You're probably already familiar with using natürlich as an adverb to say "of course." It's also occasionally translated as "naturally" or "obviously," depending upon the context.
The adverb selbstverständlich is also often translated as "of course," especially at the beginning of sentences:
Selbstverständlich, aber nicht so gewaltig.
Of course, but not too terribly much.
Caption 12, Silvester Vorsätze für das neue Jahr: Linkenheim
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Selbstverständlich, however, has more finely nuanced usages than natürlich. Let's take a look at a variety of translation possibilities available in this useful adverb. Something that is selbstverständlich is also "a matter of course":
Für viele von Ihnen ist das Mitmachen ganz selbstverständlich und wichtig.
For many of you, taking part is very much a matter of course and important.
Caption 31, Angela Merkel: Neujahrsansprache
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And may be "taken for granted":
Uns allen fehlen die Begegnungen, die sonst selbstverständlich sind.
We are all missing the interactions that are otherwise taken for granted.
Caption 10, Coronavirus: Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel
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Selbstverständlich may also "go without saying":
Nun ja, sehen Sie, das ist doch ganz selbstverständlich.
Well, you see, that goes without saying.
Caption 66, Der kleine Nick: Nachmittag bei Adalbert
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Or simply "be a given":
Hier in Deutschland zum Beispiel ist es vielleicht schon selbstverständlich.
Here in Germany, for example, it may already be a given.
Caption 62, Rat für nachhaltige Entwicklung Mode gegen Armut
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And sometimes, it's "anything but self-evident":
Diese Bilder sind alles andere als selbstverständlich.
These pictures are anything but self-evident.
Caption 1, Abenteuer Nordsee: Unter Riesenhaien und Tintenfischen
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Note that the noun version of selbstverständlich, das Selbstverständnis, has a somewhat different meaning: "self-image":
Im Selbstverständnis der Strothoff International School Rhein-Main wird viel Wert auf eine enge Lehrer-Schüler-Beziehung und den respektvollen Umgang miteinander gelegt.
In its self-image, the Strothoff International School Rhein-Main highly values a close teacher-student relationship and a reciprocal respect.
Captions 50-51, Strothoff International School Imagefilm
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Further Learning
Do a search for selbstverständlich on Yabla German to see the adverb used in a variety of different contexts. Its usages are not always so selbstverständlich!
If you ever go shopping in a German-speaking country, you will likely be surprised at the extent to which the sales personnel will leave you alone. However, there is one question you will often hear, which is Kommen Sie zurecht? The words das Recht and recht are used in a variety of contexts in German, so let’s take a look at some of these with the help of examples from Yabla videos.
1. You may know the noun das Recht from legal or political contexts. It means not only "the law," but also "the legal right."
Hier in Deutschland zum Beispiel
Here in Germany, for example,
ist es vielleicht schon selbständig [selbstverständlich],
it may already be a given
dass, äh, jedes Kind, äh, Recht auf... auf Bildung hat,
that, uh, every child, uh, has a right to... to education,
Captions 62-63, Rat für nachhaltige Entwicklung - Mode gegen Armut
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2. The phrase recht haben, however, simply means "to be right" in German.
„Du hast recht“, hustete Frederick,
"You're right," coughed Frederick,
„diesen Weg gehen wir nie wieder.“
"we will never go this way again."
Caption 19, Piggeldy und Frederick - Wanderdüne
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3. The word recht is used as an adverb meaning "quite" or "rather" in order to add emphasis.
Aber im Vergleich zum gesamten Universum
But in comparison to the entire universe,
ist unser Sonnensystem noch recht jugendlich.
our Solar System is still quite youthful.
Captions 30-31, Zeit - Die Vergangenheit und Zukunft von allem
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4. The phrase zu Recht means "rightly" or "deservedly."
Wahrscheinlich kommt sie vors Jugendgericht. -Zu Recht.
She will probably appear in juvenile court. -Deservedly.
Caption 33, Die Pfefferkörner - Cybermobbing
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5. Finally, let's take a quick look at the verb mentioned at the top. Zurechtkommen is a separable verb that means “to get along,” “to get by,” or “to cope.” The verb zurechtfinden is similar, but is also used in terms of orientation, as in “to find one’s way.”
Die Ex von Fußball-Legende Lothar "Loddar" Matthäus
The ex of football legend Lothar "Loddar" Matthäus
kommt offenbar auch alleine ganz gut zurecht.
apparently is also getting along really well on her own.
Captions 2-3, Im Höhenflug - Ariadne (die Ex von Lothar Matthäus)
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Asylbewerber sollen sich ja ganz schnell
Asylum seekers, indeed, need to very quickly
im Alltag zurechtfinden.
find their way in daily life.
Caption 16, Flüchtlingskrise - Deutschkurse für Flüchtlinge
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Further Learning
Look at the examples provided from Yabla German and make sure you understand the different structures in terms of spaces and capitalization (Here is some help from Duden). Practice conjugating zurechtfinden and zurechtkommen in both main and subordinate clauses.
