Appearance
Vocab: Home & living — A2 (2)
Home & living vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
der Türgriff — door handle
Türgriff is a compound made from Tür and Griff; its gender and plural follow the final part, der Griff. The plural is Türgriffe, and the genitive is des Türgriffs.
Der Türgriff ist kaputt.
The door handle is broken.
kaputt means broken or not working. Der Türgriff is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich drücke den Türgriff.
I press the door handle.
drücke means press. den Türgriff is accusative because drücken takes a direct object; the masculine article changes from der to den.
Sie steht neben dem Türgriff.
She is standing next to the door handle.
steht means is standing, and neben means next to. dem Türgriff is dative because neben describes a fixed position here; the masculine dative article is dem.
Die Farbe des Türgriffs passt zur Tür.
The colour of the door handle matches the door.
die Farbe is the colour, and passt zu means matches or goes with. des Türgriffs is genitive because it shows whose colour it is; the masculine noun has des and -s.
Die Türgriffe glänzen im Licht.
The door handles shine in the light.
glänzen means shine, and das Licht is the light. Die Türgriffe is plural and nominative because it is the subject; the plural ending -e belongs to Griff, the final part of the compound.
umziehen — to move house; to change clothes
For moving house, the perfect takes sein: ist umgezogen. For changing clothes, the verb is commonly reflexive, sich umziehen, and takes haben in the perfect: hat sich umgezogen.
Wir ziehen im Mai um.
We are moving house in May.
im Mai means in May, and umziehen means move house. In a main clause, the finite part ziehen stands in position two and the prefix um goes to the end; there is no object case here.
Wir sind letztes Jahr umgezogen.
We moved house last year.
letztes Jahr means last year. The perfect uses sind and umgezogen because moving house expresses a change of location; sind is in position two and the Partizip II goes to the end.
Meine Schwester zog nach Berlin um.
My sister moved to Berlin.
Meine Schwester means my sister, and nach Berlin means to Berlin. The strong-verb past form zog is in position two, while the separable prefix um stands at the end; nach Berlin expresses the destination.
Zieh bitte bald um!
Please move house soon!
bitte means please, and bald means soon. This is the du imperative, so the pronoun is omitted; the prefix um remains separate at the end.
Ich würde gern näher ins Zentrum umziehen.
I would like to move closer to the city centre.
gern means gladly or would like to, and näher ins Zentrum means closer to the city centre. Würde is the Konjunktiv II form of werden; the infinitive umziehen stays whole at the end, so the prefix is not separated.
Nächstes Jahr werden wir nach Köln umziehen.
Next year we will move to Cologne.
Nächstes Jahr means next year, and nach Köln means to Cologne. Future I uses werden in position two and the whole infinitive umziehen at the end; the destination is expressed with nach.
Ich muss mich noch umziehen.
I still have to change my clothes.
noch means still, and mich means myself here. Umziehen is reflexive in this meaning; after the modal muss, the whole infinitive goes to the end, and mich is accusative because it is the reflexive object.
Nach dem Sport hat er sich schnell umgezogen.
He quickly changed after doing sport.
Nach dem Sport means after sport, and schnell means quickly. This meaning uses haben in the perfect, with the reflexive pronoun sich; umgezogen stands at the end of the clause.
der Umzug — move, house move; procession, parade
Der Umzug usually means a house move. It can also mean an organised procession, especially a parade or carnival procession; the plural Umzüge covers both meanings.
Der Umzug ist für Samstag geplant.
The move is planned for Saturday.
für Samstag means for Saturday, and geplant means planned. Der Umzug is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir organisieren den Umzug gemeinsam.
We are organising the move together.
organisieren means organise, and gemeinsam means together. Den Umzug is accusative because organisieren takes a direct object; the finite verb organisieren is in position two.
Bei dem Umzug hilft uns die ganze Familie.
The whole family is helping us with the move.
bei dem Umzug means during or with the move, and die ganze Familie means the whole family. The preposition bei requires the dative, so dem Umzug is dative; the verb hilft stands in position two.
