Appearance
Vocab: People & relationships — A2 (3) ​
People & relationships vocabulary at A2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
unfreundlich — unfriendly, unkind, impolite ​
unfreundlich describes behaviour that is not friendly or polite. With a person, the common pattern is unfreundlich zu jemandem sein, with zu taking the dative.
Der Verkäufer war sehr unfreundlich.
The shop assistant was very unfriendly.
der Verkäufer means the shop assistant and sehr means very. unfreundlich is predicative after war, so it has no adjective ending; der Verkäufer is nominative because it is the subject.
Sie gab mir einen unfreundlichen Blick.
She gave me an unfriendly look.
gab means gave, mir means to me, and einen Blick means a look. einen unfreundlichen Blick is accusative as the direct object of geben, while mir is dative for the recipient; the adjective takes -en after einen.
Heute klingt seine Stimme unfreundlicher als sonst.
Today his voice sounds less friendly than usual.
heute means today, klingt means sounds, and als sonst means than usual. unfreundlicher is a predicative comparative after klingt; als introduces the comparison.
Er antwortete mir am unfreundlichsten.
He replied to me in the most unfriendly way.
antwortete means replied and mir means to me. The adverbial superlative am unfreundlichsten describes how he replied, while mir is dative because antworten takes a dative person.
ungezogen — naughty, badly behaved ​
This adjective is most often used for children who disobey or behave rudely. Ungezogen is stronger than simply frech, which can mean cheeky or impudent.
Der Junge ist ungezogen.
The boy is naughty.
der Junge means the boy. ungezogen is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Die Mutter schimpft mit einem ungezogenen Kind.
The mother tells off a naughty child.
die Mutter is the mother, schimpft means tells off or scolds, and das Kind is the child. mit einem ungezogenen Kind is dative because mit always takes the dative; after einem, the adjective has the ending -en.
Dieses Kind ist ungezogener als sein Bruder.
This child is naughtier than his brother.
dieses Kind means this child, and sein Bruder means his brother. The comparative is followed by als; after ist, ungezogener is predicative and therefore has no adjective ending.
Das ist das ungezogenste Kind in der Klasse.
That is the naughtiest child in the class.
die Klasse means the class. Before the noun, the superlative uses -st- and an adjective ending: das ungezogenste Kind; in der Klasse is dative because it describes a location.
Die Kinder waren heute besonders ungezogen.
The children were especially naughty today.
die Kinder means the children, heute means today, and besonders means especially. waren is the past form of sein, and the predicative adjective ungezogen has no ending.
Sei nicht so ungezogen!
Don’t be so naughty!
sei means be, nicht means not, and so means so or that. This is the sein imperative; the predicative adjective has no ending, and nicht negates the adjective.
unhöflich — rude, impolite ​
unhöflich describes behaviour that is not respectful or polite. It can describe a person, words, an answer, or an action.
Der Mann ist unhöflich.
The man is rude.
der Mann is the man. unhöflich is predicative after sein, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Das ist eine unhöfliche Antwort.
That is a rude answer.
das ist means that is, and die Antwort is the answer. eine unhöfliche Antwort is nominative after sein, and the feminine adjective takes -e after eine.
Seine E-Mail klingt unhöflicher als die erste.
His email sounds ruder than the first one.
seine E-Mail means his email, klingen means to sound, and die erste means the first one. unhöflicher is the comparative after klingen and has no ending because it is predicative; als introduces the comparison.
Von allen Gästen war er am unhöflichsten.
Of all the guests, he was the rudest.
von allen Gästen means of all the guests, and der Gast is the guest. von requires the dative, so the plural is Gästen; am unhöflichsten is the predicative superlative after war.
untereinander — among one another, with each other ​
Untereinander refers to several people or things within the same group. It is not the same as unter used as a preposition, which can require an article and a case.
Die Kinder teilen die SĂĽĂźigkeiten untereinander.
The children share the sweets among themselves.
die Kinder means “the children”, teilen means “share”, and die Süßigkeiten means “the sweets”. Die Süßigkeiten is accusative because it is the object of teilen; untereinander says that the children share them with one another.
Wir mĂĽssen untereinander ehrlich sein.
We have to be honest with one another.
wir müssen means “we have to”, and ehrlich means “honest”. Untereinander refers to the members of wir, meaning “with one another”; after the modal verb müssen, the infinitive sein goes to the end.
der User — user ​
User is a German borrowing from English. It is a regular masculine noun: the plural is User, and the genitive is Users; the plural is identified by its article or context.
Der User öffnet die App.
The user opens the app.
öffnet means opens and die App is the app. Der User is nominative because he is the subject, and the finite verb öffnet is in position two.
Ich sehe den User im Forum.
