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Vocab: Household tasks — A1 (2)
Household tasks vocabulary at A1 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
stinken — to stink, to smell bad
stinken describes an unpleasant smell and normally uses haben in the perfect. To say what something smells of, use nach plus the dative, as in nach Rauch stinken.
Der Müll stinkt.
The rubbish stinks.
der Müll means rubbish or garbage. Der Müll is nominative because it is the subject; stinkt is in position two, and stinken has no direct object in this use.
Die Küche hat nach Fisch gestunken.
The kitchen smelled of fish.
die Küche is the kitchen, and der Fisch is the fish. nach Fisch uses nach with the dative, although the masculine article is omitted here; the perfect uses hat, and gestunken goes to the end.
Der alte Käse stank fürchterlich.
The old cheese smelled terrible.
alt means old, der Käse is cheese, and fürchterlich means terribly. Der alte Käse is nominative, and the strong preterite stank stands in position two.
Stink nicht so!
Don't stink so much!
nicht means not, and so means so or like that. stink is the du imperative, with the subject omitted; nicht comes after the verb to negate the command.
Wenn der Abfluss stänke, müssten wir den Klempner rufen.
If the drain stank, we would have to call the plumber.
der Abfluss is the drain, müssen means have to, rufen means to call, and der Klempner is the plumber. stänke is the Konjunktiv II of stinken and goes to the end of the wenn clause; den Klempner is accusative after rufen.
Der Abfall wird morgen wieder stinken.
The rubbish will stink again tomorrow.
der Abfall is waste or rubbish, morgen means tomorrow, and wieder means again. wird is the finite future auxiliary in position two, while the infinitive stinken goes to the end.
das Streichholz — match
Das Streichholz is a single match used to make a flame. The plural has an umlaut and a changed ending: die Streichhölzer.
Das Streichholz liegt auf dem Tisch.
The match is lying on the table.
liegt means is lying and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Das Streichholz is nominative because it is the subject; auf takes dative for a fixed location.
Ich brauche das Streichholz.
I need the match.
brauche means need. Das Streichholz is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the neuter article stays das in both nominative and accusative.
Gib mir dem Streichholz?
Give me the match?
gib mir means give me, although the natural sentence is Gib mir das Streichholz. The recipient mir is dative, but the match itself should be accusative, so dem Streichholz is not correct in this meaning.
Die Flamme des Streichholzes ist klein.
The flame of the match is small.
die Flamme means the flame and klein means small. Des Streichholzes is genitive because it identifies whose flame is meant; the neuter noun takes -es in the genitive.
Die Streichhölzer sind in der Schachtel.
The matches are in the box.
sind means are and in der Schachtel means in the box. Streichhölzer is plural and therefore takes die; its umlaut distinguishes it from singular Streichholz.
das Taschentuch — tissue, handkerchief
The compound joins Tasche (pocket or bag) and Tuch (cloth). The plural has an umlaut and -er: das Taschentuch becomes die Taschentücher.
Das Taschentuch ist sauber.
The tissue is clean.
sauber means clean. Das Taschentuch is nominative because it is the subject of ist; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich brauche ein Taschentuch.
I need a tissue.
brauchen means to need. Ein Taschentuch is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; with a neuter noun, ein looks the same in the nominative and accusative.
Mit dem Taschentuch wische ich den Tisch ab.
I wipe the table with the tissue.
mit means with, wischen means to wipe, and der Tisch is the table. Mit takes the dative, so dem Taschentuch is dative; in wische ... ab, the prefix ab goes to the end of the main clause.
Die Farbe des Taschentuchs ist blau.
The colour of the handkerchief is blue.
die Farbe means the colour, and blau means blue. Des Taschentuchs is genitive because it identifies which tissue’s colour is meant; the neuter noun adds -s in the genitive.
Die Taschentücher liegen neben dem Waschbecken.
The tissues are next to the washbasin.
liegen means are lying, neben means next to, and das Waschbecken is the washbasin. Die Taschentücher is plural nominative because it is the subject; the plural uses an umlaut and -er.
das Toilettenpapier — toilet paper
Das Toilettenpapier is a mass noun, so it normally has no plural. To count it, use a unit such as eine Rolle Toilettenpapier, meaning a roll of toilet paper.
