Suchergebnisse

Every year, there is one week, where I really regret living in Bavaria – and not somewhere in northern Germany. Don’t get me wrong, I love my home! My wonderful friends, the beautiful nature around us, the proximity to Munich – a city that’s very close to my heart... But still, there’s one tiny downside to living in Bavaria. And that becomes clear every October. When do the clocks change in Germany? Central European Summer Time begins on the last Sunday in March at 2:00 a.m. That’s when the clocks are moved forward from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. It ends on the last Sunday in October at 3:00 a.m., when the clocks are moved back to 2:00 a.m. – welcome, winter time! Here are the upcoming dates: October 27, 2024  – Wintertime begins March 30, 2025  – Daylight saving time begins October 26, 2025  – Wintertime begins March 29, 2026  – Daylight saving time begins October 25, 2026  – Wintertime begins Why do we have the time change? The origin of the time change goes back to World War I. On April 30, 1916, the German Empire decided to move the clocks forward by one hour. The reason? To make better use of daylight. In spring, the intensity of sunlight changes. The days get longer, and the sun rises earlier and sets later. By changing the clocks, people would wake up earlier and go to bed earlier as well. The goal was to use less electric light and energy in the evening. However, the real reason behind it was the war economy – the aim was to save energy for weapons production, not for households. That’s how daylight saving time (die Sommerzeit) was introduced. The “normal” time was then called winter time . The idea quickly spread – to other European countries, Russia, and the USA. After the war, there were various rules in different countries over the following decades. It wasn’t until 1996 that the time change was unified across the European Union. Will the time change be abolished soon? In March 2019, the European Parliament voted to abolish the twice-yearly time change starting in 2021. In an EU-wide survey, 84% of respondents were in favor of this. The desire to abolish it was especially strong in Germany: of the 4.6 million participants in the survey, 3 million were from Germany. Jean-Claude Juncker, the then-President of the European Commission, said: “People want this, so let’s do it.” However, the individual EU member states still need to agree on whether to keep permanent summer or winter time. To this day, no decision has been made. Why do many people want to get rid of the time change? The time change is a burden for many people. According to a survey by the health insurance company DAK, 76% of Germans suffer from physical or psychological complaints after the time change. These include fatigue, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating. One in ten even reports feeling depressed. And why do I wish I lived in northern Germany? It’s because of the autumn holidays. In Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, the time change always happens at the start of the autumn break. That sounds practical at first – but what’s the point of sleeping in when you already have time off? Hilfreiche Vokabeln: Zeitumstellung die Zeitumstellung - the changing of the clocks Die Uhren stellen – to set the clock Die Uhren umstellen – to change the clock Die Uhr vorstellen – to set the clock forward (to a later time) Die Uhr zurückstellen – to set the clock backward (to an earlier time) Die Sommerzeit – daylight saving time Die Winterzeit – the “normal” time of year, when it’s not daylight saving time https://www.dak.de/dak/bundesthemen/zeitumstellung-2364748.html#/

Learning vocabulary is important... but of course it's not as fun as speaking or watching a german movie. That's why you need strategies and routines that will allow you to learn a lot of words efficiently and in a short amount of time. I have compiled the best tips here: "Learn out loud!" Languages are made for speaking! That's why it helps if you say the new words and, of course, listen to them as well. Repeat the German word and the meaning in your language several times in a row. Even better, make a movement that matches the word. For example, with the verb “to cook” you can stir an imaginary saucepan. Or with the verb "to jump" … exactly, jump. Very important: always learn - Nouns with their article (der, die, das) and plural form. - Verbs with their tenses! Maybe your textbook comes with an app that you can use to learn vocabulary. This can be very handy - especially if the word is spoken to you correctly in German. Vocabulary cards (flashcards) are also a great help: Write the German word on one side and the word in your language on the other side. So, if your language is English, it will have the German word on one side and the English word on the other one. That way you can easily quiz yourself - from German to English and from English to German Sometimes learning a sentence and not just a single word is easier. You should also learn standard sentences or idioms as a whole sentence. Example: Entschuldigung, was kostet das? / Ich hätte gerne ein Bier./ Wir möchten bitte zahlen. Meiner Ansicht nach …/ Weiterhin ist zu bedenken/ …. Mit freundlichen Grüßen Just write the whole sentence on your vocabulary card. Write the opposite of a new word on the vocabulary card: Example: hoch - tief / teuer - billig aufwachen - einschlafen ich habe Hunger - ich bin satt If you can't remember a word, use mnemonics. For example, you look for similar words in German or in your language and think of a sentence or an “image” in which both words appear. The more absurd the picture, the easier it is for you to remember it! Apply the new words: use them in a conversation or write sentences. Many language learners find it helpful to write down word families or words about the same topic. On the topic of kochen (cooking), for example, comes: Küche - Essen - Teller - Kochtopf - Herd - Ofen - … Always learn about 5 words together. So if you want to learn 15 new words, you group them into 3 groups of 5 words each. First, you will learn 5 words. If you know them all, the next 5 words come up. And if you can do those last 5 words. At the end you repeat all 15 words. It's more efficient to learn a few words a day than a lot once a week. The brain can't memorize a lot of new vocabulary at once - so small portions are better. Review the vocabulary for the first time after a few hours - ideally before bed. Next, you review the new vocabulary every day. If you've known them 4 times in 4 days, you can put them aside. Once a month you review all older vocabulary. Of course, you can sort out words that you find particularly easy. A vocabulary box is very useful for monitoring your learning progress: you have the new vocabulary on the front. If you knew them, they will be tucked back one compartment. And if you don't know a word after three days, the card comes back to the front. You can buy a vocabulary box or just take an empty box (e.g. from tea bags). Everything is better together: Find a learning partner and quizz each other. That helps both of you, because you also learn the words when asking questions. And, of course, it's more fun together. More tips for learning German: How to learn German faster >>> 101 German Survival Phrases >>> 7 reasons, why adults can learn languages just as well as adolescents or kids >>> How do you learn new words? Which strategies are helpful for you? Write them in the comments - this way you will also help other German learners!

