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Vocab: Home & living — A1 (2)
Home & living vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
die Türklingel — doorbell
Türklingel is a compound made from Tür and Klingel. It is feminine because the final part is die Klingel, and its plural is Türklingeln.
Die Türklingel klingelt.
The doorbell is ringing.
klingelt means is ringing. Die Türklingel is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb klingelt stands in position two.
Ich höre die Türklingel.
I hear the doorbell.
höre means hear. die Türklingel is accusative because hören takes a direct object; the feminine article looks the same in the nominative and accusative.
Ich gehe zur Türklingel.
I go to the doorbell.
gehe means go, and zur means zu der, to the. zur Türklingel is dative because zu always takes the dative; the feminine dative article is der.
Das Geräusch der Türklingel ist laut.
The sound of the doorbell is loud.
das Geräusch is the sound, and laut means loud. der Türklingel is genitive because it identifies the source of the sound; a feminine noun uses der in the genitive.
Die Türklingeln sind in jedem Haus anders.
The doorbells are different in every house.
in jedem Haus means in every house, and anders means different. Die Türklingeln is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural ending is -n.
die Vase — vase
Die Vase steht auf dem Tisch.
The vase is standing on the table.
steht means is standing, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Die Vase is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich stelle die Blumen in die Vase.
I am putting the flowers in the vase.
stelle means put, die Blumen means the flowers, and in die Vase means into the vase. die Vase is accusative because in shows movement into a container here, and stelle is in position two.
Die Mutter gibt der Vase einen neuen Platz.
The mother gives the vase a new place.
die Mutter means the mother, gibt means gives, and einen neuen Platz means a new place. der Vase is dative because it is the indirect object of geben, while the accusative object is einen neuen Platz.
Die Farbe der Vase passt gut zum Zimmer.
The colour of the vase suits the room well.
die Farbe means the colour, passt gut means suits well, and zum Zimmer means the room. der Vase is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is; zum is short for zu dem.
Im Schaufenster stehen drei Vasen.
There are three vases in the shop window.
im Schaufenster means in the shop window, and drei means three. Vasen is plural after drei, and im Schaufenster is dative because in describes a location here.
der Vermieter — landlord
The plural die Vermieter is unchanged from the singular noun. The feminine form is die Vermieterin.
Der Vermieter wohnt im selben Haus.
The landlord lives in the same building.
das selbe Haus means the same building. Der Vermieter is nominative because he is the subject; the finite verb wohnt is in position two.
Ich kenne den Vermieter gut.
I know the landlord well.
kennen means to know a person, and gut means well. Den Vermieter is accusative because kennen takes a direct object; the finite verb kenne stands in position two.
Ich spreche morgen mit dem Vermieter.
I am speaking with the landlord tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and mit means with. Dem Vermieter is dative because mit always takes the dative; the finite verb spreche is in position two.
Das Auto des Vermieters steht vor dem Haus.
The landlord's car is parked in front of the house.
das Auto means car, steht means is standing or is parked, and vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Des Vermieters is genitive because it shows possession, and the masculine noun takes -s in the genitive.
Die Vermieter treffen sich heute.
The landlords are meeting today.
treffen sich means meet each other, and heute means today. Vermieter is the plural form with no ending; the plural subject takes die, and treffen is in position two.
die Vermieterin — landlady; female landlord
Vermieterin is the feminine form of der Vermieter. Its plural is Vermieterinnen, with the ending -innen.
Die Vermieterin kommt um sechs Uhr.
The landlady is coming at six o'clock.
kommt means is coming, and um sechs Uhr means at six o'clock. Die Vermieterin is nominative because she is the subject; the finite verb kommt is in position two.
Ich kenne die Vermieterin gut.
I know the landlady well.
kennen means to know a person, and gut means well. Die Vermieterin is accusative because kennen takes a direct object; the feminine article die looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Ich spreche morgen mit der Vermieterin.
I am speaking with the landlady tomorrow.
morgen means tomorrow, and mit means with. Der Vermieterin is dative because mit always takes the dative; the feminine article changes from die to der.