Das Toilettenpapier liegt im Bad.
The toilet paper is in the bathroom.
liegen means to be lying, and das Bad means the bathroom. Das Toilettenpapier is nominative because it is the subject, while im Bad means in dem Bad and uses the dative for a fixed location.
Ich brauche das Toilettenpapier.
I need the toilet paper.
brauchen means to need. Das Toilettenpapier is accusative because it is the object of brauchen; with a neuter noun, the article das looks the same in the nominative and accusative.
Kannst du mir das Toilettenpapier bringen?
Can you bring me the toilet paper?
bringen means to bring, and kannst du means can you. Mir is dative because it is the recipient, while das Toilettenpapier is accusative because it is the thing brought; the infinitive bringen goes to the end after the modal verb kannst.
Die Rolle des Toilettenpapiers ist leer.
The roll of toilet paper is empty.
die Rolle means the roll and leer means empty. Des Toilettenpapiers is genitive because it says what the roll contains; the noun takes -s in the genitive, even though it normally has no plural.
trocknen — to dry; to dry, to become dry
For drying something, use etwas trocknen with the accusative. For something becoming dry, trocknen can be intransitive and normally takes sein in the perfect: Die Wäsche ist getrocknet.
Ich trockne die Teller.
I dry the plates.
die Teller means the plates. The object is accusative because trocknen in this use takes an accusative object, and the finite verb trockne stands in position two.
Wir haben die Wäsche getrocknet.
We dried the laundry.
die Wäsche means the laundry. die Wäsche is accusative because it is the object; haben is in position two and getrocknet goes to the end of the perfect clause.
Sie trocknete ihre Haare mit einem Handtuch.
She dried her hair with a towel.
ihre Haare means her hair, and mit einem Handtuch means with a towel. The object is accusative, while mit always takes the dative; the weak past form trocknete is in position two.
Trockne bitte die Hände!
Please dry your hands!
bitte means please, and die Hände means the hands. This is the du imperative, so the subject is omitted; die Hände is accusative because it is the object.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, trocknete ich die Wäsche draußen.
If I had more time, I would dry the laundry outside.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and draußen means outside. trocknete is both the simple-past form and the Konjunktiv II form here; it stands at the end of the wenn clause, while die Wäsche is accusative.
Morgen werde ich die Kleidung im Garten trocknen.
Tomorrow I will dry the clothes in the garden.
morgen means tomorrow, die Kleidung means the clothes, and im Garten means in the garden. werde is in position two and the infinitive trocknen goes to the end; die Kleidung is accusative, while im Garten is dative location.
Die Wäsche trocknet in der Sonne.
The laundry is drying in the sun.
die Wäsche means the laundry, and in der Sonne means in the sun. Here the laundry becomes dry by itself, so there is no accusative object; in der Sonne is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Nach dem Regen ist der Boden schnell getrocknet.
After the rain, the ground dried quickly.
nach dem Regen means after the rain, der Boden is the ground, and schnell means quickly. Because the ground changes state, the perfect uses ist, not hat; getrocknet goes to the end.
der Trockner — dryer, tumble dryer
der Trockner is the machine that dries clothes; it is different from trocknen, the verb ‘to dry’. The plural has no ending: die Trockner.
Der Trockner steht im Keller.
The dryer is in the basement.
steht means is standing or is located, and der Keller is the basement. Der Trockner is nominative because it is the subject; im Keller is dative because in describes a fixed location.
Ich stelle den Trockner neben die Waschmaschine.
I put the dryer next to the washing machine.
stelle means put or place, neben means next to, and die Waschmaschine is the washing machine. Den Trockner is accusative as the object of stelle; neben die Waschmaschine is accusative because it expresses movement to a place.
Ich gebe dem Trockner die nasse Wäsche.
I put the wet laundry in the dryer.
gebe means give or put, nass means wet, and die Wäsche means laundry. Dem Trockner is dative as the recipient or destination, while die nasse Wäsche is the accusative thing being put there.
Die Tür des Trockners ist kaputt.
The dryer’s door is broken.
die Tür means the door, and kaputt means broken. Des Trockners shows whose door it is; the masculine genitive uses des and adds -s to Trockner.