Normally, a noun in German comes with an article: With a definite article (der, das, die) or with an indefinite article (a, an). But sometimes we don't need an article. Then we say: The noun has got a zero-article. You will easily learn the zero article in German grammar and how to use it in this article. I. What is the Zero-Article, der Nullartikel? Normally nouns have a definite article (der/die/das) or an indefinite article. But there are exceptions. In some cases, nouns come without articles. Then we say: The noun has a zero article. You can think of it like a vacuum: There is no air = There is a vacuum. There is no article = There is a zero article. II. How to use the Zero-Article in German Grammar In the following cases, you do not need an article. That means: we have a zero-article. To show it's position, it is marked here like this: () 1. The indefinite article in the plural The indefinite article (a, an) has no plural form. That's why you need the zero article here: Hier ist eine Blume 🌷. - Hier sind () Blumen💐. Franziska hat einen Hund 🐕. - Franziska hat () Hunde🐕🐩. 2. Proper names of People and Companies We use the zero-article for proper names of people and companies. Das ist () Sonja. Die Geschirrspülmaschine ist von () Siemens. 3. Nationalities and Languages The same is true for nationalities and languages: Ich bin Deutsche und Pierre ist Franzose. Pierre lernt Deutsch. Lena spricht Französisch. 4. Cities, Continents, Countries Cities, continents, and most countries also take the zero-article. Warst du schon in () Hamburg? Deutschland liegt in () Europa.“ BUT: Some countries always have an article: Olha komme aus der Ukraine Jim kommt aus den USA. 5. Professions For Professions, you need the zero-article if you use „werden“ (to become), „sein“ (to be), or „als“ (as). Theresa ist () Lehrerin/ Schülerin/ Krankenschwester/ ... Frau Müller arbeitet als () Taxifahrerin. Alexander will () Arzt werden. 6. After Size, Weight, or Number descriptions There is a zero-article after size, weight, or quantity (number description). Möchtest du eine Tasse () Kaffee? Du brauchst 250g () Zucker. Für dieses Rezept nimmst du drei () Bananen. 7. Materials and Substances Materials and Substances come without an article. For example: Wasser, Holz, Gold, Papier, Seide, Wolle, ... Der Tisch ist aus () Holz. Das Spiezeug ist aus () Plastik. 8. Abstract Nouns Abstract Nouns are the ones that you can neither see nor touch. For example: Luft, Liebe, Glück, Wut, Freude, Hoffnung ... They also come with the zero-article. Die Blumen brauchen () Licht. Das Malen macht mir () Freude. III. Exceptions: you need an article, if ... 1. There is an adjective before the noun If there is an adjective before the noun, you usually (not always!) need an article: Das ist () Sonja. (without adjective) Das ist die liebe Sonja. (with adjective) Alexander will () Arzt werden. (without adjective) Alexander will ein guter Arzt werden. (with adjective) Remember: Just like in English, there is no plural of undetermined articles. Hier sind () Blumen. Hier sind schöne () Blumen. (with adjective but without article) 2. Specific People or Things Frau Müller ist () Taxifahrerin. Frau Müller ist die Taxifahrerin mit dem großen, neuen Auto. (= precisely this women) Frau Müller ist eine Taxifahrerin, mit der ich sehr gerne fahre. (= closer description, can be one of many) Hier sind die schönen Blumen, die mir mein Mann geschenkt hat. (these specific flowers - with a determined article). IV. Summary The zero-article means: There is no article in front of the noun. You usually need the zero article when a noun is unspecified. If there is an adjective before the noun, you often cannot leave out the article. Is there a zero article in your language? Is it used the same way as in German? Recognizing the differences and similarities can help you learn German!

Negation with kein, nicht or nein When do you use kein, nicht or nein? What is correct for "I don't speak Chinese"? Ich kann kein Chinesisch? or: Ich kann nicht Chinesisch sprechen? Or is it: Chinesisch kann ich nicht sprechen? In this article, you'll find out the simple rules for using nein, kein, or nicht and for their correct position in a sentence. By the way: all three sentences from above are correct. You'll find the explanation in this article. How can I negate a sentence in German? In German, there are three ways to express negation: Nein Möchtest du einen Kaffee? – Nein, danke. Would you like a coffee? No, thanks. Kein Möchtest du einen Kaffee? – Danke, ich möchte keinen Kaffee. Would you like a coffee? - Thanks, I don't want coffee (literally: I want no coffee.) Nicht Möchtest du einen Kaffee? – Danke, aber ich trinke Kaffee nicht so gerne. Would you like a coffee? - Thanks, but I don't like drinking coffee that much (literally: I drink coffee not ~with so much pleasure.) When to say: Nein Nein is always the answer to a question. Hast du heute Zeit? - Nein, aber morgen. Do you have time today? No, but tomorrow. Magst du Fleisch? - Nein, ich bin Vegetarier. Do you like meat? No, I'm vegetarian. Nein is the answer to a yes/no question: The verb is at the first word of the sentence. Hast du heute Zeit? Ja / Nein Do you have time today? Yes/no Magst du Fleisch? Ja / Nein Do you like meat? Yes/no Negation with kein: How to use it and position in the sentence When do you use kein? Kein negates nouns without an article or with an undetermined article. Without an article: Hast du Zeit? - Ich habe keine Zeit. Do you have time? - I have no time, Sind das Zitronen? - Das sind keine Zitronen. Das sind Limetten. Are those lemons? - Those aren't lemons. Those are limes. With an indetermined article: Möchtest Du einen Kaffee? - Ich möchte keinen Kaffee. Would you like a coffee? - I want no coffee. Hast du ein Taschentuch? - Ich habe kein Taschentuch. Do you have a tissue? I have no tissue. ‘ein(s)’ als Zahlwort -'ein(s) as a number Attention: If you use 'ein' as a number, it's negated with “nicht”: Hast Du ein Auto? - Ich habe nicht ein Auto - ich habe zwei Autos. Do you have one car? - I don't have one car - I've got two cars. What is the position of ‘kein’ in a phrase? kein is always in front of the noun it negates: Ist das ein Apfel? - Das ist kein Apfel. Is that an apple? That's no apple. If the noun comes with an adjective, kein goes in front of the adjective - just like ‘ein’ or ‘mein’: Das ist ein grüner Apfel - Das ist kein grüner Apfel. That's a green apple. - Thats not a green apple. Negation with nicht: How to use it and position in the sentence Good news: nicht does not change - it doesn't follow a declension. nicht always goes in front of the part of the sentence, the word or the prefix that's negated. If you negate a whole sentence, then 'nicht' goes as far to the end as possible: after the object but in front of the Verb or the separable prefix at the end. When do you use ‘nicht’? It's actually quite simple: nicht is used whenever a negation with kein is not possible. That means: If you want to negate a noun with a determined article or possessive pronouns, names, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, whole sentences, and parts of sentences. Nouns with determined article or possessive pronouns Ist das die Hose, die du suchst? Nein, das ist nicht die Hose. Is this the pair of trousers you were looking for? No, that's not the pair of trousers. Ist das dein Auto? Nein, das ist nicht mein Auto. Is that your car? No that's not my car. Position in the sentence: Nicht goes before the determined article / the possessive pronoun. Proper names Heißt Du Anna? Nein, ich heiße nicht Anna. Ich heiße Charlotte. Are you called Anna? No, I'm not called Anna. I'm called Charlotte. Position in the sentence Nicht goes before the proper name. Pronouns Ich habe nicht ihn gefragt, sondern Max. I didn't ask you but Max. Max hat den Schlüssel nicht dir gegeben, sondern Anna. Max didn't give the key to you but to Anna. Position in the sentence Nicht goes before the pronoun. Adjective Diese Lampe ist nicht schön. This lamp is not