Appearance
Vocab: Home & living — A1 (1)
Home & living vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
außen — outside, on the outside; from outside, externally
Außen describes a position on the outside and is often contrasted with innen, inside. It can stand at the end of a clause or before another phrase; it does not take a case.
Die Kinder spielen außen.
The children are playing outside.
die Kinder means the children, and spielen means are playing. Außen is an adverb, so it has no case ending; the finite verb spielen stands in position two.
Bitte streiche die Tür außen an.
Please paint the outside of the door.
bitte means please, streichen ... an means paint, and die Tür is the door. Außen describes where the painting is done; the separable verb streiche ... an places its prefix at the end of the main clause.
Von außen sieht das Haus sehr modern aus.
From the outside, the house looks very modern.
von außen means from the outside, das Haus means the house, and modern means modern. The phrase von außen begins with the dative preposition von; sieht ... aus is separable and puts aus at the end.
Der Wind kommt außen durch das Fenster.
The wind comes in from outside through the window.
der Wind means the wind, kommt means comes, and durch das Fenster means through the window. Außen is an uninflected adverb; the finite verb kommt is in position two.
das Bad — bathroom; bath; bath; swimming centre, spa
das Bad can mean a bathroom or a bath. The compound Badezimmer is often used when you specifically mean a bathroom.
Das Bad ist klein.
The bathroom is small.
klein means small. Das Bad is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich putze das Bad.
I am cleaning the bathroom.
putze means clean. das Bad is accusative because putzen takes the thing cleaned as an accusative object; the finite verb putze is in position two.
Im Bad steht eine Waschmaschine.
There is a washing machine in the bathroom.
steht means stands or is located, and eine Waschmaschine means a washing machine. im Bad is dative because in describes location; the sentence begins with this phrase, so steht comes before the subject.
Die Tür des Bades ist geschlossen.
The bathroom door is closed.
die Tür means the door and geschlossen means closed. des Bades is genitive because it identifies which door; the neuter noun takes -es, and ist is in position two.
In unserem Hotel gibt es drei Bäder.
There are three bathrooms in our hotel.
unserem Hotel means our hotel and drei means three. drei Bäder is accusative because the fixed expression es gibt always takes an accusative object, while in unserem Hotel is dative for location.
Nach dem Sport nehme ich ein Bad.
After sport, I take a bath.
nach dem Sport means after sport and nehme means take. ein Bad is accusative because nehmen takes the bath as its object; the finite verb nehme stands in position two.
Das neue Bad öffnet im Mai.
The new swimming centre opens in May.
neu means new and öffnet means opens. Das Bad is nominative because it is the subject; im Mai means in May, and öffnet is in position two.
das Badezimmer — bathroom
das Badezimmer is a compound of das Bad (bath or bathroom) and das Zimmer (room). Its plural is also spelled Badezimmer, so only the article or a number shows the difference.
Das Badezimmer ist neben dem Schlafzimmer.
The bathroom is next to the bedroom.
neben means next to and das Schlafzimmer means the bedroom. Das Badezimmer is the nominative subject; dem Schlafzimmer is dative after the location preposition neben.
Ich putze das Badezimmer.
I am cleaning the bathroom.
putzen means to clean. das Badezimmer is accusative because putzen takes a direct object, and the finite verb putze is in position two.
Wir treffen uns vor dem Badezimmer.
We are meeting in front of the bathroom.
sich treffen means to meet, and vor means in front of. dem Badezimmer is dative after vor when it describes a location; uns is the accusative reflexive pronoun meaning ourselves or each other.
Die Tür des Badezimmers ist offen.
The bathroom door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. des Badezimmers is genitive because it identifies which door; the neuter noun takes des and -s in this case.
Die Wohnung hat zwei Badezimmer.
The apartment has two bathrooms.
die Wohnung means the apartment and zwei means two. zwei Badezimmer is the plural after zwei, but its spelling is unchanged; it is accusative as the object of hat.
die Bettdecke — blanket, duvet
The word can mean a duvet filled with material or a lighter blanket. Do not confuse Bettdecke with Bettuch, which is the sheet on the mattress.
Die Bettdecke ist sehr warm.
The blanket is very warm.
sehr warm means very warm. Die Bettdecke is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich wasche die Bettdecke.
I am washing the blanket.
wasche means wash. Die Bettdecke is accusative because waschen takes a direct object, and the finite verb wasche is in position two.
Ich schlafe unter der Bettdecke.
I sleep under the blanket.
schlafe means sleep and unter means under. Der Bettdecke is dative because unter describes a fixed location here; the finite verb schlafe is in position two.
Die Farbe der Bettdecke passt zum Zimmer.
The colour of the blanket matches the room.
die Farbe means the colour, passt means matches, and das Zimmer is the room. Der Bettdecke is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is, while passt stands in position two.
Im Hotel liegen viele Bettdecken.
There are many blankets in the hotel.
im Hotel means in the hotel, liegen means lie or are placed, and viele means many. Bettdecken is plural and has -n; the verb agrees with the plural subject and stands in position two.
der Blumentopf — flowerpot
The plural is Blumentöpfe, with an umlaut and -e. The noun is masculine, so its definite articles are der in the nominative and den in the accusative.
Der Blumentopf steht am Fenster.
The flowerpot is by the window.
steht means is standing or is located, and am Fenster means by the window. Der Blumentopf is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich kaufe den Blumentopf im Gartencenter.
I am buying the flowerpot at the garden centre.
kaufe means buy, and im Gartencenter means at the garden centre. Den Blumentopf is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufe stands in position two.
Die Pflanze wächst in dem Blumentopf.
The plant is growing in the flowerpot.
Die Pflanze is the plant, and wächst means is growing. In dem Blumentopf is dative because in describes a fixed location here; the contraction im is also possible.
Die Farbe des Blumentopfs passt zum Tisch.
The colour of the flowerpot matches the table.
Die Farbe is the colour, and passt zum Tisch means matches the table. Des Blumentopfs is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the masculine noun adds -s.
Auf dem Balkon stehen drei Blumentöpfe.
There are three flowerpots on the balcony.
Auf dem Balkon means on the balcony, and drei means three. Blumentöpfe is the plural with an umlaut and -e; auf dem Balkon is dative because it describes location.
das Dach — roof; roof, top
Dach is neuter: das Dach. Its plural changes the vowel and adds -er: die Dächer.
Das Dach ist rot.
The roof is red.
rot means red. Das Dach is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two, and rot is a predicative adjective with no ending after sein.
Wir streichen das Dach.
We are painting the roof.
wir means we, and streichen means paint. Das Dach is accusative because streichen takes a direct object; the finite verb streichen is in position two.
Auf dem Dach sitzt eine Katze.
A cat is sitting on the roof.
auf means on, and sitzt means is sitting. Dem Dach is dative because auf describes a fixed location here; the finite verb sitzt is in position two, after the prepositional phrase.
Die Farbe des Daches ist alt.
The roof's paint is old.
die Farbe means the paint, and alt means old. Des Daches is genitive because it identifies whose paint it is; the finite verb ist is in position two, and des signals masculine or neuter genitive singular.
Nach dem Sturm sind viele Dächer kaputt.
After the storm, many roofs are damaged.
nach dem Sturm means after the storm, viele means many, and kaputt means damaged. Dächer is plural and is the subject, while nach takes the dative in dem Sturm; after sind, kaputt has no adjective ending.
Das Auto hat ein großes Dach.
The car has a large roof.
das Auto means the car, ein großes means a large, and hat means has. Ein großes Dach is accusative because haben takes a direct object; the adjective has -es after the neuter indefinite article.
Auf dem Dach des Busses stehen Fahrräder.
