GermanHeit » Fun German Language/Culture Learning

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[germanheit-blog]

Long time no see....

Hey guys,

I haven't posted in a while and I am sorry about that. Since I moved to Los Angeles last September I've been juggling two jobs, one of them is full-time and the other one is a part time German teacher position, and the horrible LA traffic every day. It's hard to find time for other stuff... including this German blog. 

Today I would like to share with you a fantastic new YouTube channel and network called Tastemade. Tastemade wants to connect the world through food and has just launched a German language channel next to their English channel.

Practice your German with fun recipes! Currently there are two original shows and new episodes are released every Tuesday and Friday. Tune it, subscribe, comment, share. Thank you for supporting this great channel!

http://www.youtube.com/tastemadede

[germanheit-blog]

Pfeffernüsse = pepper nuts are small, firm and round cookies that are popular in the holiday season. I love them!

Here's a simple recipe for you!

[germanheit-blog]

The difference between anderes & anders

Both look pretty similar but are used in a different way...

1. anderes = something else

Gib mir bitte ein anderes T-Shirt! Das hier ist schmutzig! Give me another shirt! This one is dirty!

2. anders = different

Ich komme nicht gut mit ihm klar. Er ist einfach anders. I don't get along with him well. We are just different.

[germanheit-blog]

"Almost as beautiful as a woman. But not out of its head."

nicht richtig ticken (reg.) = (to) be out of one's head

ticken (reg.) = (to) tick/work (clock)

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Frankfurt's Christmas market is one of the bigger ones in Germany. Stop by if you have a long layover at the Frankfurt Airport!

It is open until 9pm daily from November 26th - December 23rd.

(pic via frankfurt-tourismus.de)

[germanheit-blog]

Answers to yesterday's exercise

1. Es MACHT Spaß, jemanden zum Lachen zu bringen.

2. Wenn die Arbeit Spaß MACHT, dann geht sie leichter von der Hand.

3. Tina lacht sehr laut. Ich glaube, sie HAT viel Spaß.

[germanheit-blog]

Who would like to come to the blackboard...

and fill in the gaps.

You can use "Spaß haben" (to have fun) or "Spaß machen" (to be fun / to be funny)

1. Es ......... Spaß, jemanden zum Lachen zu bringen.

2. Wenn die Arbeit Spaß ........., dann geht sie leichter von der Hand.

3. Tina lacht sehr laut. Ich glaube, sie .......... viel Spaß.

?

[germanheit-blog]

It's Christmas time! And that means that Germany is full of Christmas markets again. Almost every town, no matter if big or small, has their own Christmas market. On the picture you can see a rather small market in a town called Coburg, Bavaria.

(pic via br.de)

der Weihnachtsmarkt = Christmas market

Do you enjoy Christmas markets?

[germanheit-blog]

Yesterday I asked you to guess what a "trübe Tasse" is.

Well, you can call somebody "eine trübe Tasse" who is really boring. It literally translates to gloomy/blurred cup, which doesn't make a lot of sense of course. ;)

pic via augensound.de

[germanheit-blog]

Who would like to come to the blackboard....

and guess what a "trübe Tasse" is?

[germanheit-blog]

sitzen & setzen

Oioi, those two can be quite confusing!

a) sitzen

sitzen = (to) sit

irregular in the past tense: Ich saß, ich habe/hatte gesessen

Tina saß auf dem Sofa. Tina sat on the couch.

b) setzen

setzen = (to) place / put

sich setzen = (to) sit down

regular in the past tense: Ich setzte (mich), Ich habe (mich) gesetzt

Tina setzte sich auf das Sofa. Tina sat down on the couch.

[germanheit-blog]

In German, we tell somebody "to cock their ears" when we want them to listen carefully. We also tell them "to be all ears" when we're only focusing on what they say.

die Ohren spitzen = (to) cock sb.'s ears

ganz Ohr sein = (to) be all ears

[germanheit-blog]

reichen & riechen

<ei> and <ie>: Basically the same letters but they totally change the meaning of the word!

a) reichen -> pronounced with a diphthong [ai]

reichen = (to) hand / be sufficient

regular in the past tense: ich reichte; ich habe / hatte gereicht

Tina reichte mir den Keks. Tina handed me the cookie.

b) riechen -> pronounced with a long [i:] vowel

riechen = (to) smell

irregular in the past tense: ich roch; ich habe gerochen

Tina roch nach Parfum. Tina smelled like perfume.

[germanheit-blog]

Today I heard the sad news about Germany's famous comedian/actor/TV host passed away in his hotel in Berlin last night. Dirk Bach was only 51 years old and his death was really sudden. The entire German media world is shocked.

Dirk was one of two hosts of Germany's "Dschungelcamp" (The Jungle Camp) (see photograph via spiegel.de) and was loved by the audience.

R.I.P. Dirk!

[germanheit-blog]

Since I moved to the US, I've been getting this question a lot: What do you miss about Germany? Well, besides my family and friends there's one thing I miss - German bread. It's just the best in my opinion. Fresh, warm, crisp slices with butter and salt - maybe add some cheese or sausage and you have an amazing rustic dinner.... mmmhhh!

Here's a nice recipe for Bauernbrot (farmer's bread). CLICK

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German proverb:

"Alle guten Dinge sind drei."

Literal translation: All good things are three.

Equivalent: Third time is a charm.

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Have you written about when to use 'mit' or 'bei'? I think that would be a good article! :)

I don't think I have. But you're right, it would be a good topic.

Ask me anything