If I had to guess, I’d say almost everyone who speaks English already knows hallo is “hello” in German. They sound very similar, and they are one letter off from each other in spelling, it’s hard not to connect the dots. In general, greetings are the most well-known part of any language, because they are …
“Hello” in German: “Hallo!” and Other German GreetingsRead More »
In polite conversation, knowing how to thank people is invaluable. Whether it’s in an email, at the store, during work, or on a thank-you note, “thank you”, in all its shapes and forms, is crucial to add to your vocabulary in any new language you learn. Since German has different pronouns and modes of speaking …
“Thank You” in German and Other Expressions of GratitudeRead More »
Nothing is as bittersweet as saying goodbye, but it’s not as bad as not knowing how to say bye at all. An important part of practical language learning is knowing how to start and end a conversation. If you’ve been following the blog, you can already say hello in German thanks to the 100+ Common …
“Goodbye” in German: A Comprehensive Guide to German Parting WordsRead More »
In my previous blog post I discussed whether German is a difficult language to learn or not — and hopefully I was able to convince you it’s really not as bad as many sources try to make it seem. In this blog post, I’d like to give you a couple of suggestions on how exactly …
One of the best feelings when learning a new language is when you listen to or read something in your target language and you realize you can actually understand a lot of it. I remember when I first started learning German and my teacher gave us an article to read for the first time. Before …
During our last trip to Germany over the holidays of 2018, we drove through a small town in southwestern Germany called “Kuchen” during one of our day trips. This prompted the following conversation between me and my husband: Him (confused): “Why would a town be named after the German word for kitchen? Me: “Actually, Kuchen …
Whether you are learning German “just because” or because you are planning to visit — or move to — Germany, getting familiar with some of the basics of German language is not only helpful in day-to-day life, but can also enhance your experience in a plethora of ways. In this blog post I’d like to …
100+ Common German Phrases and Expressions to Sound Like a Native SpeakerRead More »
The Holidays are more or less right around the corner — close enough, in fact, to perk up a bit if all of your preparations happen at the last minute like mine usually do (hey, no judgment!). But before going into a tizzy about your Holiday to-do list for this year, let’s take a moment …
“Merry Christmas” in German – Holiday Traditions and GreetingsRead More »
Whether you’re from the United States, from Poland or from Brazil – celebrating your birthday in your home country surely comes with a variety of different and interesting traditions. Obviously, Germany also has a lot of customs and rituals to celebrate your or someone else’s special day. Some will look quite familiar, and some of …
“Happy Birthday” in German – Wishes, Traditions and TriviaRead More »
Whether you want to tell people about your family constellation or how many pets you own, you most likely won’t be able to accomplish that without using the German verb “haben” (to have). But apart from these situations, the word “haben” is used for so much more: it additionally serves as a “helper verb” for …
A Complete Guide to the Conjugation of the German Verb “Haben”Read More »