Die Kosten des Umzugs sind höher als erwartet.
The costs of the move are higher than expected.
die Kosten means the costs, and höher als erwartet means higher than expected. Des Umzugs is genitive because it shows which costs are meant; the finite verb sind stands in position two.
Im Sommer finden viele Umzüge statt.
Many moves take place in summer.
Im Sommer means in summer, and viele means many. Umzüge is the plural subject; the separable verb stattfinden appears as finden ... statt, with statt at the end.
Der Umzug beginnt um zwei Uhr.
The procession starts at two o'clock.
beginnt means starts, and um zwei Uhr means at two o'clock. Der Umzug is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Tausende Menschen sehen den Umzug an.
Thousands of people watch the procession.
Tausende Menschen means thousands of people, and ansehen means watch or look at. Den Umzug is accusative because ansehen takes a direct object; the separable verb appears as sehen ... an.
der Umzugskarton — moving box
This compound means a cardboard box for a house move: Umzug plus Karton. Its plural is regular with -s: Umzugskartons.
Der Umzugskarton ist noch leer.
The moving box is still empty.
noch means still, and leer means empty. Der Umzugskarton is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich brauche den Umzugskarton für die Bücher.
I need the moving box for the books.
brauchen means need, and für die Bücher means for the books. Den Umzugskarton is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the preposition für also requires the accusative.
Ich gebe dem Umzugskarton einen neuen Platz.
I am giving the moving box a new place.
geben means give, and einen neuen Platz means a new place. Dem Umzugskarton is dative because it is the recipient or affected object of geben, while einen neuen Platz is the accusative thing being given.
Der Deckel des Umzugskartons ist kaputt.
The lid of the moving box is broken.
Der Deckel means the lid, and kaputt means broken. Des Umzugskartons is genitive because it identifies which lid is meant; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Umzugskartons stehen im Flur.
The moving boxes are in the hallway.
stehen means stand or are placed upright, and im Flur means in the hallway. Umzugskartons is the plural subject, while im Flur is dative because in describes a fixed location here.
unbequem — uncomfortable, inconvenient
unbequem can describe furniture, clothes, or a situation that causes difficulty. It is the opposite of bequem, and its comparison is regular: unbequemer, am unbequemsten.
Der unbequeme Stuhl steht am Fenster.
The uncomfortable chair is by the window.
der Stuhl means the chair and am Fenster means by the window. The adjective ending -e agrees with masculine der Stuhl, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich finde den unbequemen Stuhl hart.
I find the uncomfortable chair hard.
finden means to find or consider, and hart means hard. den unbequemen Stuhl is accusative because finden takes an accusative object; the adjective has -en after den.
Dieses Sofa ist unbequemer als das alte.
This sofa is more uncomfortable than the old one.
dieses Sofa means this sofa and das alte means the old one. The comparative unbequemer is followed by als when two things are compared, and ist stays in position two.
Dieser Stuhl ist am unbequemsten.
This chair is the most uncomfortable.
dieser Stuhl means this chair. The superlative am unbequemsten follows ist in a predicative phrase; am belongs to this form and is not an article before a noun.
Der harte Stuhl ist unbequem.
The hard chair is uncomfortable.
hart means hard and der Stuhl means the chair. After ist, the adjective is predicative and has no ending; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Ich kaufe keine unbequemen Schuhe.
I am not buying uncomfortable shoes.
kaufen means to buy and keine Schuhe means no shoes. keine unbequemen Schuhe is accusative as the object of kaufe, and the plural adjective takes -en after keine.
ungemütlich — uncomfortable; unpleasant; not cosy
ungemütlich is the opposite of gemütlich, cosy or comfortable. It often describes a room, café or weather that does not feel pleasant; it can also describe a person or situation as unpleasant.
Das Zimmer ist ungemütlich.
The room is uncomfortable.
das Zimmer means the room, and ist means is. ungemütlich follows ist as a predicative adjective, so it has no ending.
Wir sitzen in einem ungemütlichen Café.