I see the user in the forum.
sehe means see, im Forum means in the forum, and den User means the user. Den User is accusative because sehen takes a direct object; the finite verb sehe stands in position two.
Ich antworte dem User schnell.
I reply to the user quickly.
antworte means reply, schnell means quickly, and dem User means to the user. Dem User is dative because antworten takes a dative person, while the finite verb antworte is in position two.
Das Passwort des Users ist sicher.
The user's password is secure.
Das Passwort means the password and sicher means secure. Des Users is genitive because it shows possession, and the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Viele User nutzen das Forum.
Many users use the forum.
Viele means many, nutzen means use, and das Forum means the forum. Viele User is a plural nominative subject, so the verb is nutzen, not singular nutzt; the finite verb is in position two.
verabreden — to arrange, to agree on ​
For arranging a meeting with a person, German often uses the reflexive phrase sich mit jemandem verabreden. The thing arranged, such as einen Termin, is accusative.
Wir verabreden einen Termin für nächste Woche.
We arrange an appointment for next week.
einen Termin means an appointment, and nächste Woche means next week. einen Termin is accusative because verabreden takes the thing being arranged as an accusative object; the finite verb verabreden stands in position two.
Wir haben einen Termin für nächste Woche verabredet.
We arranged an appointment for next week.
einen Termin is an appointment, and nächste Woche means next week. The perfect uses haben plus verabredet; the Partizip II goes to the end, while haben stands in position two and the object is accusative.
Sie verabredete mit ihrer Freundin einen Treffpunkt.
She agreed on a meeting place with her friend.
ihre Freundin means her female friend, and ein Treffpunkt is a meeting place. mit forces the dative, so ihrer Freundin is dative; einen Treffpunkt is accusative, and the weak-verb past form verabredete is in position two.
Verabrede einen Treffpunkt mit mir!
Arrange a meeting place with me!
einen Treffpunkt means a meeting place, and mit mir means with me. The imperative addresses du and puts the accusative object after the verb; mit requires the dative mir.
Ich wĂĽrde gern einen Termin mit Ihnen verabreden.
I would like to arrange an appointment with you.
gern means gladly or would like to, and mit Ihnen means with you formally. einen Termin is accusative; the polite Konjunktiv II uses wĂĽrde in position two and places the infinitive verabreden at the end.
Morgen werden wir den genauen Treffpunkt verabreden.
Tomorrow we will arrange the exact meeting place.
morgen means tomorrow, and der genaue Treffpunkt is the exact meeting place. Futur I puts werden in position two and the infinitive verabreden at the end; den genauen Treffpunkt is accusative.
die Verabredung — appointment, arrangement ​
die Verabredung can mean a planned meeting or the agreement made about it. For the verb, compare eine Verabredung haben with eine Verabredung verabreden; the first is especially common for a scheduled meeting.
Die Verabredung ist um sieben Uhr.
The appointment is at seven o’clock.
um sieben Uhr means at seven o’clock. Die Verabredung is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Ich verschiebe die Verabredung.
I am postponing the appointment.
verschieben means to postpone. die Verabredung is accusative because it is the direct object of verschiebe; the finite verb stands in position two.
Ich komme zu der Verabredung etwas später.
I am coming to the appointment a little later.
etwas später means a little later. The preposition zu always forces the dative, so der Verabredung is dative; komme is in position two.
Wegen der Verabredung kann ich nicht bleiben.
Because of the appointment, I cannot stay.
wegen means because of, and bleiben means to stay. In careful standard German, wegen takes the genitive, so der Verabredung is genitive; the finite verb kann is in position two.
Wir haben heute zwei Verabredungen.
We have two appointments today.
heute means today, and zwei means two. zwei Verabredungen is plural and accusative because it is the object of haben; the plural ending is -en.
verhalten — to behave, to conduct oneself ​
For the meaning behave, this verb is normally used reflexively as sich verhalten. Do not confuse it with das Verhalten, the related noun meaning behaviour; the verb has the strong forms verhält – verhielt – hat sich verhalten.
Er verhält sich im Unterricht sehr ruhig.
He behaves very quietly in class.
im Unterricht means in class, and sehr ruhig means very quietly or calmly. Verhält is in position two, while sich is the accusative reflexive pronoun; the preposition in takes dative here because this describes a location, not movement.
Sie hat sich gestern freundlich verhalten.
She behaved in a friendly way yesterday.
gestern means yesterday, and freundlich means friendly. The reflexive pronoun sich is accusative, and verhalten is the Partizip II with haben at the end of the perfect clause.
Der Junge verhielt sich sehr höflich.
The boy behaved very politely.
der Junge means the boy, and höflich means polite. Verhielt is the strong simple past form in position two, and sich is required because the verb means behave here.
