Appearance
Vocab: Home & living — A2 (1)
Home & living vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
anlegen — to put on, to fasten; to create; to invest
For clothing and equipment, anlegen takes an accusative object. It is separable, so anlegen becomes legt ... an in a main clause; anziehen is more usual for ordinary clothes.
Er legt an den Sicherheitsgurt.
He fastens the seat belt.
der Sicherheitsgurt means the seat belt. legt an is the separable present form; den Sicherheitsgurt is accusative because it is the object, and the prefix goes to the end.
Sie hat die Schwimmweste angelegt.
She put on the life jacket.
die Schwimmweste means the life jacket. angelegt takes haben and goes to the end; die Schwimmweste is accusative as the object.
Er legte an seine Schuhe.
He put on his shoes.
seine Schuhe means his shoes. legte an is the weak simple-past form; the possessive phrase is accusative, and the prefix stands at the end.
Leg an die Weste!
Put on the vest!
die Weste means the vest. Leg an is the informal singular imperative, with the omitted subject du; the object is accusative and the prefix comes last.
Ich würde anlegen eine Jacke.
I would put on a jacket.
eine Jacke means a jacket. würde anlegen expresses a hypothetical action, and the infinitive stays together at the end; eine Jacke is accusative.
Im Winter werde anlegen ich warme Kleidung.
In winter I will put on warm clothes.
im Winter means in winter, and warme Kleidung means warm clothing. werde anlegen forms the future with the infinitive at the end; warme Kleidung is an accusative object.
Wir legen an einen neuen Garten.
We are creating a new garden.
einen neuen Garten means a new garden. legen an is the separable present form; the garden phrase is accusative, and the prefix stands at the end.
Sie hat ihr Geld sicher angelegt.
She invested her money safely.
ihr Geld means her money, and sicher means safely. angelegt is the Partizip II with haben; ihr Geld is accusative and the participle goes at the end.
anlehnen — to lean against; to lean something against
The common reflexive pattern is sich an etwas anlehnen. With the two-way preposition an, accusative is usual for the target or direction; the verb is separable.
Ich lehne an mich an die Wand.
I lean against the wall.
mich means myself, and die Wand means the wall. The reflexive pronoun is accusative; an die Wand uses accusative for the direction, and lehne an is separable with the finite verb in position two.
Wir haben uns an den Baum angelehnt.
We leaned against the tree.
uns means ourselves, and der Baum means the tree. angelehnt takes haben and goes to the end; an den Baum is accusative because it describes the target of leaning.
Sie lehnte an sich an die Tür.
She leaned against the door.
sich means herself, and die Tür means the door. lehnte an is the weak simple-past form; the reflexive pronoun is accusative, and an die Tür shows the target.
Lehn an dich an die Wand!
Lean against the wall!
dich means yourself, and die Wand means the wall. Lehn an is the informal singular imperative; the reflexive pronoun is accusative and the prefix comes at the end.
Ich würde anlehnen mich nicht an die kalte Wand.
I would not lean against the cold wall.
nicht means not, and die kalte Wand means the cold wall. würde anlehnen expresses a hypothetical action, so the infinitive stays together at the end; mich is accusative.
Nach dem Essen werde anlehnen ich mich an den Baum.
After the meal I will lean against the tree.
nach dem Essen means after the meal, and der Baum means the tree. werde anlehnen forms the future with the infinitive at the end; an den Baum is accusative because it gives the target.
Er lehnt an das Fahrrad an die Wand.
He leans the bicycle against the wall.
das Fahrrad means the bicycle, and die Wand means the wall. das Fahrrad is accusative as the object; an die Wand is accusative because it shows where the bicycle is placed, and the prefix goes to the end.
Sie hat die Leiter an das Haus angelehnt.
She leaned the ladder against the house.
die Leiter means the ladder, and das Haus means the house. angelehnt takes haben and stands at the end; die Leiter is accusative, while an das Haus is accusative because it gives the target.
das Apartment — apartment, flat
This international word is common in advertisements and housing contexts. The plural is Apartments, and the genitive is des Apartments.
Das Apartment ist hell.
The apartment is bright.
hell means bright. das Apartment is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir suchen ein Apartment.
We are looking for an apartment.
suchen means to look for. ein Apartment is accusative because suchen takes a direct object, and suchen stands in position two.
Sie wohnt in einem Apartment.
She lives in an apartment.
wohnt means lives. in einem Apartment is dative because in describes a fixed location here; the finite verb wohnt is in position two.
Die Tür des Apartments ist offen.
The apartment door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. des Apartments is genitive because it shows whose door it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
In Berlin gibt es viele Apartments.
There are many apartments in Berlin.
viele means many, and gibt es means there are. Apartments is plural; after es gibt, the noun phrase is accusative, while the fixed expression has gibt in position two.
das Arbeitszimmer — study, home office
This compound combines Arbeit, work, with Zimmer, room. Its plural is unusual because Arbeitszimmer has the same form in the singular and plural; only the article or another word shows the number.
Das Arbeitszimmer liegt neben dem Schlafzimmer.
The study is next to the bedroom.
liegt neben means is next to, and das Schlafzimmer means the bedroom. Das Arbeitszimmer is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt stands in position two.
Wir streichen das Arbeitszimmer morgen.
We are painting the study tomorrow.
streichen means paint, and morgen means tomorrow. Das Arbeitszimmer is accusative because streichen takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, nominative and accusative both use das.
Im Arbeitszimmer steht ein großer Schreibtisch.
There is a large desk in the study.
ein großer Schreibtisch means a large desk, and steht means stands or is located. Im Arbeitszimmer means in dem Arbeitszimmer and is dative because in describes a fixed location here; the verb steht comes in position two.
Die Tür des Arbeitszimmers ist geschlossen.
The door of the study is closed.
die Tür means the door, and geschlossen means closed. Des Arbeitszimmers is genitive because it shows which room the door belongs to; the neuter noun adds -s, and ist stands in position two.
Unsere Arbeitszimmer sind noch nicht eingerichtet.
Our studies are not furnished yet.
unsere means our, and eingerichtet means furnished or set up. Arbeitszimmer is plural here even though it has no ending; sind shows the plural, and the adjective eingerichtet stays at the end of the clause.
aufschließen — to unlock; to unlock and open
Aufschließen means unlocking something, usually with a key. It takes the locked object in the accusative and is different from öffnen, which simply means to open.
Sie schließt die Tür auf.
She unlocks the door.
sie means she, and die Tür is the door. Die Tür is accusative because it is the object; schließt is in position two and auf goes to the end.
Sie hat die Tür aufgeschlossen.
She unlocked the door.
sie means she, and die Tür means the door. The door is accusative, and aufgeschlossen is the Partizip II at the end with haben.
Sie schloss die Tür auf.
She unlocked the door.
sie is she, and die Tür is the door. Schloss is the strong past form of schließen, while auf is separated and placed at the end.
Schließ bitte die Tür auf.
Please unlock the door.
bitte means please, and die Tür is the door. The imperative schließ comes first and auf goes to the end; the object is accusative.
Du würdest die Tür aufschließen.
You would unlock the door.
du means you, and würdest marks a hypothetical action. The infinitive aufschließen stays together at the end after würdest, and die Tür is accusative.
Du wirst die Tür aufschließen.
You will unlock the door.
du means you, and wirst forms the future. The infinitive aufschließen goes to the end as one word, and die Tür is the accusative object.
Der Hausmeister schließt morgens das Büro auf.
The caretaker unlocks the office in the morning.
der Hausmeister is the caretaker, morgens means in the morning, and das Büro is the office. Das Büro is accusative; schließt is in position two and auf is separated to the end.
Wir haben das Geschäft aufgeschlossen.
We unlocked and opened the shop.
wir means we, and das Geschäft is the shop or business. The shop is accusative, and aufgeschlossen goes to the end as the Partizip II with haben.
ausziehen — to take off; to remove; to move out
In the clothing sense, ausziehen takes haben in the perfect: hat ausgezogen. The opposite is anziehen, to put on.
Er zieht seine Jacke aus.
He is taking off his jacket.
seine Jacke is his jacket. Seine Jacke is accusative because ausziehen takes the item being removed; the finite part zieht is in position two and aus goes to the end.
