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Vocab: Furniture — A2
Furniture vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
das Bücherregal — bookcase; bookshelf
Das Bücherregal is a compound: Bücher means books and Regal means shelf or shelving unit. German compounds take their gender and plural pattern from the final element, so the plural is Bücherregale.
Das Bücherregal steht im Wohnzimmer.
The bookcase is in the living room.
steht means stands or is located, and das Wohnzimmer is the living room. Das Bücherregal is nominative because it is the subject; im Wohnzimmer is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Wir kaufen das Bücherregal morgen.
We are buying the bookcase tomorrow.
kaufen means buy, and morgen means tomorrow. Das Bücherregal is accusative because it is the direct object of kaufen; for a neuter noun, nominative and accusative articles are both das.
Ich stelle die Bücher in das Bücherregal.
I put the books into the bookcase.
stelle means put upright, and die Bücher means the books. Although this slot is labelled dative, in das Bücherregal is accusative because it expresses movement into the bookcase; in takes dative for location but accusative for direction.
Die Türen des Bücherregals sind aus Holz.
The doors of the bookcase are made of wood.
die Türen means the doors, aus Holz means made of wood, and sind means are. Des Bücherregals is genitive because it shows which bookcase the doors belong to; the neuter genitive ending is -s on Regal.
Im Laden stehen viele Bücherregale.
There are many bookcases in the shop.
im Laden means in the shop, stehen means stand or are located, and viele means many. Bücherregale is plural after viele; the fronted location phrase makes the verb come before the subject.
der Bücherschrank — bookcase, bookshelf
The compound combines das Buch, a book, with der Schrank, a cupboard or cabinet. It normally means a piece of furniture for books, not a single shelf.
Der Bücherschrank steht im Wohnzimmer.
The bookcase is in the living room.
das Wohnzimmer means living room, and steht means is standing or is located. Der Bücherschrank is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich stelle den Bücherschrank neben das Fenster.
I am putting the bookcase next to the window.
stelle means put, neben means next to, and das Fenster means the window. Den Bücherschrank is accusative because stellen takes the thing being moved as its object; neben das Fenster is accusative because it expresses movement to a new position.
Wir geben dem Bücherschrank einen neuen Platz.
We are giving the bookcase a new place.
geben means give, einen neuen Platz means a new place. Dem Bücherschrank is dative because it is the recipient or affected item with geben, while einen neuen Platz is accusative as the thing given.
Die Türen des Bücherschranks sind geschlossen.
The doors of the bookcase are closed.
die Türen means the doors, and geschlossen means closed. Des Bücherschranks is genitive because it identifies whose doors they are; the masculine noun uses des and -s.
In unserer Wohnung stehen zwei Bücherschränke.
There are two bookcases in our flat.
unserer Wohnung means our flat, and zwei means two. Bücherschränke is plural after zwei; in unserer Wohnung is dative because it describes a fixed location, not movement.
einrichten — to furnish, arrange, set up; to configure, set up
For a physical place, einrichten means to furnish or arrange it. It is a separable verb, so forms such as richtet ... ein split in a main clause, but einrichten stays together after a modal or in a subordinate clause.
Wir richten das neue Büro morgen ein.
We are setting up the new office tomorrow.
das neue Büro means the new office, and morgen means tomorrow. The accusative das neue Büro is the thing being set up, while the finite verb richten is in position two and the prefix ein goes to the end.
Wir haben das neue Büro eingerichtet.
We set up the new office.
das neue Büro means the new office. The accusative object is required by the meaning of setting something up; haben is in position two and eingerichtet goes to the end as the Partizip II.
Sie richtete die Wohnung neu ein.
She furnished the apartment anew.
die Wohnung means the apartment, and neu means anew or in a new way. Die Wohnung is accusative because it is what she furnished; the weak past form richtete is in position two and ein is separated to the end.
Richte dein Zimmer gemütlich ein!
Make your room cosy!
dein Zimmer means your room, and gemütlich means cosy. The accusative dein Zimmer is the object; the du imperative has no subject pronoun, and the prefix ein stays at the end.