Verhalte dich bitte ruhig!
Please behave calmly!
bitte means please, and ruhig means calmly or quietly. The imperative omits du, but the reflexive object dich remains; this is a common place where learners incorrectly omit the pronoun.
Wenn er sich besser verhielte, gäbe es weniger Probleme.
If he behaved better, there would be fewer problems.
besser means better, and weniger Probleme means fewer problems. Verhielte is the Konjunktiv II in the wenn clause and stands at its end; sich is the reflexive pronoun, and the main clause begins with gäbe.
Du wirst dich dort sicher gut verhalten.
You will certainly behave well there.
dort means there, sicher means certainly, and gut means well. Wirst is the future auxiliary in position two, while verhalten goes to the end and must be accompanied by the reflexive pronoun dich.
das Verhalten — behaviour, conduct; behaviour, way of functioning ​
Das Verhalten is normally a mass noun and has no plural. Do not confuse it with the related verb sich verhalten, meaning to behave.
Sein Verhalten war sehr freundlich.
His behaviour was very friendly.
sein means his, and freundlich means friendly; sehr means very. Sein Verhalten is nominative because it is the subject, and war is the finite verb in position two.
Die Lehrerin lobt sein Verhalten.
The teacher praises his behaviour.
die Lehrerin is the female teacher, and loben means to praise. Sein Verhalten is accusative because loben takes a direct object, while lobt stands in position two.
Wir sprechen mit den Eltern ĂĽber das Verhalten ihres Kindes.
We are talking to the parents about their child's behaviour.
mit den Eltern means with the parents, and ĂĽber means about; ihr Kind is their child. Mit forces the dative in den Eltern, while ĂĽber takes the accusative here; ihres Kindes is genitive because it means of their child.
Die GrĂĽnde seines Verhaltens sind unklar.
The reasons for his behaviour are unclear.
die GrĂĽnde are the reasons, and unklar means unclear. Seines Verhaltens is genitive because it identifies whose reasons they are; the finite verb sind is in position two.
Kinder lernen durch Beobachtung verschiedene Verhalten.
Children learn different behaviours through observation.
Kinder means children, lernen means learn, and Beobachtung means observation. In standard everyday German, das Verhalten is normally a mass noun with no plural, so this sentence uses Verhalten only in a specialised, countable sense such as different behavioural patterns; the accusative object follows lernen.
Sein Verhalten gegenĂĽber anderen Menschen ist respektvoll.
His behaviour towards other people is respectful.
gegenĂĽber anderen Menschen means towards other people, and respektvoll means respectful. Sein Verhalten is the subject, and gegenĂĽber normally takes the dative, shown by anderen Menschen.
Das Verhalten des Hundes hat mich ĂĽberrascht.
The dog's behaviour surprised me.
der Hund is the dog, and ĂĽberraschen means to surprise. Des Hundes is genitive to show possession, while das Verhalten is the accusative object of hat ĂĽberrascht.
Wissenschaftler untersuchen das Verhalten von Bienen.
Scientists study the behaviour of bees.
Wissenschaftler means scientists, untersuchen means study, and Bienen are bees. Das Verhalten is accusative after untersuchen, and von Bienen gives the group whose behaviour is being studied.
die Verliererin — female loser ​
The feminine ending -in makes the female form of a person noun; its plural is -innen. The usual opposite is die Gewinnerin, a female winner.
Die Verliererin gratuliert der Gewinnerin.
The female loser congratulates the winner.
gratuliert means congratulates, and die Gewinnerin is the female winner. Die Verliererin is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb gratuliert stands in position two.
Der Reporter interviewt die Verliererin.
The reporter interviews the female loser.
der Reporter is the reporter, and interviewt means interviews. Die Verliererin is accusative because interviewen takes a direct object; the feminine article remains die in both nominative and accusative.
Nach dem Spiel gibt der Trainer der Verliererin ein Handtuch.
After the game, the coach gives the female loser a towel.
nach dem Spiel means after the game, der Trainer is the coach, and ein Handtuch is a towel. Der Verliererin is dative because she is the recipient of gibt; the thing given, ein Handtuch, is accusative.
Die Enttäuschung der Verliererin war deutlich.
The female loser's disappointment was obvious.
die Enttäuschung means the disappointment, and deutlich means obvious or clear. Der Verliererin is genitive because it identifies whose disappointment it was; the genitive feminine article is der.
Die Verliererinnen verlassen langsam das Spielfeld.
The female losers slowly leave the playing field.
verlassen means leave, langsam means slowly, and das Spielfeld is the playing field. Verliererinnen is plural with die understood here, and the plural subject makes the finite verb verlassen stand in position two.
verloben — to get engaged ​
The common construction is sich mit jemandem verloben: the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject, and mit takes the dative. The perfect is formed with haben, not sein.
