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Vocab: People & relationships — B2
People & relationships vocabulary at B2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
das Arbeitsverhältnis — employment relationship, employment; employment arrangement
This is more formal and legal than Job and refers to the relationship created by employment, not simply to the workplace. It is common with beginnen, beenden, and kündigen.
Das Arbeitsverhältnis beginnt am ersten Juni.
The employment relationship begins on the first of June.
beginnt means begins, and am ersten Juni means on the first of June. The noun is the nominative subject, and the finite verb beginnt stands in position two.
Der Betrieb beendet das Arbeitsverhältnis.
The company ends the employment relationship.
der Betrieb is the company or business, and beendet means ends. Das Arbeitsverhältnis is accusative because beenden takes a direct object; the neuter article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Die Gewerkschaft hilft den Beschäftigten in ihrem Arbeitsverhältnis.
The trade union helps the employees in their employment relationship.
die Gewerkschaft is the trade union, hilft means helps, and die Beschäftigten are the employees. Den Beschäftigten is dative because helfen takes a dative person, and in ihrem Arbeitsverhältnis is also dative because it describes a situation rather than movement.
Die Bedingungen des Arbeitsverhältnisses stehen im Vertrag.
The conditions of the employment relationship are stated in the contract.
die Bedingungen are the conditions, stehen means are stated here, and der Vertrag is the contract. Des Arbeitsverhältnisses is genitive because it identifies which conditions are meant; im Vertrag means in the contract.
Viele Arbeitsverhältnisse sind heute befristet.
Many employment relationships are fixed-term today.
viele means many, heute means today, and befristet means fixed-term or limited in time. The plural noun is the subject, and sind links it to the predicative adjective befristet.
Ihr Arbeitsverhältnis ist nur auf sechs Monate befristet.
Her employment relationship is limited to six months.
ihr means her, nur means only, and sechs Monate means six months. Auf sechs Monate uses the accusative after auf to show the intended duration, while ist ... befristet is a predicative structure.
Er möchte sein Arbeitsverhältnis in Teilzeit fortsetzen.
He would like to continue his employment part-time.
möchte means would like, in Teilzeit means part-time, and fortsetzen means continue. Sein Arbeitsverhältnis is accusative as the object of fortsetzen; the modal construction places fortsetzen at the end.
dulden — to tolerate, to permit
Dulden is stronger and more formal than akzeptieren: it often means allowing something objectionable to continue. It takes an accusative object and forms the perfect with haben: hat geduldet.
Die Schule duldet keine Gewalt.
The school does not tolerate violence.
Die Schule means the school, keine Gewalt means no violence, and Gewalt is violence. Keine Gewalt is accusative because dulden takes a direct object; the finite verb duldet stands in position two.
Die Stadt hat die laute Musik bis spät geduldet.
The city tolerated the loud music until late.
Die Stadt means the city, laute Musik means loud music, and bis spät means until late. Die laute Musik is accusative because dulden takes a direct object; hat is in position two and geduldet goes to the end.
Der Chef duldete den Fehler zunächst.
The boss initially tolerated the mistake.
Der Chef means the boss, den Fehler means the mistake, and zunächst means initially. Den Fehler is accusative because it is the object of duldete; the weak preterite uses -te.
Dulde keine Beleidigungen!
Do not tolerate any insults!
Keine Beleidigungen means no insults. Dulde is the du imperative, and keine Beleidigungen is accusative as the object; this command sounds formal and stern.
Ich würde dieses Verhalten nicht dulden.
I would not tolerate this behaviour.
Dieses Verhalten means this behaviour, and nicht means not. Dieses Verhalten is accusative because dulden takes a direct object; würde carries the conditional meaning and the infinitive dulden stands at the end.
Wir werden solche Zustände nicht dulden.
We will not tolerate such conditions.
Solche Zustände means such conditions, and nicht means not. Solche Zustände is accusative as the object; werden is in position two and the infinitive dulden goes to the end.
das Fräulein — young woman, Miss (dated); Miss (dated form of address)
Fräulein is grammatically neuter because the ending -lein makes diminutives neuter. In present-day German, use Frau for an adult woman; Fräulein mainly occurs in historical texts, old-fashioned speech, or fixed service expressions.
