Suchergebnisse

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.

Have you ever been facing the question of whether you should address someone with Sie (= siezen) or Du (= duzen) in German? The answer to this question is not always easy – even native speakers are getting confused by this topic over and over again. After all: You can get a lot wrong here. If you use du towards someone you should rather address with Sie, it can seem rude or condescending. It's a bit like being in a restaurant and grabbing the salt from the neighboring table without asking for it: even if it won’t do any harm, you’re intruding on someone else’s private space. On the other hand, it will seem stiff and overly formal if you address someone with Sie when it should be du. In this article you will find out: What do the different forms for "you: Sie or Du mean, how to form them and you will get tips on what to say if you are not sure. Sie or Du – what’s the difference? In the German language, like in most European languages, there are two ways to address someone. Sie is formal – it shows respect. Du (plural: Ihr) is informal – it shows familiarity. Unfortunately, there are no fixed rules, such as you find them in grammar. On the contrary: a lot has been changing within recent decades and even years! 50 years ago, it was customary to only use Du for family members and children. Even close friends or young people, like university students, have addressed each other with Sie – even if they were celebrating cheerfully together. My uncle even formulated his marriage proposal using Sie! 25 years ago, young people were already using the Du amongst each other. But many adults preferred to keep the Sie. It was also normal for children to use Sie for adults, even if they were parents of close friends. And, of course, you would have used Sie for the colleagues at the workplace! Today we are less formal ... but with that, the topic has become a lot more complicated... When do I use ‘Sie’? As a rule of thumb, use Sie for adults. This is especially important for people you’re not acquainted with. This applies to everyday life and the professional world. Sie shows respect: towards the elderly and older people than you in general towards higher ranks towards strangers in a formal context ‚ The Sie is polite and does not automatically mean that the relationship must be distant. Especially for elderly people, this is simply the appropriate way of addressing each other. They would rather feel that using ‘du’ in these situations is perceived as too intimate or disrespectful. You may have heard about a court ruling. In this case, a policeman was addressed with du which was considered an insult, meaning: a legal offence. Does that mean that you will go to jail if you accidentally use du instead of Sie? Don't worry: In that case, there was a lot more insulting going on, so using the du was just another puzzle piece showing the disrespect. So: If you don't speak German like a native and behave in a friendly way, you will certainly not be punished, if you address a policeman with du. By the way: That has also been confirmed in a court ruling. (Amtsgericht Hamburg, Urteil vom 10.03.2008 – 256 Cs 160/08). You should rather take this as a hint that people feel deeply about being addressed the right way– after all, you won't want to offend someone. If you use the Sie form, you will also use the family name. For example: Herr Müller and Frau Meier. That means: In case of doubt, use Sie for all adults you don’t know This includes most of the people you may encounter in everyday life, such as doctors, salesmen, craftsmen, or police officers. At school, children address the teachers with Sie and Herr or Frau. The children, on the other hand, are addressed with du and the first name by the teacher. At the Gymnasium (~Grammar school), however, teachers will also address the students from the 11th grade onwards with Sie but still with the first name. That way, the students are supposed to grow into their role as responsible adults – after all, they are no longer children. With neighbors, it can sometimes be a bit tricky. Elderly people are definitely Sie. And in case of doubt, also anyone who might be older than you. In many companies, colleagues are using du towards each other. The typical pattern: the job interview is more formal and requires the Sie. On the first day of work, the new colleagues come and introduce themselves with their first names. That also means that you can use the du. A friend of mine recently got an invitation to a job interview. In that letter the company also talked about their policy of using Du and that they would even use that for the job interview. Well, so you may come across a situation like that and one day it may become a common standard, but for now a