Ich würde die Küche anders einrichten.
I would arrange the kitchen differently.
die Küche means the kitchen, and anders means differently. Die Küche is accusative as the thing to be arranged; with würde, the infinitive einrichten stays whole at the end.
Wir werden das Wohnzimmer am Samstag einrichten.
We will set up the living room on Saturday.
das Wohnzimmer means the living room, and am Samstag means on Saturday. The accusative object follows the modal-like future structure; werden is in position two and the infinitive einrichten stands at the end.
Der Techniker richtet den Drucker ein.
The technician is configuring the printer.
der Techniker is the technician, and der Drucker is the printer. Den Drucker is accusative because it is the thing being configured; richtet stands in position two and ein goes to the end.
Ich möchte ein neues Konto einrichten.
I would like to set up a new account.
ein neues Konto means a new account, and möchte means would like. Ein neues Konto is accusative as the object; after möchte, the infinitive einrichten stays together at the end.
die Einrichtung — furnishings, interior; arrangement; institution, facility
This sense refers to the furniture and fittings in a place. The plural Einrichtungen can also mean several sets of furnishings, but in other contexts it means facilities or institutions.
Die Einrichtung ist sehr modern.
The furnishings are very modern.
modern means modern, and sehr means very. Die Einrichtung is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is the finite verb in position two.
Wir kaufen eine neue Einrichtung.
We are buying new furnishings.
kaufen means to buy, and neu means new. Eine neue Einrichtung is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufen stands in position two.
Mit der Einrichtung sind wir zufrieden.
We are happy with the furnishings.
mit means with, and zufrieden means satisfied or happy. Mit always takes the dative, so the feminine article is der; the verb sind is in position two.
Die Farbe der Einrichtung passt gut zum Boden.
The colour of the furnishings goes well with the floor.
die Farbe is the colour, passt gut means goes well, and der Boden is the floor. Der Einrichtung is genitive because it says whose colour it is; the genitive article is der for this feminine noun.
Die Geschäfte verkaufen verschiedene Einrichtungen.
The shops sell different furnishings.
die Geschäfte means the shops, verkaufen means sell, and verschiedene means different. Verschiedene Einrichtungen is plural and accusative because it is the object of verkaufen; the plural article is die.
Die Stadt baut eine neue soziale Einrichtung.
The city is building a new social facility.
die Stadt means the city, baut means is building, and sozial means social. Eine neue soziale Einrichtung is accusative because it is the object of baut; the adjective takes the ending -e after eine.
Viele Einrichtungen helfen Familien mit Kindern.
Many institutions help families with children.
viele means many, helfen means help, and Familien mit Kindern means families with children. Viele Einrichtungen is the plural subject, while Familien is dative because helfen governs the dative.
der Griff — handle; grip; grip; control
The concrete meaning is a handle or the part you hold. It can also mean a grip or grasp; im Griff haben means to have something under control.
Der Griff ist kaputt.
The handle is broken.
kaputt means broken. Der Griff is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich repariere den Griff.
I am repairing the handle.
reparieren means to repair. den Griff is accusative because reparieren takes a direct object, while the finite verb repariere is in position two.
Ich ziehe an dem Griff.
I pull on the handle.
ziehen means to pull. an takes the dative here because this describes a fixed position or contact, so dem Griff is dative; the finite verb ziehe is in position two.
Die Farbe des Griffs passt zur Tür.
The colour of the handle matches the door.
die Farbe means the colour, and passen zu means to match. des Griffs is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is, while zur Tür means to the door and contains dative zu.
Die Griffe der Schränke sind neu.
The handles of the cupboards are new.
die Schränke means the cupboards, and neu means new. Griffe is plural with die; der Schränke is genitive plural after it to show which handles are meant.
Sie hat die Situation im Griff.
She has the situation under control.
die Situation means the situation, and unter Kontrolle means under control. im Griff haben is a fixed expression; die Situation is accusative after haben, and the finite verb hat stands in position two.
