This week, we will look at more words that only differ by an umlaut. 

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As you know, the plural version of some nouns is formed with an umlaut. An example of this is die Mutter ("the mother") and die Mütter ("the mothers"). 

So, jetzt wollen wir mal andere Mütter fragen, was es für sie bedeutet, Mutter zu sein.

So, now we want to ask other mothers what it means to them to be a mother.

Captions 16-17, Cettina: interviewt Mütter

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However, some words take on a completely different meaning when an umlaut is added to one of the vowels. One classic example is schön ("pretty," "nice") and schon ("already," "indeed"). 

Immer wieder schön, dich wiederzusehen.

Always nice to see you again.

Caption 1, AnnenMayKantereit 3. Stock

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One difference in pronunciation that might take some practice is between schwul and schwül. The adjective schwül means "humid."

Da diese Abkürzung für lesbisch, schwul, bisexuell, transsexuell und queer steht.

Because this abbreviation stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer.

Caption 4, LGBTQ Gendern

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Whereas die Küchen is the plural of "kitchen," der Kuchen means "cake." 

Heute möchte ich mit euch einen Kuchen backen.

Today I would like to bake a cake with you.

Caption 2, Apfelkuchen: mit Eva

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The noun der Müll means "the garbage." Without an umlaut, der Mull refers to muslin or gauze. 

Wir haben fünfhundert Tüten Müll gesammelt.

We've collected five hundred bags of garbage.

Caption 9, Die Pfefferkörner: Endspurt

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Further Learning
A few more words you can look up are die Schranke vs. die Schränke, der Bär vs. die Bar or das Bar, and die Bürger vs. der Burger. Stuck on pronunciation? Listen to the words pronounced by native speakers in videos on Yabla German.

In this lesson for beginners, we'll look at what are often also called "question words." Actually, they are mostly either interrogative pronouns/interrogative adverbs or relative pronouns/relative adverbs, depending on the usage. 

Let's begin with the word was and look at how it can be used in both interrogative and declarative sentences. In addition to meaning "what," was can also be translated in certain sentences as "something," "anything," or "that which."

Was machst du denn noch in deiner Freizeit? Joggst du gerne?

What else do you do in your spare time then? Do you like to go jogging?

Caption 8, Nicos Weg: Was macht dir Spaß?

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Und was man dabei auch bemerkt hat, ist, dass da kaum Eis ist...

And what you've also noticed is that there's hardly any ice...

Caption 29, WWF Deutschland Klimawandel hautnah:Was sind die Auswirkungen?

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The word wer may look like the English word "where," but it means "who" in German. Here is an example used in a question and also in a very common structure in which it means "anyone who" or "whoever." 

Wer friert uns diesen Moment ein?

Who will freeze this moment in time for us?

Caption 2, Andreas Bourani: Auf uns

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Wer unnötige Begegnungen vermeidet, hilft allen, die sich in den Krankenhäusern um täglich mehr Fälle kümmern müssen.

Those who avoid unnecessary social interaction will help all of those in the hospitals who are having to take care of more cases every day.

Captions 49-50, Coronavirus: Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel

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The word wer serves as a pronoun and is therefore different in the accusative and dative cases. Whereas many people rarely use "whom" in English, the words wen and wem are not optional in German!

Weißt du, wen ich gestern getroffen habe?

Do you know who I ran into yesterday?

Caption 9, Deutsch mit Eylin: Menschen beschreiben

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Mit wem willst du denn Valentinstag feiern?

Who do you want to celebrate Valentine's Day with?

Caption 32, Nicos Weg: Feste und Feiertage

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The German word for "where" is wo. You may have already learned the variations woher and wohin in order to ask people where they are from and where they are going.

Sag mir doch zuerst einmal, wo das Bundesland liegt.

First of all, tell me where the state is located.

Caption 14, Bundesländer und ihre Rezepte: Nordrhein-Westfalen

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Wohin muss man in Deutschland zuerst gehen, wenn man heiraten möchte?

Where do you first have to go in Germany if you want to get married?

Caption 3, Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Einbürgerungstest

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Not to be confused with wenn, which can also mean "if," wann is the interrogative adverb for "when." It refers solely to time and not to probability. You can find a lesson on the difference here. 

Wann kommt der nächste Bus?

When is the next bus coming?

Caption 23, Deutsch mit Eylin: Fragewörter

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The word wie has several meanings, because in addition to "how" it also can be translated as "such as" or "like."

Hier Daniel Müller am Apparat. Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?

Daniel Müller speaking. How can I help you?

Caption 54, Berufsleben: das Vorstellungsgespräch

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Ich liebe meine Freunde und wie wir miteinander sind.

I love my friends and how we are together.

Caption 12, AnnenMayKantereit: Ozean

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And finally we come to warum. Note that even though the word darum exists, it is only rarely translated as "because!" That would be too easy. 

Warum ist denn hier nicht abgeschlossen?

Why isn't this locked here?

Caption 1, Die Pfefferkörner: Endspurt

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Further Learning
Next week we will look at how to say "whatever," "however," "whoever," and "whenever" in German. For now, notice how these question words are integrated into various sentences on Yabla German and watch Eylin's video Deutsch mit Eylin: Fragewörter.

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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BANNER PLACEHOLDER

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.