company still has to prepare (or should I say warn?) you. When do I use the „Du“-form“? If you use the du form, you also use the first name. The du form shows familiarity and closeness: you use it, for example, in the family and when you talk to friends and acquaintances. But du is also used for children – regardless of whether you know them or not. As I just mentioned: in companies, du is increasingly normal today or is even prescribed by the company management – it is considered part of the corporate culture. Whether you use ‘du’ for someone depends on the situation in which you get to know each other. Parents in kindergarten or school usually address each other by du – if this is where you meet. If, on the other hand, you meet the father of a classmate on an official occasion for the first time, because he is, for example, a dentist or a salesman, then you are safer to use the Sie. If you mention the kids, he may switch to saying du straight away. When you are at a party, you will usually also use du towards the friends of the host or other friends. At the sports club or in the gym you tend to say du as well – but even here you should be careful with elderly people. In the mountains, people will usually also use du. And even in the pub or in a casual restaurant, you may be addressed with du– then you reply by using du as well. The„Hamburger Sie“ and the „Münchner Du“ There are also mixed forms between the usual ‘Sie plus family name’ and ‘du plus first name‘: The „Hamburger Sie“ You use the Sie and the first name. Sometimes this form is used by a boss for the employees, while the employee addresses the boss with Sie and the family name. But that is a bit old-fashioned. Teachers also use this form with the older students: „Frank, haben Sie Ihre Hausaufgaben gemacht?“ ("Frank, have you done your homework?") The „Münchner Du“ ... " is also called "cashier‘s Du". You use du plus the family name. If you go to a department store or a supermarket, you might hear the salespeople addressing each other this way. For example: „Frau Meier, weißt du, was die Bananen kosten?“ ("Ms. Meier, do you know what the bananas cost?") That way they have a more familiar level than with the formal Sie and at the same time it is clear to the customers what the colleague’s name is. The customers will then say "Mrs. Meier" and "Sie". What are the rules for kids? The children use du among themselves. They will also use du for the family. Children from primary school - age onwards are expected to use Sie for adults they don’t know well. They say du to the parents of friends. Who offers the „Du“? Fortunately, there are clear rules here: At work: The higher rank offers the lower rank the du. So: the boss offers the employee the du, even if the boss is younger. In private: The older person offers the du to the younger one. And: The lady offers the du to the Gentleman. If these rules don’t help, for example, because both are about the same age or colleagues, then anyone can offer the du. That doesn't have to happen formally: If an adult addresses you with du or if he or she introduces himself/ herself with the first name ("Hallo, ich bin Robert"), then you should use du, too. If you want to offer the ‘du’, you can say: Sollen wir einfach du sagen? Sollen wir uns duzen? – Ich bin Anna. Good to know A du can only be offered. You should not ask an older person or the boss for it. From the du there is no way back to the Sie! That would be very rude because it means you want to establish a distance. If someone introduces himself with the full name ("Hallo. ich bin Anna Meier!") it does not automatically mean that you can use du. How to form the 'Sie-form' If you are just starting to learn German, the ‘Sie’-form will be the easiest form to use: It is the 3rd person plural and looks almost always the same as the infinitive. Important exception: Sein (to be)= Sie sind The form is the same in the singular and plural, for example: Herr Meier, kommen Sie aus Hamburg? (Mr. Meier, are you from Hamburg?) Herr und Frau Müller, kennen Sie Düsseldorf? (Mr. and Mrs. Müller, do you know Düsseldorf?) Sind Sie Frau Meier? Sind Sie die Eltern von Max? ‘Sie’ is always capitalized, not only at the beginning of the sentence. How to form the 'Du-Form' The du-form has one form for the singular (du) and another one for the plural (ihr): die 2. Person Singular: du kommst die 2. Person Plural: ihr kommt The Singular - du regular verbs: 2. Person Singular = stem+ -st Kommen = komm + -st = du kommst However, there are many irregular verbs, with a change within the stem. For example: lesen – du liest halten – du hältst „Anna, liest du mir das bitte vor?“ Der Plural - ihr This is more simple again! 