We are sitting in an uncomfortable café.
wir sitzen means we are sitting, and das Café is the café. in einem Café takes the dative because it describes a fixed location, so the adjective before the neuter noun has the ending -en: ungemütlichen.
Der alte Stuhl ist ungemütlicher als das Sofa.
The old chair is less comfortable than the sofa.
der alte Stuhl means the old chair, and das Sofa is the sofa. ungemütlicher is the comparative with -er; als introduces the thing used for comparison, and the adjective is predicative after ist.
Dieser Keller ist am ungemütlichsten.
This basement is the least comfortable.
dieser Keller means this basement. am ungemütlichsten is the predicative superlative, formed with am and -sten; it follows the finite verb ist in the predicate.
der Ventilator — fan, ventilator
Ventilator usually means an electric fan that moves air. It is a masculine noun with the plural Ventilatoren, not Ventilators.
Der Ventilator läuft die ganze Nacht.
The fan runs all night.
laufen means to run or operate, and die ganze Nacht means all night. Der Ventilator is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb läuft is in position two.
Ich schalte den Ventilator ein.
I switch on the fan.
einschalten means to switch on. Den Ventilator is accusative because einschalten takes a direct object; the separable prefix ein moves to the end of this main clause.
Ich gebe dem Ventilator mehr Strom.
I give the fan more electricity.
geben means to give, mehr means more, and der Strom is electricity. Dem Ventilator is dative because it is the receiver, while mehr Strom is the accusative thing given.
Das Geräusch des Ventilators stört mich.
The noise of the fan bothers me.
das Geräusch means the noise, and stören means to bother; mich means me. Des Ventilators is genitive because it identifies whose noise it is, while mich is accusative because it is the person affected.
Im Büro stehen drei Ventilatoren.
There are three fans in the office.
das Büro means the office, and drei means three. Drei Ventilatoren is plural with the ending -en; because Im Büro comes first, the verb stehen is in position two.
vermieten — to rent out; to let
Vermieten means to rent something out, from the owner's point of view. The person renting the property uses mieten; vermieten takes the property as its accusative object.
Sie vermietet eine Wohnung in Berlin.
She is renting out an apartment in Berlin.
eine Wohnung means an apartment and in Berlin means in Berlin. Eine Wohnung is accusative because vermieten takes the property being let as a direct object; the finite verb vermietet stands in position two.
Er hat das Zimmer vermietet.
He rented out the room.
das Zimmer means the room. The perfect uses haben plus the Partizip II vermietet; das Zimmer is accusative and the participle goes to the end.
Meine Tante vermietete ihr Haus an eine Familie.
My aunt rented out her house to a family.
meine Tante means my aunt, ihr Haus means her house, and eine Familie means a family. Vermietete is regular simple past; ihr Haus is accusative, and an takes accusative here because it introduces the people receiving the property.
Vermiete das Zimmer nicht zu billig!
Do not rent out the room too cheaply!
das Zimmer means the room, and nicht zu billig means not too cheaply. Vermiete is the informal singular imperative; the object is accusative and du is left out.
Ich würde mein Haus gern vermieten.
I would like to rent out my house.
mein Haus means my house, and gern means gladly or would like to. Würde expresses a hypothetical or polite idea, while the infinitive vermieten goes at the end; mein Haus is accusative.
Die Besitzerin wird die Wohnung bald vermieten.
The owner will rent out the apartment soon.
die Besitzerin means the female owner, die Wohnung means the apartment, and bald means soon. In the future, wird is in position two and vermieten goes to the end; the apartment is the accusative object.
die Vermietung — rental; letting
Vermietung is the noun made from vermieten, to rent out. It can mean the process of renting out property or a particular rental arrangement.
Die Vermietung beginnt im nächsten Monat.
The rental begins next month.
beginnt means begins, and im nächsten Monat means next month. Die Vermietung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb beginnt is in position two.
Wir organisieren die Vermietung der Wohnung.