beautiful. Das Essen ist nicht gut. The food is not good. Position in the sentence Nicht goes before the adjective. Verbs Maja kommt nicht. Maja doesn't come. Er möchte nicht kommen. He doesn't want to come. Anton schließt die Tür nicht ab. Er schließt sie zu. Anton doesn't lock the door. He unlocks it. Ich kann Chinesisch nicht sprechen(, aber ich kann es verstehen). I don't speak Chinese (,but I understand it). Position in the sentence Simple times (verb = one word): nicht goes to the end of the sentence. Composed forms (verb = two words): it goes in front of the full verb or in front of the separable prefix at the end of the sentence. Adverbien Leo ist nicht gern in der Schule. Position in the sentence Nicht goes before the Adverb. Prepositional phrases Ich stelle die Blumen nicht vor das Foto, sondern daneben. I don't put the flowers in front of the photo but next to it. Leo schließt die Tür nicht auf, sondern zu Leo doesn't unlock the door, he locks it. Position in the sentence Nicht goes before the preposition. full phrases Präsens/ Präteritum: Anna kommt/ kam heute nicht. ~ Anna doesn't/ didn't come today. Perfekt: Anna ist heute nicht gekommen. ~ Anna didn't come today. Passiv: Anna wird heute nicht zu uns gebracht. ~ Anna won't be brought to us today Modalverben: Anna kann heute nicht kommen. Anna can't come today. Position in the sentence there is only one verb (on position 2): nicht goes to the end of the sentence. there is a helping verb or modal verb: nicht goes before the main verb. parts of sentences Anna kommt nicht heute, sondern morgen. Anna doesn't come today but tomorrow. Nicht Anna kommt heute, sondern Mia. It's not Anna who's coming but Mia. Anna kommt nicht heute und (nicht) am Samstag. Anna is not coming today and not on Saturday. Position in the sentence: nicht goes before the part of a sentence (or several parts) that is /are negated. Combination of Nein + kein / Nein + nicht An answer with nein is often combined with kein or nicht: Möchtest du einen Kaffee? Nein, ich möchte keinen Kaffee. Would you like a coffee? No, I don't want (any) coffee. Ist das deine Jacke? - Nein, das ist nicht meine Jacke. Is that your jacket? - No, that's not my jacket. That sounds more friendly than just a short ‘Nein’. How to use kein/ nicht with nouns Sometimes we can use either kein or nicht. Noun + Verb as a unity Beispiel: (Sprache) + sprechen Ich kann kein Chinesisch (sprechen). Ich kann nicht Chinesisch sprechen. Speaking (a langue) I don't speak Chinese. Auto fahren Max kann nicht Auto fahren. Max kann kein Auto fahren. Driving a car ~ Max can't drive a car. If you use sondern Maria hat nicht Wein, sondern Bier bestellt. Maria hat keinen Wein, sondern Bier bestellt. Maria didn't order wine but beer. Double negation in German High German / Standard German: Affirmation If we negate a sentence that is negated, then it is affirmed. That doesn't sound very easy, but it's very simple. Beispiele: Anna: „Ich war nicht auf der Party.“ Aber: Max hat sie gesehen. Max: „Es ist nicht richtig, dass Anna nicht auf der Party war.“ Anna: "I wasn't at the party." But: Max saw her. Max: "It's not true that Anna wasn't at the party." That means, "Anna was at the party." Mutter: „Wir haben keine Schokolade mehr.“ Sohn: „Es ist nicht wahr, dass wir keine Schokolade mehr haben. Du hast sie nur versteckt!“ Das bedeutet: „Wir haben noch Schokolade.“ Mother: "We're out of chocolate." Son: It's not true that we're out of chocolate. You just hid them!” That means: "We still have chocolate." The double negation is mainly used in High German to explain that a statement is wrong. Dialect: Negation In some dialects, double negation is still a negation. Bairisch/ Bavarian Here, you will hear the double negation very often: Beispiel: I hob koan Durscht net = ich habe keinen Durst nicht. Das bedeutet: Ich habe keinen Durst. That means: I'm not thirsty Plattdeutsch/ Low German¹ : Here you can hear the simple and also the double negation: Beispiel: Dat will ik för keen Geld nich. = Das will ich für kein Geld nicht. Das bedeutet: Das will ich für kein Geld. That means: I don't want that for any money. Hessisch und Bairisch-Österreichisch/ Hessian and Bavarian-Austrian¹ They even have a triple negation: Beispiel: Hat kaaner kaa Messer net do? = Hat keiner kein Messer nicht dabei? Das bedeutet: Hat niemand ein Messer dabei?" That means: Does nobody have a knife with them? Summary There are three ways to express negation: With nein, kein and nicht. The question can be negated with nein. kein follows the same declension as ‘mein’. With kein you can negate nouns with a zero-article (= without article) and indefinite article. kein is in front of the negated noun. nicht is used if kein is not possible. nicht is always before the negated word. Exception: A verb is negated. Then nicht goes to the end of the phrase or on the position before that. A double negation is rather unusual in Standard German. You will mainly hear it if someone wants to negate a statement. It is common in some dialects though. Source for the double negation: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppelte_Verneinung

Content: - local (where is someone/ something?) - temporal (when?) - conditional (under which circumstances?) - causal (why?) - concessive/ adversative (= despite) - More use cases - Frequent mistakes Do you know the different meanings of 'bei'? This preposition can be a bit confusing sometimes - but I will help you recognize and use the correct meaning. Good to know: 'bei' always comes with the dative case! Bei is no alternating preposition that comes either with the accusative or with the dative case. These are the different meanings of 'bei': local (where is someone/ something) Close to someone/ something - also of geographical locations (towns, mountains, lakes, ...) The proximity is not as closely defined as with the alternating prepositions 'an' or 'neben'. examples: Max steht dort, bei seiner Freundin. - Max is standing there, with his girl friend. Wir treffen uns bei der Brücke. - We'll meet at the bridge. Potsdam liegt bei Berlin. - Potsdam is near Berlin. In the residential, living, or working area of people examples: Ich bin diese Woche bei meiner Oma. - This week I'm staying with my granny. Gestern war ich beim (= bei dem) Zahnarzt. - I went to the dentist yesterday. Anna ist beim (= bei + dem) Rechtsanwalt. - Anna is with the lawyer. For institutions/ companies example: Max arbeitet bei BMW. - Max works at BMW In the text of an author example: Dieses Zitat hat sie bei Goethe gefunden. - She found this quote in Geothe's book. Direct touch example: Die Mutter nahm ihren Sohn bei der Hand. - The mother took her son by the hand. In your own space (with a reflexive pronoun) example: Treffen wir uns heute bei mir oder bei dir? = treffen wir uns bei dir zu Hause oder bei mir zu Hause? - Shall wee meet today at my place or your place In the area of an event or process examples: Er ist heute bei der Hochzeit von Ina und Klaus. - Today he's at the wedding of Ina and Klaus. Heute Abend sind wir beim (=bei + dem) Konzert. - Tonight we're at the concert. temporal (when?) Simultaneity, point in time example: "Vorsicht bei der Abfahrt (des Zuges)!" - Be careful when the train is departing! = Seien Sie vorsichtig, wenn der Zug abfährt! Simultaneity, duration example: Beim (Bei + dem) Essen spricht man nicht! - Don't talk while eating! conditional (under which circumstances?) Denotes a condition example: Das kannst du bei Gelegenheit machen (= Wenn du Zeit hast / wenn es für dich gut passt) - You can do that when you have a chance. Diese Creme sollten Sie bei Bedarf anwenden. = Benutzen Sie diese Creme, wenn es nötig ist. - You should use this cream when necessary. Bei Regen bleiben wir zu Hause. = Wenn es regnet bleiben wir zu Hause. If it rains, we stay at home. causal (why?) Denotes a reason example: Bei dieser Hitze musst du heute viel Wasser trinken. = Weil es heute heiß ist, musst du viel Wasser trinken. - With this heat you have to drink a lot of water today. concessive/ adversative (= despite) Denotes the opposite example: Bei aller Begeisterung solltest du trotzdem daran denken, ... - Despite all exitement you should still remember ... More cases for using 'bei' General relation (concerning ...) example: Bei Schülern ist Grammatik sehr unbeliebt. - Grammar is very unpopular with students. Being busy with something example: Wir sind beim (= bei+dem) Essen. - We're eating. In the case of someone example: Auch bei Lena ist es so, dass der Mann kaum zu Hause ist. - It's also the case with Lena that the husband is hardly at home. Description of accompanying circumstances example: Wir schlafen gerne bei geöffnetem Fenster. - We like to sleep with the window open. Consent example: Da bin ich ganz bei dir. = Ich habe die gleiche Meinung. - I agree. Idiom for a decisive rejection/criticism example: Bei aller Liebe, aber das geht nicht. - ~I'm sorry, but that's not possible. Frequent mistakes ‘Bei’ or ‘mit’? In German we use the prepositions ‘bei’ and ‘mit’, when we want to express: Persons or things are together. But in many languages, there is only one word for ‘bei‘ and ‘mit‘. example: English 'with', Italian and Spanish 'con'. However, in German we distinguish: We use the preposition ‘bei’ to express: people or things are close to each other. example: Anna ist mit ihren Gedanken bei ihrem Freund. - Anna's thoughts are with her boyfriend. Sie ist diese Woche bei ihrer Oma. - She's with her grandma this week. We use the preposition ‘mit’ when persons or things accompany each other. They are usually in motion together. Anna fährt mit ihrem Freund in den Urlaub. - Anna is going on vacation with her boyfriend. Sie geht mit ihrer Oma spazieren. - She goes for a walk with her grandma. A (sometimes) false friend: ‘by’! 'Bei' sounds just like the English preposition 'by'. However, the meaning can be different, even if the sentence is grammatically correct. Example: By your side = an deiner Seite Here we use the alternating preposition 'an'. Correct: Ich bin an deiner Seite. (NOT: bei deiner Seite) The house was built by my parents = das Haus wurde von meinen Eltern gebaut (NOT: Das Haus wurde bei meinen Eltern gebaut.) Conversely: 'Bei meinen Eltern wurde ein Haus gebaut' = In der Nähe von meinen Eltern hat jemand ein Haus gebaut. - Someone built a house near my parents. Conclusion Reading through all of these possibilities can be a bit overwhelming. But you don't have to memorize them all! As you know these meanings exist, you will recognize them in conversation or a text. And if you're not sure, you can always come back to this article Do you want to uplevel your German? Separable and inseparable verbs Declension of adjectives The comparison of adjectives Comparisons with 'wie' or 'als' Der-die-das: the grammatical gender of nouns n-declension Diminutive: -chen and -lein Alternating prepositions Nein, nicht, or kein - how to use and position in the sentence Tongue twisters for learning German (with audio)

Do you also find the difference between ‚zu Hause‘ and ‚nach Hause‘ confusing? And when do you use: ‚das Haus‘, ‚das Hause‘ or ‚das Zuhause‘??? Is it also correct to say 'zuhause'? Even advanced learners with a very good level of German get mixed up here. In this article you will find out about the differences and get lots of examples - so that you will know exactly what to use next time you're talking about home. Basic rule Just remember: zu Hause/ zuhause = at home It answers to the question wo= where?' or woher= where from?. nach Hause = (towards) home It answers to the question wohin = in which direction?”. zu Hause/ zuhause 'zu Hause' or 'zuhause' are two correct ways to spell the same word(s). If you are talking about home and want to say, where someone is (=wo jemand ist) or where someone comes from (woher jemand kommt), you use ‘zu Hause’. For example Ich bin zu Hause in meinem Wohnzimmer. (wo bin ich?) I'm at home in my living room. (where am I?) Peter ist krank. Er bleibt heute zu Hause. (wo bleibt Peter?) Peter is ill. He'll stay at home today (where will Peter stay?) Ich bin nicht im Büro. Ich rufe dich von zu Hause aus an. (woher rufe ich an?) I'm not in the office. I'm calling you from home. (From where do I call?) Wir treffen uns zu Hause (wo treffen wir uns?) We are meeting at home (where do we meet?) Verbs with zu Hause/ zuhause 1. Verbs describing a condition (einen Zustand), come with 'zu Hause': sitzen (to sit), bleiben (to stay), sein (to be), schlafen (to sleep)... Nana ist zu Hause. (Nana is at home) Wir gehen nicht ins Hotel. Wir schlafen zuhause. (We don't go to a hotel. We'll sleep at home.) 2. But it can also be activities, that are taking place here: Du kochst zu Hause. (You are cooking at home.) Die Kinder rennen zu Hause durch das Zimmer. (At home, the kids are running through the room.) Wir gehen zu Hause die Treppe hoch. (We're walking upstairs at home.) Where do all of these activities happen? Zu Hause! Ich fühle mich (wie) zu Hause (I feel like (I'm at) home) ‘Ich fühle mich zu Hause’ - I feel at home Is what we say when we feel like (when we are) at home. It's about the positive emotions that you have, when you're at home (= zu Hause). Of yourse you can also feel at home in another country. For example: I have lived in Italy. I love the mentality, the food, ... - ich fühle mich dort wie zu Hause. And when I've got a guest, I can say : “Fühl Dich wie zu Hause!” = you don't need to behave formally like guest, - get comfortable! zu Hause or das Zuhause? Ich bin zu Hause/ zuhause bedeutet: I am at home = where I live. das Zuhause (the home) is a noun (Nomen): That's the place where I live: Das ist mein Zuhause. das Zuhause is capitalized. You always write it in one word. Obviously, 'das Zuhause' doesn't have to be 'ein Haus’ (a house). An appartment can be 'ein Zuhause', too. Max will be moving to Berlin. He's got a room in a student residence. He's looking forward to the new home = Er freut sich auf das neue Zuhause. Daheim Another word, i.e. a synonym for zu Hause is 'daheim' Alex ist daheim und macht Hausaufgaben. Alex is at home and doing his homework. You will hear this word mainly in Southern Germany and Austria. nach Hause/ nachhause There are also two correct ways of spelling: 'nach Hause' or 'nachhause'. If you are talking about any kind of movement towards 'home' you'll use nach Hause. For example: Nach Hause gehen, kommen laufen, rennen, fahren, … = To go, come, run, drive, ... home Ich war in der Schule. Jetzt gehe ich nach Hause. I've been to school. Now I'm going home. Wann kommst du nachhause? When do you come home? Musst du schon nach Hause (gehen)? Do you already have to go home? A false friend - ein falscher Freund... If you speak English, it sounds logical that zu should mean to. After all, you also translate: "We are going to the supermarket." - "Wir gehen zum Supermarkt." But if you yre going to your home, it' nach Hause. Tip: Remember "nach Hause" and "zu Hause" with sentences: Ich gehe nach der Arbeit nach Hause. Am Sonntag sind die Geschäfte zu, dann bin ich zu Hause. Bei mir/ zu mir Are you at a friend's home? Here we're not talking about the place, but about the person you are staying with. For example “Wo bist du?” “Ich bin bei Max.” “Bist du bei Max im Büro?” “Nein, ich bin bei Max zu Hause/ zuhause.” “Wo trefft ihr Euch?” “Wir treffen uns bei Maria.” “Trefft Ihr Euch in Marias Restaurant? Nein, wir treffen uns bei Maria zu Hause/ zuhause. Zu mir nach Hause If you go to a friend's place, you go zu ihm/ ihr nach Hause. Again, the person is more important than the place: Oh, du gehst in die Blumenstraße 5. Gehst du zu Anna? Nein, ich gehe zu ihrem Bruder Leo. That means: Philipp geht zu Leo nach Hause. Das ist auch Annas Zuhause - aber mir ist es wichtig, Leo zu sehen. That's also Anna's home - but it's more important for Philipp to see Leo. nach Hause gekommen or zu Hause angekommen? ~ got home or arrived home Both sentences are correct and often there is no real difference. For example: "Ich bin jetzt endlich nach Hause gekommen."