Anna verlobt sich mit ihrem Freund.
Anna gets engaged to her boyfriend.
Anna is a woman's name, and ihr Freund means her boyfriend. The reflexive sich refers back to Anna; mit takes the dative, so ihrem Freund is dative, and verlobt stands in position two.
Sie hat sich im Sommer verlobt.
She got engaged in the summer.
im Sommer means in the summer. The perfect uses hat plus the Partizip II verlobt; hat is in position two and verlobt goes to the end, while sich refers to sie.
Mein Bruder verlobte sich mit seiner Partnerin.
My brother got engaged to his partner.
mein Bruder means my brother, and seine Partnerin means his female partner. Verlobte is the weak-verb preterite in position two; mit forces the dative, giving seiner Partnerin.
Verlob dich nicht vorschnell!
Do not get engaged too quickly!
nicht means not, and vorschnell means too quickly or prematurely. This is an informal singular command: verlob is the imperative and dich is the reflexive pronoun; the negative word nicht follows the verb phrase.
Wenn ich sicher wäre, würde ich mich verloben.
If I were sure, I would get engaged.
sicher means sure or certain. The subordinate clause with wenn sends finite wäre to the end, while the main clause uses würde plus the infinitive verloben; mich is the first-person reflexive pronoun.
Wir werden uns nächstes Jahr verloben.
We will get engaged next year.
nächstes Jahr means next year. Future uses werden in position two and the infinitive verloben at the end; uns is the reflexive pronoun for wir.
der Verlobte — fiancé; engaged man ​
Der Verlobte is a substantivized adjective, so it declines like a weak adjective after the definite article: der Verlobte, but den Verlobten and des Verlobten. The feminine form is die Verlobte.
Der Verlobte wartet vor dem Standesamt.
The fiancé is waiting outside the registry office.
wartet means is waiting, vor means outside or in front of, and das Standesamt is the registry office. Der Verlobte is nominative because it is the subject; as a substantivized adjective, it has the ending -e after der.
Sie besucht den Verlobten.
She visits the fiancé.
besucht means visits, and sie means she. Den Verlobten is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; masculine substantivized adjectives use -en after den.
Sie schenkt dem Verlobten eine Uhr.
She gives the fiancé a watch as a present.
schenkt means gives as a present, and eine Uhr is a watch. Dem Verlobten is dative because he is the recipient; eine Uhr is the accusative thing being given, and the adjective noun keeps -en.
Die Mutter des Verlobten kommt heute.
The fiancé's mother is coming today.
die Mutter means the mother, and heute means today. Des Verlobten is genitive because it shows whose mother she is; the masculine genitive uses des and the ending -en.
Die Verlobten feiern zusammen.
The engaged couple celebrate together.
feiern means celebrate, and zusammen means together. Die Verlobten is plural; substantivized adjectives use -en in the plural, and the plural verb is feiern.
die Verlobte — fiancée; engaged woman ​
Die Verlobte is a substantivized adjective, so it has adjective endings: die Verlobte in nominative and accusative, but der Verlobten in dative and genitive. The masculine counterpart is der Verlobte.
Die Verlobte wartet vor dem Standesamt.
The fiancée is waiting outside the registry office.
wartet means is waiting, vor means outside or in front of, and das Standesamt is the registry office. Die Verlobte is nominative because it is the subject; the substantivized adjective has the ending -e after die.
Er besucht die Verlobte.
He visits the fiancée.
besucht means visits, and er means he. Die Verlobte is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; feminine die looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Er schenkt der Verlobten eine Uhr.
He gives the fiancée a watch as a present.
schenkt means gives as a present, and eine Uhr is a watch. Der Verlobten is dative because she is the recipient; the feminine dative article is der, and the substantivized adjective ends in -en.
Die Mutter der Verlobten kommt heute.
The fiancée's mother is coming today.
die Mutter means the mother, and heute means today. Der Verlobten is genitive because it shows whose mother she is; the feminine genitive uses der and the ending -en.
Die Verlobten feiern zusammen.
The engaged couple celebrate together.
feiern means celebrate, and zusammen means together. Die Verlobten is plural, and the substantivized adjective has -en; the same plural form can refer to a group of women or a mixed couple.
versprechen — to promise ​
The common pattern is jemandem etwas versprechen: the person is dative and the thing promised is accusative. In the related reflexive use sich versprechen, the meaning is to make a slip of the tongue.
Ich verspreche dir eine schnelle Antwort.
I promise you a quick answer.
dir means to you, and eine schnelle Antwort means a quick answer. Dir is dative for the person receiving the promise, while eine schnelle Antwort is accusative for the thing promised; the finite verb verspreche is in position two.
