastischer comes before the masculine noun and takes -er after ein in the nominative; war is the past form of sein.
Dieser Film ist fantastischer als der erste.
This film is more fantastic than the first one.
dieser means this, als means than, and der erste means the first one. The comparative fantastischer is predicative and has no ending; als introduces the thing being compared.
Das ist am fantastischsten.
That is the most fantastic.
das means that or it. The superlative am fantastischsten is used predicatively after ist; am is part of this superlative form, not a separate article.
das Fieber — fever
Fieber is usually used without a plural because it describes a condition or body temperature. Say Fieber haben for to have a fever and Fieber messen for to take the temperature.
Das Fieber ist heute niedriger.
The fever is lower today.
heute means today and niedriger means lower. Das Fieber is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der Arzt misst das Fieber.
The doctor is taking the temperature.
Der Arzt is the doctor and misst means measures or takes. Das Fieber is accusative because messen takes a direct object; the finite verb misst is in position two.
Bei dem Fieber bleibt sie zu Hause.
Because of the fever, she stays at home.
bei means because of or with in this context, and zu Hause means at home. Dem Fieber is dative because bei always takes the dative; bleibt is the finite verb in position two.
Sie hat wegen des Fiebers nicht geschlafen.
She did not sleep because of the fever.
wegen means because of and geschlafen means slept. Des Fiebers is genitive because wegen commonly takes the genitive; hat ... geschlafen forms the perfect, with geschlafen at the end.
Bei Kindern können Fieber und Husten zusammen auftreten.
In children, fever and coughing can occur together.
Bei Kindern means in children, Husten means coughing, and zusammen auftreten means occur together. Fieber normally has no plural because it is a mass noun; here it is part of the subject, and können stands in position two.
fröhlich — cheerful, happy
Fröhlich usually describes a visibly cheerful mood or behaviour. It is stronger and more outward than simply zufrieden, satisfied.
Die Kinder sind heute sehr fröhlich.
The children are very cheerful today.
die Kinder means the children, and heute means today. Fröhlich is predicative after sind and therefore has no adjective ending; the finite verb sind stands in position two.
Wir hören ein fröhliches Lied.
We are listening to a cheerful song.
hören means listen to or hear, and ein Lied is a song. Fröhliches stands before the neuter accusative noun Lied and takes -es after ein; ein Lied is accusative because hören takes a direct object.
Meine Schwester ist heute fröhlicher als gestern.
My sister is more cheerful today than yesterday.
meine Schwester means my sister, and heute and gestern mean today and yesterday. Fröhlicher is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; als introduces the comparison.
Unser jüngster Sohn ist am fröhlichsten.
Our youngest son is the most cheerful.
unser jüngster Sohn means our youngest son. Am fröhlichsten is the predicative superlative after ist; because it is not directly before a noun, it uses the am form.
furchtbar — terrible, awful, frightening; terribly, extremely
furchtbar can describe something frightening, but in everyday speech it also means “very bad” or “awful”. Before a noun it takes an adjective ending, but after sein it normally stays unchanged.
Der Film ist furchtbar.
The film is terrible.
der Film means “the film”. The adjective furchtbar is predicative after ist, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Das war ein furchtbarer Unfall.
That was a terrible accident.
das means “that”, war means “was”, and der Unfall means “the accident”. ein furchtbarer Unfall is nominative after war, and the adjective has -er because the indefinite article does not show the masculine nominative ending.
Der zweite Film war furchtbarer als der erste.
The second film was more terrible than the first one.
der zweite Film means “the second film” and der erste means “the first one”. The comparative furchtbarer follows war without an ending, and als introduces the item being compared.
Das war am furchtbarsten.
That was the most terrible.
das means “that” and war means “was”. The predicative superlative uses am furchtbarsten; unlike an attributive superlative, it does not take a noun ending.
Ich bin furchtbar müde.
I am terribly tired.
ich bin means “I am” and müde means “tired”. Here furchtbar is an intensifying adverb, so it has no adjective ending and simply strengthens müde.
Der Kaffee ist furchtbar heiß.