Sie hat die nassen Schuhe ausgezogen.
She took off her wet shoes.
nassen Schuhe means wet shoes. In this clothing sense, ausgezogen combines with hat, not ist, because the verb has a direct accusative object; the participle goes to the end.
Er zog den Mantel aus.
He took off his coat.
der Mantel is the coat. Den Mantel is accusative as the item removed; the strong past form zog has a vowel change, and aus is separated.
Zieh deine Schuhe aus.
Take off your shoes.
deine Schuhe means your shoes. The informal singular imperative is zieh without du, and the separable prefix aus stands at the end.
Du würdest den nassen Pullover ausziehen.
You would take off the wet jumper.
nasser Pullover means wet jumper. Den nassen Pullover is accusative, and ausziehen stays together at the end after würdest; it is not split in this infinitive construction.
Nach dem Sport werde ich die Schuhe ausziehen.
After sport, I will take off my shoes.
nach dem Sport means after sport, and die Schuhe are the shoes. Nach takes the dative, while die Schuhe is accusative as the object; the infinitive ausziehen stands at the end after werde.
Meine Schwester zieht im August aus.
My sister is moving out in August.
meine Schwester is my sister, and im August means in August. This sense has no direct object; the finite part zieht is in position two and aus goes to the end.
Wir sind letztes Jahr aus der kleinen Wohnung ausgezogen.
We moved out of the small flat last year.
letztes Jahr means last year, and kleine Wohnung means small flat. This movement sense uses sein in the perfect: sind ausgezogen; aus takes the dative here, so der kleinen Wohnung is dative.
bequem — comfortable, convenient
Bequem mainly describes physical comfort, but it can also mean convenient or easy to use. Its opposites are unbequem and, for convenience, often umständlich.
Das Sofa ist bequem.
The sofa is comfortable.
das Sofa means the sofa. Bequem is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe einen bequemen Sessel.
I am buying a comfortable armchair.
kaufe means buy and der Sessel is an armchair. Bequemen stands before the noun and takes the -en ending because einen Sessel is masculine accusative; the verb kaufe is in position two.
Dieser Stuhl ist bequemer als der andere.
This chair is more comfortable than the other one.
dieser Stuhl means this chair and der andere means the other one. Bequemer is the comparative with -er, and als introduces the thing used for comparison; after ist, the adjective is predicative and has no ending.
Dieses Bett ist am bequemsten.
This bed is the most comfortable.
dieses Bett means this bed. Am bequemsten is the predicative superlative with am and -sten; because it follows ist, it has no adjective ending.
das Brett — board, plank
For a piece of wood, Brett is usually a flat board or plank. The plural is Bretter, not Bretts.
Das Brett ist aus Holz.
The board is made of wood.
Holz means wood. Das Brett is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich brauche das Brett für das Regal.
I need the board for the shelf.
brauchen means to need and das Regal means the shelf. Das Brett is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; für also forces the accusative before das Regal.
Ich arbeite mit dem Brett.
I am working with the board.
arbeiten means to work and mit means with. Mit always forces the dative, so das Brett becomes dem Brett; the finite verb arbeite is in position two.
Die Kante des Brettes ist rau.
The edge of the board is rough.
die Kante means the edge and rau means rough. Des Brettes is genitive because it shows whose edge it is; the finite verb ist remains in position two.
Die Kinder bauen mit Brettern eine Hütte.
The children are building a hut with boards.
die Kinder means the children, bauen means to build, and eine Hütte means a hut. Brettern is plural dative after mit; the plural Bretter takes -n in the dative.
dekorieren — to decorate; to decorate for an occasion
dekorieren is a regular verb but its Partizip II is dekoriert, not gedekoriert. It takes an accusative object and uses haben in the perfect.
Wir dekorieren den Raum für die Party.
We are decorating the room for the party.
der Raum means room and die Party means party. Den Raum is accusative because dekorieren takes a direct object, while für die Party uses für plus accusative to show the occasion. The finite verb dekorieren stands in position two.
Sie hat den Saal schön dekoriert.
She decorated the hall beautifully.
der Saal means hall and schön means beautifully or nicely. Den Saal is accusative because it is the object; the perfect uses hat and the participle dekoriert at the end, without ge- because the verb ends in -ieren.
Die Kinder dekorierten das Klassenzimmer mit bunten Bildern.
The children decorated the classroom with colourful pictures.
die Kinder means children, das Klassenzimmer means classroom, bunt means colourful, and das Bild means picture. Das Klassenzimmer is accusative as the object, while mit bunten Bildern uses mit plus dative. The finite verb dekorierten is in position two.
Dekorier den Tisch mit Blumen!
Decorate the table with flowers!
der Tisch means table and die Blumen means flowers. Den Tisch is accusative because it is the object, while mit Blumen is dative after mit; the imperative omits du and stands first.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, dekorierte ich den ganzen Garten.
If I had more time, I would decorate the whole garden.
mehr Zeit means more time, hätte means had, der ganze Garten means the whole garden, and wenn means if. Den ganzen Garten is accusative because it is the object; the conditional clause puts hätte at the end, while dekorierte begins the following main clause in position two.
Morgen werde ich das Zimmer dekorieren.
Tomorrow I will decorate the room.
morgen means tomorrow and das Zimmer means room. Das Zimmer is accusative because it is the object; werde is in position two and the infinitive dekorieren goes to the end.
Wir dekorieren die Wohnung für Weihnachten.
We decorate the apartment for Christmas.
die Wohnung means apartment or home, and Weihnachten means Christmas. Die Wohnung is accusative as the object, and für Weihnachten uses für plus accusative to express the occasion.
Die Familie hat den Balkon mit Lichtern dekoriert.
The family decorated the balcony with lights.
die Familie means family, der Balkon means balcony, and die Lichter means lights. Den Balkon is accusative because it is the object, while mit Lichtern is dative after mit; dekoriert closes the perfect clause.
dicht — tight, sealed; dense; dense, closely packed
Dicht can describe something that keeps air or liquid out, such as a door, bottle, or jacket. Before a noun it takes an adjective ending, as in eine dichte Jacke, but after sein it stays unchanged.
Die Flasche ist dicht.
The bottle is watertight.
die Flasche is the bottle, and dicht means watertight or tightly sealed. Dicht is a predicative adjective after ist, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das ist eine dichte Jacke.
That is a waterproof jacket.
eine dichte Jacke means a waterproof jacket, and das means that. Dichte stands before the feminine noun Jacke after the indefinite article eine, so the adjective takes the ending -e; ist is in position two.
Diese Tür ist dichter als die alte.
This door is more tightly sealed than the old one.
diese Tür means this door, and die alte means the old one. Dichter is the comparative of dicht and is followed by als; as a predicative adjective, it has no ending.
Von allen Fenstern ist dieses am dichtesten.
Of all the windows, this one is the best sealed.
von allen Fenstern means of all the windows, and dieses means this one. Von takes the dative, so Fenstern is dative plural; am dichtesten is the predicative superlative and does not take an adjective ending.
Im Herbst liegt dichter Nebel über dem See.
In autumn, dense fog lies over the lake.
im Herbst means in autumn, dichter Nebel means dense fog, and der See is the lake. Im is in dem and takes the dative for a location, while dichter has a masculine nominative ending because Nebel is the subject.
Die Stadt ist sehr dicht besiedelt.
The city is very densely populated.
die Stadt is the city, sehr means very, and besiedelt means populated. Dicht is used adverbially to modify besiedelt and therefore has no ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
die Diele — hallway, entrance hall; floorboard
The common everyday sense of Diele is a hallway or entrance area. In building and renovation contexts, die Diele can also mean a wooden floorboard; its plural Dielen is the same in both senses.
Die Diele ist sehr hell.
The hallway is very bright.
ist means is and sehr hell means very bright. Die Diele is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir streichen die Diele morgen.
We are painting the hallway tomorrow.
streichen means to paint and morgen means tomorrow. die Diele is accusative because streichen takes the thing being painted as an accusative object.
In der Diele steht ein Schrank.
There is a cupboard in the hallway.
in der Diele means in the hallway, steht means stands, and ein Schrank is a cupboard. The preposition in takes dative here because the sentence describes a fixed location, not movement into it.
Die Tür der Diele ist offen.
