Let's Learn German Together - Lesson 6

In the lesson 4, your friend's focus was on her mobile when you asked her a question. Remember? When she responded with a “Wie bitte?” Good!

So obviously you are curious.

You: "Wer ist das?" (Who is that? were isst dass)
She: "Ein Freund von mir" (A friend of mine. Eye-n froynt fawn meeyer)

Do I see your face fall? Don't worry. There is a world of difference between my boyfriend (mein Freund) and a friend of mine ("ein Freund von mir").

You: "Was ist es über?" (What is it about? wass isst es ueber)
She: "Ich muss jetzt gehen.” (I have to go now. ishh mooss yet-st gay-hen )

Ober: "Hier ist Ihr Tee mit Zitrone, Saft und zweimal Schokoladekuchen." (Here is your tea with lime, juice and two chololate cakes. Hear isst ear tay mit tsitronay, zaaft unt tswai-maal shocko laaday-cookhen.)
Both: "Danke schön!" (thank you. Daankay schoen)
Ober: "Bitte schön!" (bittay schoen)

You: “Wie heißt?” (what is his name? v hiyst air)
She: “Wer?” (who? Were)
You: “Dein Freund!” (Your friend. dye-n froynt)
She: “Tom. Er ist ein Engländer.” (Tom. He is English. Air isst eye-n Aing-laeder)
You: “Oh!”
Sie: “Tom kommt aus England. Er ist hier für nur eine Woche. Ich muss mit ihm kaufen gehen.” (Tom comes from England. He is here for only one week. I have to go with him for shopping. Tom kommt aus Aingland. Air isst here fuer noo-er eye-n wockhay. Issh mooss mit ee-hm cow-fen gay-hen)



Interesting points:

1) “v” is pronounced “f” - von (fawn)
2) A repetition: “d” at the end of a word is pronounced “ t” - Freund (froynt)
3) In german, “must” and “have to” conveys the same meaning. Since this is a modal verb (mussen), the main verb goes to the back. (Ich muss jetzt gehen)

4) “Your” also takes two forms like “you”. Thus, in the formal form it is “Ihr” (with a capital “I”) and informally it is “dein” (both Ihr and dein used here come before masculine - Ihr Tee & dein Freund)

5) “j” is pronounced “y” - jetzt (yet-st)
6) “aus” is used in various ways. In this context it is used as coming from a place.
7) “I am called …” is more common that “My name is …”. Similarly, “How is he called?” is more used than “What is his name?” Actually, “Wie heißt er?” means “What is he called?”

8) “ß” is actually “ss”. Not exactly, but for the time being this will do.
9)

Exercise:

Translate:

a) I come from India (Indien = India and kommen = to come. Also see Lesson 5 for the verb ending with “I”)
b) My name is … (heißen = to be called. Also see Lesson 5 for the verb ending with “I”)
c) What is your name? (The more used form is: ”How are you called?” Use formal you. See Lesson 5 for the verb ending with formal you)

Is it becoming a little difficult? In my next lesson I will do a recap with all the words that we have used so far and everything should fall in place.

Keep working at it. In case of doubt please feel free to drop a comment.

To see all the german lessons on one page click here =>