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.
One of the very first verbs you'll learn when studying German is sprechen ("to speak"). While watching videos on Yabla, however, you may have noticed that there are many verbs that consist of sprechen and a prefix.
Some separable verbs include the words for "to say out loud" and "to repeat out loud":
Ich spreche vor und du kannst sie nachsprechen.
I'll say them out loud, and you can repeat them.
Caption 35, Deutsch mit Eylin: Umlaute
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The verb aussprechen can mean "to express" or "to pronounce" depending on the context.
Und lassen Sie mich auch hier Dank aussprechen an Menschen, denen zu selten gedankt wird.
And let me at this point also express gratitude to people who are too rarely thanked.
Captions 1-2, Coronavirus: Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel
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Das deutsche „Z“ wird immer so ausgesprochen.
The German "Z" is always pronounced like this.
Caption 21, Deutsch mit Eylin: S und Z
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The verb ansprechen means "to address." Like in English, you can address a person or address a topic:
Ich war mir nicht sicher, wie ich es ansprechen sollte.
I was not sure how to address it.
Caption 11, Die Wohngemeinschaft: Probleme
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Sie ist sofort abgehauen, als Frau Lenz die Sache angesprochen hat.
She immediately took off when Ms. Lenz raised the matter.
Caption 65, Die Pfefferkörner: Endspurt
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There are also some inseparable verbs that you have likely already encountered. For a topic that's being discussed, you can use sprechen über or the verb besprechen.
Um die Einzelheiten zu besprechen.
To talk about the specific details.
Caption 11, Berufsleben: Probleme mit Mitarbeitern
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Dieses Thema haben wir schon in einem anderen Video besprochen.
We already spoke about this theme in another video.
Caption 3, Eva erklärt: die Steigerung von Adjektiven und Adverbien
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And though it's a bit different, let's include the verb versprechen ("to promise") as well:
Na gut, aber ihr müsst versprechen, dass ihr wach bleibt. -Versprochen.
All right, but you have to promise that you will stay awake. -Promised.
Caption 25, Peppa Wutz: Sterne - Zahnfee - Übernachtungsparty
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Further Learning
You can find many examples of these verbs conjugated on Yabla German. Stay tuned for a follow-up lesson in a few weeks!
When it comes to leisure, we may engage in sports or other hobbies and activities, but most people also enjoy listening to music or radio programs, watching films or TV, and/or reading in their free time. This week's lesson is devoted to vocabulary related to media and entertainment.
It used to be that music collections took up lots of space, but now this depends on how you listen. Many people still collect records (die Schallplatte, plural die Schallplatten), CDs (die CD, plural die CDs) or even cassettes (die Kassette, plural die Kassetten), but not all.
Also, der hat ein Lied „Fireflies“ und habe ich mir auch gleich das Album gekauft.
Well, he has a song called "Fireflies" and I bought the album right away too.
Caption 33, Eva Croissant: Interview
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Die Nashville-LP „Could Have Been Mine“ ist die dritte Platte der Band.
The Nashville LP "Could Have Been Mine" is the band's third disc.
Caption 43, Ann Doka & Band: New Country aus dem Rhein-Main-Gebiet
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Komm, dreh noch mal die Kassette.
Come on, play the cassette again.
Caption 28, Max Mutzke: Welt hinter Glas
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Den Platz im Regal für diese kunststoffreichen Staubfresser kann man sich sparen, indem man Musik und Filme online streamt oder herunterlädt.
You can save the shelf space taken up by these plastic-rich dust collectors by streaming or downloading music and movies online.
Captions 36-37, WWF Deutschland: Tipps zur Vermeidung von Plastikmüll
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Movies and TV series are also often accessed through streaming services, but some people have DVD collections with their favorite films. Others think nothing compares to the big screen:
Ich schenke ihr eine DVD.
I'm giving her a DVD.
Caption 18, Nicos Weg: Herzlichen Glückwunsch!
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Wohin gehst du heute noch? Ins Kino. Es läuft ein neuer Film.
Where else are you going to today? To the cinema. A new film is playing.
Captions 35-36, Diane erklärt: Fragewörter
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For TV series, there are two nouns to know: die Sendung and die Serie. A season of a TV show is called die Staffel, and an episode is die Folge.