Er bekam den Koffer nicht zu Griff.
He could not get a grip on the suitcase.
bekommen means to get, and der Koffer means the suitcase. The usual expression is etwas zu Griff bekommen, with the object in accusative; here the infinitive bekommen comes at the end after nicht zu.
das Kinderbett — child's bed, cot
This compound combines das Kind and das Bett. In German, the grammatical gender and plural are determined by the final part, Bett: the plural is Kinderbetten.
Das Kinderbett steht im Schlafzimmer.
The child's bed is in the bedroom.
steht means is standing or is situated, and im Schlafzimmer means in the bedroom. Kinderbett is nominative because it is the subject; steht is the finite verb in position two.
Wir kaufen ein neues Kinderbett.
We are buying a new child's bed.
Wir kaufen means we are buying, and ein neues means a new. Kinderbett is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufen stands in position two.
Das Baby schläft in dem Kinderbett.
The baby is sleeping in the child's bed.
Das Baby means the baby, schläft means is sleeping, and in dem means in the. In takes the dative for a fixed location, so Kinderbett has the form dem Kinderbett; the verb stands in position two.
Die Matratze des Kinderbetts ist weich.
The mattress of the child's bed is soft.
Die Matratze means the mattress, and weich means soft. Des Kinderbetts is genitive because it shows which bed the mattress belongs to; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Im Möbelhaus stehen viele Kinderbetten.
There are many children's beds in the furniture store.
Im Möbelhaus means in the furniture store, stehen means are standing or are situated, and viele means many. Kinderbetten is plural and is the subject; im Möbelhaus is a dative location phrase, and stehen is in position two.
die Kommode — chest of drawers; dresser
A Kommode is a low piece of furniture with drawers. Do not confuse it with kommod, which means comfortable or convenient and is an adjective.
Die Kommode steht im Schlafzimmer.
The chest of drawers is in the bedroom.
steht means stands or is located, and das Schlafzimmer is the bedroom. Die Kommode is nominative because it is the subject; im Schlafzimmer is a location phrase with the dative.
Wir kaufen eine neue Kommode.
We are buying a new chest of drawers.
kaufen means buy, and eine neue means a new one. eine neue Kommode is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the feminine article eine looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Ich stelle die Lampe auf die Kommode.
I put the lamp on the chest of drawers.
stelle means put in an upright position, and die Lampe is the lamp. auf die Kommode is accusative because it shows movement to a place; with a fixed location, auf der Kommode would be dative.
Die Schublade der Kommode ist kaputt.
The drawer of the chest of drawers is broken.
die Schublade means the drawer, and kaputt means broken. der Kommode is genitive because it identifies which drawer; the feminine genitive article is der.
Im Möbelhaus stehen viele Kommoden.
There are many chests of drawers in the furniture shop.
das Möbelhaus is the furniture shop, and viele means many. Viele Kommoden is the plural subject after the location phrase; the finite verb stehen remains in position two.
Die Kommode hat drei große Schubladen.
The chest of drawers has three large drawers.
drei große Schubladen means three large drawers. Die Kommode is the nominative subject, and drei große Schubladen is accusative after haben.
die Liege — lounger, deck chair; daybed, couch
A Liege is usually a long chair for lying down, often at a pool, on a beach, or in a garden. Do not confuse it with das Bett, which is a bed used for sleeping.
Die Liege steht am Pool.
The lounger is by the pool.
steht means is standing or is placed, and am Pool means by the pool. Die Liege is nominative because it is the subject; am Pool is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Ich nehme die Liege.
I’ll take the lounger.
nehme means take or choose. Die Liege is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object, and the finite verb nehme is in position two.
Ich liege auf der Liege.
I am lying on the lounger.
liege means am lying, and auf der Liege means on the lounger. Der Liege is dative because auf describes a fixed location here; with a destination, auf would take the accusative.
Die Farbe der Liege passt zum Garten.
The colour of the lounger matches the garden.
die Farbe means colour, passt means matches, and der Garten means garden. Der Liege is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is, while zum Garten is dative after zu.