Ich habe dir eine schnelle Antwort versprochen.
I promised you a quick answer.
eine schnelle Antwort is a quick answer, and schnell means quick. Dir is dative for the person and eine schnelle Antwort is accusative for the thing; habe is in position two and the Partizip II versprochen goes to the end.
Er versprach seiner Tochter einen Ausflug.
He promised his daughter an outing.
seiner Tochter means his daughter, and ein Ausflug is an outing. Seiner Tochter is dative because she receives the promise, while einen Ausflug is accusative; versprach is the strong Präteritum form in position two.
Versprich mir bitte die Wahrheit!
Please promise me the truth!
mir means to me, bitte means please, and die Wahrheit is the truth. Mir is dative for the person and die Wahrheit is accusative for the thing promised; the singular imperative versprich has no subject pronoun.
Ich verspräche dir nichts, was ich nicht halten kann.
I would promise you nothing that I cannot keep.
nichts means nothing, halten here means keep, and kann means can. Dir is dative and nichts is accusative; verspräche expresses a hypothetical promise, while the verb in the relative clause goes to the end.
Ich werde es dir morgen versprechen.
I will promise it to you tomorrow.
es means it and morgen means tomorrow. Dir is dative and es is accusative; werde is in position two and the infinitive versprechen goes to the end of the future clause.
das Versprechen — promise, commitment ​
This noun comes from the verb versprechen, but it is a neuter noun: das Versprechen. Its singular and plural look identical in writing, so the article and context are important.
Das Versprechen klingt ehrlich.
The promise sounds sincere.
klingt means sounds, and ehrlich means sincere or honest. Das Versprechen is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb klingt stands in position two.
Sie hält das Versprechen seit Jahren.
She has kept the promise for years.
sie means she, hält means keeps, and seit Jahren means for years. Das Versprechen is accusative because halten takes a direct object; hält is in position two and the time phrase comes later.
Ich vertraue dem Versprechen nicht.
I do not trust the promise.
vertrauen means trust, and nicht means not. Dem Versprechen is dative because vertrauen governs the dative; the finite verb vertraue is in position two.
Die Bedeutung des Versprechens ist klar.
The meaning of the promise is clear.
die Bedeutung means the meaning, and klar means clear. Des Versprechens is genitive because it identifies whose meaning is meant; ist is the finite verb in position two.
Die Versprechen der Politiker werden oft vergessen.
Politicians' promises are often forgotten.
der Politiker means of the politicians, oft means often, and vergessen means forgotten. Die Versprechen is nominative plural because it is the subject; werden forms the passive and the participle vergessen goes to the end.
vertrauen — to trust; to rely on ​
The person you trust is normally in the dative: jemandem vertrauen. To express reliance on a person or thing, use auf with the accusative: auf jemanden oder etwas vertrauen.
Ich vertraue meiner besten Freundin.
I trust my best friend.
meine beste Freundin means my best female friend. meiner besten Freundin is dative because vertrauen takes the trusted person in the dative; the finite verb vertraue is in position two.
Er hat seinem Arzt völlig vertraut.
He trusted his doctor completely.
sein Arzt means his doctor, and völlig means completely. seinem Arzt is dative because of vertrauen; hat is the auxiliary in position two and vertraut goes at the end.
Sie vertraute ihrem Bruder nicht.
She did not trust her brother.
ihr Bruder means her brother, and nicht means not. ihrem Bruder is dative because it is the person trusted; the regular past form vertraute stands in position two.
Vertraue mir!
Trust me!
mir means to me. It is dative because vertrauen governs the trusted person in the dative; Vertraue is the du imperative.
Ich würde ihm mehr vertrauen, wenn er ehrlich wäre.
I would trust him more if he were honest.
ihm means him, mehr means more, and ehrlich means honest. ihm is dative after vertrauen; würde ... vertrauen marks the hypothetical result, while wäre stands at the end of the wenn clause.
Du wirst ihr bald vertrauen.
You will soon trust her.
bald means soon, and ihr means to her. ihr is dative because vertrauen takes the trusted person in the dative; wirst is in position two and vertrauen closes the sentence bracket.
das Vertrauen — trust; confidence ​
Vertrauen is an abstract mass noun and normally has no plural. The common expressions are Vertrauen haben, “to have trust,” and Vertrauen in jemanden oder etwas haben, “to have confidence in someone or something.”
Vertrauen ist in einer Freundschaft wichtig.
Trust is important in a friendship.
in einer Freundschaft means in a friendship, and wichtig means important. Vertrauen is the nominative subject; the finite verb ist is in position two, and this abstract mass noun normally has no plural.
Ich habe groĂźes Vertrauen in dich.
