"Quick Reads"

In this episode:

"abheben" means "to lift off". And "to get cash". And "to stand out". Today, we'll explore why the verb has all these meanings and how to use it.

Vocabulary:

no vocab snippet (yet)

In this episode:

A quick look at the meaning of "absetzen" and what glasses have to do with taxes, TV shows and high heels and paragraphs.

Vocabulary:

no vocab snippet (yet)

In this episode:

A fun look at the meaning of "alle" and how one word can be "empty" and "all" at the same time. And we'll learn when to use "alle" and "ganze".

Vocabulary:

alle, ganze, alles in allem, all die

In this episode:

"Alles gut." is a really common expression in colloquial German. Today, we'll explore all the contexts in which we can use it - with plenty of examples.

Vocabulary:

no vocab snippet (yet)

In this episode:

A fun look at the various meanings of "anstehen" and what waiting in line has to do with manners and letters on a board.

Vocabulary:

no vocab snippet (yet)

In this episode:

The difference between "antworten" and "beantworten" is: grammar. Hooray! Today, we'll find out when to use which. Including a little quiz for you.

Vocabulary:

antworten, beantworten, die Antwort

In this episode:

"aufhören" means "to stop". But why? And what's the difference to "anhalten"? All that we'll find out in this article.

Vocabulary:

no vocab snippet (yet)

In this episode:

A quick look at the meanings of "ausfallen" and what cancelled meetings have to do with extraordinary dresses and electricity blackouts.

Vocabulary:

ausfallen, ausgefallen, der Ausfall, der Stromausfall, rausfallen

In this episode:

We all know, German is full of exceptions. Today, we'll look the German word for it and learn about the prefix verb it comes from.

Vocabulary:

die Ausnahme, ausnehmen, rausnehmen, ausnahmsweise, ausgenommen

In this episode:

A good "Ausrede" is what you need if you haven't done your homework. Today, we'll learn what it is, how it's different to Entschuldigung and some more good stuff :)

Vocabulary:

die Ausrede, die Entschuldigung, (sich) entschuldigen, ausreden (lassen), sich rausreden

In this episode:

A fun look at the structural difference between "das" and "dass" and a quick, easy hack on how to know when to use which.

Vocabulary:

no vocab snippet (yet)

In this episode:

A fun look at die Eile, how to say "hurry up" in German and the surprising origin of the words.

Vocabulary:

die Eile, eilen, sich beeilen, eilig, voreilig

In this episode:

A fun look at why fabric and die Fabrik are false friends and how to translate them. We'll also talk about der Stoff, and learn some word history.

Vocabulary:

die Fabrik, der Stoff, Sauerstoff, Wasserstoff, Rohstoff, Ballaststoff

In this episode:

A quick look at the meaning of Frühjahrsmüdigkeit - an ailment that many Germans suffer from in spring time, but that is rest of humanity has never heard of :)

Vocabulary:

das Frühjahr, der Frühling, müde, die Müdigkeit

In this episode:

A fun look at the difference between "hinter" and "hinten" and a broader look at some basic principles of talking about location in German.

Vocabulary:

no vocab snippet (yet)

In this episode:

A fun look at the German word "der Hosenstall" and why it’s perfect for an April’s fools prank. Also: some more or less useful words :)

Vocabulary:

die Hose, der Stall, der Reißverschluss, auf sein

In this episode:

A quick look at the meaning of "komisch" in German and why something that sounds "komisch" most likely isn't actually funny.

Vocabulary:

no vocab snippet (yet)

In this episode:

A 110% non-boring look at the German word for boredom, why it's important not to say you're "langweilig" and a couple of glances at die Laune and die Stimmung.

Vocabulary:

die Langeweile, gelangweilt, langweilig, die Stimmung, die Laune

In this episode:

German is full of onomatopoeia. Today, we'll learn the poetic German word for it and check out some common examples with audio :)

Vocabulary:

laut, der Laut, der Klang, die Malerei

In this episode:

A quick look at the meaning of the verb "locken", what it has to do with curls and which Greek philosopher invented swag.

Vocabulary:

locken, verlockend, die Locke, locker, auflockern

In this episode:

A quick look at the German verb "nerven" and how to use it in daily life.

Vocabulary:

nerven, nervig, genervt

In this episode:

A fun look at the meaning of "neugierig" and what curiosity has to do with greed.

Vocabulary:

neugierig, die Neugier, vergesslich, neu

In this episode:

A quick look at the meaning of "ob", a quick hack to know if it's a translation for "if" and a longer analysis, for nerds :)

Vocabulary:

no vocab snippet (yet)

In this episode:

A quick look at the meaning of "rühren" and what stirring your coffee has to do with emotions.

Vocabulary:

rühren, sich rühren, berühren, die Berührung

In this episode:

A fun look at the two meanings of "Schild" and its two genders and plurals.

Vocabulary:

der Schild, das Schild, schildern, ausschildern, die Drüse, die Schilddrüse, der Schirm, abschirmen

In this episode:

A fun look at the meaning of "schleifen" and what dragging has to do with sharp. Also: a few surprise guests like "schleichen" and "schlecht"

Vocabulary:

schleifen, die Schleife, der Schleim, schleichen, die Schleichwerbung, schlichten, schlecht

In this episode:

A fun look at the meaning of der Schnupfen and other words you need when you have a German cold.

Vocabulary:

der Schnupfen, die Erkältung, schnauben, der Husten, das Tuch, der Rotz

In this episode:

"sondern" and "aber" are both translations for "but". Today, we'll learn, what idea "sondern" expresses and what the difference is to "aber".

Vocabulary:

no vocab snippet (yet)

In this episode:

We'll learn how to use "übrigens" and why it's the German translation for "by the way".

Vocabulary:

übrig, im Übrigen, übrigens

In this episode:

A quick look at the meaning of "ungefähr" and what estimates have to do with danger and driving.

Vocabulary:

ungefähr, die Gefahr, gefährlich, circa

In this episode:

A quick look at the meaning of "voll" and why "voll leer" actually makes sense in colloquial German.

Vocabulary:

voll, machtvoll, liebevoll, sinnvoll, komplett

In this episode:

A quick fun look at the meaning of the combination "von... aus" and the very useful phrase "von mir aus".

Vocabulary:

von mir aus, von da aus, von sich aus

In this episode:

A fun look at the meaning of the German words for future, what "Zukunft" has to do with "kommen" and what other cool useful words with "-kunft" there are.

Vocabulary:

die Zukunft, die Auskunft, die Ankunft, die Herkunft

In this episode:

A quick look at the "zunehmen" and why it's the German translation for gaining weight.

Vocabulary:

zunehmen, abnehmen, die Zunahme