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Vocabulary for Language Learning

Today, we'll look at vocabulary that you need to talk about learning the German language.

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If you're currently taking a German class, some of these words may already be familiar to you. For example, besides das Wort, here are some additional terms used to talk about words and vocabulary:

 

Was bedeutet der Begriff „europäische Integration“?

What does the term "European integration" mean?

Caption 31, Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Einbürgerungstest

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Und damit du ein besseres Vokabular fürs „Tratschen“ bekommst, erzähle ich dir jetzt mal etwas über Menschen aus meinem früheren und heutigen Bekanntenkreis.

And to give you better vocabulary for "gossiping," I will now tell you something about people from my previous and current circle of acquaintances.

Captions 13-15, Deutsch mit Eylin: Charakter und Eigenschaften beschreiben

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Worauf ich hinaus will, ist, dass es nach dem Erlernen der Grundlagen einer Sprache wirklich nützlich ist, den Wortschatz zu erweitern.

What I'm getting at is that after learning the basics of a language, it is really useful to expand your vocabulary.

Captions 14-16, Deutsch mit Eylin: Nomen-Verb-Verbindungen

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The phrase Was bedeutet [...]? in the first example may be familiar to you. The noun die Bedeutung means both "the meaning" and "the significance."

 

Natürlich ist in diesem Fall die Bedeutung der beiden Sätze etwas unterschiedlich.

Of course, the meaning of the two sentences in this case is slightly different.

Caption 24, Deutsch mit Eylin: Der Imperativ

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Of course, learning a language isn't just about vocabulary; it's also a matter of grammar and pronunciation:

 

So ähnlich ist es mit Grammatik, wenn man eine Sprache lernt.

It's similar with grammar when you're learning a language.

Caption 10, Deutsch mit Eylin: Auf natürliche Weise Sprachen lernen mit Yabla

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So, Satzbau hat zu tun mit den verschiedenen Elementen in einem Hauptsatz.

So, sentence structure has to do with the various elements in a main clause.

Captions 27-28, Deutschkurs in Tübingen: Satzbau

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Heute geht es mal wieder um das Thema Aussprache.

Today we will be discussing the topic of pronunciation again.

Caption 4, Deutsch mit Eylin: Doppellaute

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Sie sind kurz aber sie verändern alles. Vor allem durch Betonung und Intonation.

They are short, but they change everything— especially through emphasis and intonation.

Captions 6-7, Deutsch mit Giada: Kurze Wörter, große Wirkung

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Further Learning

You'll find this vocabulary in many videos on Yabla German, as well as vocabulary related to die Konjugation (conjugation) and die Deklination (declination). If these words aren't familiar to you, go ahead and do a quick search!

Memory and Remembering

The verbs erinnern and sich erinnern both mean "to remember." However, they are not interchangeable and are not the only verbs used to describe the act of remembering.

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Generally, the verb erinnern means to remind someone else, while the reflexive verb sich erinnern means to remember or recall something oneself. The preposition for both verbs is an, which is followed by the accusative.

 

Das Geräusch erinnert an das Summen einer Biene.

The sound is reminiscent of the buzz of a bee.

Caption 26, Deutsch mit Eylin: s, ß und ss

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Er erinnerte sie daran, dass man halten muss, was man verspricht.

He reminded her that you must keep what you have promised.

Caption 66, Märchen - Sagenhaft:Der Froschkönig

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Oh, ja, das stimmt. Ich erinnere mich an die Fotos, die du mir geschickt hast.

Oh yes, that's right. I remember the photos that you sent me.

Caption 21, Die Wohngemeinschaft: Besuch

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Other verbs can imply remembering as well. The phrase an etwas denken literally means "to think of," but can be used when you want to make sure that someone doesn't forget to do something, or be applied to past events: 

 

Denkt an die Tage, die hinter uns liegen.

Think of the days that lie behind us.

Caption 4, Andreas Bourani Auf uns

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The verb merken can be translated as "to notice" but also "to remember." 

 

So merkt man sich vieles noch viel besser.

That way, you'll remember many things much better.

Caption 57, Deutsch mit Eylin: Auf natürliche Weise Sprachen lernen mit Yabla

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An important distinction should be made between the nouns die Erinnerung and das Gedächtnis. While die Erinnerung refers to an individual memory or the act of remembering, das Gedächtnis is our general capacity to store information.

 

Peter Barsch geht es vor allem um die Erinnerung an eine Zeit, die man heute kaum noch verstehen kann.

What matters for Peter Barsch is, above all, the remembrance of a time that you can barely understand anymore today.

Captions 26-27, 25 Jahre Mauerfall: Radtour durch die Geschichte

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Jede Zeile von mir bleibt in deinem Gedächtnis.

Every line of mine will stay in your memory.

Caption 34, Nina Chuba: Wildberry Lillet Remix feat. Juju

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Further Learning
You'll find these nouns and verbs in many examples on Yabla German.