Bicycles are standing on the roof of the bus.
dem Bus means the bus, stehen means are standing, and Fahrräder means bicycles. Dem Dach is dative because auf describes location, while des Busses is genitive for the roof's owner; the finite verb stehen is in position two.
daheim — at home
Daheim is a common adverb meaning at home and is often interchangeable with zu Hause. It describes being or staying at home, not travelling home; for movement towards home, German commonly uses nach Hause.
Heute bleibe ich daheim.
Today I am staying at home.
heute means today, and bleibe means stay. Daheim means at home and stands at the end as a place adverb; because heute occupies position one, the finite verb bleibe comes in position two.
Bist du schon daheim?
Are you already at home?
bist du means are you, and schon means already. In a yes-no question, the finite verb bist comes first; daheim gives the place and usually comes later in the sentence.
die Decke — blanket, cover; ceiling
The feminine noun die Decke means a blanket or cover used for warmth. It is also used for a ceiling, so the context decides whether Decken means blankets or ceilings.
Die Decke ist warm.
The blanket is warm.
warm means warm. Die Decke is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich nehme die Decke.
I take the blanket.
nehme means take. die Decke is accusative because it is the direct object of nehmen; the feminine accusative article remains die.
Ich liege unter der Decke.
I am lying under the blanket.
liege means am lying, and unter means under. der Decke is dative because unter describes a fixed location here; with movement towards a place, unter would take the accusative.
Die Farbe der Decke ist schön.
The colour of the blanket is nice.
die Farbe means the colour and schön means nice or beautiful. der Decke is genitive because it shows possession or association: the colour belongs to the blanket; the finite verb ist remains in position two.
Im Winter brauche ich zwei Decken.
In winter I need two blankets.
Im Winter means in winter, brauche means need, and zwei means two. zwei Decken is plural and accusative because it is the direct object of brauchen; the plural form adds -n.
Die Decke im Zimmer ist sehr hoch.
The ceiling in the room is very high.
im Zimmer means in the room and sehr hoch means very high. Die Decke is the nominative subject, and im Zimmer is a dative location phrase formed from in dem Zimmer.
Wir hängen eine Lampe an die Decke.
We are hanging a lamp from the ceiling.
hängen means hang, eine Lampe is a lamp, and an means onto or at. an die Decke is accusative because the lamp is being moved to the ceiling; eine Lampe is also accusative as the direct object of hängen.
die Dusche — shower; shower fixture
die Dusche can mean the shower fixture or the shower area, while duschen is the verb to shower. The plural is regular: die Duschen.
Die Dusche ist im Badezimmer.
The shower is in the bathroom.
das Badezimmer means the bathroom. Die Dusche is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich nehme die Dusche gleich.
I am going to take a shower in a moment.
gleich means in a moment or soon. die Dusche is accusative because nehmen takes an accusative object; the finite verb nehme is in position two.
Nach dem Sport gehe ich unter die Dusche.
After sport, I go into the shower.
nach dem Sport means after sport, and gehen means to go. unter die Dusche is accusative because unter describes movement towards a place here; gehe stands in position two.
Die Tür der Dusche ist kaputt.
The shower door is broken.
die Tür means the door and kaputt means broken. der Dusche is genitive because it identifies whose door it is; the feminine genitive article is der, and ist stands in position two.
In diesem Hotel gibt es drei Duschen.
There are three showers in this hotel.
in diesem Hotel means in this hotel, and drei means three. Duschen is the plural of die Dusche; after es gibt, the noun phrase is accusative, although the plural article is still drei without an ending.
das Erdgeschoss — ground floor
In German, das Erdgeschoss is the floor at street or ground level. In British English this is usually the ground floor; in American English it is often called the first floor.
Das Erdgeschoss hat große Fenster.
The ground floor has large windows.
große Fenster means large windows. Das Erdgeschoss is nominative because it is the subject, and hat stands in position two.
Wir suchen das Erdgeschoss.
We are looking for the ground floor.
suchen means look for. Das Erdgeschoss is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, nominative and accusative both use das.
Die Wohnung liegt im Erdgeschoss.
The flat is on the ground floor.
die Wohnung means the flat or apartment, and liegt means is located. Im Erdgeschoss means on the ground floor; im is in dem, and in takes the dative for a fixed location.
Die Tür des Erdgeschosses ist offen.
The ground-floor door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des Erdgeschosses is genitive because it means “of the ground floor”; the neuter noun takes -es in the genitive.
In vielen Häusern gibt es mehrere Erdgeschosse.
In many buildings there are several ground floors.
In vielen Häusern means in many buildings, gibt es means there are, and mehrere means several. Erdgeschosse is the plural; in takes the dative in the location phrase, while the plural noun is part of the construction es gibt.
das Esszimmer — dining room
Esszimmer is a compound made from essen, to eat, and das Zimmer, room. The whole compound is neuter because its final part, das Zimmer, is neuter.
Das Esszimmer ist hell und gemütlich.
The dining room is bright and comfortable.
hell means bright, and gemütlich means comfortable and cosy. Das Esszimmer is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir putzen das Esszimmer am Samstag.
We clean the dining room on Saturday.
wir means we, putzen means clean, and am Samstag means on Saturday. Das Esszimmer is accusative because putzen takes a direct object; the neuter article das is the same in the nominative and accusative.
Wir sitzen im Esszimmer.
We are sitting in the dining room.
wir means we, sitzen means sit or are sitting, and im means in the. Im Esszimmer is dative because in describes a fixed location; im is short for in dem.
Die Tür des Esszimmers ist offen.
The dining room door is open.
die Tür means the door, and offen means open. Des Esszimmers is genitive because it identifies which door; the neuter noun adds -s in the genitive.
Die Wohnung hat zwei Esszimmer.
The flat has two dining rooms.
die Wohnung is the flat or apartment, hat means has, and zwei means two. Esszimmer is plural after zwei and is accusative because it is the object of hat; the noun itself does not change.
das Ferienhaus — holiday house, vacation home
Ferienhaus is a compound of Ferien, holidays, and Haus, house. Its plural is Ferienhäuser, with an umlaut in the plural part; it is often used with verbs such as mieten or wohnen.
Das Ferienhaus liegt am See.
The holiday house is by the lake.
liegt means is situated, and am See means by the lake. Das Ferienhaus is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt stands in position two.
Wir mieten das Ferienhaus im Juli.
We are renting the holiday house in July.
mieten means rent and im Juli means in July. Das Ferienhaus is accusative because mieten takes an accusative object; the article stays das because neuter nominative and accusative look the same.
Wir geben dem Ferienhaus einen Namen.
We give the holiday house a name.
geben means give, and einen Namen means a name. Dem Ferienhaus is dative because it is the recipient of geben, while einen Namen is the accusative thing being given.
Die Tür des Ferienhauses ist offen.
The door of the holiday house is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des Ferienhauses is genitive because it tells whose door it is; the neuter noun adds -es in the genitive.
In der Gegend stehen viele Ferienhäuser.
There are many holiday houses in the area.
in der Gegend means in the area, and stehen means stand or are located. Ferienhäuser is plural after viele; the umlaut changes Haus to Häuser, and the location phrase uses dative after in.
der Flur — hallway, corridor
This entry is the masculine der Flur, meaning a hallway or corridor. Do not confuse it with die Flur, a less common feminine word for open countryside or agricultural land.
Der Flur ist sehr hell.
The hallway is very bright.
hell means bright, and sehr means very. Flur is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich putze den Flur.
I am cleaning the hallway.
putze means clean. den Flur is accusative because putzen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Die Kinder spielen im Flur.
The children are playing in the hallway.
die Kinder means the children, and spielen means play. im Flur means in the hallway and is dative because in describes a fixed location; im is short for in dem.
Die Tür des Flurs ist offen.