2. Person Plural = stem+ -t The most important exception here is also the verb to be (sein): ihr seid "Max und Anna, seid ihr bald fertig?" (Max and Anna, will you be finished soon?) The du form is usually written in lowercase. But: when addressed directly, for example in a letter or in an email, you can capitalize it. Example: Liebe Anna, kommst Du zu meinem Geburtstag? Natürlich kannst Du auch Max mitbringen – Ihr seid beide herzlich eingeladen! What shall I do if I’m not sure? If you’re not sure it’s usually better to use the Sie-form. Quite often, you can avoid addressing someone directly. For example : X Können Sie mir/ Kannst du mir sagen, wie ich zum Bahnhof komme? (Can you tell me how to get to the station?) ! Entschuldigung, wie komme ich zum Bahnhof? (Sorry, how do I get to the station?) X „Nehmen Sie / Nimm den Bus …“ (Take the bus ...) ! „Am besten nimmt man den Bus …“ (It’s best to take the bus ...) X Statt: Wie geht es Ihnen? / Wie geht es dir? (How are you doing?) ! Wie geht’s? (~How are things?) X Statt: Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen? / Könntest du mir bitte helfen? (Could you please help me?) ! Ich brauche Hilfe! (I need help!) X Danke, dass Sie anrufen! / Danke, dass du anrufst! (Thank you for calling!) ! Danke für den Anruf! (Thanks for the call!) Tip: Imagine speaking to a customer (whom you address with Sie) about your colleague Nina (Nina Meier). Then you should use the family name: Frau Meier wird sie anrufen. (Frau Meier will be calling you - not: Nina will be calling you.) That way the customer knows how to address the colleague. Conclusion Quite often it’s not easy to know what the right way of addressing someone is. A du can not only be friendly, but also condescending, disrespectful, or even offensive! By the way: this is also the reason why there is only the form "you" in English: this was originally the Sie form (as opposed to "thou/ thee"). In the 15th century, it was only used for children and spouses ... and then it disappeared completely. If you look at it that way, English is much more formal than German! With the possibility of using Sie or du we have two nuances that help us to form relationships with other people. Especially if you do not feel comfortable with someone or need to complain, the Sie- form can be helpful to keep your distance. That can be very important if someone is being molested. Using the Sie form is a signal to everyone around that the victim does not know this person - so, for example, that the man dragging away the child is not the father or a man trying to hug a woman is not her boyfriend. On the other hand, it won’t make the relationship with a particularly nice old lady any less cordial when you say Sie to her. And if she should decide to offer the du, it will be a sign of great affection. It all just depends on the nuances!

Make sure to be well prepared when coming to Germany: These 101 phrases are just what you need to have a great time ... and to help you to in case of emergencies. GET THE FREE PDF WITH ALL 101 SURVIVAL PHRASES Content Hallo und Tschüss - Hello and goodbye Um Hilfe bitten - Asking for help Bus & Bahn: Public transport Café & Restaurant Einkaufen - Shopping Nach dem Weg fragen - Asking for directions Medizinische Notfälle - Medical Emergencies Zahlen auf Deutsch - Numbers in German Good to know: Germans make a difference in how to address someone: “Sie” is for formal situations, when you are talking to strangers or to people who are older than you while “du” is the informal form. To help you see the difference at one glance, the formal way of saying the phrase is in red, while the informal one is green. Hallo und Tschüss - Hello and goodbye Hello – Hello Guten Morgen – Good morning. Guten Tag– Good afternoon Guten Abend – Good evening Wie geht’s? – How are you? Danke, mir geht’s gut. – Thank you, I’m fine Mir geht es nicht so gut. – I’m not so well. Mein Name ist ______– My name is ______ Freut mich! – Nice to meet you! Woher kommen Sie? – Where are you from? Woher kommst du? - Where are you from? Wo wohnen Sie? - Where do you live? Wo wohnst du? - Where do you live? Sind Sie von hier? - Are you from here? Bist du von hier? - Are you from here? Ich komme aus …. (den USA/ der Ukraine/ Kanada/ Frankreich …) – I come from… Wie lange sind sie schon in Deutschland? - How long have you been in Germany? Wie lange bist du schon in Deutschland? - How long have you been in Germany? Vielen Dank – Thank you very much Tschüss! - Bye Auf Wiedersehen! - Good bye (more formal) Gute Nacht! – Good night Um Hilfe bitten - Asking for help Können Sie mir bitte helfen? - Can you please help me? Kannst du mir bitte helfen? - Can you please help me? Entschuldigung, das habe ich nicht verstanden. – I'm sorry, but I didn’t understand you. Wie bitte? Excuse me? (~What?) Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? – Could you say that again please? Kannst du das bitte wiederholen? – Could you say that again please? Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? – Could you say that more slowly please? Kannst du bitte langsamer sprechen? – Could you say that more slowly please? Danke. - Thank you. Was bedeutet das? – What does that mean? Wie sagt man das auf Deutsch? – How do you say that in German? Wie schreibt man das? How do you spell that? Sprechen Sie Deutsch/ Englisch? – Do you speak German / English? Sprichst du Deutsch / Englisch? – Do you speak German / English? Ich spreche nicht gut Deutsch. – I do not speak German very well. Ich spreche kein Deutsch/ Englisch. - I do not speak German/ English. Welche Sprachen sprechen Sie? – Which languages do you speak? Welche Sprachen sprichst du? – Which languages do you speak? Ist das korrekt? – is that correct? Ja, das ist korrekt. – Yes, that’s correct. Nein, das ist falsch. – No, that’s wrong. Es tut mir leid. – I'm sorry. Ich weiß es nicht. – I don’t know. Kein Problem. – No problem. Macht nichts. – never mind. Bus & Bahn: Public transport Wann fährt der nächste Bus nach …? - When ist he next bus to ...? Wo ist die Bushaltestelle? - Where is the busstop? Wo ist der Bahnhof? - Where is the train station? Wo kann ich eine Fahrkarte kaufen? - Where can I buy a ticket? Wie funktioniert das? - How does it work? Ich brauche eine Fahrkarte nach … - I need a ticket to ... Nur die Hinfahrt bitte. - Only the outward journey, please. Hin und zurück. - Round trip. Wie lange dauert das? - How long does it take? Wann ist die Abfahrt? - When is the departure? Ist das der Bus/ die Bahn nach …? - Is that the bus/ train for ...? Hält der Bus / die Bahn in …? - Does the bus/ train stop in ...? Können Sie mir das auf der Karte zeigen? - Can you show me that on a map? Kannst du mir das auf der Karte zeigen? - Can you show me that on a map? Ich gehe zu Fuß. - I'll walk/ I'm walking. GET THE FREE PDF WITH ALL 101 SURVIVAL PHRASES Café & Restaurant Einen Tisch für … Personen, bitte.- A table for ..., please Können wir bitte die Speisekarte haben? - Can we pleas have the menu? Haben Sie eine englische Speisekarte? - Do you have a menu in English? Was können Sie mir empfehlen?- What do you recommend? Ich hätte gerne ein Schnitzel. - I'd like to have a Schnitzel Was ist das? - What's that? Entschuldigung! - Excuse me! (Also used to call the waiter) Ich brauche noch eine Gabel/ ein Messer/ einen Löffel/ einen Teller. - I need another fork/ knife/ plate. Kann ich bitte Salz und Pfeffer haben? - Can I please have salt and pepper? Das Essen war (sehr) gut! - The food was (very) good! Ich habe eine Allergie / eine Unverträglichkeit. - I've got an allergy/ an intolerance. Gibt es ein Kindermenü? - Is there a menu for the kids? Entschuldigung, wo sind denn die Toiletten? - Excuse me, where are the toilets? Ich möchte bitte zahlen. - I'd like to pay. Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? - Can I pay by card? Wir zahlen zusammen/ getrennt. - We pay together/ individually. Stimmt so. - That's ok (i.e.: keep the change) Der Rest ist für Sie. - The rest (=change) is for you. Tip: Download this list to your mobile phone - or print it out to have it on hand during your stay in Germany. Einkaufen - Shopping Ich brauche … - I need Ich suche … - I'm looking for ... Wo finde ich …? - Where do I find ...? Ich schaue mich nur um. - I’m just browsing Das passt mir. - That fits me. Das passt mir nicht. - That doesn't fit me. Gibt es das auch in Größe …? - Do you also have that in size ...? Das gefällt mir. - I like it. Was kostet das? - What does it cost? Wo ist die Kasse, bitte? - Where is the checkout? Nach dem Weg fragen - Asking for directions Entschuldigung, ich hätte eine Frage. - Excuse me, I've got a question. Wie komme ich zur Bahnhofstraße? - How do I get to the Bahnhofstraße? Wo finde ich einen Supermarkt? - Where do I find a supermarket? Wo ist der Bahnhof? - Where is the station? Gibt es hier ein Restaurant/ Café? - Is there a restaurant / café here? Gehen Sie nach rechts / links / geradeaus. - Go right/ left/ straight ahead. Geh nach rechts / links/ geradeaus. - Go right/ left/ straight ahead. Das ist gegenüber von der Kirche. - That's across from the church. Medizinische Notfälle - Medical Emergencies Ich brauche einen Arzt. - I need a doctor. Rufen Sie bitte einen Krankenwagen. - Please, call an ambulance. Ruf bitte einen Krankenwagen. - Please, call an ambulance. Ich habe einen Unfall. - I've got an accident. Ich habe mich verletzt. - I'm hurt. Ich fühle mich gut/ schlecht. - I feel good/ bad. Ich bin krank. - I am ill. Ich habe Fieber. - I've got a fever. Gibt es ein Krankenhaus in der Nähe? - Is there a hospital nearby? Wo ist die Notaufnahme? - Where is the emergency room? Der Arm ist gebrochen. - The arm is broken. Ich