Ja, ein Team dreht hier bald eine aktuelle Serie fürs Fernsehen.
Yes, a team is filming a current series for television here soon.
Caption 15, Nicos Weg: Ein Praktikum beim Film
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Die meisten kennen mich wahrscheinlich aus der Sendung „Der Bachelor“.
Most of you probably know me from the series "Der Bachelor."
Caption 11, Anja Polzer: Interview
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Nochmal zu deiner Karriere. Germany's Next Topmodel, zweite Staffel, Platz zwei.
Back to your career. Germany's Next Top Model, second season, second place.
Caption 24, Peyman Amin: Der Modelmacher
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It should be noted that die Sendung is also used for radio broadcasts and shows. You may hear der Rundfunk instead of das Radio, but the word "podcast" remains the same in German and in English:
Wir zeigen denen, wie man eine Radiosendung macht, richtig professionell.
We show them how you do a radio broadcast, really professionally.
Caption 59, Sallys Tortenwelt und Kochwelt: Backen mit Kindern & Auftritt bei Radio Rumms
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Schon jetzt gibt es Enkel, die ihren Großeltern einen Podcast aufnehmen,
There are already grandchildren who are recording a podcast for their grandparents
Captions 61-62, Coronavirus: Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel
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Further Learning
What do you like to do? Write down a few sentences about your habits related to music, radio, films, or TV. And don't forget that accessing these in German is a great way to learn the language. You can find a number of different fun series and interesting films, as well as great music to listen to on Yabla German.
In German, the verb verstehen is used in a wide variety of contexts, from hearing what someone says to understanding a fact or the nature of a particular situation or circumstances.
Habt ihr es verstanden? -Ja.
Have you understood it? -Yes.
Caption 26, Deutschkurs in Blaubeuren - Relativsätze mit Präpositionen
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Wenn du ein Wort im Untertitel nicht verstehst,
If you don't understand a word in the subtitle,
dann kannst du es anklicken.
then you can click on it.
Captions 27-28, German Intro - Jenny
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Trotzdem kann ich verstehen,
Nevertheless, I can understand
dass es nicht fair für sie ist, alles bezahlen zu müssen.
that it is not fair for her to have to pay for everything.
Caption 40, Die Wohngemeinschaft - Probleme
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Das kann ich gut verstehen, ich habe selbst zwei Kinder.
I can understand that well, I have two children myself.
Caption 25, Berufsleben - Probleme mit Mitarbeitern
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When you are expressing a deeper level of comprehension, for example being able to follow why something happened the way it did, reconstruct a line of thought, relate to something, or grasp connections, there are additional verbs you can use.
Zwar ist das Wort „Nachhaltigkeit“ in aller Munde,
Indeed, the word "sustainability" is in all mouths (on everyone's lips),
Kinder können das aber kaum nachvollziehen.
but children are hardly able to understand it.
Captions 4-5, Schüler lernen Nachhaltigkeit - Bildungsinitiative gestartet
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Und das müssen wir wirklich alle begreifen.
And that's what we all really need to understand:
Im Moment ist nur Abstand Ausdruck von Fürsorge.
At the moment, distance is the only way to express care.
Captions 41-42, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel
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Da begriffen die drei Brüder, dass alles nur ein Trick gewesen war.
Then the three brothers realized that it had all just been a trick.
Caption 85, Märchen - Sagenhaft - Die drei Brüder
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One verb that you may encounter is kapieren. In English, we use "to get" to mean "to understand" and this is a similar slang expression.
Und es wäre schön, wenn du es endlich mal kapieren würdest.
And it would be nice if you would finally understand that.
Caption 48, Oskar - Gehen, wenn es am schönsten ist - Der Panther
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Mann, du kapierst es einfach nicht. Ich war das nicht!
Man, you just don't get it. It wasn't me!
Caption 31, Die Pfefferkörner - Alles auf Anfang
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Further Learning
You can find many examples on Yabla German, but also consider the first four above. Which of these could be replaced with a verb other than verstehen?
In German Chancellor Angela Merkel's address to the nation last month (March 2020), she mentioned social distancing a number of times, using the German noun der Abstand.
Wir müssen aus Rücksicht voneinander Abstand halten.
Out of consideration, we have to keep a distance from each other.