/ "Ich bin jetzt endlich zu Hause angekommen." The only thing that matters is that I'm finally (after a long journey) at home. The focus can also be different: Ich bin um 10 Uhr nach Hause gekommen. = ich war bis 10 Uhr weg/ ich habe bis 10 Uhr etwas gemacht und um 10 Uhr war das zu Ende. (I've been away from home untill 10 pm) The focus is on the time before 10 pm. Ich bin um 10 Uhr zu Hause angekommen. (I got home at 10 pm.) the exact point of time or I got home (and then I ...) The focus is on the time from 10 pm onwards. Haus or Hause? Imagine you're outside, sitting in the garden. Suddenly it starts to rain. Dann gehst du ins (=in das) Haus, also in ein Gebäude hinein. Then you will gon inside the house, i.e. in a building. The garden ist part of your Zuhause (home). You are already zu Hause (at home). That means: Wenn Anna nach Hause geht, kann sie sich direkt in den Garten setzen. When Anna gets back home, she can go directly into the garden and sit down there. The word ‘Hause’ is an old dative-form of Haus. Today it's only used in connection with ‘zu’ or ‘nach’. Be aware: in Southern Germany you might hear: Ich bin zu Haus’ or Ich geh’ nach Haus’. That's dialect! But you will still write Ich bin zu Hause or Ich gehe nach Hause. Now you know the difference between zu Hause and nach Hause and also the different forms of zu Hause / zuhause and Zuhause. Let's practice: Did you like this article? Or do you have any questions? I'm looking forward to reading your comment!

Today, I send you many greetings from Tuscany. Have you been there before? For our family, Italy is like a piece of home. We lived near Milan for a few years and my second child was born there. Almost every year, we return and vacation here. We meet good friends and discover new places and cities. This year we are in Tuscany for two weeks. We - that's our family, so my husband and I and our four children. High up, on a mountain, we have found an apartment in a beautiful old farmhouse - a typical "agriturismo". The "road" (if you can call it that) to this house is extremely steep and very narrow. When we first arrived there after an 8-hour drive, I was sitting behind the wheel. At first, I was happy: we'll be there soon! But then... came the mountain. I drove up the first stretch in our big car (unfortunately, with four kids, you need a big vehicle) with a pounding heart and growing inner panic. Then I had the feeling: "I can't do this". There was a flat spot, and I stopped: "I'd rather carry all the suitcases up one by one than go even a meter further!" Luckily, my husband grew up in Bavaria in the mountains. He doesn't think steep roads are that bad - and drove up with us without any problems. Uff. At the top, the view is simply stunning. It's not so hot anymore either because there's always a fresh breeze. Right now I'm sitting on the terrace with an Aperol Spritz and thinking about this steep way up. For me, it's like a symbol for so many things in life. At first, you only see the destination. Here it was for me the photos on the Internet and of course the wonderful weather, the Italian cheerfulness and a relaxed vacation with the whole family. And you go on your way. That was for me first of all the 8-hour drive. It takes a long time, but it's not that bad, especially if you have a good time. But then: very shortly before the destination the steep mountain. I did try it, after all. And I had already reached the halfway point - that's when I said, "I'm not going to make it". At such times, we need someone who'll literally take the wheel and take us along. So many of my German learners have moments like this, too. As a teacher, I see all the progress they have already made. But, at one point, their courage suddenly leaves them, and they say, "I can't do this. The grammar is too complicated, or they are afraid to speak. Then, they need someone to help them progress and reach their goal. In language learning, this can be a good friend who is also learning German. Or a language course that turns the difficult path into doable lessons. Or a tandem partner. There are so many possibilities! The important thing is not to give up, but to seek help and find a way. That's how we all get up the steepest mountains and can then enjoy the view. P.S.: In a moment, we'll go to the pool. That means: walking another 5 minutes up a steep path. The walk is not a pleasant at all - it is exhausting, and dusty and there are many mosquitoes. But we have a goal: happy hours in and around the cool water! What help do you have with learning German? Write it in the comments - that way you can help other German learners.

Did you ever walk through a Bavarian village or town? Then you will probably be very familiar with the image of the maypole. The 1st of May is the day of one of Bavaria’s most popular traditions: raising the maypole. But do you also know the traditions around the maypole? You will learn about them in this article! How to get a maypole As early as autumn, the young men of the Burschenverein go out to the woods to choose the perfect pine tree: It has to be as tall and straight as possible. Then this tree is felled and prepared in a safe hiding place. Preparing the maypole Every year, there is a huge competition among the villages and towns in Bavaria: Who will erect the highest (often more than 30 meters), straightest, and most beautiful tree? In each region, the maypole may look different. Traditionally, all branches and the bark are removed and it is painted in the colors of the Bavarian coat of arms: blue and white. The treetop is decorated with a green wreath. In addition, it will be decorated with signs denoting local craftsmen’s guilds. Stealing the maypole The maypole’s height and beauty are not the only contest between villages. A popular and exciting part of this whole tradition is that one village tries to steal the maypole from the neighbor village: It is indeed permitted to "steal" the maypole! Therefore it is guarded by the people of the village in shifts day and night. Nevertheless, it frequently happens that a maypole does get stolen! Then there are boozy negotiations to get it back! As a ransom, a large amount of snacks and beer will be agreed on, which will then be eaten and drunk together at the handover. Maypole stealing is governed by a pretty strict code of conduct: damaging the maypole in any way is absolutely frowned upon as is a non-payment of the ransom Hoisting the maypole Hoisting the maypole is a really tough job that requires the hands of all the strong men of a village! It is raised using pairs of two poles, slung together at the top by thick rope. This can even take half a day! Once firmly anchored in place the maypole is decorated with the signs and topped with a wreath. Fixing the wreath in place has traditionally been the job of the "Maibaumkraxler" who has to climb the maypole, attach the wreath, and make it safely back down to the ground again. These days, this dangerous job is usually taken over by the local fire brigade. Maypole Celebration Of course, there has to be a celebration! There is a “Bierzelt”, a tent with Bavarian brass music, hearty food - and of course lots of beer: for this occasion, the traditional dark "Maibock" beer is brewed! Often there are folk dances or a “Maiköngin”, the “May Queen” is chosen. As Bavarians are very conscious of tradition, they will obviously wear their costumes: dirndl and leather trousers! Now you know everything about the Maypole in Bavaria! If you come to a new Bavarian place, then keep your eyes open: you will definitely discover the maypole in a central square! What jobs can you discover on the signs? You might find a resident who can tell you more about the history of the maypole: Did it get stolen? Was there a big party when it was put up? And maybe you can watch for yourself on May 1st how such a maypole is put up. This is definitely a special event for the whole family! Would you like to practice your German reading skills? Give this article in its' German version a try - there is plenty of useful vocabulary to help you!