The door of the hallway is open.
die Tür means the door, and offen means open. des Flurs is genitive after Tür to show which door is meant; the masculine noun adds -s.
Die Flure im Hotel sind sauber.
The hallways in the hotel are clean.
im Hotel means in the hotel, and sauber means clean. Flure is the plural subject, so the verb is sind; the plural article is die.
der Fußboden — floor
Fußboden literally combines Fuß, foot, and Boden, ground, but it normally means the floor of a room. In everyday speech, Boden can also mean floor.
Der Fußboden ist sauber.
The floor is clean.
sauber means clean. Der Fußboden is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich putze den Fußboden.
I am cleaning the floor.
putzen means to clean. den Fußboden is accusative because putzen takes an accusative object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Das Kind sitzt auf dem Fußboden.
The child is sitting on the floor.
das Kind means the child and sitzt means is sitting. auf dem Fußboden is dative because auf describes a location here; with movement onto the floor, auf would take the accusative.
Die Farbe des Fußbodens ist hell.
The colour of the floor is light.
die Farbe means the colour and hell means light or pale. des Fußbodens is genitive because it identifies which floor the colour belongs to; the noun adds -s.
Die Fußböden in den Zimmern sind alt.
The floors in the rooms are old.
in den Zimmern means in the rooms, and alt means old. Fußböden is plural with an umlaut and -en; the plural subject takes sind, not ist.
der Gang — corridor; passage; course of a meal
The plural die Gänge is also used for other meanings of der Gang, such as courses of a meal. Do not confuse this noun with the verb gehen, meaning to go.
Der Gang ist sehr lang.
The corridor is very long.
sehr lang means very long. Der Gang is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich gehe durch den Gang.
I am walking through the corridor.
gehe means am walking, and durch means through. Den Gang is accusative because durch always takes the accusative; the finite verb gehe stands in position two.
Wir warten im Gang.
We are waiting in the corridor.
warten means wait, and im means in the. Im Gang is dative because in describes a fixed location; im is the contraction of in dem.
Die Tür des Ganges ist offen.
The corridor door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des Ganges is genitive because it identifies which door; this masculine noun takes -es in the genitive.
Die Gänge sind heute leer.
The corridors are empty today.
sind means are, heute means today, and leer means empty. Die Gänge is plural nominative as the subject; the umlaut changes a to ä.
Der erste Gang ist eine Suppe.
The first course is a soup.
der erste means the first, and eine Suppe means a soup. Der erste Gang is nominative as the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Zum Hauptgang bestelle ich ein Glas Wein.
With the main course, I order a glass of wine.
zum Hauptgang means with or for the main course, bestelle means order, and ein Glas Wein means a glass of wine. Zum is zu dem, and zu takes the dative; the prepositional phrase comes first, so bestelle still occupies position two.
der Garten — garden
Garten means a garden, usually next to or belonging to a house. Its plural has an umlaut: Gärten.
Der Garten ist groß.
The garden is big.
groß means big. Der Garten is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Wir haben den Garten heute besucht.
We visited the garden today.
heute means today and besucht means visited. den Garten is accusative because besuchen takes an accusative object; haben is in position two and besucht goes to the end.
Wir sitzen in dem Garten.
We are sitting in the garden.
sitzen means are sitting. in dem Garten is dative because in describes a fixed location here; the contraction im is also common.
Die Tür des Gartens ist offen.
The garden gate is open.
die Tür means the door or gate, and offen means open. des Gartens is genitive because it shows which garden the door belongs to; ist is in position two.
Die Gärten sind im Frühling schön.
The gardens are beautiful in spring.
im Frühling means in spring, and schön means beautiful. Die Gärten is plural and takes sind; im is short for in dem and is dative for a time or location.
das Haus — house, home
Haus can mean the physical building or the home where someone lives. In the fixed expressions nach Hause and zu Hause, the word has special meanings: homewards and at home.
Das Haus ist sehr alt.
The house is very old.
Alt means old and sehr means very. Das Haus is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir kaufen ein Haus auf dem Land.
We are buying a house in the countryside.
Wir kaufen means we are buying, and auf dem Land means in the countryside. Ein Haus is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufen is in position two.
Ich wohne in einem Haus mit Garten.
I live in a house with a garden.
Wohne means live, mit means with, and Garten means garden. Einem Haus is dative because in describes a location; mit also requires dative, and wohne is in position two.
Die Tür des Hauses ist offen.
The door of the house is open.
Die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des Hauses is genitive because it shows that the door belongs to the house; the genitive noun has the ending -es.
In dieser Straße stehen viele Häuser.
There are many houses on this street.
In dieser Straße means on this street, stehen means stand or are situated, and viele means many. Häuser is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the verb stehen is in position two.
Mein Haus ist nicht weit von hier.
My home is not far from here.
Mein means my, nicht weit means not far, and von hier means from here. Mein Haus is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is in position two.
Komm bitte nach Hause!
Please come home!
Komm means come and bitte means please. Nach Hause is a fixed expression meaning homewards; it has no article, and the imperative komm comes first.
der Hausschuh — house slipper
The plural is die Hausschuhe, with an umlaut and -e. The compound combines Haus (house) and Schuh (shoe).
Mein Hausschuh ist unter dem Sofa.
My house slipper is under the sofa.
unter dem Sofa means under the sofa. Mein Hausschuh is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich finde meinen Hausschuh nicht.
I cannot find my house slipper.
finden means to find, and nicht means not. Meinen Hausschuh is accusative because finden takes a direct object; the finite verb finde stands in position two.
Ich gehe mit dem Hausschuh nicht nach draußen.
I am not going outside wearing the house slipper.
mit means with, and nach draußen means outside. Dem Hausschuh is dative because mit always takes the dative; gehe is in position two.
Die Farbe des Hausschuhs ist blau.
The colour of the house slipper is blue.
die Farbe means the colour, and blau means blue. Des Hausschuhs is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the masculine noun takes -s after des.
Im Winter stehen viele Hausschuhe im Flur.
In winter, many house slippers are in the hall.
im Winter means in winter, viele means many, and der Flur is the hall. Hausschuhe is plural after viele, and stehen agrees with the plural subject.
die Heizung — heating; heater; heating; operation of the heating
Die Heizung can mean the heating system in a building or a single heater. In everyday speech, die Heizung anmachen means to turn the heating on.
Die Heizung ist kaputt.
The heating is broken.
kaputt means broken. Die Heizung is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is the finite verb in position two; kaputt comes after sein as a predicative adjective.
Ich mache die Heizung an.
I turn on the heating.
anmachen means to turn on, and ich means I. Die Heizung is accusative because anmachen takes a direct object; the separable verb splits, with mache in position two and an at the end.
Wir sitzen neben der Heizung.
We are sitting next to the heater.
sitzen means sit, and neben means next to. Here neben describes a fixed location and takes the dative, so der Heizung is feminine dative.
Die Reparatur der Heizung ist teuer.
The repair of the heating system is expensive.
die Reparatur is the repair, and teuer means expensive. Der Heizung is genitive because it identifies whose repair it is; the feminine genitive article is der, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
In vielen Wohnungen gibt es neue Heizungen.
There are new heating systems in many apartments.
vielen Wohnungen means many apartments, and neue means new. Heizungen is the plural of Heizung; after es gibt, the thing that exists is accusative, although the plural article remains die.
Die Heizung läuft den ganzen Tag.
The heating runs all day.
läuft means runs or is operating, and den ganzen Tag means all day. Die Heizung is the subject in the nominative, and the finite verb läuft is in position two.
Wegen der Kälte bleibt die Heizung an.
