Suchergebnisse

When I was a child, I could hardly wait for Christmas Eve. My brothers and I would sit impatiently in the children’s room until we heard the bell ring at last – the sign that Santa Claus had been there. Nowadays, I live in Bavaria, and here, it’s often the Christkind that brings the presents. But who really delivers the gifts? the Nikolaus , the Christkind , or the Weihnachtsmann ? Christmas Gifts: The Difference Between Germany and Other Countries What about you? Do you wake up on the morning of December 25th, filled with excitement to see what gifts arrived during the night? In Germany, things work a bit differently: we’re too impatient to wait that long! The gift-giving usually happens on Christmas Eve, the evening of December 24th. Especially in families with young children, the festivities often begin in the late afternoon, as soon as it gets dark outside. That’s when either das Christkind or Weihnachtsmann makes an appearance. Both are said to have helpful assistants – sometimes angels, sometimes elves. But the tradition of Christmas gifts is much older than the Christkind or Santa Claus. In fact, it all started with Saint Nicholas - der Heilige Nikolaus. Der Nikolaus (Saint Nicholas) St. Nicholas was the first of the three to deliver gifts. He lived in the 3rd century and was the Bishop of Myra, a city in what is now Turkey. Later, he was venerated as a saint. Here you can read more about der Nikolaus und der Nikolaustag am 6. Dezember >>> As early as the 16th century, it was customary for children to receive small gifts on December 6th, Saint Nicholas’s feast day. These gifts were often simple, like apples or nuts. A well-known legend tells of Saint Nicholas saving three girls from a terrible fate: Their father was so poor that he couldn’t afford a dowry for them – something that was essential for marriage at the time. Without a dowry, the girls wouldn’t have been able to marry and would have been forced to earn their living through other means, such as prostitution. Hearing about the family’s plight, Bishop Nicholas secretly threw three lumps of gold through their window at night. With this, the girls could marry and were saved. This story explains why Nicholas later delivered gifts in secret during the night while the children were asleep. Why Did Saint Nicholas Get “Competition”? I n the 16th century, the Reformation changed many traditions. Practices that had been commonplace in the Catholic Church were suddenly questioned – including the veneration of saints. Martin Luther opposed the veneration of saints, and this included the tradition of Saint Nicholas delivering gifts on December 6th. However, he also recognized how important the anticipation of gifts was to children and adults alike. Instead of abolishing the tradition altogether, he created a new one: Starting around 1530, it was the “Holy Christ” who brought gifts to his household – on Christmas Eve, the night before Christ’s birthday. The Evolution of "das Christkind" (Christ Child/ Baby Jesus) The Christkind we know today is no longer directly associated with the baby Jesus in the manger. Instead, it has become a figure resembling an angel. Every year, it is said to come to Earth on Christmas Eve to place gifts under the Christmas tree. This idea may have originated from the angels in nativity plays: These are often little girls with blond curls, wearing long white dresses and a halo. Even today, this is how many people imagine the Christkind. One famous example is the Christkind of Nuremberg, who opens the annual Christkindlesmarkt. In southern and western Germany, it is traditionally the Christkind who brings the gifts – ironically, these are the regions with strong Catholic roots. Der Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas) In northern, eastern, and central Germany, however, it’s often Santa Claus who makes an appearance. His origins also trace back to Saint Nicholas of Myra. In some regions, Saint Nicholas was accompanied on December 6th by Knecht Ruprecht or Krampus. While Saint Nicholas rewarded the good children with gifts, his companion was tasked with