Das Fräulein sitzt allein im Café.
The young woman is sitting alone in the café.
sitzt allein means is sitting alone, and das Café is the café. Das Fräulein is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb sitzt stands in position two.
Der Kellner begrüßt das Fräulein.
The waiter greets the young woman.
der Kellner is the waiter, and begrüßt means greets. Das Fräulein is accusative because begrüßen takes a direct object; with the neuter article, nominative and accusative look the same.
Die Dame gibt dem Fräulein einen Schlüssel.
The lady gives the young woman a key.
die Dame is the lady, and einen Schlüssel means a key. Dem Fräulein is dative because geben assigns the recipient the dative, while einen Schlüssel is the accusative thing given.
Die Tasche des Fräuleins liegt auf dem Tisch.
The young woman's bag is lying on the table.
die Tasche is the bag, liegt means is lying, and auf dem Tisch means on the table. Des Fräuleins is genitive because it shows possession; auf dem Tisch is dative because it describes a fixed location.
Im alten Roman erscheinen drei Fräulein.
Three young women appear in the old novel.
im alten Roman means in the old novel, and erscheinen means appear. Fräulein has the same noun form in the plural, but the number is shown by drei; im alten Roman is a dative location phrase.
„Fräulein, Ihre Bestellung ist fertig!“
“Miss, your order is ready!”
Ihre Bestellung means your order, and ist fertig means is ready. Fräulein is a form of address and has no case role in the sentence; in modern everyday German, Frau or the person's name is normally preferred.
Der alte Brief beginnt mit „Liebes Fräulein“.
The old letter begins with “Dear Miss.”
der alte Brief is the old letter, and beginnt mit means begins with. Mit takes the dative, but the quoted greeting is a form of address; Liebes Fräulein has the neuter ending -es after liebes.
der Höhere — higher-ranking man, superior
This is the substantivized adjective höher, higher, used for a male superior or higher-ranking person. It is capitalized and keeps adjective endings: der Höhere, den Höheren, dem Höheren.
Der Höhere entscheidet über den Antrag.
The superior decides on the application.
entscheidet means decides, and der Antrag is the application. Der Höhere is nominative because he is the subject; the finite verb entscheidet is in position two.
Die Mitarbeiterin informiert den Höheren.
The female employee informs the superior.
die Mitarbeiterin is the female employee, and informieren means to inform. Den Höheren is accusative because it is the direct object; the substantivized adjective takes the ending -en.
Er spricht mit dem Höheren über das Problem.
He speaks with the superior about the problem.
spricht means speaks, and das Problem is the problem. Mit always takes the dative, so dem Höheren is dative and has the ending -en.
Die Entscheidung des Höheren war überraschend.
The superior's decision was surprising.
die Entscheidung is the decision, and überraschend means surprising. Des Höheren is genitive and shows whose decision it is; the substantivized adjective ends in -en.
Die Höheren treffen sich jeden Monat.
The higher-ranking people meet every month.
treffen sich means meet one another, and jeden Monat means every month. Die Höheren is a plural subject, and the verb treffen agrees with the plural.
die Höhere — higher-ranking woman, female superior
This is the substantivized adjective höher, higher, used for a female superior or higher-ranking person. It is capitalized and keeps adjective endings: die Höhere, der Höheren, die Höhere.
Die Höhere entscheidet über den Antrag.
The female superior decides on the application.
entscheidet means decides, and der Antrag is the application. Die Höhere is nominative because she is the subject; the finite verb is in position two.
Die Mitarbeiter informieren die Höhere.
The employees inform the female superior.
die Mitarbeiter are the employees, and informieren means inform. Die Höhere is accusative as the direct object; in the feminine, the article shows the case and the adjective ends in -e.
Er spricht mit der Höheren über das Problem.
He speaks with the female superior about the problem.
spricht means speaks, and das Problem is the problem. Mit always takes the dative, so der Höheren is dative and ends in -en.
Die Entscheidung der Höheren war überraschend.
The female superior's decision was surprising.
die Entscheidung is the decision, and überraschend means surprising. Der Höheren is genitive and shows whose decision it is; the feminine genitive article is der.