I have great trust in you.
groĂźes means great, and in dich means in you. Vertrauen is accusative because it is the object of haben; the fixed phrase Vertrauen in uses in with the accusative when it expresses the target of trust.
Wir schenken unserer Lehrerin unser Vertrauen.
We give our teacher our trust.
schenken means give as a gift, and unsere Lehrerin means our female teacher. unserer Lehrerin is dative as the recipient, while unser Vertrauen is accusative as the thing given.
Die Grundlage des Vertrauens ist Ehrlichkeit.
The basis of trust is honesty.
die Grundlage means the basis, and Ehrlichkeit means honesty. des Vertrauens is genitive because it specifies the basis; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Sie hat langsam Vertrauen zu ihm gefasst.
She slowly began to trust him.
langsam means slowly, and zu ihm means toward him. This example is labelled plural only to show that Vertrauen is a singular-only mass noun: the form remains singular in the fixed expression Vertrauen fassen, meaning to begin trusting.
verwandt — related, akin ​
verwandt mit means related to someone and takes mit plus the dative. Do not confuse it with bekannt, which can mean familiar or well-known but does not mean related by family.
Ich bin mit Anna verwandt.
I am related to Anna.
mit Anna means with Anna, and sein means to be. mit Anna is dative because mit requires the dative; verwandt is predicative after bin, so it has no adjective ending.
Das ist meine verwandte Familie.
That is my related family.
meine Familie means my family. verwandte stands before the feminine noun Familie and has the adjective ending -e after the possessive determiner meine.
Diese beiden Schwestern sind verwandter als ihre Cousinen.
These two sisters are more closely related than their cousins.
diese beiden Schwestern means these two sisters, and ihre Cousinen means their female cousins. verwandter is predicative and therefore has no ending; als introduces the group used for comparison.
Die beiden Kinder sind am verwandtesten.
The two children are the most closely related.
die beiden Kinder means the two children. The predicative superlative uses am verwandtesten; after sein, the adjective does not take an additional noun ending.
verwitwet — widowed ​
Verwitwet describes a person whose husband or wife has died. It is normally used as a state with sein and is not normally compared; forms such as verwitwetere are possible only in unusual contexts.
Meine Nachbarin ist seit zwei Jahren verwitwet.
My neighbour has been widowed for two years.
die Nachbarin means female neighbour, and seit zwei Jahren means for two years. Verwitwet is used predicatively after ist; seit takes the dative, so zwei Jahren is dative plural.
Der verwitwete Mann lebt allein.
The widowed man lives alone.
der Mann means the man, and allein means alone. Verwitwete stands before the masculine noun and has the weak adjective ending -e after der; the noun phrase is nominative because it is the subject.
Sie ist länger verwitwet als ihre Schwester.
She has been widowed longer than her sister.
länger means longer, and die Schwester means sister. In this comparison, länger verwitwet means widowed for a longer time; als introduces the person used for comparison.
Er ist am längsten verwitwet.
He has been widowed the longest.
am längsten means the longest. The superlative is used predicatively with sein; verwitwet itself normally describes a state rather than something that is graded.
verzeihen — to forgive, to excuse ​
The usual pattern is jemandem etwas verzeihen: the person is dative and the thing forgiven is accusative. The polite phrase Verzeihung! means excuse me or sorry; do not use the accusative for the person.
Ich verzeihe dir den Fehler.
I forgive you the mistake.
dir means you and der Fehler means mistake. Dir is dative because the person forgiven is marked by verzeihen, while den Fehler is accusative for the thing forgiven; the finite verb verzeihe is in position two.
Sie hat ihm seine Verspätung verziehen.
She forgave him for being late.
ihm means him, die Verspätung means lateness or delay, and hat ... verziehen means has forgiven. Ihm is dative for the person and seine Verspätung is accusative for the offence; the Partizip II goes to the end.
Mein Bruder verzieh mir den Streit.
My brother forgave me for the argument.
mein Bruder means my brother and der Streit means argument. Mir is dative for the person forgiven and den Streit is accusative for the thing forgiven; verzieh is the strong Präteritum form in position two.
Verzeih mir bitte!
Please forgive me!
bitte means please. Mir is dative because verzeihen marks the person forgiven with the dative; the imperative verzeih comes first.
Ich wĂĽrde dir diesen Fehler verzeihen.
I would forgive you this mistake.
diesen Fehler means this mistake, and wĂĽrde expresses a hypothetical situation. Dir is dative for the person and diesen Fehler is accusative for the offence; the infinitive verzeihen goes to the end after wĂĽrde.
Er wird ihr den Streit irgendwann verzeihen.