punishing the naughty ones. In the 19th century, the images of Saint Nicholas, Knecht Ruprecht, and Santa Claus began to merge in people’s minds. Over time, this led to the Santa Claus we know today. The famous song “Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann”  ( “Tomorrow Santa Claus is Coming” ) was written in 1835 by the German poet Hoffmann von Fallersleben. It describes the joy of gift-giving – the magical moment when der Weihnachtsmann brings the presents. In 1862, the cartoonist Thomas Nast, an emigrant from Germany’s Palatinate region, created the first modern depiction of der Weichnachtsmann / Santa Claus: a chubby man with a long beard, wearing red and white clothes. This character delivered gifts to Union soldiers during the American Civil War. Later, Coca-Cola adopted this image for its Christmas advertising, making it famous worldwide. So... Who Brings the Gift? Who really delivers the gifts remains a mystery. Perhaps we’ll never know. After all … who would dare to peek through the keyhole? When I was a child, the Weihnachtsmann brought the gifts - no surprise, since my parents are from northern Germany. Today, I live with my family in Bavaria, where the Christkind usually takes on the job. We like to think the two must be working together. After all, it’s a huge task to deliver gifts to children all over the world! And how about you: is Santa Claus coming to your house? Or is it the Weihnachtsmann ? Or the Christkind ? Would you like to practice your German? Read this article in German - with a list of all words that might be new to you! >>>

Are you looking for a new apartment? Finding a flat in the right location that matches your ideas, needs and finally agrees with your purse is difficult enough. But as soon as you open the newspaper, you'll realize that on top you need to find your way through a jungle of abbreviations that even many of the locals don’t understand. If you search online there may be less abbreviations - but the terms may be unfamiliar anyway. Don't be put off! With the list below, you’re fully equipped to tackle the task and take advantage ofbeing able to look up in both, online and offline advertisements! In this article you will find: Useful tips for renting an apartment or a house in Germany. A list with all the terms and abbreviations that you might come across when looking for a place to live. Did you know: Most Germans rent their apartment: about 57.9% of the households live in rented apartments or houses – that is more than in any other country of the EU. What you should know when you're looking for an apartment in Germany How do I know the number of rooms? German apartments do not only count the bedrooms but the total number of rooms, including living room and dining room. That means: A 3-bedroom-apartment could equal a 5-Zi-Whg. = 5 Zimmer-Wohnung (5-rooms-apartment) in Germany. Bring your own kitchen! When you rent an apartment in Germany, you will usually get the rooms with bare walls. That means there will usually be no built-in kitchen (Einbauküche), internal window coverings, lamps, built-in wardrobes ecc. If the previous tenant wants to leave something behind, you might be asked to buy it from him by paying “Abstand”. However, if you bought everything new and the next tenant doesn’t want it, you might be required to take it all out again. It really depends on the landlord, on the following tenant and on the situation on the rental market. Lüften, lüften, lüften … (airing, airing, airing ...) Once you finally sign your rental contract, there will probably be a paragraph about “Regelmäßiges Lüften" – regularly airing out. You might even be provided with a leaflet telling you the right way and number of times per day to do it. The reason is that most buildings in Germany are built pretty air-tight and have no ventilation except the windows and doors. Therefore, if you open the windows regularly, you will have better air-quality in your house, increase heating efficiency (i.e., save money) and – most important – prevent mold. Single glazing or double glazing? As a standard, there is double glazing (doppelt verglast) in