Because of the cold, the heating stays on.
wegen der Kälte means because of the cold, and bleibt an means stays on. Wegen commonly takes the genitive, so der Kälte is feminine genitive; the verb bleibt is in position two and an is a predicative particle.
hinten — at the back, behind
Hinten describes a position at the back; the opposite is vorne, “at the front”. It can describe a place in a room, vehicle, queue, or group.
Wir sitzen hinten im Bus.
We are sitting at the back of the bus.
sitzen means are sitting, and im Bus means in the bus. hinten is an adverb of location; im Bus is dative because in describes a fixed location, not movement.
Die Kinder spielen hinten im Garten.
The children are playing at the back of the garden.
die Kinder means the children, spielen means are playing, and im Garten means in the garden. hinten tells us where the action happens, while the finite verb spielen stands in position two.
der Hof — courtyard; farmyard; farm; court
In everyday contexts, der Hof often means the yard around a house or a farm. It can also mean a farm itself, especially in compounds such as der Bauernhof.
Der Hof ist heute sehr ruhig.
The courtyard is very quiet today.
ruhig means quiet and heute means today. Der Hof is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Kinder fegen den Hof.
The children sweep the courtyard.
die Kinder means the children and fegen means sweep. den Hof is accusative because fegen takes a direct object, and the finite verb fegen is in position two.
Auf dem Hof stehen zwei Fahrräder.
There are two bicycles in the courtyard.
auf means on or in, stehen means stand, and zwei Fahrräder means two bicycles. auf dem Hof is dative because it describes a fixed location, not movement; the verb stehen comes in position two.
Das Tor des Hofes ist offen.
The gate of the courtyard is open.
das Tor means gate and offen means open. des Hofes is genitive because it identifies whose gate it is, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
In diesem Dorf gibt es viele Höfe.
There are many farms in this village.
diesem Dorf means this village, gibt es means there are, and viele means many. Höfe is the plural of Hof; after es gibt, the plural phrase is accusative, although the form looks like the nominative plural.
Der König lebt mit seinem Hof in der Hauptstadt.
The king lives with his court in the capital.
der König means the king, lebt means lives, seinem Hof means his court, and die Hauptstadt means capital city. mit forces the dative in mit seinem Hof, while the finite verb lebt is in position two.
Am Hof gab es viele wichtige Gäste.
There were many important guests at court.
am Hof means at court, wichtig means important, and die Gäste means guests. am is an dem and gives a dative location; gab is the finite verb in position two.
innen — inside, indoors
innen means inside and is the opposite of außen, outside. It is an adverb, so it does not change form and does not require a preposition or case.
Drinnen ist es warm, aber innen sieht das Haus ganz anders aus.
It is warm inside, but inside the house looks quite different.
drinnen means inside, warm means warm, and ganz anders means quite different. innen is an adverb and usually stands near the verb or at the end; it does not take an article or a case ending.
Die Tasche ist innen sauber.
The bag is clean inside.
die Tasche means the bag and sauber means clean. innen describes where the bag is clean; the finite verb ist is in position two, and sauber follows it as a predicative adjective.
der Keller — basement, cellar; cellar for storage, especially a wine cellar
der Keller usually means the basement or lower floor of a building. It can also mean a cellar used for storing things such as wine; the plural is die Keller, with no ending on the noun.
Der Keller ist dunkel.
The basement is dark.
dunkel means dark. Der Keller is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich putze den Keller.
I am cleaning the basement.
putze means am cleaning. den Keller is accusative because putzen takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Im Keller stehen viele Kartons.
There are many boxes in the basement.
im means in the and viele Kartons means many boxes. im Keller is dative because in describes a fixed location here; stehen comes in position two because the location phrase is first.
Die Tür des Kellers ist offen.
The basement door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. des Kellers is genitive to show that the door belongs to or is connected with the basement; the noun takes -s and the finite verb ist is in position two.
In alten Häusern gibt es oft mehrere Keller.
In old houses there are often several basements.
alten Häusern means old houses, and mehrere means several. Keller is unchanged in the plural; after es gibt, the plural noun is accusative, although the article is omitted here.
Wir lagern den Wein im Keller.
We store the wine in the cellar.
lagern means store, and der Wein means the wine. den Wein is accusative as the stored object, while im Keller is dative because in describes the location, not movement.
Der alte Keller eignet sich gut für Kartoffeln.
The old cellar is well suited for potatoes.
alte means old, eignet sich gut means is well suited, and Kartoffeln means potatoes. Der alte Keller is nominative as the subject; für always takes the accusative, so Kartoffeln is the object of that preposition.
die Kerze — candle; candle; candle-shaped light
The plural is Kerzen, with -n added to the singular. Kerze can also mean a candle used for decoration or ceremony.
Die Kerze brennt auf dem Tisch.
The candle is burning on the table.
brennt means is burning, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Die Kerze is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb brennt stands in position two.
Ich kaufe eine Kerze.
I am buying a candle.
kaufe means buy. eine Kerze is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object, while the finite verb kaufe stands in position two.
Ich schenke meiner Mutter eine Kerze.
I am giving my mother a candle as a present.
schenke means give as a present, and meiner Mutter means my mother. Meiner Mutter is dative because she receives the gift, while eine Kerze is accusative because it is the thing given.
Der Docht der Kerze ist kurz.
The wick of the candle is short.
der Docht means the wick, and kurz means short. Der Kerze is genitive because it shows possession; the feminine genitive article is der, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Auf dem Tisch stehen drei Kerzen.
There are three candles on the table.
auf dem Tisch means on the table, and drei means three. Kerzen is the plural after drei; auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes a fixed location, and stehen follows the plural subject.
Im Fenster leuchtet eine Kerze.
A candle is glowing in the window.
im Fenster means in the window, and leuchtet means is glowing. Eine Kerze is nominative because it is the subject; the location phrase comes first, so the finite verb leuchtet remains in position two.
Zum Geburtstag bekam sie eine Kerze in Form einer Zahl.
For her birthday, she got a candle in the shape of a number.
zum Geburtstag means for her birthday, bekam means got, and in Form einer Zahl means in the shape of a number. Eine Kerze is accusative because it is what she got; zum Geburtstag is dative after the contraction zu dem.
die Klimaanlage — air-conditioning system; air conditioner
For a room or building, die Klimaanlage usually means the air-conditioning system; in a vehicle it can also mean the air conditioner. The compound ends in Anlage, so its gender is feminine.
Die Klimaanlage ist laut.
The air conditioning is loud.
laut means loud or noisy. Die Klimaanlage is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir schalten die Klimaanlage ein.
We switch on the air conditioning.
wir means we, and einschalten means switch on. die Klimaanlage is accusative as the object of einschalten; the separable verb appears as schalten ... ein, with ein at the end.
Bei der Klimaanlage ist es kalt.
It is cold near the air conditioning.
bei means near or with, and kalt means cold. bei always takes the dative, so der Klimaanlage is dative; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der Filter der Klimaanlage ist schmutzig.
The air-conditioning filter is dirty.
der Filter means the filter, schmutzig means dirty. der Klimaanlage is genitive because it shows which system the filter belongs to; ist stands in position two.
In vielen Büros gibt es Klimaanlagen.
There are air-conditioning systems in many offices.
vielen Büros means many offices, and gibt es means there are. Klimaanlagen is plural after es gibt, which requires the accusative; in takes the dative here because it describes a location.
die Klingel — bell, doorbell
The everyday meaning is usually a doorbell, but die Klingel can also be a small bell on a bicycle. Do not confuse it with klingeln, the verb meaning to ring.
Die Klingel ist laut.
The bell is loud.
laut means loud. Die Klingel is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich höre die Klingel.
I hear the bell.
hören means to hear. Die Klingel is accusative because hören takes a direct object; the feminine article stays die in the accusative.
Ich gehe zu der Klingel.
