Recently, we took a thorough look at the verb bestehen . There are, of course, many verbs that contain stehen as a root. Today, we will explore other inseparable verbs and their various meanings. Next week, we'll cover the separable verbs.

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You likely learned the verb verstehen in your very first German class:

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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Ja, aber ich verstehe das einfach nicht.

Yes, but I just don't understand this.

Caption 31, Deutsch mit Eylin: Freche Antworten

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The verb überstehen, like überleben, means "to survive." 

Sie überstehen sogar den Winter, da sie ähnlich den Korallen ein Kalkskelett ausbilden.

They even survive the winter, because, like corals, they form a calcareous skeleton.

Captions 34-35, Expeditionen ins Tierreich: Die Feldberger Seen

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Na ja, sie hat es aber doch eigentlich ganz gut überstanden.

Well, she actually survived it very well after all.

Caption 69, Großstadtrevier: Von Monstern und Mördern

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The verb entstehen means "to arise," "to result," or "to come into being." In English, it's often translated using the passive voice, as this sounds a bit more natural.

Und Grün entsteht, wenn man Blau und Gelb mischt.

And green is created when you mix blue and yellow.

Caption 19, Deutsch mit Paula: Farben

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Aber wie und wann ist die Europahymne entstanden?

But how and when did the European anthem come into being?

Caption 7, Ludwig van Beethoven: Die Geschichte der Europahymne

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Lastly, there is the verb gestehen, which means "to confess." Beware that the past participle for gestehen is the same as for the verb stehen!

Ich hatte keine wirkliche Strategie, muss ich ehrlich gestehen.

I didn't have a real strategy, I have to honestly confess.

Caption 6, Rheinmain im Blick: Börsen-Gewinnspiel

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Ich habe ehrlich gestanden auch gar kein Bock mehr zu sprechen heute.

I honestly don't feel like talking anymore today.

Caption 31, Galileo: So hart ist der Job im Callcenter

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Further Learning
Make sure you know the past participles for all of these verbs. You can find them on Yabla German.

The basic definition of the noun das Handeln is "the action." As a verb, handeln can mean "to act" or "to take action," but also "to trade," "to deal in," or "to bargain."

Wenn sich die eigenen Kinder einen Hund als Haustier wünschen, sollten Eltern nicht gleich voreilig handeln.

If their own children wish to have a dog as a pet, parents shouldn't just act hastily.

Captions 12-13, Haustiere als Geschenk? - Vier Pfoten unterm Weihnachtsbaum

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Und letztendlich hab' ich dann eben versucht, in Währungen zu handeln und in Rohstoffen und so weiter.

And in the end I just tried to deal in currencies and in commodities and so on.

Captions 10-11, Rhein-Main-TV aktuell - Börsen-Gewinnspiel

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However, you may have also seen the construction sich um etwas handeln, which can be translated as  "to be a case of," "to be a matter of," "to be about," "to be dealing with," or "to have to do with." Pay attention to how the order of the words in the phrase is altered to fit into the sentence constructions. 

Es handelt sich also um akut verfügbare Maßnahmen

So it is a matter of provisions made immediately available.

Caption 21, Angela Merkel - beim Nachhaltigkeitsrat

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Ich habe gedacht, es kann sich nur um doppelt vergebene Nachnamen handeln.

I thought it could only have to do with duplicately given last names.

Caption 19, Großstadtrevier - Von Monstern und Mördern

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Aber prüfe genau, ob es sich auch wirklich um eine Prinzessin handelt!

But check carefully whether you're really dealing with a princess!

Caption 24, Märchen - Sagenhaft - Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse

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Ja, der Frühling. Der kommt bestimmt bald. Kann sich ja nur noch um Monate handeln.

Yes, spring. Surely it will come soon. It can only be a matter of months now.

Caption 26, Umfragen - Zootiere im Winter

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Further Learning
Look up related words such as die Handlung, die Verhandlung, and verhandeln using  your favorite dictionary and search for examples on Yabla German. 

You may at some point go to Austria, or watch a film or TV program made in Southern Germany, or read an article that is written in Swiss German. Let's talk today — all difficulties in understanding the accents aside — about some words in Austrian, Swiss, and Southern German dialects that are different from words used in Standard German. Such dialects are occasionally found on Yabla German too!

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In der Früh [Dialekt] ist er ganz stolz gewesen wieder.

In the morning he was very proud again.

Caption 81, Oktoberfest München - Auf der Wiesn

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Die Früh is a standard Austrian and Southern German expression for "morning," which is der Morgen in Standard German.

Ich wurde eben von meinen Freunden da so 'n bisserl [ein bisschen] inspiriert.

I was just inspired a little bit by my friends.

Caption 8, Rhein-Main-TV aktuell - Börsen-Gewinnspiel

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Wird 'n bissel [bisschen] später heute.

It will be a little bit later today.

Caption 9, Mama arbeitet wieder - Kapitel 1: Alle haben sich lieb

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Bissel and bisserl are typical dialect for the Standard German bisschen.

Als besonderes Zuckerl [Dialekt] für die Rider zum Training...

As a special treat for the riders to train on...

Caption 8, Wintersport - 7. Austrian Freeski Open

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Das Zuckerl is Bavarian dialect for a "candy," "sweet," or "treat," rendered as der (or das) Bonbon in Standard German.

Patrick Hollaus zählt auch heuer [Dialekt: dieses Jahr] wieder zu den heißen Favoriten.

Patrick Hollaus is counted among the hot favourites again this year.

Caption 34, Wintersport - 7. Austrian Freeski Open

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Heuer is Southern German, Austrian, and Swiss dialect for "this year," or dieses Jahr in Standard German.

„Ist der Brief im Kuvert? Ist eine Marke drauf?“

"Is the letter in the envelope? Is there a stamp on it?"

Caption 22, Janoschs Traumstunde - Post für den Tiger

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The word das Kuvert is indeed acceptable Standard German, but is primarily used instead of der Briefumschlag for "envelope" in Austria and Switzerland.

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Further Learning
Some other very typical Southern German dialects are found in names of food. Here are a few examples, with the first word as dialect in bold, followed by the English word and the Standard German word in parentheses: der Erdapfel (potato, die Kartoffel); der Kukuruz (corn, maize, der Mais); die Marille (apricot, die Aprikose); der Paradieser (tomato, die Tomate); die Ribisel (currants, die Johannisbeere); das Schwammerl (mushroom, der Pilz); die Semmel (bread roll, das Brötchen); die Zwetschge / die Zwetschke (plum, die Pflaume). Now that you are prepared, you can watch this three-part video series on Yabla German to hear some real-life Austrians in action!