The hallway door is open.
die Tür means the door, ist means is, and offen means open. der Diele is genitive because it identifies which door is meant: the door of the hallway.
Die Dielen sind frisch gestrichen.
The hallways have just been painted.
sind frisch gestrichen means have been freshly painted. Dielen is plural and therefore takes sind; the plural ending is -n.
Wir haben alte Dielen gefunden.
We found old floorboards.
alte means old, haben gefunden means found, and gefunden is the past participle of finden. Dielen is accusative because it is the object of gefunden; here the plural means wooden floorboards, not hallways.
Die Oberfläche der Diele ist beschädigt.
The surface of the floorboard is damaged.
die Oberfläche means the surface, ist means is, and beschädigt means damaged. der Diele is genitive because it says which surface is meant; context shows that Diele means a floorboard here.
das Doppelzimmer — double room
This compound combines doppelt, meaning double, with das Zimmer, meaning room. The plural is unusual because Doppelzimmer keeps the same ending in singular and plural.
Das Doppelzimmer ist heute noch frei.
The double room is still available today.
heute means today, noch means still, and frei means available or free. Das Doppelzimmer is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir nehmen das Doppelzimmer.
We will take the double room.
wir means we and nehmen means take or choose. Das Doppelzimmer is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object, while the finite verb nehmen stands in position two.
Wir schlafen in dem Doppelzimmer.
We are sleeping in the double room.
schlafen means to sleep. In takes the dative here because the sentence describes a fixed location, so dem Doppelzimmer is dative; the finite verb schlafen is in position two.
Die Tür des Doppelzimmers ist offen.
The door of the double room is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des Doppelzimmers is genitive because it shows whose door it is, and the genitive ending -s belongs to the neuter noun.
Im Hotel gibt es zehn Doppelzimmer.
There are ten double rooms in the hotel.
im Hotel means in the hotel, gibt es means there are, and zehn means ten. The plural Doppelzimmer does not change its ending; after zehn, no article is needed.
das Eck — corner
Das Eck is regional or colloquial, especially in parts of southern Germany and Austria; the more widespread standard form is die Ecke. Its plural is die Ecken, and its genitive is usually des Ecks.
Das Eck ist frei.
The corner is free.
frei means free or unoccupied. Das Eck is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two; this neuter regional word corresponds to standard die Ecke.
Stell den Tisch in das Eck.
Put the table in the corner.
Stell means put or place, and den Tisch means the table. In das Eck takes the accusative because stellen expresses movement into a place; the imperative Stell comes first, while the object and phrase follow.
In dem Eck steht eine Lampe.
There is a lamp in the corner.
steht means stands or is located, and eine Lampe means a lamp. In dem Eck takes the dative because it describes a fixed location, not movement; the finite verb steht comes in position two.
Die Farbe des Ecks passt nicht zum Zimmer.
The colour of the corner does not match the room.
Die Farbe means the colour, passt nicht means does not match, and zum Zimmer means the room. Des Ecks is genitive to show possession or association; zum is short for zu dem and takes the dative.
Die vier Ecken des Raumes sind hell.
The room’s four corners are bright.
vier means four, des Raumes means of the room, and hell means bright or light. Ecken is the nominative plural subject; des Raumes is genitive possession, and the plural verb sind stands in position two.
die Einfahrt — driveway; vehicle entrance
Die Einfahrt usually means a driveway or a place where vehicles enter. Do not confuse it with der Eingang, which is normally an entrance for people.
Die Einfahrt ist heute gesperrt.
The driveway is closed today.
gesperrt means closed or blocked, and heute means today. Die Einfahrt is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich sehe die Einfahrt nicht.
I cannot see the driveway.
sehen means to see, and nicht means not. Die Einfahrt is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehe is in position two.
Wir stehen vor der Einfahrt.
We are standing in front of the driveway.
stehen means to stand, and vor means in front of. Vor takes the dative here because it describes a fixed location, so der Einfahrt is dative; the verb stehen is in position two.
Die Breite der Einfahrt reicht für das Auto.
The width of the driveway is sufficient for the car.
die Breite means the width, reicht means is sufficient, and das Auto means the car. Der Einfahrt is genitive because it specifies whose width is meant; the finite verb reicht stands in position two.
Die Einfahrten sind nachts schlecht beleuchtet.
The driveways are poorly lit at night.
nachts means at night, and schlecht beleuchtet means poorly lit. Einfahrten is the plural subject with the plural article die, so the verb is sind, not ist.
das Einfamilienhaus — single-family house
The compound Einfamilienhaus literally combines Ein (one) and Familienhaus (family house). It normally means a detached or otherwise separate house for one household, not a building with several flats.
Das Einfamilienhaus liegt am Stadtrand.
The single-family house is on the edge of the city.
liegt means is located, and am Stadtrand means on the edge of the city. Das Einfamilienhaus is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb liegt stands in position two.
Wir kaufen das Einfamilienhaus im Sommer.
We are buying the single-family house in summer.
kaufen means buy, and im Sommer means in summer. Das Einfamilienhaus is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the article looks the same as nominative for a neuter noun.
Wir wohnen in dem Einfamilienhaus.
We live in the single-family house.
wohnen means live, and in means in; here it describes a location. Dem Einfamilienhaus is dative because in takes dative for a fixed location, and dem shows the neuter dative article.
Die Tür des Einfamilienhauses ist neu.
The door of the single-family house is new.
die Tür is the door and neu means new. Des Einfamilienhauses is genitive because it identifies whose door it is; the neuter noun takes -es and the article des.
In der Straße stehen drei Einfamilienhäuser.
There are three single-family houses in the street.
in der Straße means in the street, and stehen means stand or are situated. Einfamilienhäuser is plural after drei, and the verb stehen is plural; the phrase in der Straße comes first, so the verb still stays in position two.
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.
einschließen — to lock in, to shut in; to include
einschließen has two common meanings: to lock someone or something inside, and to include something. It is a strong separable verb and takes an accusative object; the perfect uses haben.
Der Hausmeister schließt den Hund im Keller ein.
The caretaker locks the dog in the basement.
der Hausmeister is the caretaker, der Hund is the dog, and im Keller means in the basement. Den Hund is accusative because einschließen takes the person or animal being locked in as an object; ein goes to the end.
Sie hat mich im Zimmer eingeschlossen.
She locked me in the room.
mich means me, and im Zimmer means in the room. Mich is accusative because it is the object of einschließen; the perfect uses hat plus eingeschlossen at the end.
Der alte Mann schloss die Katze im Schuppen ein.
The old man locked the cat in the shed.
der alte Mann means the old man, die Katze means the cat, and der Schuppen is the shed. Die Katze is accusative, while im Schuppen gives the location; the past form schloss is in position two and ein is final.
Schließ bitte die Tür ein.
Please lock the door.
bitte means please, and die Tür means the door. The informal singular imperative is schließ; die Tür is accusative, and the prefix ein goes at the end.
Ich würde den Schlüssel nicht einschließen, wenn du ihn brauchst.
I would not lock the key in if you need it.
der Schlüssel means the key, nicht means not, and wenn du ihn brauchst means if you need it. The whole infinitive einschließen follows würde; den Schlüssel is accusative, and brauchst goes to the end of the subordinate clause.
Wir werden die Fahrräder über Nacht im Schuppen einschließen.
We will lock the bicycles in the shed overnight.
die Fahrräder means the bicycles, über Nacht means overnight, and der Schuppen is the shed. Future uses werden plus the complete infinitive einschließen at the end; die Fahrräder is accusative.
Der Preis schließt das Frühstück ein.
The price includes breakfast.
der Preis means the price, and das Frühstück means breakfast. Das Frühstück is accusative because it is what the price includes; the finite verb schließt comes second and ein goes to the end.
Die Reise hat alle Mahlzeiten eingeschlossen.
The trip included all meals.
die Reise means the trip, and alle Mahlzeiten means all meals. Alle Mahlzeiten is accusative as the included item, and the perfect uses hat plus eingeschlossen at the end.
die Einweihungsparty — housewarming party; opening party
The word combines Einweihung, a celebration or ceremony for opening something, with Party, party. In everyday use, it most often means a party in a new home; the plural is formed with -s.
Die Einweihungsparty beginnt um acht Uhr.
