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Adverbs with gemäß

The German word gemäß is a preposition that means "according to," "in accordance with," or "based on" and is typically used to indicate that something is done or interpreted based on a rule, order, or source. It is followed by the dative case and is often found in formal or legal contexts.

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Gemäß Artikel dreiundsechzig Absatz zwei des Grundgesetzes für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland ...

According to article sixty-three, paragraph two of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany...

Caption 6, Bundesregierung: Vereidigung der Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel

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Gemäß ihrer Ernährungsform prägen sich dann auch die Zähne dieser Allesfresser aus.

The teeth of these omnivores then develop according to their feeding habits.

Caption 59, Evolution Die Tiefsee - Part 3

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Er wurde jetzt gemäß unserer Tradition verheiratet.

He has now been married according to our tradition.

Caption 38, Deutsche Welle: Leben zwischen zwei Kulturen in Namibia

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There are many adverbs that consist of a noun combined with -gemäß, and specify what something is in accordance with or based on. Here are a few that are commonly used:

 

Der Herr Ohrmann, der hat mir dieses Haus ordnungsgemäß überschrieben.

Herr Ohrmann, he has officially given the title for the house to me.

Caption 43, Marga Engel schlägt zurück: Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall

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Ganz hervorragend können das erfahrungsgemäß die Argentinier und die Brasilianer. 

As experience has shown, the Argentines and Brazilians can do it very well.

Caption 6, Polosport Poloturnier in Frankfurt

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Das Stück lebt vom Charme und den komödiantischen Talenten der Darsteller, die es gekonnt schaffen, die Kinder altersgerecht und zeitgemäß zu begeistern.

The play comes to life through the charm and comedic talents of the performers, who skillfully manage to inspire the children in ways [that are] age-appropriate and in tune with the times.

Captions 23-24, Theaterstück über gesunde Ernährung: Henrietta in Fructonia

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Further Learning
You can find more examples on Yabla German, peruse this long list, and also look up a few more common adverbs: rechtsgemäßvorschriftsgemäß, and vertragsgemäß

Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof!

For today's lesson topic, we'll discuss the different German ways of saying that you "have no idea" about something, or admitting you just don't know. The simplest way, of course, is to say ich weiß nicht, but let's look at some more interesting options, starting with one that you must already know:

 

Ich habe keine Ahnung, wie ich das der Person sage,

I have no idea how to tell the person

Caption 49, Deutsche Welle: Leben zwischen zwei Kulturen in Namibia

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Occasionally, you'll also hear ich habe keine blasse Ahnung, which translates as "I haven't the faintest idea."

 

...obwohl er keinen blassen Schimmer hatte, wer das sein sollte.

...although he ​​hadn't the faintest notion as to who that could be.

Caption 36, Märchen, Sagenhaft: Der gestiefelte Kater

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The literal translation of blasser Schimmer would be "pale shimmer" or "pale gleam," but it's a German idiom similar to the English expression "the faintest notion" or "the faintest clue."

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Der hat voll die Peilung.

He completely understands.

Caption 21, Filmtrailer: Free Birds

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The noun die Peilung means "bearings" or "soundings," as in "keeping your bearings" and not getting lost, but here it is being used in a figurative sense. Thus, if you negate the sentence above and say ich habe keine Peilung, it means that you don't understand.

 

Ihr Name ist Hase. Ihre Kreditkarte wird Ihnen per Post zugestellt.

Your name is Bunny. Your credit card will be delivered by mail.

Caption 22, Kein Kredit: im Land der Klone

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The above is a play on words in the video: a customer calls a bank asking for a credit card for her pet bunny, and the automated response is "Your name is Bunny." This has a double meaning, since the idiom Mein Name ist Hase is slang for "I don't know" or "I have no idea."

 

Also, ich verstehe nur Bahnhof.

Well, I don't understand anything.

Caption 27, Die Pfefferkörner: Gerüchteküche

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This phrase suggests a foreigner in Germany who only understands the German word for train station—which is one of the first words that a visitor to Germany learns. It is especially appropriate when you don't understand the details of a particular topic that somebody is discussing.

 

Further Learning
Go to German Yabla and find other examples of the phrases discussed above to get a better feel for the contexts in which they can be used.