GermanHeit » Fun German Language/Culture Learning

Are you on Facebook? I am. If you wanted to practise while...

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:42:40 +0200

Are you on Facebook? I am.

If you wanted to practise while you’re on Facebook you could change your language settings to German. ;)

Here’s some important Facebook vocabulary:

1. gefällt mir = like

2. die Freundschaftsanfrage = friend request

3. jemanden adden = to add so.

4. die Privatsphäreeinstellungen = privacy settings

5. einloggen = to log in

6. ausloggen = to log out

7. etwas posten = to post sth.

8. die Pinnwand = wall

Oh and if the actual name FACEBOOK was translated to German it would be -> Gesichtsbuch ;D

(pic via dawanda)

Ok, I guess that one was difficult. ;) Saure Zipfel literally...

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:56:00 +0200

Ok, I guess that one was difficult. ;)

Saure Zipfel literally translate to sour ends. It’s a popular and yummy (yet weird looking) way to prepare sausages (mostly my area of the country -> Franconia). Once again… it’s about sausages, I know ;) Some people don’t call it “saure” but “blaue” (blue) Zipfel because of hint of blue one they’re ready to eat, but it’s the same thing.

You basically simmer your Bratwürste in a water/vinegar/white wine mix spiced up with bay leaves, pepper and cloves on low heat. It’s delicious. Don’t forget the Brezel or the fresh German bread as a side!

(pic via schwarzaufweiss.de)

Who would like to come to the blackboard...

Wed, 23 May 2012 17:52:07 +0200

… and guess…

What is a “saurer Zipfel”?

Other ways to say "Scheiße bauen"

Tue, 22 May 2012 17:45:33 +0200

Maybe you’ve already read one of my last posts which dealt with the colloquial and vulgar expression “Scheiße bauen” which means “to make a big mistake”.

There are a few other slang expressions with a similar meaning, which I’d like to share today. But always remember not to use them in a formal context!

1. etwas verkacken

2. abkacken

3. Mist bauen

Spring in Würzburg, Germany.

Mon, 21 May 2012 19:12:37 +0200

Spring in Würzburg, Germany.

Haha! I’ve just found this video about German punctuality....

Sat, 19 May 2012 18:23:46 +0200

Haha! I’ve just found this video about German punctuality. I think it’s quite funny even though it’s a humorous exaggeration. Of course you can come to a party a little later and of course people will forgive you if you do.

However, there’s some truth to the stereotype - and I am probably the best proof. I myself always try to be right on time, not too late and not too early. And if I feel that I will be late - even only by a few minutes - I get a bit antsy. I also get a bit antsy if somebody else is late and I’m the one waiting. Or if the bus/train is a bit late - oioi, really antsy :P All in all I’m pretty stereotypical in that regard. But I’ve gotten better at it ;)

Oh and… what he says about German workmen is so true *lol*!!!

What about you? How valid is punctuality to you?

Spring in Hamburg, Germany.

Fri, 18 May 2012 18:01:03 +0200

Spring in Hamburg, Germany.

My dear Germans - don’t you understand? This is NOT the...

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:53:16 +0200

My dear Germans - don’t you understand? This is NOT the Autobahn!

Speed limits on German highways vary - sometimes it’s restricted to 120 km/h which is about 75 mi/h. But unless stated otherwise you can go as fast as you want or can. So I bet what you see in this youtube video has already happened to a ton of German tourists who happened to forget about US speed limits ;)

Yesterday, I asked you what a “Bücherwurm” was. I...

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:59:42 +0200

Yesterday, I asked you what a “Bücherwurm” was. I guess that one was pretty easy, because you just had to translate it to English literally -> book worm.

It’s a compound noun consisting of “die Bücher” (plural of das Buch) and “der Wurm”. The plural of “der Bücherwurm” is good for practising the pronunciation of the umlaut <ü> -> BÜCHERWÜRMER! ;)

(pic via kunstkopie.de)

Who would like to come to the blackboard...

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:53:32 +0200

… and guess…

What is a Bücherwurm?

Spring in Düsseldorf, Germany (on the picture you can see the...

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:57:06 +0200

Spring in Düsseldorf, Germany (on the picture you can see the Rheinufer = the shore of the Rhine river).