The coffee is terribly hot.
der Kaffee means “the coffee” and heiß means “hot”. furchtbar strengthens heiß rather than describing a frightening coffee; as an adverb, it does not change its form.
fühlen — to feel, to sense; to feel, to feel oneself
The non-reflexive use means to sense something physically and takes an accusative object. The common reflexive pattern sich fühlen means to feel a certain way, as in sich gut fühlen.
Ich fühle den kalten Wind.
I feel the cold wind.
der kalte Wind means the cold wind. Ich is the subject in the nominative, while den kalten Wind is accusative because fühlen takes a direct object; the finite verb fühle is in position two.
Ich habe den kalten Wind gefühlt.
I felt the cold wind.
der kalte Wind means the cold wind. The perfect uses habe plus gefühlt; den kalten Wind is accusative as the object, and the Partizip II gefühlt goes to the end.
Früher fühlte ich den Wind stärker.
In the past, I felt the wind more strongly.
früher means in the past, and stärker means more strongly. The weak-verb past form fühlte is in position two; den Wind is accusative because it is what is felt.
Fühl den Stoff!
Feel the fabric!
der Stoff means the fabric or material. Fühl is a direct du command, and den Stoff is accusative because it is the object of fühlen; the subject du is normally left out.
Ich würde die raue Oberfläche sofort fühlen.
I would immediately feel the rough surface.
rau means rough, die Oberfläche means the surface, and sofort means immediately. Würde ... fühlen expresses a hypothetical situation; die raue Oberfläche is accusative as the direct object.
Morgen werde ich den Unterschied deutlich fühlen.
Tomorrow I will clearly feel the difference.
morgen means tomorrow, der Unterschied means the difference, and deutlich means clearly. Future tense uses werde plus the infinitive fühlen at the end; den Unterschied is accusative because it is the object.
Sie fühlt sich heute müde.
She feels tired today.
heute means today, and müde means tired. Sich fühlen is reflexive, so sich refers back to sie; the adjective müde follows the verb without an ending because it is predicative.
Nach dem Urlaub haben wir uns sehr gefühlt.
We felt very good after the holiday.
der Urlaub means the holiday and sehr means very; uns means ourselves or us here. The perfect is formed with haben and gefühlt, while the reflexive pronoun agrees with wir and the Partizip II stands at the end.
fürchten — to fear, to be afraid of; to be afraid
As a transitive verb, fürchten takes an accusative object: jemanden or etwas fürchten. The related reflexive use sich fürchten means to be afraid, and it commonly appears with vor plus the dative, as in sich vor dem Hund fürchten.
Viele Menschen fürchten den Krieg.
Many people fear war.
viele Menschen means many people and der Krieg means war. den Krieg is accusative because fürchten takes an accusative object, and the finite verb fürchten stands in position two.
Ich habe den Sturm gefürchtet.
I feared the storm.
der Sturm means the storm. den Sturm is accusative after fürchten; the perfect uses habe in position two and gefürchtet at the end of the clause.
Sie fürchtete eine schwere Krankheit.
She feared a serious illness.
eine schwere Krankheit means a serious illness. The phrase is accusative because it is the object of fürchtete, and the weak-verb ending -te marks the simple past.
Fürchte den Hund nicht!
Do not fear the dog!
den Hund means the dog and nicht means not. Fürchte is the singular du imperative, and den Hund stays accusative because fürchten takes an accusative object.
Ich fürchtete, er würde den Zug verpassen.
I was afraid that he would miss the train.
er würde den Zug verpassen means he would miss the train, and verpassen means miss. fürchtete introduces the feared idea; in the subordinate clause, würde stands in position two and verpassen goes to the end.
Wir werden den langen Weg nicht fürchten.
We will not fear the long journey.
der lange Weg means the long journey or long way, and nicht means not. den langen Weg is accusative after fürchten; in the future, werden stands in position two and the infinitive fürchten goes to the end.
Das Kind fürchtet sich vor dem Hund.
The child is afraid of the dog.
das Kind means the child and der Hund means the dog. The reflexive pronoun sich is required for this meaning, while vor takes the dative for a fixed object, giving dem Hund.
Sie fürchtet sich vor der Prüfung.