I go to the bell.
gehen means to go. Zu always takes the dative, so der Klingel is dative; the feminine article changes from die to der.
Die Tür der Klingel ist kaputt.
The doorbell's button is broken.
die Tür means the door, and kaputt means broken. Der Klingel is genitive and shows possession; the possessed noun comes first, while the finite verb ist remains in position two.
Im Haus gibt es drei Klingeln.
There are three bells in the house.
im Haus means in the house, and drei means three. Klingeln is the plural with -n; after es gibt, the noun is accusative, but the plural article is not shown here.
klingeln — to ring, to ring a bell
Klingeln is used for a bell, telephone, or similar sound. It is different from klingen, which describes how something sounds rather than the action of ringing.
Ich klingele an der Tür.
I ring the doorbell.
an der Tür means at the door. The preposition an takes the dative here because this describes a location, and the finite verb klingele is in position two.
Jemand hat an der Tür geklingelt.
Someone rang the doorbell.
jemand means someone, and an der Tür means at the door. The perfect uses hat plus geklingelt because this verb takes haben; the participle goes to the end.
Um acht Uhr klingelte das Telefon.
The telephone rang at eight o'clock.
um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock, and das Telefon means the telephone. Klingelte is the regular preterite and stands in position two, before the subject das Telefon.
Klingel bitte an der Tür!
Please ring the doorbell!
bitte means please, and an der Tür means at the door. Klingel is the informal singular imperative; the subject du is left out.
Wenn ich früher klingelte, würde jemand öffnen.
If I rang earlier, someone would open the door.
früher means earlier, and öffnen means to open. In the wenn clause, the finite verb klingelte goes to the end; würde introduces the hypothetical result.
Ich werde später an der Tür klingeln.
I will ring the doorbell later.
später means later, and an der Tür means at the door. Werde is the finite verb in position two, while the infinitive klingeln goes to the end.
das Kopfkissen — pillow
Kopfkissen literally combines Kopf and Kissen and means a pillow for the head. The singular and plural have the same spelling, so the article is especially important.
Das Kopfkissen ist weich.
The pillow is soft.
weich means soft. Das Kopfkissen is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich brauche ein neues Kopfkissen.
I need a new pillow.
brauche means need and neu means new. ein neues Kopfkissen is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the neuter adjective takes -es after ein.
Ich schlafe auf dem Kopfkissen.
I sleep on the pillow.
schlafe means sleep. auf dem Kopfkissen is dative because auf describes a fixed location here; with movement onto the pillow, auf would take the accusative.
Der Bezug des Kopfkissens ist sauber.
The pillowcase is clean.
der Bezug means the cover or pillowcase, and sauber means clean. des Kopfkissens is genitive and shows which object the cover belongs to.
Die Kopfkissen liegen auf dem Bett.
The pillows are lying on the bed.
liegen means are lying, auf dem Bett means on the bed, and Bett means bed. Kopfkissen is the plural subject; its plural is unchanged, while the location phrase uses dative.
die Küche — kitchen
die Küche is the room where meals are prepared. Its plural is die Küchen; do not confuse Küchen with Kuchen, meaning cake.
Die Küche ist sehr klein.
The kitchen is very small.
sehr klein means very small. die Küche is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is the finite verb in position two; klein is predicative and therefore has no adjective ending.
Ich putze die Küche jeden Samstag.
I clean the kitchen every Saturday.
putze means clean and jeden Samstag means every Saturday. die Küche is accusative because putzen takes a direct object; the finite verb putze is in position two.
Wir essen in der Küche.
We eat in the kitchen.
essen means eat. der Küche is dative because the preposition in describes a fixed location here; with movement into the kitchen, in would take the accusative, as in in die Küche.
Das Fenster der Küche ist offen.
The kitchen window is open.
das Fenster means the window and offen means open. der Küche is genitive because it identifies which window is meant; the feminine genitive article is der, and ist stands in position two.
In diesem Haus gibt es zwei Küchen.
There are two kitchens in this house.
in diesem Haus means in this house and zwei means two. Küchen is the plural accusative after es gibt, because es gibt always takes an accusative object; the plural article is omitted after the number.
leben — to live, to be alive; to live, to reside
leben normally takes haben in the perfect. For a place of residence, German commonly uses in plus the dative, as in in Berlin leben.
Meine Großeltern leben noch.
My grandparents are still alive.
meine Großeltern means my grandparents, and noch means still. The finite verb leben is in position two; Großeltern is plural, so the verb has the plural form.
Meine Großeltern haben lange gelebt.
My grandparents lived for a long time.
lange means for a long time, and Großeltern means grandparents. The perfect uses haben plus gelebt, with the participle at the end of the clause; Großeltern is the plural subject.
Früher lebte meine Familie auf dem Land.
My family used to live in the countryside.
früher means formerly or in the past, meine Familie means my family, and auf dem Land means in the countryside. The regular past form lebte is in position two, while dem Land is dative after auf for a location.
Leb gesund und glücklich!
Live healthily and happily!
gesund means healthily or healthy, and glücklich means happily or happy. Leb is the du imperative and normally has no subject; the adjectives here are used as adverbs.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, lebte ich am Meer.
If I had more time, I would live by the sea.
mehr Zeit means more time, and am Meer means by the sea. lebte is the Konjunktiv II form here; after wenn, the verb goes to the end, while the main clause begins with the verb.
In hundert Jahren wird niemand auf der Erde leben.
In a hundred years, nobody will live on Earth.
in hundert Jahren means in a hundred years, niemand means nobody, and auf der Erde means on Earth. Future tense uses werden in position two and the infinitive leben at the end; der Erde is dative because auf describes a location.
Ich lebe in Hamburg.
I live in Hamburg.
in Hamburg means in Hamburg. The finite verb lebe is in position two, and in takes the dative when it describes a fixed location, although the city name has no visible case ending.
Viele Studenten leben noch bei ihren Eltern.
Many students still live with their parents.
viele Studenten means many students, noch means still, and ihren Eltern means their parents. bei always takes the dative, so ihren Eltern is dative; the plural verb leben agrees with Studenten.
leer — empty; vacant, unoccupied
Leer describes something that contains nothing or has no people in it. It is gradable: leerer means emptier and am leersten means emptiest; after sein it has no adjective ending, but before a noun it does.
Die Flasche ist leer.
The bottle is empty.
die Flasche means the bottle. Leer is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Ich brauche eine leere Tasse.
I need an empty cup.
brauche means need and Tasse means cup. Leere stands before the feminine noun Tasse and takes -e because the phrase is accusative after brauchen and already has the article eine.
Dieser Raum ist leerer als gestern.
This room is emptier than yesterday.
dieser Raum means this room and gestern means yesterday. Leerer compares the room with its earlier state; after ist, the comparative is predicative and has no ending, and als introduces the comparison.
Am Montag ist der Laden am leersten.
On Monday the shop is emptiest.
am Montag means on Monday and der Laden means the shop. Am leersten is the predicative superlative after ist; the finite verb is in position two, and the superlative stays at the end.
Ist der Platz noch leer?
Is the seat still free?
der Platz means the seat or place, and noch means still. Leer means unoccupied here; in the yes-no question the finite verb ist comes first, while the adjective remains predicative without an ending.
Die Stelle ist seit Juni leer.
The position has been vacant since June.
die Stelle means the position or job, and seit Juni means since June. Leer means vacant here; seit takes the dative, although the month name has no visible article or ending.
die Leiter — ladder
The feminine die Leiter means a ladder. Do not confuse it with masculine der Leiter, which means a leader or manager; their plural forms are also different: Leitern and Leiter.
Die Leiter steht im Garten.
The ladder is in the garden.
steht means is standing, and im Garten means in the garden. Die Leiter is nominative as the subject; the finite verb steht is in position two, and im is short for in dem, which takes the dative for a location.