Die Höheren treffen sich jeden Monat.
The higher-ranking women meet every month.
treffen sich means meet one another, and jeden Monat means every month. Die Höheren is plural and can refer to several women or mixed higher-ranking people; the verb agrees with the plural.
kommunikativ — communicative; good at communicating
kommunikativ describes someone who communicates openly and effectively. It is often used positively for people, teams and working styles.
Sie ist sehr kommunikativ.
She is very communicative.
sehr means very, and ist means is. kommunikativ is predicative after sein, so it has no adjective ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Er arbeitet mit einem kommunikativen Team.
He works with a communicative team.
arbeitet means works, mit means with, and einem Team means a team. kommunikativen is attributive and has -en because mit requires the dative and einem already shows the neuter dative form.
Meine Schwester ist kommunikativer als ich.
My sister is more communicative than I am.
meine Schwester means my sister, and als ich means than I am. kommunikativer compares two people and takes als; because it follows ist, it is predicative and has no additional adjective ending.
Von allen Bewerbern ist Lara am kommunikativsten.
Of all the applicants, Lara is the most communicative.
von allen Bewerbern means of all the applicants, and Bewerber means applicants. am kommunikativsten is the predicative superlative after ist; the am-form is not used directly before a noun.
offenherzig — open-hearted, frank
This adjective describes a person who speaks honestly and warmly about personal matters. It is usually positive, but offenherzig can suggest that someone shares more private information than expected.
Sie ist sehr offenherzig.
She is very open-hearted.
sehr means very. The adjective is predicative after sein, so it has no ending; the finite verb ist stands in position two.
Er hat mir eine offenherzige Antwort gegeben.
He gave me an open and honest answer.
mir means to me and die Antwort is the answer. Eine offenherzige Antwort is accusative as the thing given, while mir is dative because geben gives something to someone; the adjective has the ending -e after eine.
Meine Schwester ist offenherziger als ich.
My sister is more open-hearted than I am.
meine Schwester is my sister and als means than. The comparative is formed with -er and is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; als ich introduces the comparison.
Von allen Freunden ist Lea am offenherzigsten.
Of all the friends, Lea is the most open-hearted.
von allen Freunden means of all the friends. The predicative superlative uses am ...-sten and has no adjective ending; the preposition von forces the dative plural Freunden.
der Pensionist — pensioner; retired man
Der Pensionist specifically refers to a man, while die Pensionistin refers to a woman. It is especially common in Austria and Switzerland; der Rentner is more usual in Germany.
Der Pensionist liest jeden Morgen die Zeitung.
The pensioner reads the newspaper every morning.
lesen means to read, jeden Morgen means every morning, and die Zeitung means the newspaper. Der Pensionist is nominative because it is the subject; this weak noun has no -en in the nominative, and liest is in position two.
Ich besuche den Pensionisten am Sonntag.
I visit the pensioner on Sunday.
besuchen means to visit and am Sonntag means on Sunday. Den Pensionisten is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; as a weak masculine noun, Pensionist takes -en outside the nominative.
Wir helfen dem Pensionisten im Garten.
We help the pensioner in the garden.
helfen means to help and der Garten means garden. Dem Pensionisten is dative because helfen always takes the dative; the -en ending is required, and im Garten is a dative location phrase.
Das Auto des Pensionisten steht vor dem Haus.
The pensioner's car is in front of the house.
das Auto means car, stehen means to stand or be parked, and vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Des Pensionisten is genitive because it shows possession, and the weak noun keeps -en; steht is in position two.
Viele Pensionisten reisen im Herbst.
Many pensioners travel in autumn.
viele means many, reisen means travel, and im Herbst means in autumn. Viele Pensionisten is a plural subject; the plural form also ends in -en, and reisen is in position two.
die Pensionistin — female pensioner; retired woman
Die Pensionistin is the specifically feminine form of der Pensionist. The plural changes -in to -innen, so do not use Pensionisten when you mean women only.
Die Pensionistin wohnt allein in einer kleinen Wohnung.
The female pensioner lives alone in a small flat.
wohnen means to live, allein means alone, klein means small, and die Wohnung means flat or apartment. Die Pensionistin is nominative because it is the subject; wohnt is in position two.