Die Wohnung der Vermieterin ist sehr hell.
The landlady's flat is very bright.
die Wohnung means the flat, and hell means bright. Der Vermieterin is genitive because it shows possession; feminine nouns keep the ending -in, while the article is der.
Die Vermieterinnen treffen sich heute.
The landladies are meeting today.
treffen sich means meet each other, and heute means today. Vermieterinnen is formed with -innen, the regular feminine plural ending; the plural subject takes die.
die Wand — wall
Die Wand is a room or building wall. Do not confuse it with die Mauer, which usually means a larger outside wall or a defensive wall; the plural of Wand is Wände.
Die Wand ist weiß.
The wall is white.
weiß means white. Die Wand is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two; the adjective weiß is predicative and therefore has no ending.
Ich streiche die Wand morgen.
I am painting the wall tomorrow.
ich means I, streichen means to paint, and morgen means tomorrow. Die Wand is accusative because it is the direct object of streichen; with a feminine noun, nominative and accusative both use die.
Das Bild hängt an der Wand.
The picture is hanging on the wall.
das Bild means the picture and hängt means is hanging. An der Wand uses dative because an describes a fixed location here; movement toward the wall would normally use accusative, as in an die Wand.
Die Farbe der Wand passt zu den Möbeln.
The colour of the wall matches the furniture.
die Farbe means the colour, passt zu means matches or goes with, and die Möbel means the furniture. Der Wand is genitive because it says which wall's colour; zu den Möbeln is dative because zu always takes the dative.
Die Kinder bauen neue Wände.
The children are building new walls.
die Kinder means the children, bauen means build, and neue means new. Neue Wände is accusative plural because it is the object of bauen; the plural article is die.
das Waschbecken — washbasin, sink
Das Waschbecken is the basin in a bathroom, usually with a tap and drain. Its plural is also Waschbecken, so the article and adjective ending show whether it is singular or plural.
Das Waschbecken ist sauber.
The sink is clean.
sauber means clean. Das Waschbecken is nominative because it is the subject of ist; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich putze das Waschbecken.
I am cleaning the sink.
putzen means to clean. Das Waschbecken is accusative because putzen takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, nominative and accusative both use das.
Die Seife liegt neben dem Waschbecken.
The soap is lying next to the sink.
die Seife is the soap, liegen means to lie, and neben means next to. Neben takes the dative for a fixed location, so dem Waschbecken is dative; liegt is in position two.
Der Rand des Waschbeckens ist nass.
The edge of the sink is wet.
der Rand is the edge, nass means wet, and sein means to be. Des Waschbeckens is genitive because it tells whose edge it is; the neuter noun adds -s in the genitive.
In den Hotels gibt es neue Waschbecken.
There are new sinks in the hotels.
in den Hotels means in the hotels, neu means new, and es gibt means there is or there are. Waschbecken is plural here, shown by neue and the context; its spelling does not change in the plural.
der Wasserhahn — tap, faucet
The compound combines Wasser (water) and Hahn (tap or rooster). In everyday German, Wasserhahn normally means the tap, not a bird.
Der Wasserhahn ist kaputt.
The tap is broken.
kaputt means broken. Der Wasserhahn is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich repariere den Wasserhahn.
I am repairing the tap.
reparieren means to repair. Den Wasserhahn is accusative because reparieren takes an accusative object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Das Wasser läuft aus dem Wasserhahn.
The water is running from the tap.
laufen means to run or flow, and aus means from or out of. Aus always takes the dative, so masculine der Wasserhahn becomes dem Wasserhahn.
Die Dichtung des Wasserhahns ist locker.
The tap's seal is loose.
die Dichtung means the seal and locker means loose. Des Wasserhahns is genitive because it identifies which seal; the masculine noun adds -s and uses des.
In der Küche gibt es zwei Wasserhähne.
There are two taps in the kitchen.
in der Küche means in the kitchen, and zwei means two. Zwei Wasserhähne is accusative after es gibt; the plural has the vowel change a to ä and takes die when definite.
das WC — toilet, restroom; public toilet, restroom facility
WC is an abbreviation of Water Closet and is pronounced as the names of the German letters. It is a neutral noun; in everyday speech, Toilette is also very common.