In diesem Haus gibt es drei Trockner.
There are three dryers in this house.
in diesem Haus means in this house, and drei means three. Trockner has no plural ending, but drei and Trockner show that it is plural; after es gibt, the plural is accusative.
die Tube — tube, squeezable container
Die Tube ist fast leer.
The tube is almost empty.
fast leer means almost empty. Die Tube is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe die Tube Zahnpasta.
I am buying the tube of toothpaste.
Zahnpasta means toothpaste. Die Tube is accusative because kaufe takes a direct object, and the finite verb stands in position two.
Ich drücke der Tube etwas Creme aus.
I squeeze some cream out of the tube.
etwas Creme means some cream, and ausdrücken means to squeeze out. Der Tube is dative because it is the source or container involved; the separable verb appears as drücke ... aus.
Der Deckel der Tube fehlt.
The tube's cap is missing.
Der Deckel means the cap, and fehlt means is missing. Der Tube is genitive to show possession; the finite verb fehlt is in position two.
Im Schrank stehen drei Tuben.
There are three tubes in the cupboard.
Im Schrank means in the cupboard, and drei means three. Tuben is the plural with -n; im Schrank is dative because it expresses a fixed location.
die Waage — scale, weighing machine
The plural Waagen can mean several weighing machines or several scales. In the zodiac, die Waage also means Libra.
Die Waage steht im Badezimmer.
The scales are in the bathroom.
das Badezimmer means bathroom. Die Waage is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two; stehen describes a stationary position.
Ich stelle die Tasche auf die Waage.
I put the bag on the scales.
die Tasche is a bag, and stellen means to put upright; auf die Waage means onto the scales. Die Tasche is accusative because it is the object of stelle, and die Waage is accusative after auf because the sentence expresses movement towards a place.
Ich vertraue der Waage nicht.
I do not trust the scales.
vertrauen means to trust, and nicht means not. Der Waage is dative because vertrauen requires a dative object; the finite verb vertraue stands in position two.
Die Genauigkeit der Waage ist wichtig.
The accuracy of the scales is important.
die Genauigkeit means accuracy, and wichtig means important. Der Waage is genitive after die Genauigkeit to show whose accuracy it is; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Im Geschäft stehen mehrere Waagen.
There are several scales in the shop.
das Geschäft means shop, and mehrere means several. Waagen is the plural of die Waage; im Geschäft is dative because in describes a location, not movement.
warten — to wait; to await, to wait for
The most common pattern is auf jemanden oder etwas warten, with auf plus the accusative. The perfect uses haben, not sein, because warten describes staying or delaying rather than movement.
Ich warte auf den Bus.
I am waiting for the bus.
der Bus means the bus. auf den Bus is accusative because warten auf is a fixed verb-preposition combination, and the finite verb warte is in position two.
Wir haben lange auf den Zug gewartet.
We waited a long time for the train.
lange means for a long time and der Zug means the train. auf den Zug is accusative after fixed auf with warten; haben is in position two and gewartet goes to the end.
Sie wartete vor dem Kino.
She waited in front of the cinema.
sie means she and das Kino means the cinema. vor dem Kino is dative because vor describes a fixed location, and the regular past form wartete stands in position two.
Warte bitte hier!
Please wait here!
bitte means please and hier means here. Warte is the informal singular imperative and comes first; the subject pronoun du is normally omitted.
Ich würde noch zehn Minuten warten.
I would wait another ten minutes.
noch zehn Minuten means another ten minutes. The infinitive warten goes to the end after würde, and the time expression is an accusative-looking duration, not a direct object.
Wir werden draußen warten.
We will wait outside.
draußen means outside. werden is in position two and the infinitive warten goes to the end; no preposition is needed with this adverb of place.
Sie wartet noch auf eine Antwort.
She is still waiting for an answer.
noch means still and eine Antwort means an answer. auf eine Antwort is accusative after warten auf, and the finite verb wartet is in position two.
Die Kunden haben auf ihre Bestellung gewartet.