Der Arzt besucht die Pensionistin zu Hause.
The doctor visits the female pensioner at home.
der Arzt means doctor, besuchen means to visit, and zu Hause means at home. Die Pensionistin is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the feminine article looks the same in the nominative and accusative, while besucht is in position two.
Die Nachbarn helfen der Pensionistin beim Einkaufen.
The neighbours help the female pensioner with the shopping.
die Nachbarn means neighbours, helfen means to help, and beim Einkaufen means while shopping or with the shopping. Der Pensionistin is dative because helfen takes the dative; beim is short for bei dem and also introduces the dative.
Das Fahrrad der Pensionistin steht im Keller.
The female pensioner's bicycle is in the cellar.
das Fahrrad means bicycle, stehen means to stand or be kept, and der Keller means cellar. Der Pensionistin is genitive because it expresses possession; im Keller is a dative location phrase, and steht is in position two.
Die Pensionistinnen treffen sich jeden Mittwoch.
The female pensioners meet every Wednesday.
sich treffen means to meet one another, and jeden Mittwoch means every Wednesday. Die Pensionistinnen is the plural subject; sich is the reflexive pronoun, and the finite verb treffen is in position two.
die Reife — maturity; ripeness
die Reife can mean human maturity or the ripeness of fruit. It is an abstract noun and is normally used only in the singular.
Reife kommt mit der Zeit.
Maturity comes with time.
die Zeit means time. Reife is nominative because it is the subject of kommt; the finite verb is in position two, and mit takes the dative in mit der Zeit.
Viele Menschen suchen die Reife.
Many people seek maturity.
viele Menschen means many people, and suchen means seek. die Reife is accusative because suchen takes a direct object; the finite verb suchen stands in position two.
Mit der Reife wächst auch die Verantwortung.
With maturity, responsibility also grows.
wächst means grows, and die Verantwortung means responsibility. der Reife is dative because mit always takes the dative; the verb wächst is in position two.
Der Prozess der Reife braucht Geduld.
The process of maturing requires patience.
der Prozess means the process, and Geduld means patience. der Reife is genitive and describes whose process it is; braucht is in position two.
Die Reife der Früchte ist unterschiedlich.
The ripeness of the fruits varies.
die Früchte means the fruits, and unterschiedlich means different. Reife has no plural here because ripeness is treated as an abstract mass noun; ist agrees with the singular subject.
Sie zeigt große Reife.
She shows great maturity.
sie zeigt means she shows, and große means great. Reife is an uncountable abstract noun here and has no article; zeigt takes it as its accusative object.
Die Früchte haben jetzt Reife.
The fruits are ripe now.
die Früchte means the fruits, and jetzt means now. Reife is used without an article as an abstract state; haben is the finite verb and the past participle gehabt would normally stand at the end, though this sentence uses haben as a main verb meaning have.
die Russlanddeutsche — Russian-German woman
This is an adjectival noun: the adjective form is used as a noun and is capitalised. The masculine counterpart is der Russlanddeutsche, and the plural for both genders is die Russlanddeutschen.
Die Russlanddeutsche arbeitet heute in Berlin.
The Russian-German woman works in Berlin today.
heute means today, and arbeitet means works. Die Russlanddeutsche is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb arbeitet stands in position two.
Ich treffe die Russlanddeutsche morgen am Bahnhof.
I am meeting the Russian-German woman at the station tomorrow.
treffe means meet, morgen means tomorrow, and der Bahnhof is the railway station. Die Russlanddeutsche is accusative because treffen takes a direct object; the finite verb treffe is in position two.
Ich helfe der Russlanddeutschen beim Ausfüllen des Formulars.
I am helping the Russian-German woman fill out the form.
helfe means help, beim Ausfüllen means while filling out, and das Formular means form. Der Russlanddeutschen is dative because helfen takes a dative object, and des Formulars is genitive after the noun phrase meaning “the filling out of the form”.
Das Auto der Russlanddeutschen steht vor dem Haus.
The Russian-German woman’s car is in front of the house.
das Auto means car, steht means is standing or is parked, and vor dem Haus means in front of the house. Der Russlanddeutschen is genitive because it shows possession; the finite verb steht is in position two.
