German Vocab
Not sure of the correct German word to use? Want another example of how to use an German expression in context? Perhaps you would like to know more about regional differences. This is the place for you! You can browse the topics, do a search in the top right corner of this page, or start a new conversation. Don’t be shy!
HI AllI was doing a lesson on banking terms awhile agoand now can't find it anywhere. Not on opening an account in the conversations. It was all about deposits, transfers etc. I feel like I am missing something. Was this lesson removed? If anyone knows wh...
2 replies - Last post by Maxie - February 7, 2024
HI AllThis was sent by my pen friend in Germany. I spent some time trying to figure it on with the help of the internet. Thought some of you may want to look at it. I think I understand why. Really stretched my brain at first as was thinking of all possib...
7 replies - Last post by Maxie - February 2, 2024
irgentwie, irgentwo, irgentwas
Hi AllIn At the Airport Irgentwo somewhereirgentwie somehowirgentwas anything. Can irgentwas also be used as something. Was doing a revision and realizied the first 2 had some, but the third irgentwas had a differenttranslation Thanks Maxie
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - November 7, 2023
exchanging an item of clothing
Hi JuliaAnother question for you.Hallo, ich würde gerne meinen Führerschein umschreiben lassen.Hello, I would like to exchange my driver's license.Lit. Would one use Um schreiben lassen to exchange a gift, item of clothing id one was not happy with the i...
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - October 27, 2023
Hi AllIn the lesson Shop till you drop. The word “geschnitten.” is used as Fit.Can this word also be used to describe the cut of a garment. As in “This jacket has an elegant cut”Thank you Sharon
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - October 17, 2023
In the lesson the renting of an apartment “denn” is used as "because" as well as “that”In the lesson on subordinate clauses “weil ” is explained as "because.Can weil and denn be used interchangeableThanksMaxie
4 replies - Last post by Maxie - October 4, 2023
In the survival kit lesson “Life in the City”, the plural of banks is presented as die Bänke. This appears to be commonly used when referring to die Bank as a bench, but die Banken seems to be commonly used when referring to the plural of the financial i...
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - August 16, 2023
The meaning of the verb geraten
When I first encountered this verb, I thought it would be a past participle of raten - to advise. But then I realised that it was a separate verb that does not appear in the course. According to the Collins dictionary it is quite common but I have looked ...
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - June 1, 2023
Lesson 22.5, Read the Signs. Frosche-wanderung: why is it hyphenated instead of just glued together like most compound nouns? And since Wanderung is a noun, wouldn't you capitalize it, if it's hyphenated like this?
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - May 9, 2023
HalloIn the lesson on opening an account.Das macht es so viel einfacher und man muss keine festen Öffnungszeiten beachten.I looked for a translation for feten and it came up with firm.Could denken be used and in what context is festen used.?Thanks Maxie
6 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - May 5, 2023
Hi AllIn lesson 10.2 Kindern instead of Kinder. I understood the plural is Kinder. Das Kind , Die Kinder.Once again help pleaseMaxie
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - April 18, 2023
Hi AllIn lesson 7.7 the verb “gezogen"Have been looking for a translation to conjugate the verb. Translations come up as to pull if zogen is typed in. So not sure what I should be looking for. Help would be appreciatedMaxie
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - March 7, 2023
Hi AllDoing the lesson on Red Tape. Oh my those words are sure tongue twisters. But a good grounding on those words. Came across der geburstname, Maiden name. Also came across a translation Madchenname ("). My EU passport gives my maiden name and my marr...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - February 14, 2023
HiIs there a difference between zahlen and bezahlen or can they be used interchangeably. Come across bezahlen on Rocket, but in other learning sites have come across.Kann ich bitte zahlen?"Are both correct?Danke Maxie
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - January 24, 2023
HalloWas reading a piece about the Brothers Grimm in GermanAnd sometimes they used Brueder and other times Gebrueder. Whatis the difference, please Thanks Sharon
2 replies - Last post by Maxie - January 5, 2023
Hi there, I have seen this sentence in a book with German sentences translated to English. "Die Enttäuschung war groß, wie die Mannschaft verloren hat" In the book the sentence was translated to the following:"The disappointment was huge when the team los...