Ich brauche die Leiter.
I need the ladder.
ich brauche means I need. Die Leiter is accusative because it is the object of brauchen; with a feminine noun, nominative and accusative have the same article, so the case is shown by the verb.
Er steht auf der Leiter.
He is standing on the ladder.
er steht means he is standing, and auf means on. Auf takes the dative for a fixed location, so die Leiter becomes der Leiter; this is not the masculine word for a leader here.
Die Farbe der Leiter ist blau.
The ladder's colour is blue.
die Farbe is the colour and blau means blue. Der Leiter is genitive after die Farbe and means of the ladder; the whole phrase die Farbe der Leiter is the subject.
Im Keller stehen drei Leitern.
There are three ladders in the cellar.
im Keller means in the cellar, stehen means are standing, and drei means three. Leitern is the plural with -n; im Keller is dative because it describes a fixed location, while the plural subject comes after the verb.
die Miete — rent
Miete normally means the regular payment for a rented home. The verb mieten means to rent something, while vermieten means to rent something out to another person.
Die Miete ist sehr hoch.
The rent is very high.
ist means is, sehr means very, and hoch means high. Die Miete is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich bezahle die Miete jeden Monat.
I pay the rent every month.
bezahle means pay and jeden Monat means every month. Die Miete is accusative because bezahlen takes a direct object; die looks the same in feminine nominative and accusative.
Mit der Miete ist das Geld fast weg.
After paying the rent, the money is almost gone.
mit means with, das Geld means the money, and fast weg means almost gone. Mit der Miete uses the dative because mit always takes dative; the phrase is in the first position, so ist comes directly after it.
Die Höhe der Miete überrascht mich.
The amount of the rent surprises me.
Die Höhe means the amount or level, and überrascht mich means surprises me. Der Miete is genitive because it identifies whose amount it is; mich is accusative because it is the person affected by überraschen.
Die Mieten steigen in vielen Städten.
Rents are rising in many cities.
steigen means rise, and in vielen Städten means in many cities. Die Mieten is the plural subject, formed with -n; vielen Städten is dative plural after the location phrase in.
mieten — to rent, to hire
Mieten means to rent something for temporary use and takes an accusative object: eine Wohnung mieten. Do not confuse it with vermieten, to rent something out; its perfect uses haben: hat gemietet.
Wir mieten eine Wohnung in Berlin.
We are renting an apartment in Berlin.
Wir means we, eine Wohnung means an apartment, and in Berlin means in Berlin. Eine Wohnung is accusative because mieten takes the thing rented as a direct object; the finite verb mieten stands in position two.
Wir haben ein Auto gemietet.
We rented a car.
ein Auto means a car, and haben means have. Ein Auto is accusative because mieten takes a direct object; the auxiliary haben is in position two and gemietet goes to the end.
Früher mietete er ein kleines Zimmer.
He used to rent a small room.
Früher means formerly or in the past, er means he, and ein kleines Zimmer means a small room. Ein kleines Zimmer is accusative after mieten; the weak-verb preterite mietete is the finite verb in position two.
Miete ein Fahrrad für den Tag!
Rent a bicycle for the day!
ein Fahrrad means a bicycle, and für den Tag means for the day. Ein Fahrrad is accusative because mieten takes a direct object, and für also requires accusative; the imperative omits du.
Ich würde gern ein Haus am Meer mieten.
I would like to rent a house by the sea.
würde gern means would like to, ein Haus means a house, and am Meer means by the sea. Ein Haus is accusative after mieten; in the würde construction, the infinitive mieten goes to the end.
Nächstes Jahr werden sie ein größeres Auto mieten.
Next year they will rent a larger car.
Nächstes Jahr means next year, sie means they, and ein größeres Auto means a larger car. Ein größeres Auto is accusative because mieten takes a direct object; werden is in position two and the infinitive mieten goes to the end.
der Mieter — tenant, renter
Mieter is the person who rents something; the feminine form is Mieterin. Do not confuse Mieter with Vermieter, the landlord or person who rents property out.
Der Mieter wohnt im zweiten Stock.
The tenant lives on the second floor.
wohnt means lives, and im zweiten Stock means on the second floor. Der Mieter is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb wohnt stands in position two.
Die Vermieterin ruft den Mieter an.
The landlady calls the tenant.
Die Vermieterin means the landlady, ruft ... an means calls, and anrufen is a separable verb. Den Mieter is accusative because anrufen takes a direct object; the prefix an moves to the end of the main clause.
Ich helfe dem Mieter beim Umzug.
I help the tenant move house.
helfe means help, beim Umzug means with the move, and Umzug is a move to a new home. Dem Mieter is dative because helfen always takes a dative person; the finite verb helfe is in position two.
Die Telefonnummer des Mieters steht im Vertrag.
The tenant's telephone number is in the contract.
Die Telefonnummer means the telephone number, steht means is written or listed, and im Vertrag means in the contract. Des Mieters expresses possession and is genitive; Mieter adds -s after the genitive article des.
Die Mieter warten vor dem Haus.
The tenants are waiting in front of the house.
warten means wait, and vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Die Mieter is the plural subject; its noun form is identical to the singular, so the plural article die and plural verb warten are important clues.
die Mieterin — female tenant
Die Mieterin is the feminine form of der Mieter, a tenant. The ending -in marks a female person, and its plural is -innen.
Die Mieterin wohnt im dritten Stock.
The female tenant lives on the third floor.
wohnt means lives, and im dritten Stock means on the third floor. Die Mieterin is nominative because she is the subject; im is short for in dem, with dative because it describes a fixed location.
Der Vermieter ruft die Mieterin an.
The landlord calls the female tenant.
der Vermieter is the landlord, and ruft ... an means calls. Die Mieterin is accusative because anrufen takes a direct object, and the separable prefix an moves to the end.
Ich helfe der Mieterin beim Umzug.
I help the female tenant with the move.
helfe means help, beim Umzug means with the move, and Umzug means moving house. Der Mieterin is dative because helfen always takes a dative person.
Die Wohnung der Mieterin ist hell.
The female tenant's apartment is bright.
die Wohnung means the apartment, and hell means bright. Der Mieterin is genitive because it shows possession; with a feminine noun, the genitive article is der.
Viele Mieterinnen suchen eine Wohnung.
Many female tenants are looking for an apartment.
viele means many, suchen means are looking for, and eine Wohnung is an apartment. Mieterinnen is plural and is the subject, so the verb suchen is plural.
oben — upstairs, up there, at the top
Oben describes a higher position or the top of something. The opposite is unten, meaning “downstairs” or “down there”; unlike a preposition, oben does not govern a case.
Das Buch liegt oben.
The book is upstairs / up there.
das Buch means “the book” and liegt means “is lying”. Oben is a place adverb and does not take an ending; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Die Kinder spielen oben im Zimmer.
The children are playing upstairs in the room.
die Kinder means “the children”, spielen means “are playing”, and im Zimmer means “in the room”. Oben describes the location and is separate from im Zimmer; the finite verb spielen remains in position two.
der Ofen — oven, stove
Der Ofen can mean an oven for cooking or a stove that heats a room; the context usually makes the meaning clear.
Der Ofen ist noch warm.
The oven is still warm.
noch means still and warm means warm. Der Ofen is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich mache den Ofen an.
I turn on the oven.
mache ... an means turn on, and ich means I. Den Ofen is accusative because anmachen takes a direct object; the separable verb appears as mache in position two and an at the end.
Wir kochen im Ofen.
We cook in the oven.
wir means we, kochen means cook, and im means in the. Im Ofen is dative because in describes a fixed location here, and the finite verb kochen is in position two.