Die Russlanddeutschen feiern gemeinsam ein Familienfest.
The Russian-German women are celebrating a family celebration together.
feiern means celebrate, gemeinsam means together, and das Familienfest means family celebration. Die Russlanddeutschen is plural and nominative as the subject; the adjective-based noun takes the plural ending -en.
Die Russlanddeutsche erzählt gern von ihrer Kindheit in Russland.
The Russian-German woman likes telling people about her childhood in Russia.
erzählt means tells, gern means gladly or likes to, and die Kindheit means childhood. Die Russlanddeutsche is the nominative subject, while von takes the dative in von ihrer Kindheit.
der Tor — fool, simpleton
This Tor is the masculine noun meaning a fool and is literary or old-fashioned. Do not confuse it with neuter das Tor, meaning a gate or a goal; der Tor is a weak masculine noun and has Toren in the plural.
Der Tor glaubt ihm sofort.
The fool believes him immediately.
glaubt means believes, and sofort means immediately. Der Tor is nominative because it is the subject; this noun is a weak masculine noun, but nominative singular has no -en ending.
Alle halten ihn für einen Toren.
Everyone considers him a fool.
alle means everyone, halten means consider, and für means for or as. Einen Toren is accusative after für; as a weak masculine noun, Tor becomes Toren outside the nominative singular.
Niemand hilft dem Toren.
Nobody helps the fool.
niemand means nobody, and hilft means helps. Dem Toren is dative because helfen always takes a dative person; the weak noun ending -en is required.
Die Naivität des Toren ist erschreckend.
The fool’s naivety is frightening.
die Naivität means naivety, and erschreckend means frightening. Des Toren is genitive because it shows whose naivety is meant; both the article and the weak noun ending must be used.
Die Toren lachen über ihren Fehler.
The fools laugh about their mistake.
lachen means laugh, über means about, and der Fehler is the mistake. Toren is the plural of der Tor and keeps the weak ending -en; über ihren Fehler is an accusative phrase because über means about here.
das Väterchen — daddy, dear old father; little father; Father Frost; a personified father figure
The ending -chen makes Vater sound small, affectionate or old-fashioned, and it changes the noun to neuter: das Väterchen. The plural remains Väterchen, but the genitive singular is des Väterchens.
Mein Väterchen wartet schon zu Hause.
My dear old dad is already waiting at home.
mein means my, wartet means is waiting, schon means already, and zu Hause means at home. Mein Väterchen is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb wartet stands in position two.
Ich besuche mein Väterchen am Sonntag.
I am visiting my dear old dad on Sunday.
besuchen means visit and am Sonntag means on Sunday. Mein Väterchen is accusative because besuchen takes a direct object; the finite verb besuche is in position two.
Ich helfe meinem Väterchen im Garten.
I help my dear old dad in the garden.
helfen means help, meinem means my in the dative, and im Garten means in the garden. Meinem Väterchen is dative because helfen requires dative; im means in dem, and it marks location here.
Das Auto meines Väterchens ist sehr alt.
My dear old dad's car is very old.
das Auto means car, meines means my in the genitive, and sehr alt means very old. Meines Väterchens is genitive because it shows possession; the diminutive noun adds -s, while ist is in position two.
Die Väterchen sitzen zusammen am Tisch.
The dear old fathers are sitting together at the table.
sitzen means are sitting, zusammen means together, and am Tisch means at the table. Väterchen has the same form in the plural because -chen diminutives do not change; am is an dem, and the dative marks the location.
Väterchen Frost bringt den Kindern Schnee.
Father Frost brings the children snow.
Frost means frost, bringt means brings, den Kindern means the children, and Schnee means snow. Väterchen Frost is the nominative subject, while den Kindern is dative because they receive something; the finite verb bringt is in position two.
In der Geschichte hilft Väterchen Frost einem armen Jungen.
In the story, Father Frost helps a poor boy.
in der Geschichte means in the story, hilft means helps, arm means poor, and der Junge means boy. Einem armen Jungen is dative because helfen requires dative; the verb hilft is in position two, and the weak noun has -n in the dative.