This is a topic we encounter every day - and yet it's not always easy: waste separation. Waste separation – that means: the waste goes into different bins or containers, so it is sorted. We Germans often pride ourselves that we are “world champions in separating waste”. I'm not exactly sure if that's true - but it definitely shows that most people in Germany take this topic very seriously. The exact rules as to what is collected in which bin (or in which bag) (and what is not allowed in!) are unfortunately a little different in each municipality. But this article gives you a good guide so you know what to look out for. Content Why does waste separation matter? What categories are there for recycling? What are the main wast collection containers? The recycling center Electrical appliances and batteries Summary Why does waste separation matter? Garbage is usually incinerated in Germany. In any case, everything that can no longer be used, i.e. can be recycled. However, if we recycle packaging, the raw materials it contains can be reused. For this we have to separate the waste. That way, waste separation reduces the consumption of raw materials and CO2 emissions and protects the climate. What categories are there for recycling? Normally, we separate paper, glass, residual waste, packaging and organic waste. What are the main waste collection containers? The most important waste collection containers are: die Papiertonne - paper bin die Gelbe Tonne/ der Gelbe Sack - yellow bin or yello sack die Restmülltonne - residual waste bin die Biotonne - compost bin/ bio bin der Glascontainer - glass container Paper (blue) For paper and cardboard. There is often a blue bin for the houses. If not, you'll have to take all the paper to the paper container. Packages should be folded to save space. What does not belong in the paper waste? Paper handkerchiefs or paper napkins Even though there is 'paper' in the name: They do not belong in the paper waste, but in the residual waste. Receipts made of so-called thermal paper are made of paper, but they are chemically treated so that they are not suitable for recycling. They therefore belong in the residual waste Glass Empty glass packaging belongs in the glass container. These are, for example, empty bottles that are not deposit bottles, or jam jars. You have to sort the bottles by color: brown, green or white. By the way, blue or red bottles belong in the container for green glass. The lids do not need to be unscrewed. What does not belong in the glass waste? You can return returnable bottles in the shop and get the deposit (= money) back. Find out everything about the new deposit system >>> Broken drinking glasses, broken mirrors or broken window glass belong in the residual waste. That type of glass has a different composition than packaging glass (such as jam jars). The glass types cannot be recycled together. Good to know: Containers for waste glass are usually located in residential areas. Out of consideration for the neighbors, the glass can only be thrown in at certain times - so usually during the weekdays. Sometimes there are quiet hours. Bio bin - organic waste (green or brown) Garden waste and leftovers go in the bio bin. What does not belong in the organic waste? In some communities, meat and bones go with the organic waste, while in others they belong in the residual waste. That depends on how the organic waste is recycled. Der Gelbe Sack / die Gelbe Tonne Empty packaging that is not made of paper, cardboard, cardboard or glass belongs in the yellow sack or in the yellow bin. They are usually made of plastic, aluminum, tinplate or composites. But styrofoam also usually belongs in this category. For example : Plastic Yoghurt pots, packaging from sausage, cheese or ice cream, plastic bags, platic cosmetic packaging, empty toothpaste tubes Aluminum Lids from yoghurt pots, empty mustard tubes, empty spray cans tinplate Empty food cans, aluminum foil crown caps from bottles Composite material Milk carton/ beverage carton (tetrapack) The packaging should be completely empty. However, it should not be rinsed out with water. Plastic, composite, or metal materials that aren't packaging can sometimes be taken to a recycling center. Otherwise they belong in the residual waste. Good to know: The machines in the recycling center cannot separate different materials. So, if you have a yogurt pot with a lid for example, you'll need to separate the lid first. Only then do both, pot and lid, go into the yellow sack. But even the same packaging must not be stacked inside one another. Staying with the example of the youghurt cups: you are not allowed to put an empty yoghurt cup in another empty yoghurt cup. Beverage cans or plastic bottles with a deposit sign should be returned to the shops that sell them. Empty aerosol cans go in the yellow bin/bag. If the can is not completely empty, it must be taken to a recycling center. Regional particularities A few months ago, we still had the rule in our community: Styrofoam must NOT go in the yellow bag. Then something in the way of recycling was changed, and now styrofoam MUST go in the yellow sack. So, when in doubt, it's better to get more detailed information The yellow bag often states exactly what is allowed in and what is not. Or maybe you can ask the neighbors? You will surely be happy to help! Residual waste (black or grey) In the residual waste belongs ... exactly, the rest: So almost everything that doesn't belong in the other bins. The recycling center You can take toxins, spray cans that aren't completely empty, or things that are too big for the garbage can to the recycling center. You can also return old electronic devices and batteries here - or you can bring them back to the shop. You can also bring large amounts of garden waste and everything that is too big for the bin to the recycling center. Electrical appliances and batteries Smaller electronic devices (up to 25 cm) have to be taken back by dealers (i.e. shops). If you buy a larger electronic device , the dealer has to take back a broken device of the same type - no matter where you bought it. Example: Your washing machine is broken. You go to a store and buy a new washing machine. Then the shop has to pick up the broken washing machine from you free of charge. You can return batteries where you can buy batteries: for example in the supermarket, discounter, department store, drugstore, electronics store or hardware store. There is often a collection box at the checkout or at the exit. Summary If you are new in Germany, you should know the rules of waste separation. That way, you protect the environment and possibly avoid having to pay a fine. The most important collection containers are the paper bin, the yellow bin/yellow sack, the residual waste bin, the bio bin and the glass container. You should take returnable bottles (with deposit) back to the store. If you separate the garbage, you also ensure a good relationship with your neighbors! Most people follow these rules and expect others to do the same.