Das WC ist links.
The toilet is on the left.
links means on the left. Das WC is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wo finde ich das WC?
Where can I find the toilet?
wo means where and finden means to find. Das WC is accusative because finden takes an accusative object; in this question the finite verb finde follows the question word.
Neben dem WC steht ein Waschbecken.
There is a washbasin next to the toilet.
neben means next to, steht means stands, and ein Waschbecken is a washbasin. Here neben describes a fixed location and takes the dative, so das WC becomes dem WC.
Die Tür des WCs ist offen.
The toilet door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des WCs is genitive because it identifies which door; the abbreviation uses des and adds -s.
In diesem Bahnhof gibt es mehrere WCs.
There are several toilets in this train station.
in diesem Bahnhof means in this train station, and mehrere means several. WCs is plural and accusative after es gibt; abbreviations commonly form the plural with -s.
Das WC im Zug ist besetzt.
The toilet on the train is occupied.
im Zug means on the train, and besetzt means occupied or in use. Das WC is nominative as the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Bitte warten Sie vor dem WC.
Please wait in front of the toilet.
Bitte warten Sie means please wait, and vor means in front of. For a fixed location, vor takes the dative, so das WC becomes dem WC; the polite request uses Sie with the infinitive-like verb form warten.
der Weihnachtsbaum — Christmas tree
The plural has an umlaut: der Weihnachtsbaum, but die Weihnachtsbäume. A Christmas tree is usually a fir or similar tree that people decorate indoors.
Der Weihnachtsbaum steht im Wohnzimmer.
The Christmas tree is in the living room.
steht means “is standing”, and im Wohnzimmer means “in the living room”. Der Weihnachtsbaum is the nominative subject; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Wir schmücken den Weihnachtsbaum.
We decorate the Christmas tree.
schmücken means “decorate”. den Weihnachtsbaum is accusative because schmücken takes a direct object; the finite verb is in position two.
An Weihnachten sitzen wir neben dem Weihnachtsbaum.
At Christmas, we sit next to the Christmas tree.
an Weihnachten means “at Christmas”, sitzen means “sit”, and neben means “next to”. dem Weihnachtsbaum is dative because neben describes a fixed location; the finite verb sitzen follows the opening time phrase.
Die Lichter des Weihnachtsbaums leuchten hell.
The lights of the Christmas tree shine brightly.
die Lichter means “the lights”, and leuchten hell means “shine brightly”. des Weihnachtsbaums is genitive because it shows which tree the lights belong to; the finite verb leuchten is in position two.
Auf dem Markt stehen viele Weihnachtsbäume.
There are many Christmas trees at the market.
auf dem Markt means “at the market”, stehen means “are standing”, and viele means “many”. Weihnachtsbäume is plural after viele; dem Markt is dative because auf describes location, not movement.
wohnen — to live, to reside
wohnen normally takes a place phrase with in, bei, or auf. With a fixed location, these prepositions take the dative, as in in der Stadt or bei den Eltern.
Ich wohne in Hamburg.
I live in Hamburg.
Hamburg is the city name Hamburg. The finite verb wohne stands in position two, and in Hamburg gives the place where the person lives; with a city name, no article is used.
Wir haben drei Jahre in Köln gewohnt.
We lived in Cologne for three years.
drei Jahre means three years, and Köln is the city name Cologne. The perfect uses haben plus gewohnt at the end; in Köln describes a fixed location, not movement.
Früher wohnte meine Schwester auf dem Land.
My sister used to live in the countryside.
früher means formerly or in the past, meine Schwester means my sister, and auf dem Land means in the countryside. The simple-past form wohnte is in position two, and dem Land is dative because auf describes a fixed location.
Wohn nicht so weit von der Schule entfernt!
Don't live so far away from the school!
nicht so weit entfernt means not so far away, and die Schule means the school. The informal imperative drops du; von always takes the dative, so der Schule is dative.