2 replies - Last post by RexV - December 13, 2022
I have seen this sentence in a German newspaper:"Er ist an der Krankheit Ebola gestorben" Would it be wrong to use “von” instead of “an”?
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - December 12, 2022
Warum gehst du nicht ans Telefon
How common is this sentence when asking someone why they have not answered the phone?
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - December 12, 2022
How common is it to say "Du liegst falsch / Sie liegen falsch"
How common is this sentence in German when saying someone is wrong?
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - December 12, 2022
Hi there, I have been looking up these two words:1. Im Zuge von2. Infolge I have checked out both words with https://www.leo.org/german-english/. The first means “in the course of” and the other means “as a result of”. Is it fair to say that both words ar...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - December 1, 2022
Hi AllWas doing some revision. Was intrigues to see bloss (eszett) means naked, just and only. Made me smile. I guess all about context.Maxie.
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - November 28, 2022
Colour coding nouns for gender
I wonder if anyone has tried colour coding nouns for gender on flash cards. I saw this suggested on a germman learning web site. eg red - feminine, blue - masuline, green - neuter This can be done with Anki and Quizlet appears to have it in the paid versi...
20 replies - Last post by AJ-Rocket-Languages - November 17, 2022
Hallo nochmalHave looked up the meaning of unheimlich and it says weird, creepy or sinister. Why is it used in theis sentence. “Oh ja, ich reise unheimlich gerne.”Cannot finfdmultiple explanation for this word.DankeSebongela
2 replies - Last post by Maxie - September 27, 2022
HiIn Play the part German “Scheiben ” is used for a slice. Can this word be used interchangebly with “Stu(”)ck ThanksSebongela
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - September 27, 2022
Hallo ZusammenSomething I have foind useful is highlighting and saving vocabulary. Not so much for remembering what words mean, but when I add the translation I put in the gender of the noun. This helps to to remember what the gender of the nouns are if I...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - August 9, 2022
Hallo ZusammenIn the lessons have come across Die Bahn and der Zug.Can either of these be used to refer to the train? DankeSebongela
2 replies - Last post by Maxie - July 14, 2022
Leider bin ich informiert das gnädig übersetzt nicht ‘indulgent’ heißt sondern ‘gracious/merciful’ und ist sehr sehr selten benuzt (wirklich nur in Gebeten).
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - July 6, 2022
22.5 read the signs -translation?
From 22.5 read the signs Einfahrt freihaltenStay Clear Shouldn't this be something like “Keep the entrance clear”?
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - June 29, 2022
In lesson 7.2 they use the word “leihen” to rent. Can one also use "mieten. In other words can be used interchangeably.ThanksSebongela
2 replies - Last post by Maxie - May 25, 2022
Hi Die Ehefrau vs die FrauDer Ehemann vs der MannIs one more commonly used, is it regional or one more formal than the other?Thanks againSebongela
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - April 8, 2022
Hi In Cash or card there are several words for ReceiptDer Beleg, DIe quitting, der Kassenbon and der Kassenzettel. Are these used in different regions of Germany or just in different situationsThanksSebongela
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - March 23, 2022
Have discovered a searies set in Spain. Has got German subtitles as well as audio. English too. Have bben listening in Italian and then looked at languages availabel- quite the selectionAll bits help, although the German audio is still a bit fast for me, ...