Die Tür des Ofens ist offen.
The oven door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des Ofens is genitive because it identifies whose door it is, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
In der Küche stehen zwei Öfen.
There are two ovens in the kitchen.
in der Küche means in the kitchen, stehen means stand or are located, and zwei means two. Öfen is the plural of Ofen; after the opening location phrase, the finite verb stehen comes before the subject.
das Puppenhaus — dollhouse
Das Puppenhaus is a compound made from Puppe and Haus. Its plural is Puppenhäuser, with the vowel change in Haus.
Das Puppenhaus steht im Kinderzimmer.
The dollhouse is in the children’s room.
steht means stands, and im Kinderzimmer means in the children’s room. Das Puppenhaus is nominative as the subject; im means in dem, and in takes the dative for a fixed location.
Wir kaufen ein Puppenhaus.
We are buying a dollhouse.
wir means we and kaufen means buy. Ein Puppenhaus is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the finite verb kaufen is in position two.
Das Mädchen spielt mit dem Puppenhaus.
The girl is playing with the dollhouse.
das Mädchen means the girl and spielt means is playing. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Puppenhaus is dative; dem is also the dative form of the neuter article.
Die Tür des Puppenhauses ist offen.
The door of the dollhouse is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des Puppenhauses is genitive because it identifies which door is meant; the compound noun ends in -haus and takes -es in the genitive.
Im Geschäft stehen viele Puppenhäuser.
There are many dollhouses in the shop.
im Geschäft means in the shop, stehen means stand, and viele means many. Puppenhäuser is plural after viele; the ä in Häuser is part of the plural of Haus.
Das Puppenhaus hat drei Zimmer.
The dollhouse has three rooms.
hat means has and drei Zimmer means three rooms. Das Puppenhaus is nominative as the subject, while drei Zimmer is accusative as what it has.
der Rasen — lawn, grassed area
In everyday use, der Rasen usually means a lawn of short grass. Its plural is also die Rasen, not Rasene.
Der Rasen ist heute sehr grün.
The lawn is very green today.
heute means today and grün means green. Der Rasen is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich gieße den Rasen jeden Abend.
I water the lawn every evening.
gießen means to water and jeden Abend means every evening. Den Rasen is accusative because it is the direct object of gieße; the finite verb is in position two.
Die Kinder spielen auf dem Rasen.
The children are playing on the lawn.
die Kinder means the children and spielen means to play. Auf dem Rasen uses dative because auf describes a fixed location here, not movement onto the lawn.
Die Farbe des Rasens gefällt mir.
I like the colour of the lawn.
die Farbe means the colour and gefällt mir means is pleasing to me. Des Rasens is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the noun adds -s.
Im Sommer wachsen viele Rasen in den Parks.
In summer, many lawns grow in the parks.
im Sommer means in summer, viele means many, wachsen means grow, and in den Parks means in the parks. The plural of der Rasen is die Rasen, with no ending added; in takes dative here because it describes location.
der Raum — room; space; space; room for something
Raum can mean a room in a building or an available space. In compounds, it often keeps this meaning, as in Wohnraum (living space).
Der Raum ist hell und sauber.
The room is bright and clean.
hell means bright and sauber means clean. Der Raum is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is the finite verb in position two.
Wir suchen einen Raum für die Besprechung.
We are looking for a room for the meeting.
suchen means to look for, für means for, and die Besprechung is the meeting. Einen Raum is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; für also takes the accusative.
Im Raum stehen drei Tische.
There are three tables in the room.
im Raum means in the room, stehen means to stand, and drei Tische means three tables. In takes the dative for a location, so im Raum is dative; the verb stehen comes before the subject because the location fills position one.
Die Tür des Raums ist offen.
The room’s door is open.
die Tür is the door and offen means open. Des Raums shows possession in the genitive, and ist is the finite verb in position two.
Die neuen Räume haben große Fenster.
The new rooms have large windows.
neu means new, haben means have, and große Fenster means large windows. Räume is plural with an umlaut and -e; die neuen Räume is the subject, so the verb is plural haben.
Für Fahrräder gibt es hier nicht genug Raum.
There is not enough space for bicycles here.
Fahrräder are bicycles, genug means enough, and hier means here. Raum is a mass-like uncountable noun in this meaning, and gibt es is the fixed structure for saying that something exists or is available.
Jeder Mensch braucht persönlichen Raum.
Every person needs personal space.
jeder Mensch means every person and persönlich means personal. Persönlichen Raum is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the adjective ending -en follows the masculine accusative article-less form.
das Regal — shelf, shelving unit
Das Regal can be one shelf or a whole shelving unit with several levels. For a single horizontal board, das Brett or der Regalboden may be more precise.
Das Regal steht neben dem Fenster.
The shelf is next to the window.
steht means is standing, neben means next to, and das Fenster means the window. Das Regal is nominative because it is the subject; dem Fenster is dative because neben describes a fixed location here.
Ich kaufe ein neues Regal.
I am buying a new shelf.
kaufe means am buying, and neues means new. ein neues Regal is accusative because kaufen takes an accusative object; the neuter adjective ending after ein is -es.
Wir stellen dem Kind ein Regal ins Zimmer.
We are putting a shelf in the child's room for the child.
stellen means put or place, dem Kind means for the child, and ins Zimmer means into the room. dem Kind is dative as the recipient, while ein Regal is accusative as the thing being placed.
Die Tür des Regals ist kaputt.
The door of the shelf is broken.
die Tür means the door, and kaputt means broken. des Regals is genitive because it says whose door it is; Die Tür is the nominative subject.
Die Regale sind voller Bücher.
The shelves are full of books.
sind means are, voller means full of, and Bücher means books. Die Regale is plural nominative because it is the subject; voller Bücher describes what the shelves contain.
das Schlafzimmer — bedroom
Das Schlafzimmer ist klein.
The bedroom is small.
klein means small. Das Schlafzimmer is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is the finite verb in position two.
Ich putze das Schlafzimmer.
I clean the bedroom.
putzen means to clean. Das Schlafzimmer is accusative because putzen takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, nominative and accusative articles are both das.
Wir schlafen im Schlafzimmer.
We sleep in the bedroom.
schlafen means to sleep. Im Schlafzimmer means in the bedroom; im is short for in dem, and in takes the dative for a location.
Die Tür des Schlafzimmers ist offen.
The bedroom door is open.
die Tür means door and offen means open. Des Schlafzimmers is genitive because it identifies whose door it is, and the neuter noun adds -s.
Die Schlafzimmer sind oben.
The bedrooms are upstairs.
oben means upstairs. Schlafzimmer has the same form in the singular and plural, but die and sind show that it is plural here.
der Spiegel — mirror
The plural of der Spiegel is also Spiegel, without an ending. Do not confuse Spiegel with spiegeln, which means to reflect or mirror.
Der Spiegel hängt im Flur.
The mirror is hanging in the hallway.
hängt means is hanging and der Flur is the hallway. Der Spiegel is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb hängt is in position two.
Ich putze den Spiegel.
I am cleaning the mirror.
putzen means to clean. Den Spiegel is accusative because it is the object of putzen; the masculine article changes from der to den in the accusative.
Sie steht vor dem Spiegel.
She is standing in front of the mirror.
steht means is standing and vor means in front of. Dem Spiegel is dative because the preposition vor describes a fixed location here; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Die Oberfläche des Spiegels ist sauber.
The surface of the mirror is clean.
die Oberfläche means the surface and sauber means clean. Des Spiegels is genitive because it shows whose surface it is, and masculine Spiegel adds -s in this form.
In diesem Zimmer hängen zwei Spiegel.