She is afraid of the exam.
die Prüfung means the exam. sich fürchten is the reflexive expression for being afraid, and vor der Prüfung uses the dative because vor marks the object of fear here.
die Geduld — patience
Geduld haben means to be patient, while die Geduld verlieren means to lose patience. This noun is usually uncountable, so it has no plural; the common opposite is die Ungeduld.
Geduld ist beim Lernen wichtig.
Patience is important when learning.
beim Lernen means while learning, and wichtig means important. Geduld is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich habe keine Geduld für solche Spiele.
I have no patience for games like that.
keine means no, solche means such or like that, and Spiele means games. Geduld is accusative because haben takes a direct object; für also takes the accusative in für solche Spiele.
Mit Geduld lernst du neue Wörter.
With patience, you learn new words.
mit means with, lernst means learn, and neue Wörter means new words. Geduld is dative because mit always takes the dative; the finite verb lernst is in position two.
Die Kraft der Geduld ist erstaunlich.
The power of patience is amazing.
die Kraft means the power, and erstaunlich means amazing. Der Geduld is genitive because it identifies whose power is meant; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
geduldig — patient
geduldig describes someone who can wait or keep trying calmly. Its regular forms are geduldiger and am geduldigsten; do not confuse it with langweilig, which means boring.
Meine Lehrerin ist sehr geduldig.
My teacher is very patient.
meine Lehrerin means my teacher, and sehr means very. Geduldig is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der geduldige Arzt erklärt alles langsam.
The patient doctor explains everything slowly.
der Arzt means the doctor, erklärt means explains, alles means everything, and langsam means slowly. Geduldige is attributive and has -e because it follows the definite article der in the nominative masculine; the finite verb erklärt is in position two.
Anna ist geduldiger als ihr Bruder.
Anna is more patient than her brother.
ihr Bruder means her brother, and als means than. Geduldiger compares Anna with her brother and follows sein without an adjective ending; als introduces the second part of the comparison.
Von allen Kindern wartet Leo am geduldigsten.
Of all the children, Leo waits most patiently.
von allen Kindern means of all the children, and wartet means waits. Am geduldigsten is the superlative used adverbially, while the finite verb wartet stands in position two; learners should not use am directly before a noun.
gefallen — to please, to be liked
The person who likes something is expressed in the dative: jemandem gefallen. Do not translate the German structure directly from English: Das gefällt mir literally means “That pleases me,” but naturally means “I like that.”
Der Film gefällt mir.
I like the film.
der Film means the film, and mir means to me. mir is dative because gefallen shows who experiences the pleasure, while der Film is the grammatical subject; the finite verb gefällt stands in position two.
Der Film hat mir gefallen.
I liked the film.
der Film means the film, and mir means to me. The perfect uses hat plus the Partizip II gefallen, which goes to the end; mir remains dative because gefallen governs the person who likes something.
Der Film gefiel mir sehr.
I liked the film very much.
sehr means very much. mir is dative, and gefiel is the strong-verb preterite; the finite verb is in position two.
Gefall mir, bitte!
Please like me!
bitte means please. The rare imperative gefall takes the dative mir; in normal conversation, speakers usually avoid this command and say Gefällt dir das? instead.
Wenn dir das gefiele, wärst du zufrieden.
If you liked that, you would be satisfied.
wenn means if, and zufrieden means satisfied. In the wenn clause, gefiele goes to the end because it is a subordinate clause; dir is dative, and wärst is the Konjunktiv II of sein.
Der neue Film wird mir bestimmt gefallen.
I will certainly like the new film.
der neue Film means the new film, and bestimmt means certainly. Future tense uses wird in position two and the infinitive gefallen at the end; mir is dative for the person who likes it.
das Gefühl — feeling, emotion; sensation, instinct
The common meaning is an emotion, but Gefühl can also mean a physical sensation or an instinctive impression. The plural is Gefühle, with an umlaut; the genitive is des Gefühls, not usually des Gefühles.
Ein komisches Gefühl bleibt.
A strange feeling remains.
ein komisches Gefühl means a strange feeling and bleibt means remains. The noun phrase is nominative because it is the subject, and bleibt stands in position two.
Ich habe ein gutes Gefühl.
I have a good feeling.
ich means I and ein gutes Gefühl means a good feeling. ein gutes Gefühl is accusative because haben takes an accusative object; the finite verb habe is in position two.