0 replies - Last post by Maxie - March 22, 2022
Hallo zusammenMy penfriend explained that BUchstabe has 2 meanings, but did not understand her explanation. Have tried to find an explanation, but have not.Would anyone be able to give me more clarity.Vielen Dank Sebongela
10 replies - Last post by gottahaveajava - February 8, 2022
Was watching a video on youtube about Pflaumenkuchen. Was interested to see that it was more a pie type than a cake. In Play the Part they talk about erdbeerkuchen does Kuchen refer more to pie/tart type desserts and torte to cakes like a sponge cake or a...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - January 24, 2022
Hi EveryoneBeen working through the “Play the Part” series. I love the practical applications and if I ever visit Germany again will feel so much more confident going into various situations. In various places in Germany I had to order coffee, lunch, afte...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - January 20, 2022
Hi allI use babbel, duolingo, coffee break and have found that all little bits make a bigger picture, well Rocket does too in a big way. When I first came across Zimtschnecken, in Babbel could just not remember it. Then in Play the part Rocket German appe...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - January 12, 2022
Die Apfelsine or der Orange. Which one is more commonly used or is it regional. Am intrigued, have come across Die Apfelsine in books, but not in Rocket German as yet. Thanks and a happy New Year to all with lots of language learning for allSebongela
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - January 3, 2022
Hi AllAnother question. Do all compound words take the gender of the last word eg Das Mauermuseum, Museum being neuterAs always thank youSebongela
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - November 23, 2021
Vocabulary unterhalten vs sprechen
Another question for the team. Can unterhalten and sprechen be used interchangeably?Unterhalten to talk Sprechen to speak. I know that in English they can in many situationsThanks once again Sebongela
10 replies - Last post by HugoM5 - November 12, 2021
Oh My this has taken me years. Am busy on the lesson “ON the Freeway”I was at a Convent in Grade 7 and the nuns were from Austria and when ever we were too slow they used to say "schnell, schnell.They were strict and meted out punishment in humiliating fo...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - September 1, 2021
do people in German speaking countries actually use der O Saft or is this just to the benefit of Noth Amrican leaners. Until I came to North America (Canada) and had an American friend stay over had never heard of “OJ”. So am intriguedSebongela
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - August 16, 2021
Hi AllAm using Coffee Break German to practice and reinforce what I am learning on Rocket German. The podcasts are free and they have beginner and intermediate podcasts. Several different ones. They have a reading club which is an intermediate one as well...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - July 29, 2021
I'm curious. While the lessons present a number of ways to wish someone a happy birthday, "frohe Geburtstag" is not among them. That was what we were taught decades ago in my high school & college German classes. Is that outdated? Regional? Only something...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - June 21, 2021
Is the word ( Freund) just friend or boyfriend. Or this word means both?
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - June 17, 2021
In lesson 23.4, we are introduced to the verb ‘stammen (aus)’, meaning ‘to come (from)’. In clarifying whether ‘stammen (aus)’ and ‘kommen (aus)’ are synonymous, I found an online explanation that although both mean ‘to come (from)’, ‘stammen (aus)’ means...
2 replies - Last post by PaulS108 - June 8, 2021
HiNeed some clarification. “Wie” can be used interchageably to mean how or what?I always thought "was" used for what, as in “was ist das?”ThanksSebongela
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - June 8, 2021
I came accross an interesting book called “A Dictionary of German Synonyms” by RB Farrell.It discusses the differnce in meaning and usage between words with similar meanings. I would say that it is only of interest to those of B1 level or at least approac...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - June 1, 2021
Hi there!I was looking at these words: Im momentDerzeitZurzeitBased on checking different dictionaries and forums, I have reached the conclusion, that the words are largely interchangeable. However, “Im moment” is most common, then “Derzeit” and then “Zur...
1 reply - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - June 1, 2021
I have two questions:Questions 1: Ich habe einen Freund / Ich habe eine Freund When you use these two words they can both be understood in two ways. One is that you have a normal regular friend and the other is that you are in a relationship with this per...
3 replies - Last post by Julia-Rocket-German-Tutor - May 31, 2021
According to the Leo dictionary, beschließen and entscheiden both mean to decide but is there a difference in meaning/ use? Although entscheiden doesn't appear in the course, Entscheidung does.
6 replies - Last post by RexV - May 25, 2021