habe (keine/ starke) Schmerzen. - I have (no/ severe) pain. Es blutet. - It's bleeding. Es ist nicht so schlimm. - It's not so bad. Ich brauche ein Pflaster. - I need a band-aid. Wo ist die Apotheke? - Where is the pharmacy? Zahlen auf Deutsch - Numbers in German null – zero eins – one zwei – two drei – three vier – four fünf – five sechs – six sieben – seven acht – eight neun – nine zehn – ten elf – eleven zwölf – twelve dreizehn – thirteen vierzehn – fourteen fünfzehn – fifteen sechzehn – sixteen siebzehn – seventeen achtzehn – eighteen neunzehn – nineteen zwanzig – twenty einundzwanzig – twenty-one zweiundzwanzig – twenty-two dreiundzwanzig – twenty-three vierundzwanzig – twenty-four fünfundzwanzig – twenty-five sechsundzwanzig – twenty-six siebenundzwanzig – twenty-seven achtundzwanzig – twenty-eight neunundzwanzig – twenty-nine dreißig – thirty einunddreißig – thirty-one zweiunddreißig – thirty-two dreiunddreißig - thirty - three … vierzig – forty fünfzig – fifty sechzig – sixty siebzig – seventy achtzig – eighty neunzig – ninety hundert – one hundred zweihundert - two hundred dreihundert - three hundred vierhundert -four hundred fünfhundert – five hundred fünfhundertfünfzig – five hundred and fifty fünfhundertfünfundsiebzig five hundred and seventy-five tausend – one thousand GET THE FREE 8-PAGE PDF WITH ALL 101 SURVIVAL PHRASES I really hope this list will be helpful for you - and that you won't need any of the words for medical emergincies! Are there any other phrases that you would like to know? Send me an email: info@charlingua.de or drop me a dm on Instagram: @deutsch.charlingua And finally: to make sure you won't offend anyone: read up on the differences between Sie and Du >>>

Would you love to start learning a new language? Are you in doubt, whether this is still possible for adults? Then you're not alone! „Children are like language sponges“, we’re always told. That sounds fantastic: language learning must be quick, easy, and efficient for them, with new words and new structures of Grammar simply flying towards them. Then, there are also sayings like: “Was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermer (=nicht mehr), i.e. What little Hans doesn’t learn, grown-up Hans won’t be able to learn anymore. With these common perceptions in mind, it’s not surprising, that many adults don’t feel up to the task of starting to learn a new – possibly their first foreign – language. They might say things like “My brain is just too old!” or "I've never been good at languages anyway!". Maybe they will even try one of the offers that keep popping up on the internet like “learning a language in 10 or 14 days” …. Only to feel confirmed in their first assumption, when they see that it didn’t work out after all. Fortunately, we know today that adults can learn languages just as good as children or adolescents - quite often, they've even got better results! In this article, you will learn about the reasons for that. 1. Motivation The most important thing at any age is motivation! We need goals. We want to complete a project or even fulfill a mission. It's the same with language learning. Quite often, teenagers are not at all motivated to learn a language (or anything at all). Some teenagers complete and leave school - and after 9 years of language study, they still don’t feel confident enough to have a conversation in that language. But then … if these very same young people want to study abroad, they will learn the language of that country in no time - because they are motivated! Perhaps adults do not learn quite as quickly as highly motivated young people. But: if you are determined to learn German, you will make quicker progress than the average teenager! Find your personal goal: For example: a certain language level being able to communicate more fluently finding a job in Germany. Take notes: ✏ What is your motivation? ✏ What goals do you want to achieve? 2. Learning experience As adults, we have the great advantage that we have already tried a variety of learning techniques. We’ve had to solve so many problems already! Therefore we have developed strategies that work for us. We have a feeling whether it will be more helpful for our language learning to watch a movie or if we should rather read something. It goes without saying that we take notes - and know that they should be looked at again. (Even if there is not always enough time). Adults have already found out what time of day they study best and are looking for a suitable learning environment. If you have started a language course and you don't like it or you don't like the teacher - you can simply stop it and look for a one that is more suited to your needs: Maybe you'd rather take an online course? Would you prefer to be taught in a group or take private lessons? Everything