The housewarming party starts at eight o'clock.
beginnt means starts, and um acht Uhr means at eight o'clock. die Einweihungsparty is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Wir planen eine Einweihungsparty.
We are planning a housewarming party.
wir means we, planen means plan, and eine means a. eine Einweihungsparty is accusative because planen takes a direct object; the feminine article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Bei der Einweihungsparty lernen wir die neuen Nachbarn kennen.
At the housewarming party, we get to know the new neighbours.
bei means at, neuen Nachbarn means new neighbours, and kennenlernen means get to know. bei takes the dative, so der Einweihungsparty is dative; the separable verb lernen ... kennen puts kennen at the end.
Die Musik der Einweihungsparty war sehr laut.
The music at the housewarming party was very loud.
die Musik means the music, war means was, and sehr laut means very loud. der Einweihungsparty is genitive because it identifies which party the music belongs to; the finite verb war stands in position two.
Im Sommer besuchen wir viele Einweihungspartys.
In summer, we attend many housewarming parties.
im Sommer means in summer, besuchen means visit or attend, and viele means many. Einweihungspartys is plural and accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the plural form ends in -s.
das Einzelzimmer — single room
An Einzelzimmer is a hotel room for one person. Its plural is also Einzelzimmer, so the article or a number shows whether it is singular or plural.
Das Einzelzimmer ist im zweiten Stock.
The single room is on the second floor.
im zweiten Stock means on the second floor, and ist means is. Das Einzelzimmer is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich buche das Einzelzimmer online.
I am booking the single room online.
buche means book, and online means online. Das Einzelzimmer is accusative because buchen takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, das looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Das Hotel gibt dem Einzelzimmer eine neue Nummer.
The hotel gives the single room a new number.
das Hotel is the hotel, gibt means gives, and eine neue Nummer is a new number. Dem Einzelzimmer is dative because it is the recipient or affected thing after geben; the neuter article changes from das to dem.
Die Tür des Einzelzimmers ist offen.
The door of the single room is open.
die Tür is the door and offen means open. Des Einzelzimmers is genitive because it identifies which door; the neuter noun adds -s and uses des.
Im Hotel gibt es zehn Einzelzimmer.
There are ten single rooms in the hotel.
im Hotel means in the hotel, gibt es means there are, and zehn means ten. Einzelzimmer has the same form in singular and plural; after es gibt, the plural noun is accusative, although the article is absent here.
einziehen — to move in, to move into; to pull in, to draw in
For the meaning ‘move into a home’, einziehen normally uses sein in the perfect: ist eingezogen. It is separable, so the prefix ein moves to the end of a main clause, but the infinitive and Partizip II remain whole.
Wir ziehen nächsten Monat in eine neue Wohnung ein.
We are moving into a new flat next month.
nächsten Monat means next month, and eine neue Wohnung is a new flat. The finite verb ziehen stands in position two while the prefix ein goes to the end; in takes the accusative here because it expresses movement into a place.
Wir sind letzte Woche in die neue Wohnung eingezogen.
We moved into the new flat last week.
letzte Woche means last week, and die neue Wohnung is the new flat. The perfect uses sind plus eingezogen because moving in expresses a change of place; the Partizip II stands at the end.
Wir zogen 2022 in diese Stadt ein.
We moved into this city in 2022.
diese Stadt means this city, and 2022 gives the year. Zogen is the simple past, with the prefix ein separated and placed at the end of the main clause.
Zieh bitte in das freie Zimmer ein.
Please move into the empty room.
bitte means please, and das freie Zimmer is the empty room. This is the informal singular imperative; zieh comes first and the separated prefix ein comes at the end.
Ich zöge gern in diese Stadt ein, wenn ich dort Arbeit fände.
I would gladly move to this city if I found work there.
gern means gladly, diese Stadt means this city, and Arbeit means work. Zöge is the Konjunktiv II of einziehen; the prefix separates in the main clause, while fände goes to the end of the wenn clause.
Wir werden im Mai in unser neues Haus einziehen.
We will move into our new house in May.
im Mai means in May, and unser neues Haus is our new house. The finite verb werden stands in position two and the infinitive einziehen goes to the end as one word; in takes the accusative because the sentence expresses movement into the house.
Der Schildkröte zieht den Kopf ein, wenn sie Angst hat.
The tortoise pulls its head in when it is frightened.
die Schildkröte is the tortoise, den Kopf is its head, and Angst haben means be frightened. Der Schildkröte is dative because it identifies whose head is being pulled in; the finite verb zieht is in position two and ein is at the end.
Bei Kälte zieht er die Schultern ein.
When it is cold, he draws his shoulders in.
bei Kälte means when it is cold, and die Schultern are the shoulders. Die Schultern is accusative because einziehen takes the body part as a direct object; the prefix ein closes the main clause.
die Fensterscheibe — windowpane; pane of glass
Fensterscheibe is a compound of Fenster and Scheibe and means the glass pane itself, not the whole window. The plural is regular: Fensterscheiben.
Die Fensterscheibe ist ganz sauber.
The windowpane is completely clean.
ganz means completely and sauber means clean. Die Fensterscheibe is nominative as the subject; ist stands in position two, and sauber is predicative, so it has no adjective ending.
Der Ball trifft die Fensterscheibe.
The ball hits the windowpane.
der Ball means the ball and treffen means to hit. Die Fensterscheibe is accusative because it is the direct object of trifft; with a feminine noun, nominative and accusative both use die.
Ich gebe der Fensterscheibe einen neuen Rahmen.
I give the windowpane a new frame.
geben means to give, neu means new, and der Rahmen is the frame. Der Fensterscheibe is dative because it is the recipient, while einen neuen Rahmen is accusative as the thing given; gebe is in position two.
Die Kante der Fensterscheibe ist scharf.
The edge of the windowpane is sharp.
die Kante means edge and scharf means sharp. Der Fensterscheibe is genitive after die Kante to show whose edge it is; ist stands in position two and scharf is predicative.
Nach dem Sturm müssen mehrere Fensterscheiben ersetzt werden.
After the storm, several windowpanes have to be replaced.
der Sturm means storm, mehrere means several, and ersetzen means to replace. Fensterscheiben is the plural subject of the passive construction; müssen is the finite modal verb in position two, while ersetzt werden goes to the end.
die Gardine — curtain
Gardine usually means a light curtain or net curtain. For a heavy curtain, German often uses Vorhang.
Die Gardine ist weiß.
The curtain is white.
weiß means white. Die Gardine is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Ich wasche die Gardine.
I am washing the curtain.
wasche means am washing. die Gardine is accusative because waschen takes an accusative object, and the finite verb is in position two.
Ich stehe hinter der Gardine.
I am standing behind the curtain.
hinter means behind, and stehe means am standing. der Gardine is dative because hinter describes a fixed location here; with movement, this preposition would take the accusative.
Die Farbe der Gardine gefällt mir.
I like the colour of the curtain.
die Farbe means the colour and gefällt mir means pleases me, or I like it. der Gardine is genitive to show possession, while mir is dative because gefallen requires the person who likes something in the dative.
Die Gardinen hängen am Fenster.
The curtains are hanging at the window.
hängen means are hanging and das Fenster means the window. Die Gardinen is plural and takes hängen; am Fenster is dative because an describes a fixed location.
der Gemeinschaftsraum — common room, shared room
This compound combines Gemeinschaft, meaning community or shared group, with Raum, meaning room. It usually refers to a room in a residential building, school, hostel, or similar place.
Der Gemeinschaftsraum ist im Erdgeschoss.
The common room is on the ground floor.
Erdgeschoss means “ground floor,” and ist means “is.” Der Gemeinschaftsraum is nominative because it is the subject; im Erdgeschoss is dative because in describes a fixed location.
Wir reinigen den Gemeinschaftsraum.
We clean the common room.
reinigen means “clean.” Den Gemeinschaftsraum is accusative because reinigen takes an accusative object; the finite verb reinigen stands in position two.
Die neuen Gemeinschaftsräume sind hell.
The new common rooms are bright.
neu means “new,” and hell means “bright.” Die neuen Gemeinschaftsräume is the plural subject, so the verb is sind; the adjective ending in neuen follows the definite article die.
Wir sitzen in dem Gemeinschaftsraum.