German words with

Sun, 13 May 2012 18:01:10 +0200

The German noun “das Ende” is easy to understand for English speakers -> end. There’s also a German equivalent to the English “to end” which is “enden” or “beenden” (the latter means to make something come to an end; the first is to end actively). But there are more words that include <end>. Here are some frequent ones:

1. endgültig = final; definite

2. endlich = finally; at last

3. endlos = endless

4. das Endergebnis = conclusion; final result

5. verenden = to die / perish

6. die Endung = end / ending (e.g. grammatically: Verbendung)

Another popular side dish which you can get at a German...

Sat, 12 May 2012 18:01:13 +0200

Another popular side dish which you can get at a German Biergarten is “der Rettichsalat” - a salad made of white radish. It’s crunchy and tastes fresh and spicy. I recommend having the obligatory Brezel with it ;)

Oh - and here’s how you make it!

For 4 servings you need:

2 big white radishes
white pepper and salt
1 red apple (best if a little sour)
a piece of cucumber
4 tbsp sour cream
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp vinegar
some sugar and dill

The important thing to remember: Cut and peel and salt the radish and then let it sit for about 20mins! In the meantime you can wash and cut the apple and cucumber and prepare the dressing with the remaining ingredients (don’t add salt, you’ve already salted the radishes). Before you add the radish slices into the mix, press all the water out with your hands. That way your salad won’t be watery. Guten Appetit!

Spring in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Fri, 11 May 2012 17:55:47 +0200

Spring in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Sprachgefühl for German?

Thu, 10 May 2012 18:00:00 +0200

Maybe you’ve already come across the word “das Sprachgefühl” during your German studies. But what does it mean? And how do you develop it?

das Sprachgefühl translates to “feeling for language”. It’s a pretty abstract term which is hard to describe. But basically it means that sometimes you feel that something is wrong or right instead of having to really think about it. When your Sprachgefühl is pretty good you can actually “feel” the sound of a language. You don’t have to analyse it anymore.

Mastering a Sprachgefühl is something that comes with time. It requires lots of practise and surrounding yourself with the foreign language as much as possible. There’s no real recipe.

What are your personal experiences with Sprachgefühl?

Spring in Dresden, Germany (on the picture you can see the...

Wed, 09 May 2012 17:47:13 +0200

Spring in Dresden, Germany (on the picture you can see the famous Semper Opera).

Haben or sein?

Tue, 08 May 2012 18:01:11 +0200

Some German tenses - the present and past perfect - require the usage of an auxiliary verb “haben” or “sein” + the past participle. But when do I use a form of haben and when a form of sein?

In English you always use “have” = “haben”. That makes it more difficult for English speakers. You will have to learn by heart when to use “sein” in a German present of past perfect. However, there are a few rules: Verbs that express some sort of movement will usually require “sein”. Meaning verbs like “rausgehen” (exit), laufen (walk), rennen (run), reingehen (enter), aussteigen (get off), reisen (travel) etc.

e.g. Ich bin / war gelaufen. = I have / had run.

Good to remember: The verbs “einschlafen” (to fall asleep) and “aufwachen” (to wake up) work the same way. Germans probably consider falling asleep or waking up a movement of your thoughts/mind to the world of dreams.

Wurstsalat (sausage salad) is another typical Biergarten food in...

Mon, 07 May 2012 18:01:09 +0200

Wurstsalat (sausage salad) is another typical Biergarten food in Germany. Basically you cut up some Fleischwurst (bologna sausage) and season it with a vinegar-oil dressing, pepper, salt and lots of onions - this is the kind of Wurstsalat we eat in Bavaria. Sometimes finely cut pickles are added. But there are other popular, regional variations e.g. the Schweizer Wurstsalat (Swiss) with Emmental cheese or the Schwäbische Wurstsalat (Swabian) which contains blood sausage.

Here’s a link to a traditional recipe.

This was found in Stuttgart, Germany as part of the German...

Sun, 06 May 2012 18:01:24 +0200

This was found in Stuttgart, Germany as part of the German street art culture.

It translates to:

With both feet on the ground and the head in the stars.

I think that’s really nice :)

(pic via mokita.de)

Ok. No Biergarten without crispy and fresh Brezeln. It’s a...

Sat, 05 May 2012 18:00:22 +0200

Ok. No Biergarten without crispy and fresh Brezeln. It’s a must and the perfect snack or sidedish. Read a previous post about Brezeln here.

By the way: Are you already familiar with a colloquial and common “Brezel” expression?

sich aufbrezeln = to dress up

Du hast dich gestern ja richtig aufgebrezelt! You really dressed up yesterday!