When moving to Germany and planning to stay for more than three months (which is already considered to be taking up permanent residence), you must register your address (Anmeldung) within two weeks of your arrival. Have you found a new home in Germany? Congratulations! But don’t forget to register your new address! Failure or delay to do so might get you fined. Where do I need to go to? You must go to the Citizens’ Office – it may be called: Einwohnermeldeamt Bürgerservice Bürgerbüro Bürgerdienste Bürgeramt In bigger cities there will be several offices – just choose the one with the most convenient location or available appointments for you. Due to Corona-rules you will probably need to make an appointment (Termin) online before you go there! How do I register? You need to register in person or you may give another person a letter of authorisation to register on your behalf. What do I need to present? your valid passport or identification card. a written confirmation by your landlord or property owner. This "Wohnungsgeberbestätigung" has to be filled out and signed by the landlord or property owner of your accommodation. Have the completed registration form (Anmeldung) ready. You can download the form online from the website of your city or community. If you authorise another person they have to present your authorisation letter their passports or identity cards your passport or identity card the Registration Form filled out and signed by you the "Wohungsgeberbestätigung", filled out and signed by the landlord or property owner of your accommodation. You will receive a written confirmation of registration. This proof of registration is often required by other institutions or authorities. Change of Address Did you find a nicer apartment? Each subsequent change of address within Germany and even within the city you already live in must be re-registered (Ummeldung) – same procedure as above. De-registration If you move to a different city within Germany you do not need to de-register (Abmeldung). Your new city of residence (where will obviously register) will do this for you automatically. De-registration is only required when you leave Germany to move to another country. Primary or Secondary Residence If you have registered more than one place of residence in Germany, you need to determine which is your primary and which is your secondary place of residence and declare that as well. Restricting Information Disclosure Good to know: The information submitted in a registration form is generally shared with other public institutions, for example telephone directories or political parties. If you want to prevent this sharing of information you should fill in the form “Antrag auf Speicherung von Übermittlungssperren” FAQ: How much does it cost to register? Fortunately, the registration is free of charge. How do I find the right Citizens Office? Just type in on Google: Anmeldung + name of the German city where you now live and you will find the official website to get the appointment further information and the documents you need to fill in as downloads. Do I receive a confirmation of the registration? Yes, it’s called “Meldebestätigung” or “Anmeldebestätigung“. You will need it if you don’t have an ID-card stating your address when you need to prove your place of residence. It will be useful: for opening a bank account (more than a basic version) or for getting a contract for you mobile phone (other than prepaid).

Have you recently been to a German supermarket? There can be no doubt: Easter is coming! There are chocolate bunnies, chocolate chickens, chocolate eggs of all sizes... and, of course, decorations for every taste. But: what about the Germans' homes? Do they really decorate their houses? And how do they spend their Easter holidays? I will tell you all the secrets about German Easter Traditions right here! Content #1 When is Easter - the dates #2 How many Easter holidays are there? #3 Colored Eggs #4 What brings the Easter Bunny? #5 Who is the Easter Bunny? #6 Decoration in German homes #7 Blown-out eggs #8 Easter-Egg-Tree #9 Osterglocken: "Easter-Bells" #10 Easter as a family celebration #11 Easter breakfast #12 Osterfladen, Osterzopf, Osterkranz ... Easter bread #13 Traditional food: The Easter Roast #14 Easter lamb or Easter bunny: The cake #15 Easter bonfire Conclusion #1 When is Easter? Easter does not have the same fixed date every year as, for example, Christmas: it's a moving holiday (beweglicher Feiertag). The date is always the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring. Easter is the most important and oldest festival of Christians. That's why almost all other movable holidays depend on the date of Easter. Dates for Easter Sunday: 31. March 2024 20. April 2025 5. April 2026 #2 How many Easter holidays are there? Easter includes a whole series of holidays: Palmsonntag - Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) Gründonnerstag - Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter) Krafreitag - Good Friday, public holiday (the Friday before Easter) Karsamstag - Saturday Ostersamstag - Easter Sunday (the day we celebrate Easter) Ostermontag - Easter Monday (public holiday) At Easter itself, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nowadays, most of these holidays are only celebrated by Christians, while the Easter Bunny comes to all families. Tip: Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays. That means: all the shops are closed! So you must remember beforehand that you'll need to buy enough food! #3 Colored Eggs The most important Easter tradition is the colored eggs. First, they are hard-boiled and then colored with food coloring. In the supermarket or the drugstore, you can buy special coloring tablets. This tradition stems from Lent, the period between Mardi Gras and Easter: it used to be forbidden to eat eggs during this time. To preserve the eggs, they were boiled. At Easter, they are then hidden by the Easter Bunny and must be searched for. This usually happens after Easter breakfast: ideally, the whole family then goes into the garden and the children enthusiastically look for the Easter eggs. And if there is no garden or if it rains? Then, of course, the Easter Bunny comes into the apartment and hides the eggs behind the sofa, on the cupboard, under the table, behind the books... #4 What brings the Easter Bunny? Nowadays the Easter Bunny doesn't just bring "real" eggs anymore. Of course, sweets are much more important for children! Everything made of chocolate is popular: especially eggs with different fillings, but also rabbits, chicken, lambs, ... just everything that somehow goes with Easter. The big Easter egg hunt usually happens right after the traditional Easter Breakfast: Ideally, the whole family will go out into the garden and the small children will search for all the eggs that the Easter Bunny has hidden. In years with a really warm Easter, the garden can be a "dangerous" place for the chocolates: By the time they are found, they may have already melted! In some families, the Easter Bunny also brings bigger gifts like a new bike or toys for the garden. Luckily, the Easter Bunny doesn't forget about the adults! There is a huge variety of Easter eggs filled with alcohol, such as eggnog or whiskey. You will also find a large selection of Easter chocolates, which are a little more expensive, and which you can give to good friends or colleagues. Tip: After Easter they are reduced in price … then I love looking for Easter eggs that I would not otherwise buy for myself. #5 But … who is the Easter Bunny? Unlike St. Nicholas, the Easter Bunny does not appear in public. We know that he must be incredibly hardworking. Luckily he has a big family to help him paint the many, many eggs! Of course, sometimes an egg might break or one of his children is particularly clumsy. There are many stories and songs about that. Interestingly, he somehow prefers to lay his eggs in nests or even in a basket! The nests are mostly made of Easter grass: this is wood shavings dyed green. This Easter grass is also in the basket. It looks nice and the eggs don't break so easily. It is also believed that the Easter Bunny wears colorful clothing and may even be able to walk upright like a human. Unfortunately, nobody has seen him yet. In any case, just like eggs, rabbits are ancient symbols of fertility. So they go well with spring! #6 Decoration in German homes Germans love to decorate their homes to match the season. Once the Christmas decorations are put away, we're happy for a few weeks to have the house a bit tidier again... and then we pull out the Easter decorations. In families with children there is a lot of painting and handicrafts going on now: Maybe the Easter Bunny will need a new nest to lay the eggs in. Egg cups for the breakfast table are also a nice craft idea. But even if there are no small children: most people will put up some kind of decoration. These could be flowers that bring a splash of color into the home even if it might still be freezing cold outside. They will have an Easter Egg tree and/ or have real spring flowers like daffodils to start blooming in a pot. The decoration doesn’t stop inside the homes: Some gardens are also decorated with colored eggs which are hanging on the branches. #7 Blown-out