We are sitting in the common room.
sitzen means “sit,” and in dem Gemeinschaftsraum means “in the common room.” The phrase is dative because in describes a fixed location; the shorter form im is also possible, and sitzen is in position two.
Die Tür des Gemeinschaftsraums ist offen.
The door of the common room is open.
die Tür means “the door,” and offen means “open.” Des Gemeinschaftsraums is genitive because it shows whose door it is; the masculine compound adds -s, and ist stands in position two.
gemütlich — cosy, comfortable, pleasant; in a relaxed, unhurried way
Gemütlich often describes a warm, relaxed atmosphere rather than physical comfort alone. It is commonly used for homes, cafés, evenings and relaxed time with other people.
Das Wohnzimmer ist gemütlich.
The living room is cosy.
das Wohnzimmer means the living room. Gemütlich is predicative after ist and therefore has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Wir sitzen in einem gemütlichen Café.
We are sitting in a cosy café.
sitzen means sit, and in einem Café means in a café. Gemütlichen describes Café before the noun and takes -en because in indicates location here and therefore governs the dative.
Dieses Café ist gemütlicher als das andere.
This café is cosier than the other one.
dieses Café means this café, and das andere means the other one. Gemütlicher is the comparative with -er, and als introduces the thing being compared.
Am Abend ist es hier am gemütlichsten.
In the evening it is cosiest here.
am Abend means in the evening, and hier means here. Am gemütlichsten is the predicative superlative; the phrase uses am and -sten, not an attributive adjective ending.
Wir trinken gemütlich einen Kaffee.
We are having a coffee in a relaxed way.
trinken means drink, and einen Kaffee means a coffee. Gemütlich is used adverbially and does not take an ending; einen Kaffee is accusative because trinken takes a direct object.
Nach dem Essen gingen alle gemütlich nach Hause.
After the meal, everyone went home at a relaxed pace.
nach dem Essen means after the meal, alle means everyone, and nach Hause means home. Gemütlich modifies the way of going and has no ending; nach takes the dative in nach dem Essen, while the finite verb gingen is in position two.
die Glasscheibe — pane of glass
Glasscheibe is a compound of Glas and Scheibe and usually means a windowpane or another flat pane. It is not the usual word for a drinking glass; that is Glas.
Die Glasscheibe ist sauber.
The pane of glass is clean.
sauber means clean. Die Glasscheibe is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der Ball trifft die Glasscheibe.
The ball hits the pane of glass.
Der Ball means the ball and trifft means hits. Die Glasscheibe is accusative because it is the direct object of trifft; the feminine article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Wir nähern uns der Glasscheibe.
We approach the pane of glass.
nähern uns means approach and uns means ourselves or us. The verb sich nähern takes a dative object, so der Glasscheibe is dative, not accusative.
Die Kante der Glasscheibe ist scharf.
The edge of the pane of glass is sharp.
Die Kante means the edge and scharf means sharp. Der Glasscheibe is genitive because it identifies which pane has the edge.
Die neuen Glasscheiben sind schon eingebaut.
The new panes of glass have already been installed.
neuen means new, schon means already, and eingebaut means installed. Glasscheiben is plural after die neuen, and sind eingebaut is a passive-style description with the participle at the end.
Die Kinder kleben Sterne an die Glasscheibe.
The children stick stars onto the pane of glass.
Die Kinder means the children, kleben means stick, and Sterne means stars. An die Glasscheibe is accusative because the stars are moved onto the surface; an takes accusative for direction and dative for location.
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.
der Hausflur — hallway, entrance corridor
Hausflur usually means a shared corridor inside a building, not a private hallway inside one apartment.
Der Hausflur ist sehr dunkel.
The hallway is very dark.
sehr means very, and dunkel means dark. Der Hausflur is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Bitte putz den Hausflur.
Please clean the hallway.
bitte means please, and putz means clean. Den Hausflur is accusative because putzen takes a direct object; the short imperative putz comes first.
Die Kinder spielen im Hausflur.
The children are playing in the hallway.
die Kinder are the children, and spielen means play. Im Hausflur means in the hallway; in takes the dative here because it describes a fixed location, not movement into it.
Die Tür des Hausflurs ist offen.
The hallway door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des Hausflurs is genitive because it says which door, and the masculine noun adds -s in the genitive.
In alten Häusern sind die Hausflure oft schmal.
In old houses, the hallways are often narrow.
alten Häusern means old houses, oft means often, and schmal means narrow. Hausflure is plural after die; in alten Häusern is dative because it describes the location.
der Haushalt — household; household budget; budget, especially a public budget
The meaning depends on context: Haushalt can mean the people and home together, or the money available for running them.
Unser Haushalt ist klein.
Our household is small.
unser means our, and klein means small. Unser Haushalt is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Wir planen den Haushalt für nächsten Monat.
We are planning the budget for next month.
wir planen means we are planning, and nächsten Monat means next month. Den Haushalt is accusative because planen takes a direct object.
Mit dem Haushalt kommen wir gut zurecht.
We manage the household budget well.
mit means with, gut means well, and zurechtkommen means manage or cope. Dem Haushalt is dative because mit always takes the dative.
Die Kosten des Haushalts steigen.
The household's costs are rising.
die Kosten means the costs, and steigen means rise. Des Haushalts is genitive because it shows which household the costs belong to; the noun takes -s.
Viele Haushalte sparen im Winter Energie.
Many households save energy in winter.
viele means many, sparen means save, and im Winter means in winter. Haushalte is plural after viele, while Energie is accusative as the direct object of sparen.
Der Bundestag beschließt den Haushalt.
The German parliament approves the budget.
der Bundestag is the German parliament, and beschließt means approves or passes. Den Haushalt is accusative because beschließen takes a direct object, and the finite verb is in position two.
Der Staat muss seinen Haushalt ordnen.
The state must put its budget in order.
der Staat means the state, muss means must, and ordnen means organize or put in order. Seinen Haushalt is accusative after ordnen; with muss, the infinitive goes to the end.
die Hausordnung — house rules, building regulations
Hausordnung can mean the written rules for a shared building or the document containing them. It is often used with beachten (“follow”) and gegen ... verstoßen (“break”), where gegen takes the accusative.
Die Hausordnung hängt im Treppenhaus.
The house rules are posted in the stairwell.
hängen means to hang, im means in the, and das Treppenhaus means the stairwell. Die Hausordnung is nominative because it is the subject; im Treppenhaus is a dative location phrase, and hängt is in position two.
Alle Bewohner lesen die Hausordnung.
All residents read the house rules.
alle Bewohner means all residents and lesen means read. Die Hausordnung is accusative because lesen takes a direct object; the finite verb lesen is in position two.
Die Verwaltung erklärt der Hausordnung nicht alles.
The management does not explain everything in the house rules.
die Verwaltung means the management, erklären means to explain, and alles means everything. Der Hausordnung is dative as the recipient or context of the explanation, while alles is accusative; the finite verb erklärt stands in position two.
Die Einhaltung der Hausordnung ist wichtig.
Following the house rules is important.
die Einhaltung means compliance or following, and wichtig means important. Der Hausordnung is genitive and specifies which rules are being followed; ist is the finite verb in position two.
In dieser Stadt gelten verschiedene Hausordnungen.
Different house rules apply in this city.
in dieser Stadt means in this city, gelten means apply or be valid, and verschiedene means different. Hausordnungen is plural and is the subject; although the sentence starts with a location phrase, gelten remains in position two.
heim — home, homewards
The lowercase adverb heim is different from the noun das Heim, “home” or “residential institution.” Heim is less common and can sound regional or slightly old-fashioned; nach Hause is the usual everyday expression for “homewards.”
Nach der Arbeit gehe ich heim.
I go home after work.
nach der Arbeit means after work, and gehe means go. Heim is an adverb showing the destination and has no article or case ending; the finite verb gehe is in position two.
Wann kommst du heim?
When are you coming home?
wann means when, and kommst means come. Heim is an uninflected adverb meaning home; in this question the finite verb kommst follows the question word and comes before the subject du.
das Heim — residential home, institution; home; home, place of belonging
Das Heim can mean a residential institution, for example a care home or children’s home; in older or literary contexts it can also mean home or homeland. Do not confuse the noun das Heim with the lowercase adverb heim, which means homewards.