has its pros and cons... but unlike students at school, adults can pick and choose what pleases them. 3. Other language skills Most people learn at least one foreign language during their school years. Later, they can build on these experiences. Of course, it’s easier to learn a related language. For example, German and English are Germanic languages, so there are many related words and sentence structures: Haus - house Mann - man Netz - net Mein Name ist ... - My name is ... Both languages are also influenced by Latin and Ancient Greek: Information - information Literatur - literature Democratie - democracy A child might not yet know and fully understand these words. To an adult, they are immediately clear and form an enormous wealth of passive vocabulary, i.e. words that he can immediately understand. 4. Knowledge of the world We often understand things in a foreign language through context. A young woman, smiling and smelling at a bunch of flowers, will be likely to say something like, "Oh, these flowers smell lovely!" If we open a foreign newspaper and see a text with the word ”Covid” and numbers in it, it will probably be about the current situation in the pandemic. Places or historical dates also help us to understand foreign texts - even if we don't know all the words. Children and young people are only just beginning to build up this knowledge. 5. Specialized texts For the same reason, we can often understand texts from our field of study or work or about topics we are interested in, more easily than everyday language. Charlotte recalls: As a law student, I studied in Spain for one semester. I understood legal texts almost effortlessly - the daily newspaper gave me much bigger problems though. The Internet is a great source here - just try it out and find texts about topics you are interested in! 6. Adults learn in a different way When children come to a foreign country as immigrants, they will learn the language in no time, just by being at school and playing. They adapt, mimicking pronunciation and intonation. Quite often they will sound like a native speaker very quickly. Adults, on the other hand, make better progress at reading and writing. They will transfer skills from their first language and find similarities with the new one. However, the comparison is also not entirely correct: adults rarely have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a language as deeply as a child. Anne recalls: My daughter was three years old when we came to Germany. She went to kindergarten and couldn't speak any German yet! But the teacher spoke slowly to her. She gave her the scissors and repeated several times: Schere - schneiden (scissors - cut). The other children did the same and taught her new words every day. I often thought that I would also learn German much faster that way! While the parents have to diligently crunch vocabulary, their children learn them directly in use - that's better than any full-time language course! 7. It depends on the right learning material Get talking While children don't get around speaking at school, many adults find it very hard to find someone to talk to. Even if they take a language course, there can be a large number of students in the class. Quite often, there are a few students who constantly demand the teacher's attention or won't talk at all - so practicing dialogues doesn't really work. Fortunately, there are other ways to practice speaking: Finding a tandem partner, taking conversation classes, or even taking an online course, that provides opportunities to practice speaking while you're learning at your own pace. In traditional language schools, a certain textbook has often been used for all courses for many years. These books may be great - but sometimes they don't offer a wide variety of exercises or don't meet your personal preferences. Plus: Today there are new ways of learning and more flexibility in online courses - so, why not use them? If an online course sounds like a good option for you, check out my Beginners Course >>> With the right study material adults will learn German successfully! Summary: The aging process affects the brain, psyche, and body, but factors such as motivation, type of input, educational standard, and the number of foreign languages already acquired are more important than age when learning a foreign language. An 80-year-old who has always kept learning can learn better than a little motivated 30-year-old who has not learned anything since the age of 18. By the way .... Up to the age of three, the children acquire a new language in a similar way to their first language; they then grow up bilingually. It is only from the age of six that we speak of children being able to learn a foreign language, that is, that they consciously deal with it.