Die Liegen stehen am Strand.
The loungers are on the beach.
stehen means are standing or are placed, and am Strand means on the beach. Die Liegen is plural nominative as the subject; am Strand is dative because it gives a fixed location.
Die alte Liege steht im Gästezimmer.
The old daybed is in the guest room.
alte means old, steht means is placed, and das Gästezimmer means guest room. Die Liege is nominative as the subject, and im Gästezimmer is dative because it gives a fixed location.
Wir stellen eine Liege ins Schlafzimmer.
We are putting a daybed in the bedroom.
stellen means put or place, and das Schlafzimmer means bedroom. Eine Liege is accusative as the object, and ins Schlafzimmer is accusative because in expresses movement into a place.
möbliert — furnished
Möbliert describes a place supplied with furniture. It is a participial adjective from möblieren, so it takes normal adjective endings: eine möblierte Wohnung.
Die Wohnung ist möbliert.
The flat is furnished.
die Wohnung means the flat or apartment. Möbliert is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir suchen eine möblierte Wohnung.
We are looking for a furnished flat.
suchen means are looking for, and eine Wohnung means a flat. Möblierte stands before the feminine accusative noun Wohnung and takes -e after eine; suchen takes the accusative.
Das Zimmer ist möblierter als die Küche.
The room is more furnished than the kitchen.
das Zimmer means the room, and die Küche means the kitchen. Möblierter is the comparative after ist; als introduces the thing used for comparison.
Dieses Hotel ist am möbliertesten.
This hotel is the most furnished.
dieses Hotel means this hotel. Am möbliertesten is the predicative superlative, formed with am plus -sten; it does not take a noun ending here.
die Pinnwand — pinboard, bulletin board
The compound Pinnwand combines Pin (pin) and Wand (wall). It is used for notices, reminders and pictures, often in an office, school or home.
Die Pinnwand hängt im Flur.
The pinboard is hanging in the hallway.
der Flur means hallway. Die Pinnwand is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb hängt is in position two.
Ich sehe die Pinnwand neben der Tür.
I see the pinboard next to the door.
sehen means to see, neben means next to, and die Tür is the door. Die Pinnwand is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehe is in position two.
Wir hängen den Plan an die Pinnwand.
We put the plan up on the pinboard.
der Plan means the plan and hängen means to hang or put up. An takes the accusative here because the plan is being moved onto the board; this is a direction, not a location.
Die Farbe der Pinnwand passt zum Tisch.
The colour of the pinboard matches the table.
die Farbe means colour, passen means to match, and der Tisch is the table. Der Pinnwand is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is; the feminine genitive article is der.
Im Büro stehen drei Pinnwände.
There are three pinboards in the office.
im Büro means in the office, and drei means three. Pinnwände is the plural with an umlaut and -e; im shows the dative location.
die Platte — plate, panel, slab; record; record, vinyl record
die Platte can mean a flat object such as a plate or panel, and in music it can mean a record. The context tells you which meaning is intended; the plural is always Platten.
Die Platte liegt auf dem Tisch.
The plate is on the table.
liegt means is lying, and der Tisch means the table. Die Platte is nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Tisch is dative because auf describes a fixed location here.
Ich stelle die Platte auf den Tisch.
I put the plate on the table.
stelle means put or place, and der Tisch means the table. die Platte is accusative because it is the object of stellen; auf den Tisch is accusative because the plate is moved onto the table.
Wir geben der Platte einen neuen Rahmen.
We are giving the panel a new frame.
geben means give, ein neuer Rahmen means a new frame, and neu means new. der Platte is dative because it is the recipient of geben, while einen neuen Rahmen is the accusative thing being given.
Die Farbe der Platte passt zum Tisch.
The colour of the panel matches the table.
die Farbe means the colour, passen means match, and der Tisch means the table. der Platte is genitive and means of the panel; zum means zu dem, and zu takes the dative.
Im Keller stehen alte Platten.