Caption 30, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel
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... mindestens eineinhalb Meter Abstand zum Nächsten.
... a distance of at least one and a half meters from each other.
Caption 33, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel
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Im Moment ist nur Abstand Ausdruck von Fürsorge.
At the moment, distance is the only way to express care.
Caption 42, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel
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Let's take a look at der Abstand as used in some other contexts.
Der Abstand zum Bordstein ist zwar etwas groß.
The distance to the curb is indeed somewhat large.
Caption 48, Richter Alexander Hold - Richtig parken
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... und immer Abstand halten von Sylvie van der Vaart,
... and always maintain distance from Sylvie van der Vaart,
dann kann gar nichts schiefgehen.
then nothing at all can go wrong.
Captions 29-30, Barbara Schöneberger - Das Roter-Teppich-Einmaleins
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Wenn das rot eingezeichnet ist, sehen Sie hier den Abstand.
If this is shown in red, you see the interval here.
Caption 40, Bildverarbeitung - Sirius Advanced Cybernetics in Pforzheim
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So, und der Abstand hier, der beträgt dann eben zwanzig Zentimeter.
So, and the distance here, it then amounts to just twenty centimeters.
Caption 38, Die Pfefferkörner - Gerüchteküche
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Der Abstand is usually translated as "distance," though as you see above, other terms such as "interval," "space," or "gap" are sometimes more appropriate, depending upon the context.
Further Learning
There are a number of different German words that can be translated into the English word "distance," depending upon the specific contexts in which they are used. Go to Yabla German and find some more examples of der Abstand, then take a look at some of the other words expressing "distance," such as die Entfernung and die Ferne. As a reward for your diligent studies, take a 5-minute break and watch actor Christoph Waltz give talk show host Jimmy Fallon a quiz on long German words, it's pretty funny!
Last week, we offered you Part 1 of the vocabulary in Chancellor Merkel's televised speech about COVID-19, and today we're giving you the second and last part. It's pretty rare that a German chancellor appeals directly to the nation on television like this, and we think her message has many aspects that are valid for everyone during this crisis, regardless of where you live. You may not hear some of the words she uses in everyday casual speech, however, so it's important that you focus on some key words to effectively extend your German vocabulary.
Ich möchte Ihnen erklären,
I would like to explain to you
wo wir aktuell stehen in der Epidemie,
where we currently stand with the epidemic
was die Bundesregierung und die staatlichen Ebenen tun,
and what is being done at the Federal Government and state levels
um alle in unsrer Gemeinschaft zu schützen
to protect everyone in our community
und den ökonomischen, sozialen, kulturellen Schaden zu begrenzen.
and limit the economic, social, and cultural damage.
Captions 29-33, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 1
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Die Ebene has three distinct definitions in the German Duden dictionary: the first is an area of flat land, the second a geometry or physics term usually translated as "plane" in English, and the third definition is the one used here, "level." Der Schaden means "the damage". This is easy to remember as it correlates to a German adjective you are probably already familiar with: schade ("too bad").
Zeit, damit die Forschung ein Medikament und einen Impfstoff entwickeln kann.
Time, so that researchers can develop a drug and a vaccine.
Caption 49, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 1
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Aber noch gibt es weder eine Therapie gegen das Coronavirus
But there is still neither a treatment for the coronavirus
noch einen Impfstoff.
nor a vaccine.
Captions 43-44, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 1
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Hopefully for all of our sakes this situation will change soon, but in the meantime der Impfstoff ("the vaccine") is an important word to know.
Wir müssen das Risiko, dass der eine den anderen ansteckt, so begrenzen,
We must limit the risk of one person infecting another
wie wir nur können.
as much as we can.
Captions 22-23, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 2
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The German verb anstecken means "to infect" and is a separable verb that takes a direct object. The less we have to do with any anstecken, the better!
Die verschärften Grenzkontrollen und Einreisebeschränkungen
The tightened border controls and entry restrictions
zu einigen unserer wichtigsten Nachbarländer in Kraft.
on some of our most important neighboring countries have been in force.
Captions 42-43, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 2
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The 6-syllable noun die Einreisebeschränkung, or the "travel entry restriction", has been used often in the last few years as part of the ongoing debate about emigration, since the level of such restrictions determines who is allowed or forbidden entry to a country.