Wenn ich mehr Geld hätte, würde ich näher am Zentrum wohnen.
If I had more money, I would live closer to the city centre.
mehr Geld means more money, näher means closer, and das Zentrum means the city centre. The conditional uses würde with the infinitive wohnen at the end; an describes the fixed location and therefore takes dative: am Zentrum.
Nächstes Jahr werde ich in einer größeren Wohnung wohnen.
Next year I will live in a larger flat.
nächstes Jahr means next year, and größer means larger. In the future, werde is in position two and wohnen goes to the end; in einer Wohnung is dative because it describes a location.
die Wohnung — apartment, flat; home
Wohnung usually means an apartment or flat, while Haus means a house. It can also mean someone’s home without saying whether they own or rent it.
Die Wohnung ist hell.
The apartment is bright.
hell means bright. Wohnung is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir suchen eine Wohnung.
We are looking for an apartment.
Wir means we and suchen means are looking for. eine Wohnung is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the finite verb suchen is in position two.
Ich wohne in einer Wohnung.
I live in an apartment.
Ich wohne means I live. in einer Wohnung is dative because in describes a fixed location here, not movement into it; wohne stands in position two.
Die Tür der Wohnung ist offen.
The apartment door is open.
Die Tür is the door and offen means open. der Wohnung is genitive and means of the apartment; it describes which door, while ist is in position two.
Die Wohnungen sind teuer.
The apartments are expensive.
sind means are and teuer means expensive. Wohnungen is the nominative plural subject, so it takes the plural verb sind, not singular ist.
das Wohnzimmer — living room
Das Wohnzimmer ist hell.
The living room is bright.
hell means bright. Das Wohnzimmer is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir putzen das Wohnzimmer.
We are cleaning the living room.
wir means we and putzen means clean. Das Wohnzimmer is accusative because putzen takes a direct object; the finite verb putzen is in position two.
Im Wohnzimmer steht ein Sofa.
There is a sofa in the living room.
im means in the and steht means stands or is situated; ein Sofa is a sofa. Im Wohnzimmer is dative because in describes a fixed location here, and the verb steht comes before the subject after the initial phrase.
Die Tür des Wohnzimmers ist offen.
The living room door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des Wohnzimmers is genitive because it shows whose door it is; the neuter genitive article is des and the noun takes -s.
Unsere Wohnzimmer sind unterschiedlich groß.
Our living rooms are different sizes.
unsere means our and unterschiedlich groß means different in size. Wohnzimmer is plural without an ending, and the plural subject requires sind, not ist.
das Zimmer — room; room, hotel room
For a bedroom, German often adds Schlaf-, giving das Schlafzimmer. Unlike English, Zimmer is neuter, so use das Zimmer.
Das Zimmer ist hell.
The room is bright.
hell means bright. Das Zimmer is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich putze das Zimmer.
I am cleaning the room.
putzen means to clean. Das Zimmer is accusative because putzen takes a direct object, while the finite verb putze is in position two.
Wir sitzen in dem Zimmer.
We are sitting in the room.
sitzen means to sit. In takes the dative for a fixed location, so dem Zimmer is dative; the finite verb sitzen is in position two.
Die Tür des Zimmers ist offen.
The room's door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des Zimmers is genitive because it shows whose door it is, and the genitive ending -s must not be omitted.
In unserem Haus gibt es drei Zimmer.
There are three rooms in our house.
unserem Haus means our house and drei means three. Zimmer is the plural after drei; it has no plural ending, and gibt es uses an accusative phrase for what exists.
Unser Zimmer im Hotel ist im dritten Stock.
Our room in the hotel is on the third floor.
unser means our, im Hotel means in the hotel, and dritten Stock means third floor. Zimmer is nominative as the subject, and im is short for in dem, which marks location with the dative.
Können wir das Zimmer heute bezahlen?
Can we pay for the room today?
bezahlen means to pay and heute means today. Das Zimmer is accusative because it is the object of bezahlen; after the modal können, the infinitive bezahlen goes to the end.