The customers waited for their order.
die Kunden means the customers and ihre Bestellung means their order. auf ihre Bestellung is accusative after warten auf; haben comes in position two and gewartet closes the perfect-tense clause.
waschen — to wash; to launder; to do the laundry
For washing a part of your own body, German commonly uses a dative reflexive pronoun plus an accusative body part, as in sich die Hände waschen. The verb takes haben in the perfect, including when it is used reflexively.
Ich wasche mir jeden Morgen die Hände.
I wash my hands every morning.
jeden Morgen means every morning and die Hände means the hands. mir means ‘for myself’; die Hände is accusative because waschen takes the thing being washed as an accusative object, while the finite verb wasche stands in position two.
Wir haben das Auto gewaschen.
We washed the car.
das Auto means the car. The perfect uses haben plus gewaschen; das Auto is accusative because it is the object, and the participle stands at the end of the clause.
Sie wusch ihrem Sohn das Gesicht.
She washed her son’s face.
ihrem Sohn means her son and das Gesicht means the face. ihrem Sohn is dative as the person helped, while das Gesicht is accusative as the thing washed; wusch is the strong-verb past form.
Wasch dir vor dem Essen die Hände!
Wash your hands before eating!
vor dem Essen means before eating. dir is dative and means ‘for yourself’, while die Hände is accusative; the imperative wasch comes first and the subject du is left out.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, wüsche ich das Fahrrad sofort.
If I had more time, I would wash the bicycle immediately.
mehr Zeit means more time, das Fahrrad means the bicycle, and sofort means immediately. wüsche is the Konjunktiv II form; the verb goes to the end of the wenn-clause, but ich wüsche has verb-second order in the main clause.
Morgen werde ich die Fenster waschen.
Tomorrow I will wash the windows.
morgen means tomorrow and die Fenster means the windows. werde is the finite future auxiliary in position two, while the infinitive waschen goes to the end; die Fenster is accusative.
Am Samstag wasche ich die Wäsche.
On Saturday I do the laundry.
Am Samstag means on Saturday and die Wäsche means the laundry. die Wäsche is accusative because it is what is washed, and the finite verb wasche is in position two after the time expression.
Die Maschine hat die weißen Hemden gewaschen.
The machine washed the white shirts.
die Maschine means the machine and die weißen Hemden means the white shirts. The perfect uses hat and the participle gewaschen at the end; die weißen Hemden is accusative because waschen takes an accusative object.
der Waschlappen — washcloth; flannel; wimp; weakling
The literal object is a small cloth for washing. In colloquial German, Waschlappen can also describe a weak or ineffectual person; that figurative sense is normally insulting.
Der Waschlappen liegt im Bad.
The washcloth is in the bathroom.
liegt means is lying and im Bad means in the bathroom. Der Waschlappen is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb liegt stands in position two.
Ich nehme den Waschlappen.
I take the washcloth.
nehme means take. den Waschlappen is accusative because nehmen takes a direct object, and the finite verb nehme is in position two.
Ich wasche mir mit dem Waschlappen das Gesicht.
I wash my face with the washcloth.
mit means with and das Gesicht means the face. dem Waschlappen is dative because mit always takes the dative, while das Gesicht is accusative as the thing washed.
Die Farbe des Waschlappens ist blau.
The washcloth’s colour is blue.
die Farbe means the colour and blau means blue. des Waschlappens is genitive because it expresses possession, and the masculine noun has -s in this case.
Im Laden liegen viele Waschlappen.
There are many washcloths in the shop.
im Laden means in the shop and viele means many. Waschlappen has the same spelling in the plural, so viele and the plural article die are important clues; the verb liegen is plural.
Er ist doch kein Waschlappen!
He is not a wimp, after all!
doch adds an emphatic ‘after all’ or ‘you know’, and kein means no or not a. Waschlappen is a nominative predicate after sein, not an accusative object; kein negates the noun.
Nenn mich nicht Waschlappen!
Don’t call me a wimp!
Nenn mich nicht means don’t call me, and mich means me. Waschlappen is an accusative predicative complement after nennen; the imperative Nenn comes first and the separable-looking final element is not involved here.
die Waschmaschine — washing machine
The compound combines waschen, ‘to wash’, with die Maschine, ‘machine’. Its grammatical gender is feminine because the final part Maschine is feminine.