He will forgive her for the argument one day.
irgendwann means sometime or one day, and der Streit means argument. Ihr is dative for the person forgiven and den Streit is accusative; wird stands in position two and verzeihen goes to the end.
vorbeikommen — to come by; to drop in ​
A short visit is commonly expressed with bei plus dative, as in bei jemandem vorbeikommen. In a main clause, vorbei separates; after a modal verb or in the perfect, the verb stays together.
Er kommt heute Abend vorbei.
He is coming by this evening.
heute Abend means this evening. kommt is in position two and vorbei goes to the end because the verb has a separable prefix; the present can refer to a planned future visit.
Er ist gestern vorbeigekommen.
He came by yesterday.
gestern means yesterday. vorbeigekommen is the movement verb’s Partizip II and uses sein; it stands at the end of the perfect clause.
Er kam gestern vorbei.
He came by yesterday.
gestern means yesterday. kam is the strong preterite of kommen, while vorbei separates and moves to the end.
Komm morgen vorbei!
Come by tomorrow!
morgen means tomorrow. The command uses komm and places the separated prefix vorbei at the end; the subject du is normally left out.
Ich wĂĽrde am Wochenende vorbeikommen.
I would come by at the weekend.
am Wochenende means at the weekend. The time phrase is dative after an, and after wĂĽrde the complete infinitive vorbeikommen stays together at the end.
Wir werden nach dem Essen vorbeikommen.
We will come by after the meal.
nach dem Essen means after the meal; das Essen is the meal. nach takes the dative, and the infinitive vorbeikommen goes to the end after werden.
Kannst du heute bei mir vorbeikommen?
Can you come by my place today?
heute means today and bei mir means at my place. bei takes the dative, and the infinitive vorbeikommen stands at the end after the modal verb kannst.
das Vorbild — role model; example to follow ​
A Vorbild can be a person, but it can also be an example or model for an object or method. The expression jemandem als Vorbild dienen takes a dative person.
Das Vorbild der Kinder arbeitet als Ă„rztin.
The children's role model works as a doctor.
die Kinder means the children, and Ă„rztin means female doctor. Das Vorbild is nominative because it is the subject; der Kinder is genitive and means of the children, showing whose role model it is.
Viele Jugendliche suchen ein Vorbild.
Many young people look for a role model.
viele Jugendliche means many young people, and suchen means look for. Ein Vorbild is accusative because suchen takes an accusative object; the finite verb suchen is in position two.
Die Trainerin gibt dem Vorbild der Mannschaft eine besondere Rolle.
The coach gives the team's role model a special role.
die Trainerin means the female coach, der Mannschaft means of the team, and eine besondere Rolle means a special role. Dem Vorbild is dative because it is the recipient of gibt, while eine besondere Rolle is the accusative thing being given.
Der Einfluss des Vorbilds ist deutlich zu erkennen.
The influence of the role model is clearly noticeable.
der Einfluss means the influence, and deutlich zu erkennen means clearly noticeable. Des Vorbilds is genitive because it identifies whose influence is meant; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Gute Vorbilder zeigen, wie man fair bleibt.
Good role models show how to remain fair.
gute means good, zeigen means show, and fair bleibt means remains fair. Vorbilder is plural and nominative as the subject; in the subordinate clause introduced by wie, the finite verb bleibt moves to the end.
weiblich — female; feminine; feminine ​
weiblich usually describes biological sex or something associated with women. For the meaning “feminine”, context is important, because it can describe appearance, voice, behaviour or style.
Ihre Stimme klingt weiblich.
Her voice sounds feminine.
ihre Stimme means her voice, and klingt means sounds. weiblich is predicative after klingen, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb klingt stands in position two.
Sie hat eine weibliche Stimme.
She has a female voice.
eine Stimme means a voice, and haben means to have. eine weibliche Stimme is accusative because haben takes an accusative object; the adjective has -e after the indefinite article eine.
Ihre Stimme klingt weiblicher als meine.
Her voice sounds more feminine than mine.
als meine means than mine, with meine standing for my voice. The comparative weiblicher is predicative after klingen and therefore has no ending; als introduces the thing used for comparison.
Von den drei Stimmen klingt diese am weiblichsten.
Of the three voices, this one sounds the most feminine.
von den drei Stimmen means of the three voices, and diese means this one. von takes the dative, so den drei Stimmen is dative; the predicative superlative uses am weiblichsten.
Das Kleid hat einen sehr weiblichen Stil.
The dress has a very feminine style.
das Kleid means the dress and der Stil means the style. einen sehr weiblichen Stil is accusative because haben takes an accusative object; the adjective takes -en after einen.
Sie möchte etwas Weibliches tragen.