Sie vertraut ihrem Gefühl.
She trusts her feeling.
sie means she and vertraut means trusts. ihrem Gefühl is dative because vertrauen takes a dative object; the possessive article shows the neuter dative form.
Die Stärke des Gefühls überrascht mich.
The strength of the feeling surprises me.
die Stärke means the strength and überrascht means surprises. des Gefühls is genitive because it identifies whose strength is meant, while mich is accusative as the person surprised.
Starke Gefühle können Menschen verändern.
Strong feelings can change people.
starke Gefühle means strong feelings and Menschen means people. Gefühle is plural and nominative as the subject; after the modal können, the infinitive verändern goes to the end.
Ich habe kein Gefühl in den Fingern.
I have no sensation in my fingers.
kein Gefühl means no sensation and in den Fingern means in the fingers. kein Gefühl is accusative after haben, while in takes the dative because this describes a location rather than movement.
Mein Gefühl sagt mir, dass etwas nicht stimmt.
My instinct tells me that something is wrong.
mein Gefühl means my instinct, sagt means tells, and etwas nicht stimmt means something is wrong. mein Gefühl is nominative as the subject; in the dass clause, the finite verb stimmt moves to the end.
das Gelächter — laughter
Gelächter is a mass noun for laughter as a sound or reaction, so it normally has no plural. For separate acts of laughing, German usually uses another expression such as Lacher.
Das Gelächter im Saal war sehr laut.
The laughter in the hall was very loud.
der Saal is the hall and sehr laut means very loud. Das Gelächter is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Alle hörten das Gelächter.
Everyone heard the laughter.
alle means everyone and hörten means heard. das Gelächter is accusative because hören takes a direct object; the finite verb hörten is in position two.
Bei dem Gelächter konnte ich nicht schlafen.
Because of the laughter, I could not sleep.
bei means because of or during in this context, and schlafen means to sleep. bei always takes the dative, so dem Gelächter is dative; konnte is in position two.
Die Ursache des Gelächters war ein Witz.
The cause of the laughter was a joke.
die Ursache is the cause and ein Witz is a joke. des Gelächters is genitive because it identifies what the cause was connected with; the neuter noun has des and -s in the genitive.
der Glückwunsch — congratulations; good wishes
Der Glückwunsch is often used in the fixed expression Herzlichen Glückwunsch!, meaning congratulations. For several congratulatory messages, use the umlaut plural die Glückwünsche.
Der Glückwunsch kommt von meiner Schwester.
The congratulations come from my sister.
kommt means comes, von means from, and meiner Schwester means my sister. Der Glückwunsch is nominative because it is the subject; von always takes the dative here, so meiner Schwester is dative.
Ich schreibe dir einen Glückwunsch.
I am writing you a congratulatory message.
schreibe means write, dir means to you, and einen marks masculine accusative. Einen Glückwunsch is accusative because schreiben takes the thing written as a direct object, while dir is dative for the recipient.
Ich gratuliere dir zu deinem Glückwunsch.
I congratulate you on your congratulations.
gratuliere means congratulate, dir means you, and zu means on or for in this expression. Deinem Glückwunsch is dative because zu governs the dative; gratulieren also takes the person congratulated in the dative, dir.
Der Inhalt des Glückwunsches war sehr freundlich.
The content of the congratulatory message was very friendly.
der Inhalt means the content, war means was, sehr means very, and freundlich means friendly. Des Glückwunsches is genitive because it specifies the content's source or type; the masculine noun adds -es.
Viele Glückwünsche stehen auf der Karte.
Many congratulations are written on the card.
viele means many, stehen means stand or are written, auf means on, and die Karte means the card. Glückwünsche is plural and nominative because it is the subject, while auf der Karte is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Großartig — wonderful, fantastic, great
Großartig is a strong positive word meaning wonderful or fantastic, often used for experiences, achievements and people. Although the source headword is capitalized, the adjective is normally written lowercase in German sentences.
Der Film ist großartig.
The film is fantastic.
der Film means film or movie, and sein means to be. Großartig is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb is in position two.
Wir hatten einen großartigen Abend.
We had a fantastic evening.
haben means to have, der Abend means evening, and einen marks masculine accusative. Einen großartigen Abend is accusative because hatten takes a direct object, so the adjective ends in -en.