In every country, some traditions are particularly important for all people. In Germany, these are the traditions at Christmas. Do you know them all? 1. The Advent Calendar Every day, the advent calendar takes us a little closer to Christmas. We don't know exactly, when the advent calendar was invented. The first simple advent calendars appeared around 1840: 24 chalk lines were drawn on the wall, on a cupboard door, or a door frame. Every day, the children were allowed to wipe away one line. This way they, could see the time leading up to Christmas getting shorter and shorter. The publisher Gerhard Lang from Munich invented the first Advent calendar with little doors. In 1902 he printed the first copies. Today, most children (and many adults) love their Advent calendars - filled with chocolates, toys and many other beautiful things. 2. Christmas Markets A Christmas season without a Christmas market? That's basically unthinkable! At the Christmas market, you can find special gifts, such as handicrafts for Christmas decoration, and special foods: Glühwein (mulles wine), roasted almonds, gingerbread, and much more. In smaller towns, the Christmas market is the place where you meet neighbors and friends during Advent time and wish them a “Merry Christmas”. Here you will meet up with friends to drink mulled wine with them. Or you can just enjoy the Christmas atmosphere: the Christmas market simply makes the time before Christmas a lot more Christmassy! 3. der Nikolaus - Saint Nicholas Nicholas is eagerly awaited by the children. He comes in the night of December 6th and also “in person” into kindergarten and to many families. Of course, the children are also a little afraid of him - after all, St. Nicholas has a golden book that contains everything that the children have done well ... or not so well. Did they not tidy up their room? Or don't they always do their homework? Saint Nicholas knows it! And of course, only the good children get something from him: not only the traditional apples, nuts, and mandarins but above all a lot of chocolate! 4. The Advent Wreath The Protestant theologian Johann Hinrich Wichern invented the Advent wreath in 1839. His idea was to count the days until Christmas with burning candles. Today, the Advent wreath has four candles that are lit on Advent Sundays, i.e. the Sundays before Christmas. One candle burns on the first Advent, two on the second, three on the third, and finally all four on the fourth. 5. Celebrating Advent Sundays Many families in Germany celebrate Advent on the four Sundays before Christmas. The family meets in the afternoon when it gets dark. You sit comfortably around the Advent wreath, eat cookies, sing Christmas carols, and look forward to Christmas. 6. Christmas carols Every year, we have new Christmas carols. Some of them will even turn into "new classics" that simply belong to Christmas, such as 'Last Christmas'. But there are also the traditional Christmas carols that everyone in Germany knows and can sing along to. Many of them are more solemn and 'more contemplative'. That fits in with the mood of many people in Germany at Christmas. Popular traditional German Christmas carols are for example: - Alle Jahre wieder - Fröhliche Weihnacht überall - Schneeflöckchen, Weißröckchen - Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht - O Tannenbaum - O du fröhliche - Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann - Morgen Kinder wird’s was geben - Kling Glöckchen klingelingeling - Süßer die Glocken nie klingen 7. Christmas Cookies Shortly before the First Advent, the big baking starts in Germany: In almost every family, various traditional cookies are baked. "Die Plätzchen"- these are cookies that you eat for Christmas. The most popular cookies include gingerbread in all shapes, sizes, and variants: with or without chocolate, or icing, soft or hard, ... and, of course Vanillekipferl, nut macaroons, Spekulatius and many others. The children particularly love cookies that they can cut out and decorate. 8. Christmas Cards Around 100 million letters and cards are sent in Germany at Christmas. Many families have cards printed with photos of their children or the whole family and send them to relatives and friends. This way, you keep contact to those who live further away and see over the course of the years, how small babies turn into big children and then young adults. 9. The 'Christmas star' - Poinsettia The poinsettia is very popular in the Advent season as a decoration or as a gift. In Germany alone, 32 million of these plants are sold every year! They grow in Africa, Australia, and Asia, and they have been around in Germany since around 1950. 10. The Christmas tree The first Christmas tree we know about, was put up in Bremen in 1597. Today, we can hardly imagine a Christmas without a Christmas tree! In Germany, fresh trees are common. Usually, they are put up between the 4th of Advent and Christmas Eve. Most families keep the Christmas tree in place until Epiphany on January 6th. On the Christmas tree, there are often real candles burning. This is so much nicer and more atmospheric than electric light! And that's probably why a bucket filled with wate or a fire extinguisher in the corner is one of the lesser-known Christmas traditions for many families. 11. The Presents Of course, gifts are also a part of Christmas! In 2022, every German spent an average of € 520 on gifts. Money or vouchers are very popular presents. But so are "classic" gifts such as books and, of course, toys for the children. 12. Der Weihnachtmann (Father Christmas) and das Christkind (Christ Child) Who brings the presents at Christmas - Father Christmas or the Christ Child? Der Weihnachtsmann comes to many families, especially in northern Germany. In the south and particularly in Bavaria, it's the Christ Child who comes. Whoever it is: they come on Christmas Eve, on December 24th in the evening. After what is usually a hectic morning, the day becomes quiet and festive in the afternoon or evening. Frohe Weihnachten - Merry Christmas! Do you want to practice your German? Read thisblog post in German (with lots of helpful vocabulary) >>>