Das Heim liegt am Stadtrand.
The residential home is on the edge of the city.
liegt means is located, and der Stadtrand is the edge of the city. Das Heim is nominative because it is the subject; am Stadtrand means at the edge of the city and contains dative dem Stadtrand after an for location.
Wir besuchen das Heim am Samstag.
We are visiting the residential home on Saturday.
besuchen means visit, and am Samstag means on Saturday. Das Heim is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, the nominative and accusative article are both das.
Sie arbeitet in dem Heim.
She works in the residential home.
arbeitet means works, and in means in. Dem Heim is dative because in describes a fixed location here; the contracted form im Heim is also common.
Die Bewohner des Heims feiern gemeinsam.
The residents of the home are celebrating together.
die Bewohner are the residents, feiern means celebrate, and gemeinsam means together. Des Heims is genitive because it identifies which residents; the neuter genitive article is des and the noun usually adds -s.
In der Stadt gibt es mehrere Heime.
There are several residential homes in the city.
in der Stadt means in the city, gibt es means there are, and mehrere means several. Heime is the plural of das Heim and is accusative after es gibt, although the article is not shown.
Nach vielen Jahren fand die Familie ein neues Heim.
After many years, the family found a new home.
nach vielen Jahren means after many years, die Familie is the family, and fand means found. Ein neues Heim is accusative because finden takes a direct object; the neuter adjective ending is -es after ein.
Dieses Dorf ist jetzt unser Heim.
This village is our home now.
dieses Dorf means this village, unser means our, and jetzt means now. Unser Heim is a predicative noun after ist, so it has no article and no case ending of its own.
heizen — to heat; to give off heat, to be heated
heizen commonly takes an accusative place or object: die Wohnung heizen means to heat the flat. It can also be used without an object when the context makes the heated place clear, and its perfect auxiliary is haben.
Wir heizen die Wohnung im Winter.
We heat the flat in winter.
die Wohnung means the flat and im Winter means in winter. die Wohnung is accusative because heizen takes the place being heated as a direct object; the finite verb heizen stands in position two.
Wir haben das Haus den ganzen Tag geheizt.
We heated the house all day.
das Haus means the house and den ganzen Tag means all day. The perfect uses haben plus geheizt at the end, and das Haus is accusative as the object.
Früher heizte mein Großvater nur mit Holz.
In the past, my grandfather heated only with wood.
früher means in the past, mein Großvater means my grandfather, and Holz means wood. heizte is the weak-verb simple past; mit Holz is a dative phrase because mit always takes the dative.
Heiz das Zimmer bitte!
Please heat the room!
das Zimmer means the room and bitte means please. Heiz is the du imperative, and das Zimmer is accusative because it is the thing being heated.
Wenn es kälter wäre, heizte ich mehr.
If it were colder, I would heat more.
kälter means colder and mehr means more. Here heizte is the Konjunktiv II form in the wenn-clause and goes to the end; the subject ich is in the main clause.
Morgen werden wir das Wohnzimmer heizen.
Tomorrow we will heat the living room.
morgen means tomorrow and das Wohnzimmer means the living room. Futur I places werden in position two and the infinitive heizen at the end; the room is an accusative object.
Der Ofen heizt noch.
The stove is still heating.
der Ofen means the stove and noch means still. Here heizt is used without an object because the stove itself produces heat; the finite verb stands in position two.
Das Gebäude wird mit Fernwärme geheizt.
The building is heated with district heating.
das Gebäude means the building and Fernwärme means district heating. This is a passive sentence with wird and geheizt; mit Fernwärme is dative because mit takes the dative.
die Heizkosten — heating costs
This noun is normally used only in the plural: die Heizkosten. Do not try to form a singular such as die Heizkost.
Die Heizkosten sind dieses Jahr gestiegen.
The heating costs have gone up this year.
dieses Jahr means this year, and gestiegen means gone up or increased. Die Heizkosten are nominative because they are the subject, and the finite verb sind is in position two.
Wir müssen die Heizkosten bezahlen.
We have to pay the heating costs.
bezahlen means to pay, and müssen means have to. Die Heizkosten are accusative because bezahlen takes a direct object; with müssen, the infinitive bezahlen goes to the end.
Der Vermieter hilft uns bei den Heizkosten.
The landlord helps us with the heating costs.
der Vermieter is the landlord, and hilft means helps. The preposition bei always takes the dative, so den Heizkosten is plural dative; this noun is normally used only in the plural.
Die Höhe der Heizkosten hängt vom Wetter ab.
The amount of the heating costs depends on the weather.
die Höhe means the amount or level, hängt ... ab means depends on, and das Wetter means the weather. Der Heizkosten is genitive plural because it specifies the amount of what; the separable verb abhängen splits, with hängt in position two and ab at the end.
Im Winter steigen die Heizkosten.
In winter, heating costs rise.
im Winter means in winter, and steigen means rise. Die Heizkosten is a plural-only noun, so it has no ordinary singular form; the finite verb is plural: steigen.
hinter — behind, at the back
As an adverb, hinter stands alone and means behind; unlike the preposition, it does not govern a following noun.
Der Bus fährt vor, und ich fahre hinter.
The bus drives ahead, and I drive behind.
der Bus means the bus, fährt vor means drives ahead, and ich means I. As an adverb, hinter stands without an object and usually comes after the finite verb in the second clause.
Der Läufer liegt weit hinter.
The runner is far behind.
der Läufer means the runner, liegt means is or lies, and weit means far. Here hinter describes the runner's position, so it is an adverb and is not followed by a noun phrase.
der Kamin — fireplace; chimney
der Kamin usually means a fireplace in a room, but it can also mean the chimney connected to it. The fixed phrase am Kamin means by the fireplace, while aus dem Kamin often refers to the chimney.
Der Kamin ist im Winter sehr warm.
The fireplace is very warm in winter.
im Winter means in winter and warm means warm. Der Kamin is nominative because it is the subject, and ist stands in position two.
Wir reinigen den Kamin jedes Jahr.
We clean the fireplace every year.
reinigen means clean and jedes Jahr means every year. den Kamin is accusative because reinigen takes a direct object.
Wir sitzen am Kamin und lesen.
We sit by the fireplace and read.
sitzen means sit and lesen means read. am Kamin means an dem Kamin; an takes the dative here because the sentence describes a fixed location, not movement.
Die Farbe des Kamins passt zum Zimmer.
The colour of the fireplace matches the room.
die Farbe means the colour, passt means matches, and das Zimmer means the room. des Kamins is genitive because it identifies which fireplace's colour; the noun takes -s.
In alten Häusern stehen oft mehrere Kamine.
There are often several fireplaces in old houses.
alten Häusern means old houses and mehrere means several. mehrere Kamine is plural, and stehen agrees with the plural subject; the phrase in alten Häusern is dative because it describes location.
Der Kamin braucht eine Reparatur.
The fireplace needs a repair.
braucht means needs and eine Reparatur means a repair. Der Kamin is the nominative subject, while eine Reparatur is accusative after brauchen.
Der Rauch kommt aus dem Kamin.
The smoke comes out of the chimney.
der Rauch means the smoke and kommt aus means comes out of. aus dem Kamin is dative because aus always takes the dative; the context gives Kamin the chimney meaning.
das Kinderzimmer — children’s room, child’s bedroom
This compound combines das Kind, a child, and das Zimmer, a room. It can mean a child’s bedroom or a room used by children; the plural is unchanged: die Kinderzimmer.
Das Kinderzimmer ist hell und groß.
The children’s room is bright and large.
hell means bright and groß means large. Das Kinderzimmer is nominative because it is the subject, and the verb ist stands in position two.
Wir streichen das Kinderzimmer morgen.
We are painting the children’s room tomorrow.
streichen means to paint, and morgen means tomorrow. Das Kinderzimmer is accusative because it is the direct object, although the neuter article das looks the same in the nominative and accusative.
Die Kinder spielen in dem Kinderzimmer.
The children are playing in the children’s room.
die Kinder means the children and spielen means to play. In dem Kinderzimmer describes a fixed location, so in takes dative; dem is often shortened to im.
Die Tür des Kinderzimmers ist offen.