Old panels are standing in the cellar.
im Keller means in the cellar, stehen means are standing, and alt means old. Platten is the plural subject; im Keller is dative because in expresses a fixed location.
Mein Vater hört eine alte Platte.
My father is listening to an old record.
mein Vater means my father, hört means listens to, and alt means old. eine alte Platte is accusative because hören takes a direct object; the finite verb hört is in position two.
Diese Platte klingt noch sehr gut.
This record still sounds very good.
diese means this, klingt means sounds, and noch means still. Diese Platte is nominative because it is the subject; klingt stands in position two, and sehr gut describes how it sounds.
der Schalter — counter, service desk; switch
This sense means a service counter, not a person serving you. At a station, der Schalter is where you buy tickets or get information.
Der Schalter öffnet um acht Uhr.
The counter opens at eight o'clock.
öffnet means opens, and um acht Uhr means at eight o’clock. Der Schalter is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb öffnet stands in position two.
Ich suche den Schalter für die Fahrkarten.
I am looking for the ticket counter.
suche means am looking for, für means for, and Fahrkarten are tickets. Den Schalter is accusative because suche takes a direct object; für also requires the accusative case.
Ich frage am Schalter nach dem Zug.
I ask at the counter about the train.
frage means ask, am Schalter means at the counter, and Zug means train. Am is an dem, and an takes the dative here because the counter is a fixed location.
Die Nummer des Schalters steht auf dem Ticket.
The number of the counter is on the ticket.
Nummer means number, steht means is written or stands, and Ticket means ticket. Des Schalters is genitive because it shows whose number is meant; the masculine noun adds -s.
Die Schalter sind heute sehr voll.
The counters are very busy today.
sind means are, heute means today, and voll means busy or full. Die Schalter is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the noun itself has no plural ending.
Drück den Schalter, bitte.
Press the switch, please.
Drück means press, and bitte means please. Den Schalter is accusative because it is the object of the command; the imperative verb comes first.
Der rote Schalter ist kaputt.
The red switch is broken.
rote means red and kaputt means broken. Der rote Schalter is nominative because it is the subject, and the adjective takes -e after the masculine article der.
die Wiege — cradle; cradle, origin
A Wiege is a baby’s cradle, traditionally something that can be rocked. In the expression die Wiege der Menschheit, it is used figuratively for the place where humanity or something important began.
Die Wiege steht im Schlafzimmer.
The cradle is in the bedroom.
steht means is standing or is located, and das Schlafzimmer means bedroom. Die Wiege is nominative because it is the subject, and steht is the finite verb in position two.
Der Vater schiebt die Wiege.
The father pushes the cradle.
der Vater means the father and schiebt means pushes. die Wiege is accusative because schieben takes a direct object, and the finite verb schiebt stands in position two.
Das Baby schläft in der Wiege.
The baby is sleeping in the cradle.
das Baby means the baby and schläft means is sleeping. in takes the dative for a fixed location, so der Wiege is dative; the verb schläft is in position two.
Das Holz der Wiege ist alt.
The wood of the cradle is old.
das Holz means the wood and alt means old. der Wiege is genitive because it tells us whose wood it is, while ist is the finite verb in position two.
Im Geschäft stehen drei Wiegen.
There are three cradles in the shop.
im Geschäft means in the shop, stehen means are standing, and drei means three. Wiegen is the plural after drei; the phrase im Geschäft gives the location and does not change the plural noun.
Griechenland gilt als Wiege der Demokratie.
Greece is regarded as the cradle of democracy.
Griechenland means Greece, gilt als means is regarded as, and die Demokratie means democracy. Wiege is used metaphorically here, and der Demokratie is genitive because it means “of democracy”; the verb phrase gilt als follows the subject in position two.
Die Stadt war die Wiege einer neuen Bewegung.
The city was the birthplace of a new movement.
die Stadt means the city, eine neue Bewegung means a new movement, and war means was. die Wiege is a predicate noun after sein, so it remains nominative; einer neuen Bewegung is genitive and means “of a new movement.”