Die Waschmaschine ist kaputt.
The washing machine is broken.
kaputt means broken. Die Waschmaschine is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich kaufe eine neue Waschmaschine.
I am buying a new washing machine.
kaufe means am buying, eine neue means a new, and kaufen means to buy. eine neue Waschmaschine is accusative because kaufen takes a direct object; the feminine adjective ending is -e after eine.
Ich helfe meiner Mutter mit der Waschmaschine.
I help my mother with the washing machine.
helfe means help and meiner Mutter means my mother. meiner Mutter is dative because helfen requires the dative, and der Waschmaschine is also dative because mit always takes the dative.
Die Tür der Waschmaschine ist offen.
The washing machine’s door is open.
die Tür means the door and offen means open. der Waschmaschine is genitive because it shows whose door it is; the feminine noun itself does not change, but the article becomes der.
In dem Haus stehen drei Waschmaschinen.
There are three washing machines in the house.
in dem Haus means in the house and drei means three. Waschmaschinen is plural with -n, and stehen is plural because the subject is drei Waschmaschinen.
das Waschmittel — detergent; laundry product
Waschmittel can mean detergent generally or a particular type of laundry product. It is often used without an article when referring to detergent as a substance; the plural refers to different products or kinds.
Das Waschmittel steht im Schrank.
The detergent is in the cupboard.
steht means is standing or is kept, and im Schrank means in the cupboard. Das Waschmittel is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb steht is in position two.
Ich brauche neues Waschmittel.
I need new detergent.
brauche means need and neues means new. neues Waschmittel is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; with an uncountable substance, German often uses no article.
Ich gebe dem Waschmittel eine gute Bewertung.
I give the detergent a good rating.
gebe means give, eine gute Bewertung means a good rating, and gute means good. dem Waschmittel is dative as the recipient or indirect object, while eine gute Bewertung is accusative as the thing given.
Der Geruch des Waschmittels ist stark.
The smell of the detergent is strong.
der Geruch means the smell and stark means strong. des Waschmittels is genitive because it identifies the detergent’s smell; the neuter noun adds -s and uses des.
Im Geschäft stehen viele Waschmittel.
There are many detergents in the shop.
im Geschäft means in the shop and viele means many. Waschmittel has the same spelling in singular and plural, so viele and the plural verb stehen show that several products are meant.
wegräumen — to put away, to clear away
The object is usually a thing that is removed from its current place and put somewhere else. Wegräumen takes haben in the perfect and is separable: räumt weg, but wegzuräumen after zu.
Ich räume nach dem Essen den Tisch weg.
I clear the table after the meal.
nach dem Essen means after the meal, and der Tisch is the table. Den Tisch is accusative because wegräumen takes the thing being cleared as a direct object; the finite part räume is in position two and weg goes to the end.
Wir haben die Teller weggeräumt.
We put the plates away.
die Teller means the plates. Weggeräumt is the Partizip II and pairs with haben; the auxiliary is in position two and weggeräumt stands at the end.
Sie räumte das Spielzeug am Abend weg.
She put the toys away in the evening.
das Spielzeug means the toys, and am Abend means in the evening. Das Spielzeug is accusative as the direct object; in the simple past, räumte is the finite verb and weg is separated to the end.
Räum bitte deine Schuhe weg.
Please put your shoes away.
bitte means please, and deine Schuhe means your shoes. The imperative addresses one person; deine Schuhe is accusative, and the prefix weg stays at the end.
Ich würde die Bücher sofort wegräumen.
I would put the books away immediately.
die Bücher means the books, and sofort means immediately. Die Bücher is accusative because it is the direct object; after würde, the infinitive wegräumen goes to the end and is not split.
Morgen werde ich die Kisten wegräumen.
Tomorrow I will put the boxes away.
morgen means tomorrow, and die Kisten are the boxes. Die Kisten is accusative as the object; werde is in position two and the complete infinitive wegräumen goes to the end.
wegwerfen — to throw away, to discard
This is a strong separable verb: werfen – warf – hat geworfen. Do not use haben because the object is being thrown away; the perfect still uses haben because the verb describes an action, not a change of location by the subject.