Alle staatlichen Maßnahmen gingen ins Leere,
All government measures would come to nothing
wenn wir nicht das wirksamste Mittel
if we didn't employ the most effective means
gegen die zu schnelle Ausbreitung des Virus einsetzen würden.
of keeping the virus from spreading too quickly.
Captions 9-11, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 3
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The noun die Ausbreitung may also be translated into English variously as "propagation", "dissemination", or "distribution", depending upon the context.
Further Learning
Watch the Chancellor's speech on Yabla German and listen for these key words and phrases. The city of Berlin website has set up a news feed under Nachrichten with updates on the crisis in German and in English. Try reading an article in German, such as their recommendations of what is allowed during the Easter Holiday, then check your comprehension by going to the top right-hand corner of the page and choosing the English version of the article. Best wishes from Yabla to you and your family during these times of crisis.
Chancellor Angela Merkel doesn't often give televised addresses, however, she recently went on TV to speak about the measures being taken in Germany to slow the spread of COVID-19 and appeal to the public.
Chancellor Merkel opens the speech by acknowledging how difficult recent weeks have been. The word die Begegnung can mean "the encounter," like when you bump into someone on the street, but here it refers to social interaction.
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 - Part 1
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She refers to the "restrictions" and "closures" that are defining daily life at the moment.
Es sind Einschränkungen, wie es sie in der Bundesrepublik noch nie gab.
They are restrictions such as have never been seen before in the German Federal Republic.
Caption 33, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 2
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Ich weiß, wie hart die Schließungen,
I know how severely these closures,
auf die sich Bund und Länder geeinigt haben,
which have been agreed upon by the federal and state governments,
in unser Leben und auch unser demokratisches Selbstverständnis eingreifen.
are interfering with our lives and with our democratic self-image as well.
Captions 30-32, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 2
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Chancellor Merkel describes Germany as eine Gemeinschaft, which can be translated as "a community," "an association," or "a collective." The community now has the task of practicing social distancing. The word for task, die Aufgabe, can be used to describe a household task, but also a much larger undertaking.
Und wir sind eine Gemeinschaft,
And we are a community
in der jedes Leben und jeder Mensch zählt.
in which every life and every person counts.
Captions 63-64, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 1
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Ich glaube fest daran, dass wir diese Aufgabe bestehen,
I firmly believe that we will succeed in this task
wenn wirklich alle Bürgerinnen und Bürger sie als ihre Aufgabe begreifen.
if all citizens really see it as their task.
Captions 21-22, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 1
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Chancellor Merkel uses the adjective solidarisch, as well as its opposite unsolidarisch, to describe different behaviors.
Seit dem Zweiten Weltkrieg
Since the Second World War
gab es keine Herausforderung an unser Land mehr,
there has been no challenge to our country
bei der es so sehr auf unser gemeinsames solidarisches Handeln ankommt.
that has depended so much on us acting together in solidarity.
Captions 26-28, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 1
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Hamstern, als werde es nie wieder etwas geben,
Hoarding as if nothing will ever again be available
ist sinnlos und letztlich vollkommen unsolidarisch.
is senseless and ultimately completely lacking in solidarity.
Captions 62-63, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 2
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Note the use of the word das Hamstern above. This is a nominalization of the verb hamstern, which relates to the food collection method of a certain animal and is slang for horten / "to hoard." The noun der Hamsterkauf is related to der Einkauf, but rather than "the shopping trip" it is more like the English expression "panic buying."
When talking about social distancing or keeping a distance from people you encounter when you have to leave your house, the term in German is Abstand halten. Chancellor Merkel says that even though it is difficult, this is one of our greatest weapons against the spread of the virus.
Im Moment ist nur Abstand Ausdruck von Fürsorge.
At the moment, distance is the only way to express care.
Caption 42, Coronavirus - Fernsehansprache von Angela Merkel - Part 3
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Further Learning
Watch the Chancellor's speech on Yabla German and listen for these key words and phrases. If you would like to work on your listening comprehension by means of a daily news briefing, try listening to Deutsche Welle's Langsam gesprochene Nachrichten, which is made especially for German learners. If you would like to learn about how the situation is unfolding in Germany, you may find Der Spiegel to be a good resource for articles in English as well as German.
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