We organise the rental of the flat.
organisieren means organise, and die Wohnung means the flat. Die Vermietung is accusative because organisieren takes a direct object; the phrase der Wohnung is genitive and specifies what is being rented.
Bei der Vermietung hilft uns eine Agentur.
An agency helps us with the rental.
bei means during or with, hilft means helps, and eine Agentur means an agency. Der Vermietung is dative because bei always takes the dative; hilft is in position two, while uns is also dative because helfen takes a dative person.
Die Kosten der Vermietung sind hoch.
The costs of the rental are high.
die Kosten means the costs, hoch means high, and sind means are. Der Vermietung is genitive because it identifies which costs are meant; the feminine article is der in the genitive.
Online findet man viele Vermietungen.
You can find many rental offers online.
online means online, findet man means one can find, and viele means many. Vermietungen is plural with -en, and viele introduces the plural accusative object; the impersonal subject man is nominative.
der Vorhang — curtain
Der Vorhang can cover a window or a stage. Its plural is die Vorhänge, with an umlaut; do not confuse the noun with the verb vorhängen, which is uncommon in everyday language.
Der Vorhang hängt vor dem Fenster.
The curtain is hanging in front of the window.
hängt means is hanging and vor dem Fenster means in front of the window. Der Vorhang is nominative because it is the subject, while vor takes the dative here because the sentence describes a fixed position.
Bitte öffne den Vorhang.
Please open the curtain.
bitte means please and öffne means open. Den Vorhang is accusative because öffnen takes a direct object; the informal singular imperative has the ending -e here.
Sie steht hinter dem Vorhang.
She is standing behind the curtain.
steht means is standing and hinter means behind. Dem Vorhang is dative because hinter describes a fixed location here; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Die Farbe des Vorhangs gefällt mir.
I like the colour of the curtain.
die Farbe means the colour and gefällt mir means is pleasing to me, or I like it. Des Vorhangs is genitive because it identifies whose colour it is; mir is dative because gefallen takes the person who likes something in the dative.
Die roten Vorhänge passen gut zum Sofa.
The red curtains go well with the sofa.
rot means red, passen gut means go well or fit well, and das Sofa means the sofa. Vorhänge is plural nominative because it is the subject; zum Sofa is dative because zu always takes the dative.
wegziehen — to move away; to pull away, to pull aside
When the subject moves away, the perfect uses sein: ist weggezogen. When a person pulls an object away, the verb can take an accusative object and uses haben, as in hat den Vorhang weggezogen.
Meine Schwester zieht nächstes Jahr nach Hamburg weg.
My sister is moving away to Hamburg next year.
meine Schwester means my sister, nächstes Jahr means next year, and nach Hamburg means to Hamburg. Nach Hamburg expresses a destination, not an accusative object; the finite part zieht is in position two and weg goes to the end.
Wir sind vor drei Jahren aus Berlin weggezogen.
We moved away from Berlin three years ago.
vor drei Jahren means three years ago, and aus Berlin means from Berlin. Weggezogen pairs with sein here because the subject changes location; the auxiliary is in position two and the Partizip II stands at the end.
Er zog nach der Ausbildung nach Köln weg.
He moved away to Cologne after his training.
nach der Ausbildung means after the training, and nach Köln means to Cologne. Nach takes the dative when it means after in the time phrase, while the destination phrase also uses nach; zog is the past form and weg is separated.
Zieh nicht so weit weg!
Don’t move so far away!
nicht means not, and so weit means so far. This is a command to one person; the imperative is zieh, while the separable prefix weg remains at the end.
Ich würde nicht so weit wegziehen.
I would not move so far away.
nicht means not, and so weit means so far. After würde, the complete infinitive wegziehen goes to the end and is not split; the conditional expresses a hypothetical move.
Sie wird im Sommer nach München wegziehen.
She will move away to Munich in summer.
im Sommer means in summer, and nach München means to Munich. Wird is in position two and the complete infinitive wegziehen goes to the end; nach marks the destination of the move.
Sie zieht den Vorhang weg.
