Part of learning the proper spelling of German words is memorizing any umlauts that they might contain. This is particularly important because certain words are identical except for the presence or absence of an umlaut. Let's have a look today at several verbs that need to be distinguished from one another.
Whereas the verb drücken means "to press" or "to hug," drucken means "to print."
Hey, Max, wir drucken es aus und hängen es ans schwarze Brett.
Hey, Max, we'll print it out and hang it on the blackboard.
Caption 25, Die Pfefferkörner: Gerüchteküche
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An Luzies Kamera muss man nur den Knopf hier drücken, und dann ist Ruhe.
On Luzie's camera, you just have to press the button here and then it's quiet.
Caption 26, Peppa Wutz: Einkaufen und mehr
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Similarly, rücken and rucken are also two different verbs, though they both refer to movement. While rücken means to move, approach, or advance, rucken without an umlaut means to jerk or move violently.
Der Hochzeitstag rückte näher und sie beschlossen, einen langen Spaziergang draußen im Wald zu unternehmen.
The wedding day was approaching and they decided to take a long walk outside in the woods.
Captions 7-8, Märchen - Sagenhaft: Jorinde und Joringel
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The verb lauten is used when you talk about how things are worded, spelled, or stated, whereas the verb läuten means "to chime" or "to ring," and refers to the sound of bells.
Natürlich. Wie lautet Ihre E-Mail-Adresse?
Of course. What is your email address?
Caption 64, Berufsleben: das Vorstellungsgespräch
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Dann verstecken sich alle in ihrem Zimmer, bis das Glöckchen läutet.
Then everyone hides in their room until the little bell rings.
Captions 30-31, Weihnachtsinterviews: Cettina in Linkenheim
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The verb füttern is used when you feed an animal or a small child. The verb futtern refers to eating food rather than giving someone food, and suggests a lack of manners or restraint in eating, similar to the English expression "pigging out."
Die Meisen lassen sich von uns sogar aus der Hand füttern.
The titmice can even be fed from our hands.
Caption 32, Die letzten Paradiese: Die Schönheit der Alpen 2
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Sie schafft Platz zu Hause und erfreut die Fans, die bald Burger unter der Bassgitarre futtern können.
She makes room at home and pleases the fans, who will soon be able to scarf down burgers under the bass guitar.
Captions 8-9, Christina Stürmer: ist reif fürs Museum
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The verbs zahlen and zählen may be the most frequently used verbs in this list.
Wollen wir die Lösegeldforderung nicht abwarten und zahlen?
Don't we want to wait for the ransom demand and pay?
Caption 42, Die Pfefferkörner: Das Wunderkind
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Sie zählen die Stimmen nach dem Ende der Wahl.
They count the votes after the end of the election.
Caption 30, Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Einbürgerungstest
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Further Learning
You'll find many more examples of these verbs on Yabla German.
The words "whoever" and "whatever" are pronouns that can refer to anyone or anything without specification. Their German equivalents also have a particular form in which the pronoun/determiner is combined with auch immer, or sometimes just immer.
Erstens: Holt alle Informationen über die Einwohner ein, wer auch immer sie sein mögen.
First: Gather all the information about the inhabitants, whoever they may be.
Captions 7-8, Es war einmal... der Weltraum: Die Saurier
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Wer auch immer sie fertigmachen will, taucht früher oder später bei ihr auf.
Whoever wants to finish her off, they'll show up sooner or later with her.
Caption 3, Die Pfefferkörner: Gerüchteküche
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Also, wer immer nur von Freiheit redet, muss verstehen ...
So, whoever only always talks about freedom, must understand...
Caption 46, Holocaust-Gedenktag Gespräch mit jüdischen Schülern
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Sometimes the German word was can be used when talking about something that is not actually determined, and is translated as "whatever." However, sentences like this next one require was auch immer in order to emphasize that there are many choices possible.
Also, was auch immer ihr tut, ihr dürft diese Büchse niemals öffnen!