Ich werfe die leere Flasche weg.
I throw the empty bottle away.
die leere Flasche means the empty bottle. Die leere Flasche is accusative because it is the direct object; the finite part werfe is in position two and weg goes to the end.
Er hat den alten Karton weggeworfen.
He threw the old cardboard box away.
der alte Karton means the old cardboard box. Den alten Karton is accusative as the object; weggeworfen pairs with haben and stands at the end.
Sie warf die kaputte Lampe weg.
She threw the broken lamp away.
die kaputte Lampe means the broken lamp. Die kaputte Lampe is accusative; warf is the strong past form, while weg is separated to the end.
Wirf das Papier weg!
Throw the paper away!
das Papier means the paper. The command addresses one person; das Papier is accusative, the imperative is wirf, and weg stands at the end.
Ich würde die alte Zeitung nicht wegwerfen.
I would not throw the old newspaper away.
die alte Zeitung means the old newspaper, and nicht means not. The object is accusative; after würde, the complete infinitive wegwerfen goes to the end and is not split.
Wir werden die kaputten Stühle wegwerfen.
We will throw the broken chairs away.
die kaputten Stühle means the broken chairs. The object is accusative; werden is in position two and the complete infinitive wegwerfen goes to the end.
das Werkzeug — tool; tool; means or instrument
Das Werkzeug can mean one tool or tools in general. The plural is die Werkzeuge; it is also used figuratively for something that helps achieve a purpose.
Das Werkzeug liegt in der Garage.
The tool is in the garage.
liegen means to be lying or to be located, and die Garage is the garage. Das Werkzeug is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liegt is in position two.
Ich brauche ein Werkzeug.
I need a tool.
brauchen means to need. Ein Werkzeug is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the neuter article stays ein, and brauche stands in position two.
Ich repariere das Fahrrad mit einem Werkzeug.
I repair the bicycle with a tool.
reparieren means to repair, and das Fahrrad is the bicycle. Mit einem Werkzeug is dative because mit always takes the dative; das Fahrrad is accusative as the object of repariere.
Der Griff des Werkzeugs ist kaputt.
The handle of the tool is broken.
der Griff means the handle, and kaputt means broken. Des Werkzeugs is genitive because it identifies the tool whose handle is meant; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Die Werkzeuge liegen auf dem Tisch.
The tools are on the table.
liegen means are lying or are located, and der Tisch is the table. Werkzeuge is plural nominative because it is the subject; auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes location, not movement.
Sprache ist ein wichtiges Werkzeug.
Language is an important tool.
Sprache means language, and wichtig means important. Ein wichtiges Werkzeug follows sein as a nominative predicate; the adjective ending -es agrees with the neuter noun, and ist is in position two.
Das Internet dient als Werkzeug für die Forschung.
The internet serves as a tool for research.
dienen means to serve, and die Forschung means research. Als Werkzeug describes the function of the internet, while für die Forschung is accusative because für always takes the accusative.
die Wäsche — laundry, washing
Wäsche is usually an uncountable mass noun, so it normally has no plural. For individual items, use words such as die Kleidungsstücke for articles of clothing.
Die Wäsche ist noch nicht trocken.
The laundry is not dry yet.
trocken means dry, and noch nicht means not yet. Die Wäsche is nominative because it is the subject, and ist is the finite form of sein in position two.
Ich mache die Wäsche heute.
I am doing the laundry today.
heute means today, and machen means to do here. Die Wäsche is accusative because machen takes a direct object; the finite verb mache is in position two.
Ich helfe meiner Mutter bei der Wäsche.
I help my mother with the laundry.
helfen means to help, meiner Mutter is my mother, and bei means with or during. Der Wäsche is dative because bei always takes the dative, while helfe stands in position two.
Der Geruch der Wäsche ist angenehm.
The smell of the laundry is pleasant.
der Geruch means the smell, and angenehm means pleasant. Der Wäsche is genitive because it shows what the smell belongs to; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Am Samstag wasche ich die Wäsche.
On Saturday I do the laundry.
am Samstag means on Saturday, and waschen means to wash. This example uses the singular mass noun die Wäsche, not a plural; German normally does not use a plural for laundry in this everyday meaning.