Das Konzert war großartiger als erwartet.
The concert was more fantastic than expected.
das Konzert means concert, and erwarten means to expect. Großartiger is the comparative after war and has no adjective ending; als erwartet means than expected.
Dieser Urlaub war am großartigsten.
This holiday was the most wonderful.
dieser Urlaub means this holiday, and sein means to be. Am großartigsten is the superlative used after war; because it is predicative, it does not take an adjective ending.
Sie erzählt eine großartige Geschichte.
She is telling a wonderful story.
erzählen means to tell, die Geschichte means story, and sie means she. Eine großartige Geschichte is accusative because erzählt takes a direct object; the feminine adjective ending after eine is -e.
der Gute — good man, good person
der Gute is a substantivized adjective referring to a male person, so it has adjective endings: der Gute, den Guten, dem Guten, des Guten. It is written with a capital letter because it functions as a noun.
Der Gute hilft dem Kind.
The good man helps the child.
hilft means helps, and dem Kind means the child. Der Gute is nominative because it is the subject, while helfen takes a dative person; the finite verb hilft is in position two.
Ich sehe den Guten jeden Tag.
I see the good man every day.
sehe means see, and jeden Tag means every day. den Guten is accusative because sehen takes an accusative object; the substantivized adjective has the ending -en.
Wir danken dem Guten für seine Hilfe.
We thank the good man for his help.
danken means thank, and seine Hilfe means his help. dem Guten is dative because danken takes a dative person; für forces the accusative in seine Hilfe.
Die Meinung des Guten zählt.
The good man's opinion counts.
die Meinung means the opinion, and zählt means counts or matters. des Guten expresses possession in the genitive; the ending -en follows the genitive article des.
Die Guten gewinnen am Ende.
The good people win in the end.
gewinnen means win, and am Ende means in the end. Die Guten is the plural subject, and the substantivized adjective always has -en in this plural form.
die Gute — good woman, good person
die Gute is a substantivized adjective referring to a female person. Its forms include die Gute, die Guten, der Guten, and mit der Guten; the adjective is capitalized because it is used as a noun.
Die Gute arbeitet im Krankenhaus.
The good woman works in the hospital.
arbeitet means works, and im Krankenhaus means in the hospital. Die Gute is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb arbeitet stands in position two.
Ich kenne die Gute gut.
I know the good woman well.
kenne means know, and the second gut means well. die Gute is accusative because kennen takes an accusative object; feminine nominative and accusative look the same here.
Wir helfen der Guten heute.
We are helping the good woman today.
helfen means help, and heute means today. der Guten is dative because helfen takes a dative person; the adjective ending is -en.
Das Auto der Guten steht dort.
The good woman's car is standing there.
das Auto means the car, and steht dort means is standing there. der Guten marks the female owner in the genitive; the genitive article der is easy to confuse with the masculine nominative article.
Die Guten bekommen den Preis.
The good people receive the prize.
bekommen means receive, and den Preis means the prize. Die Guten is the plural subject, while den Preis is accusative because bekommen takes an accusative object.
hassen — to hate
hassen is a regular weak verb: hassen – hasste – hat gehasst. It takes an accusative object, unlike verbs such as gefallen, which take the dative.
Ich hasse kalten Kaffee.
I hate cold coffee.
kalten Kaffee means cold coffee. Kaffee is accusative because hassen takes a direct object, and the finite verb hasse stands in position two.
Sie hat den Lärm gehasst.
She hated the noise.
den Lärm means the noise. The perfect uses hat plus gehasst, with the Partizip II at the end; den Lärm is accusative because hassen takes an accusative object.
Er hasste den langen Streit.
He hated the long argument.
den langen Streit means the long argument. hasste is the weak preterite in position two, and the object is accusative after hassen.
Hass diese Ungerechtigkeit nicht!
Do not hate this injustice!
diese Ungerechtigkeit means this injustice. Hass is the singular du imperative and comes first; the object remains accusative after hassen.
Ich würde diese Arbeit nicht hassen, wenn sie kürzer wäre.
I would not hate this work if it were shorter.
diese Arbeit means this work, kürzer means shorter, and wäre means were. würde hassen expresses an unreal or hypothetical situation; hassen goes to the end of the wenn clause, and diese Arbeit is accusative.