So whatever you do, you may never open this box!
Caption 28, Märchen - Sagenhaft: Die Büchse der Pandora
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Jeder kann glauben, was er möchte.
Everyone can believe in whatever they want.
Caption 21, Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Einbürgerungstest
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The adverb "however" as in "in whatever way" or "regardless of how" is wie auch immer or wie immer in German. Of course, wie immer often means "as always."
Na ja, wie auch immer, also, wie Sie das mit der Kerze hingekriegt haben, das war... fantastisch.
Well, anyway, so, however you did that with the candle, that was... fantastic.
Caption 13, Weihnachtsmann gesucht: Bist du verliebt?
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Genießt euren Kaffee, wie auch immer ihr den zubereitet,
Enjoy your coffee, regardless of how you make it,
Caption 39, Eva zeigt uns: wie man Kaffee kocht
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Generally, wann immer and wann auch immer are interchangeable. These are used to talk about a time that can't (yet) be determined.
Auch die rosigen Hausschweine dürfen aus ihrem Stall, wann immer sie wollen.
Even the rosy domestic pigs are allowed to leave their stable whenever they want.
Caption 3, Die letzten Paradiese: Die Schönheit der Alpen 1
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Und vor allem, sprich so viel und wann immer du kannst.
And above all, talk as much and whenever you can.
Caption 36, Deutsch mit Eylin: Die 4 Fälle
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Further Learning
You will find many more instances of the words above used in context on Yabla German.
Although many people like to spend their free time with music, TV, films, and video games, there's nothing like settling down with a good book. This week, let's talk about all there is to read!
In German, a work of non-fiction is called das Sachbuch, whereas fiction is die Belletristik. The noun "literature" is very similar in German: die Literatur. When it comes to novels, there are the names for the different genres to learn, such as der Liebesroman (the romance novel) or der historische Roman (historical fiction).
OK, interessierst du dich für Literatur?
OK, are you interested in literature?
Caption 9, Nicos Weg: Das macht mir Spaß!
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Und das wurde eben in diesem Science-Fiction-Roman beschrieben.
And just that was described in that science fiction novel.
Caption 73, Das 1. Newtonsche Gesetz: erklärt am Beispiel des Dodomobils
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Liest du gerne oder hast du viele Bücher, zum Beispiel Romane oder Krimis?
Do you like to read or do you have a lot of books, for example novels or crime stories?
Captions 11-12, Nicos Weg: Das macht mir Spaß!
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In German, a short story is die Kurzgeschichte.
Dieses wunderbare Buch mit Geschichten über die Berge und...
This wonderful book with stories about the mountains and...
Caption 41, Heidi: Der Schultest
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In addition to fiction and non-fiction books, some people enjoy reading biographies or magazine articles:
Hinter all der großen musikalischen Revolution menschelt es in seiner Biografie - zum Glück!
Behind all the great musical revolution, there is humanity in his biography—fortunately!
Captions 30-31, Ludwig van Beethoven: 250. Geburtstag
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In einem von der Zeitschrift Bravo veranstalteten Konzert spielen sie in der Stadt, die sie entdeckte.
In a concert organized by the magazine "Bravo," they play in the city that discovered them.
Captions 21-22, Die Beatles: In Deutschland
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Hallo, Leon! Ich habe hier noch was für dich: einen Artikel über den Nemmers-Preis.
Hello, Leon! I have one more thing here for you: an article about the Nemmers Prize.
Caption 8, Die Pfefferkörner: Gerüchteküche
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The last category that should be mentioned is poetry, of course!
Der eine Bruder saß unter einem Baum und verfasste Gedichte.
The one brother sat under a tree and wrote poems.
Caption 12, Märchen: Sagenhaft Die drei Brüder
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Further Learning
Think about the last thing you read—how would you describe it? On Yabla German, you can watch the entirety of Nicos Weg: Das macht mir Spaß! to hear the vocabulary in context.