The door of the children’s room is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. Des Kinderzimmers shows whose door it is, so it is genitive and the neuter noun adds -s.
In diesem Haus gibt es drei Kinderzimmer.
There are three children’s rooms in this house.
diesem Haus means this house and drei means three. Kinderzimmer is plural without an ending; after es gibt, the noun phrase is accusative, but the neuter plural has the same form as the nominative plural.
klimatisiert — air-conditioned
klimatisiert describes a room, building, or vehicle whose air is controlled by an air-conditioning system. It is a participial adjective and can be compared when different levels of air conditioning are meant.
Das Hotel ist klimatisiert.
The hotel is air-conditioned.
das Hotel means the hotel. klimatisiert is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir arbeiten in einem klimatisierten Büro.
We work in an air-conditioned office.
arbeiten means work, and einem Büro means an office. in takes the dative here because it describes a fixed location, so einem klimatisierten Büro has the dative adjective ending -en.
Dieser Raum ist klimatisierter als der andere.
This room is more air-conditioned than the other one.
dieser Raum means this room, and der andere means the other one. klimatisierter is a comparative adjective after ist, and als introduces the thing used for comparison.
Dieses Büro ist am klimatisiertesten.
This office is the most air-conditioned.
dieses Büro means this office. The predicative superlative uses am klimatisiertesten after ist; am belongs to the fixed superlative form and is not an article.
der Korridor — corridor, hallway
der Korridor is a passage inside a building. In everyday German, der Flur is also very common, especially for the hallway in a home or flat.
Der Korridor ist sehr eng.
The corridor is very narrow.
eng means narrow. Der Korridor is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich putze den Korridor.
I am cleaning the corridor.
putze means clean. den Korridor is accusative because it is the object of putzen; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Im Korridor steht ein Schrank.
There is a cupboard standing in the corridor.
im means in the, steht means stands or is located, and ein Schrank is a cupboard. im Korridor is dative because in describes a fixed location; the verb steht comes before the subject because the location occupies position one.
Die Tür des Korridors ist offen.
The corridor door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. des Korridors is genitive because it shows which door is meant, while the whole phrase Die Tür des Korridors is the nominative subject.
Die Korridore des Hotels sind hell.
The hotel corridors are bright.
des Hotels means of the hotel and hell means bright. Die Korridore is plural nominative as the subject, so sind is plural; des Hotels is genitive to show belonging.
die Krippe — nursery, day-care centre; manger; manger; nativity scene
In modern everyday German, die Krippe often means day care for babies and toddlers. It can also mean the manger in a nativity scene; the context tells you which meaning is intended.
Die Krippe öffnet um sieben Uhr.
The nursery opens at seven o'clock.
öffnet means opens, and um sieben Uhr means at seven o'clock. Die Krippe is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb öffnet is in position two.
Die Eltern bringen ihr Kind in die Krippe.
The parents take their child to the nursery.
die Eltern means the parents, bringen means take, and ihr Kind means their child. In die Krippe is accusative because in shows movement towards a place here; the finite verb bringen is in position two.
Die Betreuerin hilft den Kindern in der Krippe.
The female carer helps the children at the nursery.
die Betreuerin is the female carer, hilft means helps, and den Kindern means the children. In der Krippe is dative because in describes a location, while helfen also takes a dative person.
Der Garten der Krippe ist klein.
The nursery's garden is small.
der Garten means the garden and klein means small. Der Krippe is genitive because it shows which nursery the garden belongs to; the feminine article is der in the genitive.
Viele Krippen haben lange Wartelisten.
Many nurseries have long waiting lists.
viele means many, haben means have, and lange Wartelisten means long waiting lists. Krippen is the plural form, with -n added to Krippe; it is the subject of haben.
Das Jesuskind liegt in der Krippe.
The baby Jesus is lying in the manger.
das Jesuskind means the baby Jesus and liegt means is lying. In der Krippe is dative because in describes a fixed location; this sense refers to the manger in the nativity story.
Wir stellen eine Krippe unter den Weihnachtsbaum.
We put a nativity scene under the Christmas tree.
stellen means put or place, eine Krippe means a nativity scene, and unter den Weihnachtsbaum means under the Christmas tree. Eine Krippe is accusative as the object of stellen, and unter takes accusative because it expresses movement to a place.
der Mietvertrag — rental contract, lease
This compound combines die Miete (rent) and der Vertrag (contract). It is a formal document setting out the conditions for renting a home or other property.
Der Mietvertrag beginnt am ersten Mai.
The rental contract begins on the first of May.
beginnt means begins, and am ersten Mai means on the first of May. Der Mietvertrag is nominative because it is the subject; am is short for an dem, and dates commonly use this dative expression.
Wir unterschreiben den Mietvertrag heute.
We are signing the rental contract today.
unterschreiben means sign, and heute means today. Den Mietvertrag is accusative because it is the direct object of unterschreiben; the finite verb is in position two.
Der Makler gibt dem Mietvertrag eine neue Nummer.
The estate agent gives the rental contract a new number.
der Makler is the estate agent, and eine neue Nummer means a new number. Dem Mietvertrag is dative because geben uses the recipient or affected thing in the dative, while eine neue Nummer is the accusative object.
Die Laufzeit des Mietvertrags beträgt zwei Jahre.
The term of the rental contract is two years.
die Laufzeit means the term or duration, and beträgt means amounts to or is. Des Mietvertrags is genitive because it specifies the contract's term; the masculine genitive adds -s to the noun.
Alte Mietverträge liegen im Ordner.
Old rental contracts are in the folder.
alte means old, liegen means are lying or are kept, and der Ordner is the folder. Mietverträge is plural and the subject; im Ordner means in the folder and uses dative for a fixed location.
der Mitbewohner — housemate, flatmate, roommate
Mitbewohner can mean a person sharing a flat, house or other accommodation. It is not a weak masculine noun: the singular accusative is den Mitbewohner, not den Mitbewohnern.
Mein Mitbewohner kocht heute Abend.
My housemate is cooking this evening.
Mein means my, kocht means is cooking, and heute Abend means this evening. Mitbewohner is the nominative subject, and the finite verb kocht stands in position two.
Ich sehe meinen Mitbewohner in der Küche.
I see my housemate in the kitchen.
Ich sehe means I see, meinen means my in the masculine accusative, and die Küche is the kitchen. Meinen Mitbewohner is accusative because sehen takes an accusative object; in der Küche is dative because it describes a location, not movement.
Ich helfe meinem Mitbewohner beim Umzug.
I help my housemate with the move.
Ich helfe means I help, meinem means my in the masculine dative, and der Umzug is the move. Meinem Mitbewohner is dative because helfen always takes a dative person; beim means bei dem and also introduces the dative.
Das Fahrrad meines Mitbewohners steht im Flur.
My housemate’s bicycle is in the hallway.
Das Fahrrad means the bicycle, steht means is standing or is located, and der Flur is the hallway. Meines Mitbewohners is genitive to show possession, and the masculine noun adds -s; im Flur means in dem Flur and marks location.
Unsere Mitbewohner feiern heute zusammen.
Our housemates are celebrating together today.
Unsere means our, feiern means are celebrating, heute means today, and zusammen means together. Mitbewohner is plural because of unsere; the noun itself has no plural ending, while the plural verb feiern stands in position two.
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.
nebenan — next door, nearby
Nebenan normally refers to a neighbouring room, flat or building. It is an adverb, so it stands without an article and does not govern a case.
Meine Schwester wohnt nebenan.
My sister lives next door.
Meine Schwester means my sister, and wohnt means lives. Nebenan is an adverb of place and usually stands after the finite verb in a simple statement; it does not take an article or a case.
Im Haus nebenan gibt es einen kleinen Bäcker.
There is a small baker’s shop in the building next door.
Im Haus means in the building, gibt es means there is, and einen kleinen Bäcker means a small baker’s shop. Nebenan describes the building and follows the noun; do not confuse it with neben, which is a preposition and requires a noun phrase.
das Obergeschoss — upper floor, upper storey
Das Obergeschoss hat drei Schlafzimmer.
The upper floor has three bedrooms.
haben means to have, and drei Schlafzimmer means three bedrooms. Das Obergeschoss is nominative because it is the subject; drei Schlafzimmer is accusative because it is the object of hat, and the finite verb stands in position two.
