🇩🇪German Learning And Language Resources🇩🇪

All about Easter in Germany!

A Brit in Germany explains German Ostern. 

“This week I’m looking at how Easter is celebrated in Germany - including special food, customs and tons of vocabulary. Joining me are stone rabbit and stone bird. ;D

☆ Mini Deutsch dictionary: Alles über Ostern - everything about Easter Ostern - Easter der Gründonnerstag - Maundy Thursday der Karfreitag - Good Friday der Karsamstag - Holy Saturday der Ostersonntag - Easter Sunday der Ostergottesdienst - Easter mass der Ostermonntag - Easter Monday die Osterwoche - Easter week die Osterkarte - Easter card das Osterrad - Easter wheel der Osterbrunnen - Easter fountain die Ostereier - Easter eggs der Osterhase - Easter bunny das Osternest - Easter nest/basket der Osterstrauch - little branch or bush with eggs hanging on it der Osterzopf - plaited bread Osterlamm - cake/bread in shape of lamb das Osterbrot - Easter bread die Osterglocke - daffodil Frohe Ostern! - Happy Easter das Ostereiersuchen - Easter egg hunt”

die Ausbreitung – spread der Bademantel – bathrobe der Bezug – reference das Brettspiel (pl. die Brettspiele) – board game die Einstellung – attitude das Erdreich – soil; earth das Fotoalbum (pl. die Fotoalben) – photo album die Gesichtsmaske – face mask die Küche – cuisine die Langeweile – boredom die Laune – mood das Lebensmittelgeschäft (pl. die Lebensmittelgeschäfte) – grocery shop der Reiseführer – guidebook das Schaumbad – bubble bath der Tipp (pl. die Tipps) – tip; hint der Urlaub – holiday die Quarantäne – quarantine

(sich) aufregen – to get upset ausschlagen – to start to bud; to come into leaf faulenzen – to laze about genießen – to enjoy platzen – to fall through schlürfen – to slurp schmökern – to browse verderben – to spoil

bequem – comfortable daheim – at home fremdländisch – foreign; exotic krank – sick zuhause – at home

Honestly cannot think of a better title for this post. Essentially, I have a memrise deck dedicated to all the miscellaneous German expressions and terms that don’t really crop up in vocab lists or tumblr posts. A lot of them are phrases and collocations that never really occur to you… until you need to use them!

i. So musste es kommen — it was bound to happen/come to that Beispiel: Heute glaube ich, dass es so kommen musste, damit ich erkennen konnte, wie falsch mein Leben bisher gewesen war Üb.: Now, I realize that it all had to happen that way, so that I could realize how wrong my life had been up till now.

ii. Ich bin ein hoffnungsloser Fall (in…) — I’m hopeless/a lost cause (at…) Beispiel: Ich bin in der Mathematik ein Hoffnungsloser Fall. Üb.: I’m hopeless at maths.

iii. Es ist herausgekommen, dass (…) — It turns out/has come to light that (…) Beispiel: Es ist herausgekommen, dass Berichte über Störfälle getürkt worden sind Üb.: It has come to light that reports regarding the incident were faked.

iv. Ich nehme dich beim Wort — I’ll take you up on that / take your word for it Beispiel: Aber ich nehme Sie auch beim Wort, wenn Sie sagen, dass wir im Haushalt darauf achten werden,… Üb.: But I also take you at your word when you say that we are going to take great care…

v. (Immer) sachte!  — Easy does it! Or “Calm down!” (ugs.) Beispiel: Jetzt mal ganz sachte!“  Üb.: Would you chill out now!

die Brise - Breeze

der Bach - Stream

das Wasser - Water

der Spross - Sprout

die Sonne - Sun

die Wolke - Cloud

die Rose - Rose

Blühen - To bloom

Hüpfen - To skip

Entspannen - To relax

Rosa - Pink

Leise - Soft (Atmosphere)

Wolkig - Cloudy

Süß - Sweet

Sonnengeküsst - Sun-kissed

Angenehm - Pleasant

Erneuernd - Renewing

Üppig - Lush

Barfuß - Barefoot

Aufblühend - Blossoming

Fröhlich - Cheerful

Please. Your Grace. I have done nothing.

die Ausnahme – exception die Erwartung – expectation das Geschenk (pl. die Geschenke) – present; gift die Kerze – candle der Muffel – grouch der (die) Normalbürger(in) – ordinary person der Promi – celebrity; VIP der Trubel – hustle and bustle der (die) Verweigerer(in) – objector der Weihnachtsrummel – Christmas rush die Weihnachtszeit – Christmas time

ableiten – to derive (etwas) erfahren – to learn (of something) knüpfen – to tie schenken – to give verbringen – to spend

albern – silly kitschig – kitschy; corny stressig – stressful

die Beziehung – relationship die Freundschaft – friendship die Kluft – rift; gulf der Rausch – intoxication; ecstasy die Rücksicht – regard; consideration das Unverständnis – lack of understanding der Weichzeichner – soft focus