Germany. It will only be mentioned if the windows are triple glazing (dreifach verglast) Legal rules favour the tenant. German tenancy law is very much in favour of the tenant. If the contract isn’t clear, then it will usually be your advantage. You’re safe from sudden evictions: Every tenant is protected by the legal notice of contract termination of at least 3 months . The longer you reside in your apartment, the longer the period becomes. In addition, the landlord can’t cancel your rental contract (Mietvertrag ) without a legally valid reason (berechtigtes Interesse). However, the tenant can cancel an open-ended contract (unbefristeter Mietvertrag) at any time – you must only give the landlord 3 months notice. Abbreviations for renting an apartment in Germany Abst. - Abstand - payment for furniture/fittings left by the previous tenant AB - Altbau - an old building, in which rooms typically have parquet floors and high ceilings with decorative moldings. App. - Appartment - apartment Ausst. - Austtattung - furnishing befr. - befristed - only available for a limited period of time Bj. - Baujahr - year of construction Bk - Betriebskosten - running costs Blk. - Balkon - balcony Bung. - Bungalow - bungalow bzb. - beziehbar – ready for occupation DG - Dachgeschoss - attic floor, sometimes with normal ceilings, sometimes with arched ceilings. DH - Doppelhaus - pair of semi-detached houses DHH - Doppelhaushälfte – semi-detached house Do.-Gge. - Doppelgarage – double garage DT - Dachterrasse - roof-terrace EAia - Energieausweis im Auftrag - energy certificate has been commissioned EA-B - Energieausweis Bedarf - energy certificate if needed EA-V - Energieausweis Verbrauch - energy certificate consumption EBK - Einbauküche - fitted kitchen. EG - Erdgeschoss ground floor, sometimes at street level, sometimes elevated above street level EFH - Einfamilienhaus - house Einl.-Whg . - Einliegerwohnung – granny flat Etg. - Etage - floor ETW - Etagenwohnung - apartment covering an entire floor FBH - Fußbodenheizung – underfloor heating Gge. - Garage - garage Grdst. - Grundstück - plot (of land), site Gart. - Garten - garden HK Heizkosten heating costs Hs - Haus - house HT - Haustier – pet HZ - Heizung - heating Komf. - Komfort - comfort KM - Kaltmiete - literally: "cold rent", or the base monthly rent without building utility costs or heating. In addition, you will need to pay 'Nebenkosten' or 'Umlagen'. KP - Kaufpreis - purchase price Kt. - Kaution - security deposit, typically three times the -> 'Kaltmiete'. Lg. - Lage - location MFH - Mehrfamilienhaus -a large house with several apartments MM - Monatsmiete - month’s rent möbl. - möbliert - furnished m² - Quadratmeter - square meter(s) Mtl. - Monatlich - monthly NB - Neubau - new building, in which rooms typically have laminate floors and low ceilings. Nfl. - Nutzfläche – usable floor space NK - Nebenkosten - additional costs, e.g. water, heating, property tax, building utility costs ... While 'Warmmiete' should remain stable the 'Nebenkosten' can be subject to change and may increase. NR - Nichtraucher - non-smoker OG - Obergeschoss - upper storey prov.-frei - Provisionsfrei - free of commission ren. - renoviert - renovated, or a complete renovation. RH - Reihenhaus - terraced house San. - saniert - refurbished, or a partial renovation. Terr. - Terrasse - terrace TG - Tiefgarage - underground car park Uml. - Umlagen - a different word for -> Nebenkosten unbefr. - unbefristet - available with no limitation of the time period VB - Verhandlungsbasis – the basis for negotiation WE Wohneinheit - accommodation unit Wfl. - Wohnfläche - living area, or the total size of the entire place in square meters WG - Wohngemeinschaft - flat share Whg. - Wohnung - apartment WM - Warmmiete - warm rent, or the base monthly rent plus heating Zi. - Zimmer – room(s) ZH - Zentralheizung - central heating With this list, you will be perfectly equipped for your house hunt! I wish you good luck! - Ich wünsche dir viel Glück! Have you rented a property in Germany? Share your experiences in the comments below to help other Expats and newcomers to Germany!