Du wirst den Lärm bald hassen.
You will soon hate the noise.
bald means soon, and den Lärm means the noise. Future I uses wirst in position two and the infinitive hassen at the end; the object is accusative.
das Heimweh — homesickness
Heimweh is a mass noun, so it normally has no plural. The common expression is Heimweh haben, literally “to have homesickness,” meaning to be homesick.
Das Heimweh wird jeden Tag stärker.
The homesickness gets stronger every day.
jeden Tag means every day, and stärker means stronger. Das Heimweh is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb wird stands in position two.
Sie spürt das Heimweh besonders abends.
She feels the homesickness especially in the evenings.
sie spürt means she feels, and besonders abends means especially in the evenings. Das Heimweh is accusative because spüren takes a direct object; abends is an adverb of time.
Mit dem Heimweh ist es schwer zu schlafen.
It is difficult to sleep with homesickness.
schwer means difficult, and zu schlafen means to sleep. Dem Heimweh is dative because mit always takes the dative; the infinitive phrase zu schlafen comes at the end.
Die Ursache des Heimwehs war die lange Reise.
The cause of the homesickness was the long journey.
die Ursache means the cause, and die lange Reise means the long journey. Des Heimwehs is genitive because it identifies the cause of what is being discussed; the verb war stands in position two.
Viele Austauschschüler bekommen schnell Heimweh.
Many exchange students quickly become homesick.
Austauschschüler means exchange students, and schnell means quickly. Heimweh is a mass noun and has no plural; here it is used in the fixed expression Heimweh bekommen, while the finite verb bekommen is in position two.
heiter — cheerful, bright, pleasant
heiter can describe a person's cheerful mood or bright, pleasant weather. For people, fröhlich is often a more common everyday word; heiter can sound slightly literary or calm.
Die Stimmung ist heute heiter.
The mood is cheerful today.
die Stimmung means the mood and heute means today. heiter is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir hatten einen heiteren Abend.
We had a cheerful evening.
einen Abend means an evening. heiteren is attributive and has the -en ending because it describes the masculine accusative noun after hatten.
Der zweite Tag war heiterer als der erste.
The second day was brighter than the first.
der zweite Tag means the second day and der erste means the first one. heiterer is followed by als in this comparison; after war, the adjective is predicative and has no ending.
Am Sonntag war der Himmel am heitersten.
On Sunday the sky was at its brightest.
am Sonntag means on Sunday and der Himmel means the sky. am heitersten is the predicative superlative; the am-form is not used directly before a noun.
herrlich — wonderful, magnificent, glorious
Herrlich can describe beautiful weather, scenery, experiences, or anything especially enjoyable. It is a regular adjective: herrlicher and am herrlichsten.
Das Wetter ist heute herrlich.
The weather is wonderful today.
das Wetter means “the weather”, and heute means “today”. Herrlich is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir machen einen herrlichen Spaziergang am See.
We are taking a wonderful walk by the lake.
machen means “take/do”, einen Spaziergang is “a walk”, and am See means “by the lake”. Einen herrlichen Spaziergang is accusative because machen takes an object; the adjective has -en after the masculine accusative article einen.
Der Sonnenuntergang ist herrlicher als gestern.
The sunset is more beautiful than yesterday.
der Sonnenuntergang means “the sunset”, and gestern means “yesterday”. Herrlicher is a predicative comparative after ist; als introduces the thing used for comparison.
Das war der herrlichste Urlaub meines Lebens.
That was the most wonderful holiday of my life.
Urlaub means “holiday”, and meines Lebens means “of my life”. Der herrlichste Urlaub is nominative because it follows war as the subject complement; before a noun, the superlative takes the adjective ending -e, not the separate form am herrlichsten.
herzlich — warm, friendly, heartfelt
Herzlich describes warm, genuine friendliness and is common in greetings such as herzlich willkommen. It can also mean warmly when it modifies a verb, as in herzlich begrüßen.
Die Gastgeber sind sehr herzlich.
The hosts are very warm and friendly.
Die Gastgeber are the hosts, and sehr means very. Herzlich is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb sind is in position two.