Around 45% of English words have French origins and most of them, such as art, competition, force, machine, money, police, publicity, role, routine, and table are everyday English words spoken with English pronunciation. There are, however, a number of French words that are commonly used in English that have retained their French character and are unmistakably "French sounding" to the English listener. These foreign words that have been incorporated into the native language are called Loanwords (or Lehnwörter in German).
German too has its share of French loanwords, or Gallicisms, although German vocabulary has fewer words of French origin than English does.
Was Avantgardistisches? -Genau, genau, so kann man das sehen.
Something avant-garde? -Exactly, exactly, you can look at it like this.
Caption 16, Rat für nachhaltige Entwicklung - Mode gegen Armut
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Some terms come from cultural milieus such as art. In avantgardistisch, the German version of "avant-garde," the hyphen has been dropped, forming a single word.
Der Mohn kommt in die Vinaigrette, ein wenig Honig dazu.
The poppy seeds go into the vinaigrette, a little honey's added to it.
Caption 56, Kochhaus Berlin - Rucola-Salat-Rezept
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As with English, many French loanwords come from the culinary world. The German Vinaigrette is capitalized as a noun, but otherwise identical to the English and the French.
Du hast für PeTA 'ne ziemlich coole neue Kampagne geschossen.
You shot a pretty cool new campaign for PeTA.
Caption 30, Tierfreund Mario Barth - Der Tätowierer der Stars
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Many other French loanwords in German come from politics and military jargon. In this last example, the spelling of the original French word campagne is Germanized as die Kampagne, and the English spelling "campaign" is different as well! In most cases, however, loanwords retain the original spellings and diacritical marks.
Further Learning
Go to the German Wikipedia listing of Gallicisms, and when you find a familiar word, do a video search on Yabla German and see how the French loanword is used in German.
Summer is soon approaching, and with the arrival of June, the wedding season (die Hochzeitsaison) will be in full swing. So whether it's a friend's wedding or maybe even your own, beware: you're going to need to expand your vocabulary if there is any German involved!
No one is going to get married if a marriage proposal doesn't happen first:
Der Fluch ist gebrochen! Ich möchte dich heiraten.
The curse is broken! I want to marry you.
Die Prinzessin nahm seinen Heiratsantrag sofort an.
The Princess accepted his marriage proposal immediately.
Captions 86-88, Märchen - Sagenhaft - Der Froschkönig
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Nor would a groom (der Bräutigam) be complete without a bride, at least in a traditional wedding!
So sieht eine Massai-Braut aus.
That is what a Masai bride looks like.
Caption 50, Rat für nachhaltige Entwicklung - Mode gegen Armut
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And after the wedding comes the feast:
Es war gleichzeitig auch das Hochzeitsmahl für das junge Paar.
It was at the same time the wedding feast for the young couple.
Caption 91, Märchen - Sagenhaft - Dornröschen
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Further Learning
Look up the meaning of any marriage-related words on this list that you may not be familiar with, and see if you can find some of them used in context on Yabla:
das Bankett, das Hochzeitskleid, die Brautjungfer, der Brautschleier, das Ehepaar, der Ehering, das Eheversprechen, der Festsaal, die Feier, der Fotograf, der Gast, das Geschenk, die Heirat, die Heiratsurkunde, die Hochzeit, der Hochzeitsempfang, der Hochzeitskuchen, der Hochzeitsmarsch, die Hochzeitsreise, die Kirche, die Kirchglocken, das Konfetti, die Liebe, der Priester, die Rede, das Ringkissen, der Schmuck, die Trauung, der Trauzeuge, die Verbindung, der Zeuge
In our last lesson on false friends, we discussed a few false cognates that begin with the letter B. Today, we're moving one stop further down the alphabet to learn about some falsche Freunde starting with C and D:
der Chef / die Chefin: the boss or departmental head
False English friend: chef, the head cook (German: der Chefkoch / die Chefköchin, der Küchenchef / die Küchenchefin)
Ich werde morgen mit meinem Chef reden.
I will talk with my boss tomorrow.
Caption 53, Lektionen - Morgen
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dezent: discreet, discreetly, low-key, unobtrusive
False English friend: decent, appropriate, fitting (German: anständig, ordentlich)
Normalerweise sind die Tuaregs ja auch eher dezent gekleidet.
Normally the Tuaregs are indeed dressed rather discreetly.
Caption 46, Rat für nachhaltige Entwicklung - Mode gegen Armut
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Dose: can, tin
False English friend: dose, a quantity of medicine (German: die Dosis)
... denn über den Schaumwein in Dosen geht ihr nichts.
... because for her, there's nothing like the sparkling wine in cans.
Caption 17, Paris Hilton - in Frankfurt
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Further Learning:
Try to find more words in German and English that sound similar but have different meanings. For a thorough list of German false friends, take a look at this extensive chart and then search Yabla videos to find the words used in context!
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