(sich) aufstauen – to accumulate berücksichtigen – to consider; to take into account besprechen – to discuss eingravieren – to engrave erwidern – to respond gegensteuern – to take countermeasures (jemandem etwas) gönnen – not to begrudge (somebody something) nachvollziehen – to understand schweben – to float teilen – to share übersprudeln – to bubble over verbergen – to hide (sich) verbiegen – to warp

gezielt – specifically öde – bleak schlagartig – suddenly unüberwindbar – insurmountable verliebt – in love vernünftig – reasonable

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Die Hexe - witch

Der Zauberer - wizard

Der Topf - pot

Der Besen - broom

Der Trank - potion

Die Kerze - candle

Der Rauch - smoke

Der Altar - altar

Die Tarotkarten - tarot cards 

Das Orakel - oracle

Der Fluch - curse

Der Kessel - cauldron

Die Kristallkugel - crystal ball

Das Wachs - wax

Die schwarze Katze - black cat

Der Kristall - crystal

Der Zauberspruch - spell

Das Ritual - ritual 

zaubern - (to) perform magic

fliegen - (to) fly

(etw.) vorhersagen - (to) predict (sth.)

schädlich - harmful

harmlos - harmless

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learning a language is like learning about a country’s culture. therefore, one should take some culture notes once in a while. if you need any ideas on what to research/study, take a look below! i might add more if i think of any.

general

countries that speak the language

common dishes/foods/drinks/alcohols

festivals

cultural tidbits (ex: why japanese uses kanji still)

world leaders/figureheads/etc

wars

history in gen

art

games

paintings

sculptures

instruments

music/genre-related

anything

pop culture

hit movies

celebrities

music

etc

history of the language

make a travel guide

recipes

traditions

holidays

places to see/go

sightseeing worthy/statues/etc

important people

common animals that live in certain country

cultural differences?

holidays they have that you don’t

do they celebrate (holiday) differently?

etymology of words – they can act make good history lessons

myths/fairy tales/ urban legends

dialects

provinces/states/etc

specific

whats it like driving there?

how does schooling work?

how does a typical family live?

common stereotypes

do they go about finding love differently? (ex: is it common for arranged marriages?)

typical sbjs one learns in school

college?

Hi everyone, I’m back with another writing challenge for you! I tried my best, but please let me know if I had any repeats from last month. 

If you don’t know about this challenge: Want to maintain or improve your writing skills in your target language this summer? Try this 30-day writing challenge for June: Every day, answer the following prompts in your target language (in a personal journal or in a tumblr post). Good luck!

Translate the first few sentences of your favorite book into your language (make sure to include the author and title!!).

If you could live in any era (i.e. the roaring ‘20s), what would it be and why?

Write a summary of your favorite TV show or movie.

List 3-5 facts about your country (or your family’s country of origin).

What are 5-8 songs that would be on your summer playlist? Translate their titles into your target language.

Look up and list 3-5 slang terms in your language.

Describe your favorite summer outfit.

Name 3 things that have made you smile this week.

Write today’s to-do list in your target language.

How will you improve as a student next year?

What is one goal you hope to achieve by the end of this month?

Name a funny childhood memory.

Where is your favorite study space? Why?

Translate a few lines from a favorite song.

Give a basic physical description of yourself (if you are posting online, protect your own privacy - don’t list anything super specific!!).

Briefly describe some of your personality traits.

What’s one nice thing that you’ve done for someone else recently?

Why do you want to learn the language you are studying?

List 3 useful phrases in your language (such as “Where is the bathroom?” or “There is an emergency.” I feel like we never learn these things in class lol)

Name some terms and phrases that are specific to the career you are pursuing.

Describe your favorite scene from a book, show, or movie.

What would you do with $100? Why?

What’s one good thing about the world in this day and age? What’s one bad thing?

What are some things on your bucket list and why?

What is one thing (food, a scent, a stuffed animal, etc.) that is nostalgic/brings back memories? Why?

What is one thing that stresses you out, and what do you do to de-stress/avoid stress when you have to deal with that thing?

Write a short letter to your past self (maybe 5 years ago?).

What is your Myers-Briggs personality type? Describe it? Is it accurate?

What is one worry/problem you have right now, and what are you doing/going to do to fix it?

What is the nicest thing someone has said to you/about you?

Favorite memory from this month?