She pulls the curtain aside.
der Vorhang means the curtain. Den Vorhang is accusative because it is the object being pulled; zieht is in position two and weg goes to the end.
Der Wind hat die Decke weggezogen.
The wind pulled the blanket away.
der Wind means the wind and die Decke means the blanket. Die Decke is accusative as the object; this action sense uses haben, so the perfect is hat weggezogen.
die Wohngemeinschaft — shared flat, shared house
The word combines wohnen (to live) and Gemeinschaft (community). In everyday English, Wohngemeinschaft is often translated as shared flat or shared house, and the common abbreviation is WG.
Die Wohngemeinschaft ist sehr ruhig.
The shared flat is very quiet.
ruhig means quiet. Die Wohngemeinschaft is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich suche eine Wohngemeinschaft in der Innenstadt.
I am looking for a shared flat in the city centre.
suche means am looking for, and die Innenstadt means the city centre. Eine Wohngemeinschaft is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the finite verb suche is in position two.
Ich wohne in einer Wohngemeinschaft.
I live in a shared flat.
wohne means live. In einer Wohngemeinschaft is dative because in describes a fixed location, not movement; the feminine article is einer in the dative.
Die Küche der Wohngemeinschaft ist groß.
The shared flat's kitchen is large.
die Küche means the kitchen, and groß means large. Der Wohngemeinschaft is genitive because it shows possession or association; the feminine genitive article is der, not des.
In unserer Straße gibt es drei Wohngemeinschaften.
There are three shared flats in our street.
unsere Straße means our street, and drei means three. Drei Wohngemeinschaften is accusative because es gibt takes an accusative object; the plural ending is -en.
der Wohnort — place of residence, hometown
Wohnort means the place where someone currently lives, not necessarily the place where they were born. For a birthplace, German uses Geburtsort.
Mein Wohnort ist nicht weit von Berlin entfernt.
My place of residence is not far from Berlin.
mein means my, nicht weit means not far, and entfernt means away or distant. Mein Wohnort is nominative because it is the subject, and the verb phrase ist ... entfernt forms the predicate.
Ich möchte meinen Wohnort nicht wechseln.
I do not want to change my place of residence.
möchte means would like to, and wechseln means change. Meinen Wohnort is accusative because wechseln takes a direct object; after möchte, the infinitive wechseln goes to the end.
In meinem Wohnort kennt jeder jeden.
Everyone in my town knows everyone.
meinem means my in the dative, and jeder jeden means everyone knows everyone. In meinem Wohnort is dative because in describes a fixed location; the first jeder is the subject and the second jeden is the accusative object of kennt.
Die Geschichte des Wohnorts ist sehr interessant.
The history of the place of residence is very interesting.
die Geschichte means the history, and interessant means interesting. Des Wohnorts is genitive because it identifies whose history it is; the masculine noun adds -s and uses des.
Viele Wohnorte liegen am Wasser.
Many places of residence are located by the water.
viele means many, liegen means are located, and am Wasser means by the water. Viele Wohnorte is a plural nominative subject, and am is short for an dem, with dative because it describes location.
die Wärmflasche — hot-water bottle
Die Wärmflasche is a bottle filled with hot water, often used in bed or for stomach pain. It is a compound of warm and die Flasche, and its plural is die Wärmflaschen.
Die Wärmflasche liegt im Bett.
The hot-water bottle is in the bed.
liegen means to lie or be lying, and das Bett means the bed. Die Wärmflasche is the nominative subject; im Bett is short for in dem Bett and is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Ich fülle die Wärmflasche mit heißem Wasser.
I fill the hot-water bottle with hot water.
füllen means to fill, heiß means hot, and das Wasser means water. Die Wärmflasche is accusative because füllen takes an accusative object; mit heißem Wasser is dative because mit always takes the dative.
Das Kind schläft mit der Wärmflasche ein.
The child falls asleep with the hot-water bottle.
das Kind means the child and einschlafen means to fall asleep. Mit der Wärmflasche is dative because mit requires the dative; the separable verb schläft ein puts ein at the end of the main clause.