eggs Traditionally eggs are also blown out, painted, and then hung up for decoration. To paint, watercolors or felt-tip pens can be used. Of course, you can also drip candle wax onto the eggs or stick colored paper or stickers on them. It's not that easy and always very exciting for the children! But many adults also enjoy producing small works of art here. #8 Easter Egg-Tree This tradition is particularly beautiful in years when it is still cold outside: One to two weeks before Easter you bring branches, for example from forsythia, fruit trees, or willow into your living room. They are put in a vase with water and hung with the blown-out Easter eggs and other figures. Because of the warmth in the house, the branches will soon start to bloom! This is beautiful and lasts for several weeks. #9 Osterglocken: "Easter-Bells" Daffodils got their German name because they bloom at Easter. Even before the festival, we think of Easter when we see them and they make us look forward to the festival. #10 Easter as a family celebration After Christmas, Easter is also the most important family celebration in Germany. Thanks to the many holidays, it is a good opportunity to visit. Celebrating Easter with the whole family Tip: The side effect is, of course, crowded trains and long traffic jams on the motorways. You should therefore book your train ticket as far in advance as possible and reserve a seat. And when driving, you should be prepared to have a lot of patience. If you have small children, you can sing funny Easter songs in the car or watch out if you can spot the Easter bunny hopping by outside. #11 Easter breakfast Germans love their breakfast - and of course, there has to be a particularly nice Easter breakfast after the long Lent. The table is festively decorated, for example with flowers, an Easter tablecloth, and special Easter napkins. Obviously, this breakfast also includes colorful eggs! Many families go to church at Easter. Then breakfast may start a bit later and become an Easter brunch. #12 Osterfladen, Osterzopf, Osterkranz ... Easter bread Obviously, there must be a special Easter bread in Germany! There are different variants depending on the region. The shape may be different - for example, there may be a braid or a flat cake. There are variants with or without raisins, with almonds or nuts... but basically, it's a sweet yeast pastry that you slice like bread and that goes well with butter and jam. #13 Traditional food: the Easter Roast The traditional Easter meal is above all: lots and hearty. The long Lent is finally over and people want to eat well again. Typically, there is a roast lamb, best with green beans and potatoes or dumplings. But Easter ham is also very popular. #14 Easter lamb or Easter bunny: the cake When we speak of an Easter lamb, it is not always a real roast: it may also be a cake of this shape. You need a special baking dish for this. You may have guessed it: there is also an Easter bunny shape! This cake is then simply dusted with powdered sugar or decorated with chocolate and sprinkles. #15 Easter bonfire Easter bonfires have been a custom for many centuries. It was originally a Germanic, i.e. pagan, custom. With this bonfire, people said farewell to winter, and at the same time celebrated the beginning of spring. The ashes were then scattered on the fields to make them more fertile. As a religious custom, the Easter bonfire symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today, the Easter bonfire often serves simply as an opportunity to meet friends and neighbors from the community. There can also be a happy party that lasts until the early morning. German Easter Traditions - Conclusion Now you know the 15 most important facts about Easter in Germany! Do you have similar traditions? What was new for you? Write it in the comments - I look forward to hearing from you! I wish you a happy Easter and hope that the Easter Bunny will work very hard to hide lots and lots of eggs for you!

Imagine being in the Alps on a warm, sunny day. You want to go for a hike and climb a huge mountain. Now, there are several trails leading to the top to choose from: Some that might be a bit more steep at the beginning but will quickly lead to a beautiful view. And others, much longer ones, that seem to be slightly easier at the beginning but will become very winding with muddy parts, threatening you to get stuck. Easy choice, isn't it? With languages it is similar. If you understand why you should take the road that is slightly steeper at the beginning, you can avoid getting stuck so many times along the way. Learn from the 3 biggest mistakes other German learners have made and speed up your language journey: # 1 Not learning the articles along with new nouns When you’re just starting to learn your first German words and sentences, you might think that people will understand you anyway. At that stage, whenever you get mixed up with articles, people will either pretend not to notice or cheer you on for making the effort to speak German at all - They might even tell yout that "it doesn't matter". And really, why should a fork be feminine, a knife neuter, and a spoon masculine? Why bother with this illogical, boring stuff? If you think about grammar being the framework for a house, then the nouns might be the walls. The great thing about walls in this ‘house of German’ is: you can move the walls around to new places. Wouldn’t you love to be able to move walls within your house? Create a bigger room, when needed? Change the feeling of a room by choosing a wall with a different shade in the morning than in the evening? Well, this is what you can do with German sentences. For example: Die Mutter gibt dem Kind den Stift– the mother gives the pencil to the kid. You could also say: Dem Kind gibt die Mutter den Stift. Den Stift gibt die Mutter dem Kind. As the main stress is usually put on the first noun, each of these sentences will have a slightly different meaning – but it will always tell us that there is a mother who is giving a pencil to a kid. If you are using the wrong articles, people may be confused if the context isn’t obvious. Or you might be confused about something that someone else is saying if you can’t identify the articles: why would a pencil give the mother to the child??? This will make your communication so much harder. Not having learned the articles at the beginning means you will need to go back to studying them later. In the worst case, you’ve already associated the wrong article with a noun and really have to work on that. Therefore: save yourself from this frustration and learn the article + noun together. Even better: put in the plural form as well and you'll be perfectly equipped for your language journey: article + noun + plural - e.g.: der Stift, Stifte das Kind, Kinder die Mutter, Mütter Think of it as some sort of study one – get two free! Find out about nouns, their articles, and how to know if you should use der, die, or das >>> # 2 Not working seriously on pronunciation and intonation right from the start. This doesn’t mean at all that you should try and sound exactly like a German! But in any language, using intonation patterns (like the rising or lowering of the voice or emphasizing the right part of a word) and good pronunciation will make you sound much more competent. Locals will also perceive your language level as higher. The reason is that while we pick up mistakes like the wrong articles consciously, we tend to take in the pronunciation and intonation subconsciously. This is particularly important if you are working in a position where people look up to you as a leader or an authority like a manager, a doctor, or a nurse: people will not trust you as much if they “feel” that there is something odd in the way you're saying things, even if every single one of your sentences is grammatically correct. Fortunately, this is not difficult to learn. I am always amazed at how much more competent and ‘German’ my students sound after just some exercises! #3 Taking long breaks from studying. As with so many things in life, consistency is key when it comes to learning languages. It can be extremely frustrating and discouraging if you have been studying German diligently for many weeks, then go on a well-deserved holiday and come back having forgotten so much. Fortunately, you can avoid this quite easily: How about simply reading a book in German, or listening to an audiobook or podcast while spending time outside? Just 15 minutes every other day will do the trick of reminding your brain of this strange new language it is supposed to learn. Tip: One very easy way is: to follow some German accounts on Instagram. This way you are reminded of many things you’ve studied and maybe even learn a few things in addition. My account is @deutsch.charlingua and I’d be thrilled to welcome you to our language learning community! It will also be helpful if you establish a daily routine – habits that will help you improve your German almost on autopilot. Learn more about the 5 habits of successful language learners >>> Now you know the 3 biggest mistakes people make when learning German. You can now easily avoid them! If you‘ve got any questions or want to learn German with me, just send me a message! I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.