She would like to wear something feminine.
etwas means something, and tragen means to wear. Weibliches is a nominalized adjective after etwas, so it is written with a capital letter and has the ending -es.
wiedersehen — to see again ​
Wiedersehen is a strong, separable verb: sehen changes to sah in the past. It takes an accusative person or thing, and its perfect uses haben, not sein; the noun das Wiedersehen is capitalized and is a different word.
Er sieht seine Freunde morgen wieder.
He will see his friends again tomorrow.
seine Freunde means his friends and morgen means tomorrow. Seine Freunde is accusative because wiedersehen takes a direct object; finite sieht is in position two and wieder goes to the end.
Ich habe meine Lehrerin gestern wiedergesehen.
I saw my teacher again yesterday.
Lehrerin means female teacher and gestern means yesterday. The perfect uses habe because seeing takes haben, and the complete Partizip II wiedergesehen goes to the end.
Sie sah ihren Bruder nach vielen Jahren wieder.
She saw her brother again after many years.
ihren Bruder means her brother and nach vielen Jahren means after many years. Ihren Bruder is accusative as the direct object; strong past sah stands in position two and wieder is separated to the end.
Sieh dir den Film wieder an!
Watch the film again!
dir means to yourself, den Film means the film, and wieder means again. The imperative sieh comes first; the dative dir marks the person watching, while the verb’s parts are separated in this command.
Ich wĂĽrde dich gern wiedersehen.
I would like to see you again.
dich means you in the accusative and gern means gladly or would like to. WĂĽrde expresses a polite hypothetical, and the complete infinitive wiedersehen goes to the end instead of separating.
Wir werden euch bald wiedersehen.
We will see you again soon.
euch means you plural and bald means soon. In the future, werden is in position two and the complete infinitive wiedersehen goes to the end; euch is accusative because it is the object.
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 KĂĽche der Wohngemeinschaft ist groĂź.
The shared flat's kitchen is large.
die KĂĽche means the kitchen, and groĂź means large. Der Wohngemeinschaft is genitive because it shows possession or association; the feminine genitive article is der, not des.
In unserer StraĂźe gibt es drei Wohngemeinschaften.
There are three shared flats in our street.
unsere StraĂźe means our street, and drei means three. Drei Wohngemeinschaften is accusative because es gibt takes an accusative object; the plural ending is -en.
zuverlässig — reliable, dependable ​
Zuverlässig describes people, information, machines, and services that can be trusted. Its comparison is regular: zuverlässiger, am zuverlässigsten.
Der neue Kollege ist sehr zuverlässig.
The new colleague is very reliable.
der neue Kollege means the new colleague, and sehr means very. Zuverlässig is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Wir brauchen eine zuverlässige Verbindung.
We need a reliable connection.
wir brauchen means we need, and eine Verbindung is a connection. Eine zuverlässige Verbindung is accusative because brauchen takes a direct object; the adjective has the ending -e after eine.
Dieser Bus ist zuverlässiger als der andere.
This bus is more reliable than the other one.
dieser Bus means this bus, and der andere means the other one. Zuverlässiger is the comparative with -er; after ist it is predicative and therefore has no adjective ending.
Von allen Geräten ist dieses am zuverlässigsten.
Of all the devices, this one is the most reliable.
von allen Geräten means of all the devices, and dieses means this one. Am zuverlässigsten is the predicative superlative; am belongs to the fixed am ...-sten pattern and does not mean a location here.
der Österreicher — Austrian ​
Österreicher can refer to an Austrian man or, depending on context, an Austrian person generally. The feminine form is Österreicherin, and the adjective is österreichisch.
Der Ă–sterreicher wohnt in Wien.
The Austrian lives in Vienna.
wohnt means lives, and Wien means Vienna. Der Ă–sterreicher is nominative because it is the subject, and wohnt stands in position two.
Ich treffe den Ă–sterreicher im Zug.
I meet the Austrian on the train.
treffe means meet, im Zug means on the train, and der Zug means train. Den Ă–sterreicher is accusative because it is the object of treffen; im is short for in dem and is dative for a location.
Ich spreche mit dem Ă–sterreicher ĂĽber Wien.
I am talking with the Austrian about Vienna.
spreche means speak or talk, mit means with, and ĂĽber means about. Dem Ă–sterreicher is dative because mit always takes the dative; ĂĽber Wien is an accusative phrase meaning about Vienna.
Das Auto des Ă–sterreichers steht vor dem Hotel.
The Austrian's car is in front of the hotel.
das Auto means car, steht means is located, and vor dem Hotel means in front of the hotel. Des Ă–sterreichers is genitive because it shows possession; this noun adds -s in the genitive.
Die Ă–sterreicher feiern gern zusammen.
Austrians like celebrating together.
feiern means celebrate, gern means gladly or like to, and zusammen means together. Die Ă–sterreicher is plural and has the same noun form as the singular; the plural article die makes the number clear.