Wir wurden herzlich begrüßt.
We were warmly welcomed.
Wir means we, wurden means were, and begrüßt means welcomed. Here herzlich is used as an adverb modifying begrüßt, so it has no ending; the passive verb phrase puts begrüßt at the end.
Ihre Nachricht war herzlicher als erwartet.
Her message was warmer than expected.
Ihre Nachricht means her message, and erwartet means expected. Herzlicher is a predicate after war and is followed by als for the comparison; it therefore has no adjective ending.
Er begrüßte uns am herzlichsten.
He greeted us most warmly.
Begrüßte means greeted, and uns means us. Am herzlichsten is the adverbial superlative, formed with am and -sten; the finite verb begrüßte stands in position two.
das Interesse — interest
das Interesse an etwas means interest in something and is normally followed by an plus dative. Do not confuse the noun with interessiert, which describes a person who is interested.
Das Interesse an der Ausstellung ist groß.
Interest in the exhibition is strong.
die Ausstellung means the exhibition, and groß means strong or great. das Interesse is nominative because it is the subject; an takes the dative here for the topic of interest, giving an der Ausstellung.
Wir zeigen großes Interesse an dem Kurs.
We are showing great interest in the course.
wir means we, zeigen means show, großes means great, and der Kurs means the course. großes Interesse is accusative because zeigen takes an accusative object; an dem Kurs names the subject of interest.
Sie erzählt ihrem Freund von ihrem Interesse an Fotografie.
She tells her friend about her interest in photography.
sie erzählt means she tells, ihrem Freund means her friend, and Fotografie means photography. ihrem Freund is dative because erzählen gives information to someone, while von also requires the dative in von ihrem Interesse.
Die Gründe des Interesses sind leicht zu verstehen.
The reasons for the interest are easy to understand.
die Gründe means the reasons, leicht means easy, and zu verstehen means to understand. des Interesses is genitive because it identifies whose or what kind of reasons they are; the genitive ending -s belongs to the noun.
Viele Interessen verbinden die beiden Freunde.
The two friends share many interests.
viele means many, verbinden means connect or bring together, and die beiden Freunde means the two friends. Viele Interessen is plural accusative because it is the object of verbinden; the plural form adds -n.
interessieren — to interest; to be interested in
In the direct pattern, jemanden interessieren means to interest someone and takes an accusative person: Das interessiert mich. In the reflexive pattern, sich für etwas interessieren means to be interested in something; für takes the accusative.
Der neue Kurs interessiert mich.
The new course interests me.
der neue Kurs means the new course, and mich means me. mich is accusative because interessieren takes the interested person as its accusative object; the finite verb interessiert stands in position two.
Der Vortrag hat mich sehr interessiert.
The lecture interested me very much.
der Vortrag means the lecture, and sehr means very much. The perfect uses hat plus the Partizip II interessiert, which goes to the end; mich remains accusative as the object.
Das Thema interessierte viele Schüler.
The topic interested many pupils.
das Thema means the topic, and viele Schüler means many pupils. viele Schüler is accusative because they are the people affected by interessierte; the weak-verb preterite has the ending -te.
Interessier dich für die Geschichte.
Take an interest in the history.
dich means yourself, für means for or in the phrase be interested in, and die Geschichte means the history or story. This is the reflexive pattern sich für etwas interessieren: dich is accusative after the imperative, and für takes accusative.
Wenn sie mehr Zeit hätte, interessierte sie sich für Kunst.
If she had more time, she would take an interest in art.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and Kunst means art. The form interessierte is both the weak preterite and the usual Konjunktiv II form here; sich für Kunst interessieren is reflexive, and the finite verb goes to the end of the wenn clause.
Der Besuch wird die Kinder interessieren.
The visit will interest the children.
der Besuch means the visit, and die Kinder means the children. Future tense uses wird in position two and the infinitive interessieren at the end; die Kinder is accusative even though its article looks the same as nominative plural.
Ich interessiere mich für Sprachen.
I am interested in languages.
ich means I, mich means myself, and Sprachen means languages. mich is the accusative reflexive pronoun, while für Sprachen is also accusative because für requires it; the finite verb interessiere is in position two.
Sie interessiert sich besonders für fremde Kulturen.