You may remember our previous lesson on nouns for describing romantic relationships. With a nod to Valentine's Day approaching, let's look at how adjectives and phrases are used to describe relationship status and experiences related to love.
First, where it all begins: You may already know the adjective verliebt. Der Liebeskummer can mean either "heartache," or describe the stress and grief that occurs during fights in a relationship.
Sag mal, bist du krank... oder verliebt?
Tell me, are you sick... or in love?
Caption 37, Die Pfefferkörner - Endspurt - Part 1
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Krank vor Liebeskummer irrte der Prinz viele Monate lang umher.
Sick from heartache, the Prince wandered about for many months.
Caption 77, Märchen - Sagenhaft - Rapunzel
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As for relationship status, let's start with the word ledig, which means "single" or "unmarried." This is the proper word that is, for example, used in documents for someone who is not married. Therefore, someone who is in einer Beziehung ("in a relationship") or in Partnerschaft lebend ("living in a domestic partnership") might also check ledig on a form. To describe someone who is not in a romantic relationship, the English word "single" has been adopted by younger Germans and appears on most advertisements for dating apps.
Ich bin sechsunddreißig Jahre alt und ledig.
I am thirty-six years old and single.
Caption 32, Die Pfefferkörner - Gerüchteküche - Part 2
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Wir waren sehr lange verlobt.
We were engaged for a very long time.
Caption 20, Nicos Weg - Mein Traumpartner
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Ich bin glücklich verheiratet.
I'm happily married.
Caption 55, Die Pfefferkörner - Endspurt - Part 7
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When a relationship comes to an end, we speak of die Trennung ("the separation" or "the break-up") and use the verb sich trennen or the adjective getrennt.
Mein Mann und ich leben seit einem Jahr getrennt.
My husband and I have been living separately for a year.
Caption 60, Großstadtrevier - Alle für einen
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Ist das eigentlich OK für dich mit Alisa, dass ihr getrennt seid?
Is that really OK for you with Alisa, that you are separated?
Caption 18, Die Pfefferkörner - Gerüchteküche - Part 5
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Ich glaub, er hat gesagt, er ist geschieden.
I think he said he was divorced.
Caption 26, Nicos Weg - Mein Traumpartner
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Of course, "hope springs eternal"...
Viele von ihnen sind bestimmt frisch verliebt.
Many of them are surely newly in love.
Caption 63, Konjugation - Das Verb „sein“
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Further Learning
There are a number of films and series about love and relationships on Yabla German — just search under the "Drama" category or by series. You can also read our lessons on Valentine's Day in Germany and talking about love in German.
The German noun die Nachricht is often translated into "message" in English, such as a message left on your voicemail:
Sie haben eine neue Nachricht.
You have a new message.
Caption 27, Die Pfefferkörner - Gerüchteküche
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In a slightly confusing twist, both the singular and plural form of die Nachricht (plural: die Nachrichten) are often translated into "news" in English:
Die Nachricht von der schlafenden Prinzessin
The news of the sleeping princess
verbreitete sich in vielen Ländern.
spread throughout many countries.
Captions 58-59, Märchen - Sagenhaft - Dornröschen
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Gute Nachrichten für Hessens Wirtschaftsminister Tarek Al-Wazir.
Good news for Hessia's Minister for Economic Affairs Tarek Al-Wazir.
Caption 1, Frankfurt wird Handelszentrum - für die chinesische Währung Yuan
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This may seem odd, but the reason that the word is translated the same regardless of whether it is singular or plural in German is that the word "news" is a mass noun in English. The Oxford dictionary defines a mass noun as "A noun denoting something that cannot be counted (e.g., a substance or quality), in English usually a noun that lacks a plural in ordinary usage and is not used with the indefinite article e.g. luggage, china, happiness."
Further Learning
Do a search for the word Nachricht on Yabla German and see how the different contexts of its usage can help you understand whether it's best to translate this word as "message" or "news," as well as decide when you should choose die Nachricht or its plural die Nachrichten when using it to mean "news."
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