Der Deckel der Wärmflasche ist fest.
The hot-water bottle's cap is tight.
der Deckel means the cap and fest means tight or secure. Der Wärmflasche is genitive because it shows whose cap it is; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Im Schrank stehen zwei Wärmflaschen.
There are two hot-water bottles in the cupboard.
der Schrank means the cupboard and zwei means two. Zwei Wärmflaschen is plural; im Schrank is dative because it describes a fixed location, and stehen agrees with the plural subject.
ziehen — to pull; to draw; to move; to relocate
For physically pulling an object, ziehen takes an accusative object and forms the perfect with haben. The vowel changes in du ziehst, er zieht, and zog, so learners should not add -te to the past form.
Ich ziehe an dem Seil.
I am pulling on the rope.
das Seil is the rope, and an means on in this expression. An dem Seil is dative because an etwas ziehen uses an with the dative; the finite verb ziehe stands in position two.
Wir haben die Kiste gezogen.
We pulled the box.
die Kiste is the box. Die Kiste is accusative because it is the object being pulled; this pulling sense uses haben, and the Partizip II gezogen goes to the end.
Er zog den Wagen hinter sich her.
He pulled the cart behind him.
der Wagen is the cart and hinter sich her means behind him along with him. Den Wagen is accusative because it is the object of ziehen; zog is the strong-verb simple past and needs no -te.
Zieh die Tür zu!
Pull the door shut!
die Tür means the door and zu means shut here. Zieh is the du imperative without a pronoun; die Tür is accusative because it is the object, and the separable particle zu stands at the end.
Ich würde den Vorhang ziehen, wenn er nicht festklemmte.
I would pull the curtain if it were not stuck.
der Vorhang is the curtain and festklemmen means be stuck. Den Vorhang is accusative because it is the object of ziehen; würde ... ziehen expresses an unreal or conditional action, while the verb in the wenn clause goes to the end.
Morgen werde ich den schweren Koffer ziehen.
Tomorrow I will pull the heavy suitcase.
morgen means tomorrow, schwer means heavy, and der Koffer is the suitcase. Den schweren Koffer is accusative because it is the object; in werde ... ziehen, the finite verb werde is in position two and the infinitive goes to the end.
Meine Schwester zieht nach Berlin.
My sister is moving to Berlin.
Meine Schwester means my sister and nach Berlin means to Berlin. The destination is expressed with nach, and this movement sense uses sein in the perfect: Sie ist nach Berlin gezogen.
Wir sind letztes Jahr nach Köln gezogen.
We moved to Cologne last year.
letztes Jahr means last year and nach Köln means to Cologne. This movement sense takes sein in the perfect because the subject changes location; the Partizip II gezogen stands at the end.
das Zuhause — home, place where one lives
The capitalized noun das Zuhause means a home or place where someone lives. Do not confuse it with lowercase zuhause, which is an adverb meaning at home.
Das Zuhause ist für viele Menschen wichtig.
Home is important for many people.
für viele Menschen means for many people, and wichtig means important. Das Zuhause is the nominative subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir suchen ein neues Zuhause.
We are looking for a new home.
wir suchen means we are looking for, and ein neues means a new one. Ein neues Zuhause is the accusative object after suchen; the neuter article and adjective both show the accusative form.
In diesem Zuhause leben drei Generationen.
Three generations live in this home.
in diesem means in this, and drei Generationen means three generations. In takes the dative for a fixed location, so diesem Zuhause is dative; the verb leben stands in position two.
Die Wärme des Zuhauses gibt ihr Sicherheit.
The warmth of home gives her security.
die Wärme means the warmth, gibt means gives, and ihr Sicherheit means her security. Des Zuhauses is genitive after die Wärme to show possession or connection, while ihr is dative because geben gives something to someone.
In großen Städten gibt es viele verschiedene Zuhause.
In big cities there are many different homes.
in großen Städten means in big cities, and viele verschiedene means many different. Zuhause has the same form in the plural, but the article would be die; after es gibt, the thing that exists is accusative.