Hooray, the first snow has fallen! One of my last blogposts was about the obligation to have winter tires on your car when it snows. You can read about it here >>> For many people in Germany, the downside of the snowfall is that it comes with the 'Räumpflicht', i.e. the clearing obligation. That means, you have to make sure that the sidewalk is not dangerous to walk on because of snow or ice. Who is responsible for clearing the snow? In the first place, cities and municipalities are responsible for ensuring that the streets and sidewalks are safe. But they can (and usually do) delegate the winter duty to the homeowners who must then then ensure that the sidewalk in front of their house is cleared of snow and ice and that it is also gritted if necessary. If a landlord doesn't want to shovel snow himself, he has two options: The landlord can transfer this obligation to the tenants. However, this must be expressly regulated in the rental agreement. If there are several apartments in the house, the tenants might have to take turns. The landlord can hire a caretaker service. This is more convenient for the tenants - but the landlord can distribute the cost among the tenants. When do I have to clear the snow? The idea is: the sidewalk should be safe when people normally walk there. So, you must always make sure that the sidewalk is not slippery and dangerous – not only because of snow, but also because of leaves or ice. The municipality will have specified the exact time during which you must keep snow cleared away in a statute (‘Satzung’). In most communities, the sidewalks must be cleared between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. - in some, however, as early as 6 a.m.! On Sundays and public holidays, you may sleep a little longer. So, you don't need to go outside to shovel snow. If it snows so heavily during the day that the sidewalk would be covered again after a few minutes, you don't have to stand outside all day long, shoveling snow. In that case, it will be sufficient to clear the snow immediately (!) as soon as it has stopped snowing. If it snows with interruptions throughout the day, you will have to shovel away the snow several times. Do I have to clear the entire sidewalk? The cleared area on the sidewalk must have a minimum width so that two people can comfortably walk past each other. It should therefore be about 1.50 m wide. If several apartments exist in one house, the paths to the underground car park, garbage cans, mailboxes, etc. must also be cleared. And of course, there must always be a safe path towards the house so that e.g., postmen or parcel carriers can get there safely. What do I do with the snow that I have shoveled? Lots of people just push the snow onto the road. You'll finish faster and create plenty of space on the sidewalk. Sounds like a good option, doesn't it? But: Unfortunately, this is not permitted. Gutters, gullies, and cycle paths must remain free. Instead, you should pile the snow next to the road (i.e., on the sidewalk) or in a safe corner. This means that pedestrians and cyclists can continue to make good use of all routes. What if I’m sick or on vacation? If you cannot shovel the snow yourself, you have to find someone who will do it for you. Maybe you can ask a neighbor or friend to do it - or pay someone to take care of it professionally, such as a janitorial service. If you fail to follow the regulations for snow and ice removal, the community can impose a fine of 500 € or more! What should I do when it's slippery? Whenever it gets slippery, you need to take action immediately and put grit on the sidewalk. Even after shoveling the snow, there will often be hard layers of snow remaining on the sidewalk, which can become slippery and should therefore be gritted. If black ice is expected to form overnight, you must grit it in the evening. What should I use for gritting? It is best to use granite (Splitt), sand (fine gravel) or grit . Road salt is usually banned by the communities because it is very harmful to the environment. As an exception, road salt might be used in particularly dangerous places such as stairs or on a very steep path. Also in the case of black ice, some municipalities allow road salt to be used. If you use road salt even though it is not permitted, you may have to pay a fine of between € 500 and € 10,000. Do I have to secure the roof? Another thing to consider in winter: Could any icicles or avalanches be falling on pedestrians from my roof? Then the roof must also be secured. What if someone falls on the sidewalk? If someone falls on the sidewalk because it is not secured, it could leave you liable for damages (Schadensersatz), compensation (Schmerzensgeld), and/or a fine (Bußgeld). That can be very expensive! Unfortunately, it might not always be possible to prevent an accident. Therefore it is important to have personal liability insurance – and check that it covers any possible winter liabilities. Of course: pedestrians also have to be careful and wear suitable shoes, for example. Otherwise, they may not receive full compensation. You need to find out: if you are obliged to clear away the snow (check your rental agreement) And if yes: What this means for you: where and when do you need to clear the snow? Make sure your insurance policy covers any possible winter liabilities Be prepared: Have a snow shovel and a bucket full of grit ready when the first snow arrives. I wish you a cheerful winter and lots of fun in the snow! Would you like to practice your German? Read this blog post in German (with lots of vocabulary) >>> For free German lessons, follow me on Instagram: @deutsch.charlingua >>>

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.