Two mirrors are hanging in this room.
in diesem Zimmer means in this room, hängen means are hanging, and zwei means two. Spiegel is plural and nominative because it is the subject; unlike many nouns, its plural has no ending.
die Steckdose — electrical socket, outlet
A Steckdose is the wall fitting; the removable object that goes into it is der Stecker, the plug. With a movement into the socket, in die Steckdose uses accusative; with a position there, in der Steckdose uses dative.
Die Steckdose ist neben dem Tisch.
The socket is next to the table.
ist means is, neben means next to, and der Tisch is the table. Die Steckdose is nominative because it is the subject; dem Tisch is dative because neben describes a fixed location.
Ich suche die Steckdose.
I am looking for the socket.
suche means am looking for. Die Steckdose is accusative because suchen takes a direct accusative object; the finite verb suche is in position two.
Er steht an der Steckdose.
He is standing by the socket.
steht means is standing, and an means at or by here. Der Steckdose is dative because an describes a fixed location; er is the nominative subject.
Die Abdeckung der Steckdose ist kaputt.
The cover of the socket is broken.
die Abdeckung is the cover, and kaputt means broken. Der Steckdose is genitive because it identifies which cover; the feminine genitive article is der.
In diesem Zimmer fehlen Steckdosen.
There are no sockets in this room.
in diesem Zimmer means in this room, and fehlen means are missing. Steckdosen is plural and has no article here; diesem Zimmer is dative because in describes location.
die Taschenlampe — flashlight, torch
The compound joins Tasche (bag or pocket) and Lampe (lamp). It is feminine because the last part, Lampe, is feminine.
Die Taschenlampe ist hell.
The flashlight is bright.
hell means bright. Die Taschenlampe is nominative because it is the subject of ist; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich brauche die Taschenlampe im Keller.
I need the flashlight in the basement.
brauchen means to need, and der Keller means the basement. Die Taschenlampe is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; im Keller means “in the basement” and brauche stands in position two.
Mit der Taschenlampe finde ich den Schlüssel.
With the flashlight, I find the key.
mit means with, finden means to find, and der Schlüssel is the key. Mit always takes the dative, so der Taschenlampe is dative; the phrase comes first, but finde remains in position two.
Das Licht der Taschenlampe ist sehr stark.
The light of the flashlight is very strong.
das Licht means the light, and stark means strong. Der Taschenlampe is genitive because it identifies whose light it is; the genitive article is der, and ist is in position two.
Die Taschenlampen liegen in der Schublade.
The flashlights are in the drawer.
liegen means are lying, and die Schublade is the drawer. Die Taschenlampen is plural nominative because it is the subject; the plural is made with -n, and liegen is in position two.
das Teelicht — tea light, small candle
The plural is Teelichter, with an -er ending. A Teelicht is normally used in a small holder or metal cup.
Das Teelicht brennt auf dem Tisch.
The tea light is burning on the table.
brennt means is burning, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Das Teelicht is nominative because it is the subject; auf takes the dative here because the candle is in a fixed position, and the finite verb brennt is in position two.
Ich stelle ein Teelicht auf den Tisch.
I put a tea light on the table.
stelle means put or place, and auf den Tisch means onto the table. Ein Teelicht is accusative because stelle takes a direct object; auf takes the accusative because the sentence describes movement to a new place.
Wir sitzen bei einem Teelicht.
We are sitting by a tea light.
sitzen means sit, and bei means by or near. Einem Teelicht is dative because bei always takes the dative; the finite verb sitzen is in position two.
Die Flamme des Teelichts ist sehr klein.
The flame of the tea light is very small.
die Flamme is the flame, and sehr klein means very small. Des Teelichts is genitive because it shows whose flame it is; the genitive ending -s is added to this neuter noun.
Auf dem Tisch stehen drei Teelichter.
Three tea lights are standing on the table.
drei means three, and stehen means are standing. Teelichter is the plural of das Teelicht; because the sentence begins with the place phrase auf dem Tisch, the verb stehen comes before the subject.
Ich kaufe zwei Teelichter für das Badezimmer.
I am buying two tea lights for the bathroom.
kaufe means buy, zwei means two, and das Badezimmer is the bathroom. Teelichter is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the phrase für das Badezimmer also uses the accusative after für.
der Teppich — carpet, rug
Teppich can mean a wall-to-wall carpet or a movable rug. Its plural is Teppiche, with -e added; it is not a weak masculine noun, so the genitive is des Teppichs.
Der Teppich ist neu.
The carpet is new.
neu means new. Der Teppich is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir kaufen den Teppich im Möbelhaus.
We are buying the carpet at the furniture store.
kaufen means buy, and das Möbelhaus means furniture store. den Teppich is accusative because it is the direct object of kaufen; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Wir sitzen auf dem Teppich.
We are sitting on the carpet.
sitzen means sit. auf takes the dative for a fixed location, so dem Teppich is dative; there is no movement onto the carpet in this sentence.
Die Farbe des Teppichs gefällt mir.
I like the colour of the carpet.
die Farbe means the colour and gefallen means please or be liked by. des Teppichs is genitive because it identifies whose colour is meant; mir is dative because gefallen expresses who likes something.
Im Hotel liegen viele Teppiche.
There are many carpets in the hotel.
im Hotel means in the hotel, liegen means lie or be located, and viele means many. Teppiche is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the subject comes after the verb here because im Hotel occupies position one.
die Terrasse — terrace, patio
A Terrasse is an outdoor sitting or eating area, often next to a building. In restaurant contexts, auf der Terrasse means outside on the terrace.
Die Terrasse ist sonnig.
The terrace is sunny.
Sonnig means sunny. Die Terrasse is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir reinigen die Terrasse im Frühling.
We clean the terrace in spring.
Wir reinigen means we clean, and im Frühling means in spring. Die Terrasse is accusative because reinigen takes a direct object; the feminine article die looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Wir sitzen auf der Terrasse.
We are sitting on the terrace.
Sitzen means are sitting. Auf der Terrasse is dative because auf describes a fixed location, not movement towards it; the finite verb sitzen is in position two.
Die Tür der Terrasse ist offen.
The terrace door is open.
Die Tür means the door, and offen means open. Der Terrasse is genitive because it identifies which door is meant; the feminine genitive article is der, and ist is in position two.
Im Sommer sitzen wir oft auf den Terrassen.
In summer we often sit on the terraces.
Im Sommer means in summer, oft means often, and sitzen means sit. Terrassen is plural and dative because auf describes a fixed location; the plural noun adds -n, and the finite verb sitzen is in position two.
die Toilette — toilet, bathroom, restroom
In everyday German, die Toilette can mean either the room or the toilet itself. In public places, die Toilette or the plural die Toiletten is neutral and polite.
Die Toilette ist im ersten Stock.
The toilet is on the first floor.
der erste Stock means the first floor. Die Toilette is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two; im means in dem and shows location with the dative.
Ich suche die Toilette.
I am looking for the toilet.
suchen means to look for. Die Toilette is accusative because it is the object of suchen; with a feminine noun, the accusative article remains die, which can make the case hard to see.
Können Sie mir sagen, wo der Toilette?
Can you tell me where the toilet is?
Können Sie mir sagen means can you tell me, and wo means where. The natural full sentence is Können Sie mir sagen, wo die Toilette ist?; mir is dative because sagen gives information to someone, while der Toilette would be incorrect here, so learners must not confuse the dative article with the subject.
Die Tür der Toilette ist geschlossen.
The toilet door is closed.
die Tür is the door and geschlossen means closed. Der Toilette is genitive because it shows whose door it is; the finite verb ist stays in position two, and geschlossen comes after it as a predicate adjective.
Wo sind die Toiletten?
Where are the toilets?
Wo means where. Die Toiletten is the plural subject, formed by adding -n to Toilette, and sind is the plural form of sein in position two; do not use singular ist with this plural.