She is especially interested in foreign cultures.
sie means she, besonders means especially, and fremde Kulturen means foreign cultures. The phrase is sich für etwas interessieren: sich is reflexive accusative and für fremde Kulturen is accusative after für.
interessiert — interested
interessiert usually describes a person and is commonly used with sein and an plus dative: an etwas interessiert sein. Do not confuse it with the verb interessiert, which can mean interests someone.
Ich bin an Geschichte interessiert.
I am interested in history.
Geschichte means history. The adjective is predicative after bin and therefore has no ending; an Geschichte names the topic and uses the dative, although the form is not visibly marked here.
Eine interessierte Schülerin stellt viele Fragen.
An interested pupil asks many questions.
eine Schülerin means a female pupil, and stellt viele Fragen means asks many questions. interessierte stands before the feminine nominative noun and takes -e after eine; the finite verb stellt is in position two.
Paul ist interessierter an Sport als an Musik.
Paul is more interested in sport than in music.
Sport means sport and Musik means music. interessierter is predicative after ist, while an takes the dative in both topic phrases; als introduces the second side of the unequal comparison.
Sie ist am interessiertesten an moderner Kunst.
She is most interested in modern art.
sie means she, modern means modern, and Kunst means art. The predicative superlative uses am interessiertesten; an moderner Kunst is a dative topic phrase, with the feminine adjective ending -er.
das Kompliment — compliment
das Kompliment is a positive remark that you make about someone or something. The common expression jemandem ein Kompliment machen takes the person in the dative and the compliment in the accusative.
Das Kompliment freut mich.
The compliment pleases me.
freuen means to please or make happy, and mich means me. das Kompliment is nominative because it is the subject, while mich is accusative as the person affected.
Ich mache meiner Schwester ein Kompliment.
I give my sister a compliment.
machen means to make or give in this expression, and meine Schwester means my sister. ein Kompliment is accusative as the thing given, while meiner Schwester is dative as the recipient.
Ich danke dir für das Kompliment.
I thank you for the compliment.
danken means to thank, and dir means to you. dir is dative because danken requires the dative, while für das Kompliment is accusative because für always takes the accusative.
Die Wirkung des Kompliments war sofort zu sehen.
The effect of the compliment was immediately visible.
die Wirkung means the effect, sofort means immediately, and zu sehen means visible or to be seen. des Kompliments is genitive because it identifies the effect's source, and war is in position two.
Sie bekommt oft Komplimente.
She often receives compliments.
bekommen means to receive, and oft means often. Komplimente is plural accusative as the object of bekommt; the plural has no article here because it is indefinite.
kuscheln — to cuddle, to snuggle
kuscheln usually appears with mit plus the dative for the person or animal involved: mit jemandem kuscheln. The perfect uses haben, and kuscheln is not normally used as a reflexive verb.
Wir kuscheln auf dem Sofa.
We are cuddling on the sofa.
wir means we, auf dem Sofa means on the sofa, and das Sofa is the sofa. The finite verb kuscheln stands in position two; auf takes the dative here because it describes a fixed location, not movement.
Wir haben lange gekuschelt.
We cuddled for a long time.
lange means for a long time. haben is the auxiliary used with kuscheln, and the Partizip II gekuschelt goes to the end of the clause; do not use sein.
Als Kinder kuschelten wir jeden Abend.
When we were children, we cuddled every evening.
als Kinder means when we were children, and jeden Abend means every evening. The verb kuschelten is regular preterite; in the als clause the finite verb goes to the end, while the main clause begins with wir after the comma.
Kuschel dich zu mir!
Cuddle up next to me!
dich means yourself and zu mir means next to me or towards me. This informal command uses kuschel without du; dich is an accusative reflexive pronoun, and zu always takes the dative.
Ich würde gern mit dir kuscheln.
I would like to cuddle with you.
ich würde gern means I would like to, and mit dir means with you. mit takes the dative, so dir is used; the infinitive kuscheln goes to the end after the modal structure würde ....
Heute werden wir im Bett kuscheln.
Today we will cuddle in bed.
heute means today and im Bett means in bed. The finite verb werden stands in position two and the infinitive kuscheln goes to the end; im is short for in dem, with dative location.