Wir renovieren das Obergeschoss.
We are renovating the upper floor.
wir means we, and renovieren means to renovate. Das Obergeschoss is accusative because renovieren takes a direct object; the finite verb renovieren is in position two.
Im Obergeschoss ist es nachts sehr ruhig.
It is very quiet upstairs at night.
im means in the and is short for in dem, nachts means at night, and ruhig means quiet. Im Obergeschoss is dative because in describes a fixed location; it comes first, so ist still stays in position two.
Die Fenster des Obergeschosses sind neu.
The windows of the upper floor are new.
das Fenster means window and neu means new. Des Obergeschosses is genitive after die Fenster to show which floor the windows belong to; die Fenster is the plural subject, so the verb is sind.
Die Obergeschosse der Häuser sind gut isoliert.
The upper floors of the houses are well insulated.
das Haus means house and isoliert means insulated. Die Obergeschosse is plural nominative and the subject; der Häuser is genitive plural, showing which houses they belong to.
privat — private; personal; not public
privat usually means personal or not open to the public, and it contrasts with öffentlich. In a phrase before a noun it takes a normal adjective ending, as in private Fotos; after sein it stays unchanged.
Die E-Mail-Adresse ist privat.
The email address is private.
die E-Mail-Adresse means email address. Privat is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Sie hat eine private Telefonnummer.
She has a private telephone number.
sie means she, hat means has, and die Telefonnummer is the telephone number. Private stands before the feminine accusative noun Telefonnummer and takes -e after the indefinite article eine.
Dieses Zimmer ist privater als das andere.
This room is more private than the other one.
dieses Zimmer means this room and das andere means the other one. Privater compares two rooms and is followed by als; after ist, the comparative is predicative and has no adjective ending.
Von allen Räumen ist dieses Büro am privatesten.
Of all the rooms, this office is the most private.
von allen Räumen means of all the rooms, and dieses Büro is this office. Am privatesten is the predicative superlative after ist; the form uses am plus the adjective ending -sten.
das Rohr — pipe, tube; stove pipe, chimney pipe
das Rohr normally means a pipe or tube; the plural is die Rohre. It can refer to pipes in buildings or to hollow tubes in machines.
Das Rohr ist alt.
The pipe is old.
alt means old. Das Rohr is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Der Handwerker repariert das Rohr.
The tradesman is repairing the pipe.
Der Handwerker means the tradesman, and repariert means repairs. Das Rohr is accusative because reparieren takes a direct object; the finite verb repariert is in position two.
Wasser läuft aus dem Rohr.
Water is running out of the pipe.
Wasser means water, and läuft aus means runs out of. Dem Rohr is dative because the preposition aus always takes the dative; the verb phrase stands in position two.
Die Farbe des Rohrs ist grau.
The colour of the pipe is grey.
Die Farbe means the colour, and grau means grey. Des Rohrs is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the neuter noun takes -s and des.
Die Rohre müssen bald ersetzt werden.
The pipes need to be replaced soon.
müssen means need to or must, and bald means soon. Die Rohre is plural, formed with -e; after the modal müssen, the other verb werden goes to the end.
Das Ofen-Rohr muss gereinigt werden.
The stove pipe needs to be cleaned.
das Ofenrohr means stove pipe, and gereinigt means cleaned. The compound contains Ofen and Rohr; with muss, the passive verb werden goes to the end.
Rauch steigt aus dem Rohr.
Smoke rises from the pipe.
Rauch means smoke, and steigt means rises. Dem Rohr is dative because aus requires the dative; the finite verb steigt is in position two.
schmücken — to decorate, to adorn; to adorn oneself; to claim credit for something
The object is the person, object, or place that receives the decoration. schmücken can also be used reflexively, as in sich schmücken, meaning to adorn oneself.
Wir schmücken den Weihnachtsbaum.
We are decorating the Christmas tree.
der Weihnachtsbaum is the Christmas tree. den Weihnachtsbaum is accusative because schmücken takes the thing being decorated as a direct object, and the finite verb schmücken stands in position two.
Wir haben den Saal für die Feier geschmückt.
We decorated the hall for the party.
der Saal is the hall, and die Feier is the celebration. den Saal is accusative because it is the object of schmücken; haben is in position two and geschmückt goes to the end.
Sie schmückte das Fenster mit Sternen.
She decorated the window with stars.
das Fenster is the window, and die Sterne are the stars. das Fenster is accusative as the object, while mit Sternen is a phrase with mit, which always takes the dative.
Schmück den Tisch bitte mit Blumen!
Please decorate the table with flowers!
der Tisch is the table, and die Blumen are the flowers. den Tisch is accusative because it is the object; the imperative omits du, and bitte makes the command polite.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, schmückte ich den ganzen Garten.
If I had more time, I would decorate the whole garden.
mehr Zeit means more time, and der ganze Garten means the whole garden. den ganzen Garten is accusative after schmücken; hätte and schmückte express an unreal condition, with the finite verb at the end of the wenn clause.
Morgen schmücken wir die Kirche.
Tomorrow we will decorate the church.
morgen means tomorrow, and die Kirche is the church. die Kirche is accusative because it is the object, while werden is in position two and the infinitive schmücken goes to the end.
Er schmückt sich gern mit fremden Federn.
He likes to take credit for other people's achievements.
gern means gladly or likes to, and fremde Federn literally means чужие feathers but here means other people's achievements. sich is the reflexive object, while mit fremden Federn uses mit plus the dative; the verb is in position two.
Die Braut schmückte sich mit einer goldenen Kette.
The bride adorned herself with a gold chain.
die Braut is the bride, and eine goldene Kette is a gold chain. sich refers back to die Braut, and mit einer goldenen Kette is dative because mit always governs the dative.
das Speisezimmer — dining room
Speisezimmer is a compound of Speise, meal or food, and Zimmer, room. Like many compounds ending in Zimmer, it has the same form in the singular and plural; use the article or a number to show the difference.
Das Speisezimmer ist neben der Küche.
The dining room is next to the kitchen.
neben der Küche means next to the kitchen. Das Speisezimmer is nominative because it is the subject, while neben der Küche is dative because it describes a fixed location; ist stands in position two.
Wir putzen das Speisezimmer.
We are cleaning the dining room.
putzen means clean. das Speisezimmer is accusative because it is the direct object of putzen; with a neuter noun, the accusative article das looks like the nominative article.
Wir sitzen im Speisezimmer.
We are sitting in the dining room.
wir sitzen means we are sitting, and im means in the. im Speisezimmer is dative because in describes a fixed location here; do not use accusative unless there is movement into the room.
Das Fenster des Speisezimmers ist offen.
The dining room’s window is open.
das Fenster means the window, and offen means open. des Speisezimmers is genitive to show which room the window belongs to; the whole phrase Das Fenster des Speisezimmers is the nominative subject.
In unserem Haus gibt es zwei Speisezimmer.
There are two dining rooms in our house.
in unserem Haus means in our house, and zwei means two. Speisezimmer is plural but has no ending; after es gibt, the phrase is accusative, and the number makes the plural meaning clear.
das Treppenhaus — stairwell, staircase
Das Treppenhaus is the shared stair area inside a building, not one individual flight of stairs. The word is a compound of die Treppe and das Haus; its plural has the umlaut in Häuser.
Das Treppenhaus ist sehr hell.
The stairwell is very bright.
sehr hell means very bright. Das Treppenhaus is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich sehe das Treppenhaus.
I can see the stairwell.
sehen means to see. das Treppenhaus is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehe stands in position two.
Im Treppenhaus riecht es nach Farbe.
It smells of paint in the stairwell.
riechen means to smell, and die Farbe means paint. im Treppenhaus means “in the stairwell” and is dative because in describes a fixed location here; es is a formal subject.
Die Tür des Treppenhauses ist geschlossen.
The door of the stairwell is closed.
die Tür means door and geschlossen means closed. des Treppenhauses is genitive because it means “of the stairwell”; the singular subject Die Tür takes ist.
Alte Treppenhäuser haben oft keinen Aufzug.
Old stairwells often do not have a lift.
alte means old, oft means often, and der Aufzug means lift or elevator. Treppenhäuser is plural and nominative as the subject, while keinen Aufzug is accusative after haben.