"Laterne, Laterne, ..." This is what the children are now singing in kindergarten and elementary school. Not only that: they are busy making their colorful lanterns and maybe already practicing walking with them. Practice your German: Read the German version with lots of vocabulary Do you know this tradition? Here you will find out: what a Martin's lantern is everything about the lantern parade (Laternenumzug) The story of St. Martin What a St Martin bonfire is The most popular songs for St. Martin's Day What is a lantern for St. Martin's Day? A lantern for St. Martin's Day is hung on a lantern stick and carried by the children during the lantern parade. That is why the lantern is traditionally made of paper so that it is light. There is a solid base and usually a solid top made of thick paper or cardboard. The top has a large opening with a bent wire attached to it. The sides are mostly made of transparent paper. You can stick colorful transparent paper on it or paint it. The lantern can have many different shapes. The imagination knows no limits! Would you like to make a lantern? No problem! You can find many handicraft instructions on the internet. It is particularly quick and easy with a finished handicraft set that you can buy. Lanterns are held on a wooden lantern stick. A wire is attached to the pole from which the lantern hangs. There's a candle in the lantern. The children must therefore be careful to keep their lantern straight so that it does not catch fire. By the way: The fire is often blown out on windy days. If you walk with your children, it's a good idea to have a lighter or matches with you! Nowadays there are also electric candles with batteries. This is useful for very young children. But ... if the children don't have to look after their lanterns, it's a lot less exciting for them. On November 11th there is the lantern parade: When it gets dark in the evening, the children from kindergarten or from a primary school class and their parents and teachers meet. Every child gets their hand-made lantern and then the big moment comes: the candles in the lanterns are lit! Then everyone starts walking through the streets together. The children are carefully carrying their glowing lanterns and everyone is singing songs. Why is there a lantern parade? November 11th is "Martin's Day", ie the day of St. Martin. With the glowing lanterns on a cold winter evening, we remember the good deeds of Saint Martin. Who was St. Martin? His real name was Martin von Tours. He was born in Savaria in 316 or 317. Savaria is located in Hungary today and was part of the Roman Empire at that time. Martin's father was a Roman officer. That's why Martin had to join the military, even though he didn't want to. When Martin was 17 years old, he was stationed in northern France. It was a freezing cold winter day. A group of Roman soldiers rode their horses. One of them was Martin. They were on their way to the next town. To do this, they had to ride through the city gate. Next to the gate, there sat a beggar who had almost no clothes, pleading for help. But all of the soldiers rode past him and paid no attention to him. Only Martin stopped his horse. He wanted to help - but he had nothing on him to give the poor man. Therefore he took his warm cloak and divided it in half with the sword. He gave one half to the beggar and kept the other half. This is the good deed that we think of when we celebrate St. Martin's Day. What is the Martin bonfire? When the lantern parade is over, all the children and parents gather with the colorful lanterns. Then a "Martin fire" is lit. Sometimes there is even a rider with a Roman helmet, sword and cloak who reenacts the story. This is really exciting for the children! The story of the St. Martin and the geese During the night Martin had a dream: He saw Jesus with the half cloak that he had given to the poor beggar. This way Martin came to the Christian faith and was baptized. He left the military and became a priest. In 360 he founded the first monastery in the Occident in Ligugé (in France, near Poitier) and in 375 another one in Marmoutier (near Tours). Martin was very popular with the population. When a new Bishop of Tours was sought, the people wanted Martin to take over this office. But Martin had too much respect for this position and was too modest. So he hid in the goose barn. However, the geese chattered so loudly that they gave Martin away. So Martin was found and elected bishop. Martin as a saint Martin became 81 years old. He was one of the first saints not to die as a martyr. Instead, he was revered for living exemplary: his ideals were Discipline Justice Willingness to help the poor. That also makes him a person we can talk about with little children very well - after all, there is a happy ending! There are also special things to eat on Martin's Day: Martin goose A St. Martin's goose is traditionally served on the table at Sankt Martin. This reminds us of the story with the geese. Special pastries are often given to the children after the parade: Martinsweck It is made from yeast dough and is shaped like a man. The eyes and sometimes also the jacket buttons are made of raisins and he is holding a clay pipe in his hand. Martin Geese Here in Bavaria, we have Martin's geese, that is, biscuits in the shape of a goose. They are made from a quark-oil dough. The most beautiful children's songs for the Lantern parade Would you like to sing along on Martin's Day? I've linked a version of every song for you on YouTube. The recordings are actually made for young children ... but if you want to hear the melody or practice the song, they are very good 😉 Sankt Martin ritt durch Schnee und Wind Dieses Lied erzählt die Geschichte von St. Martin. Viele Kinder lernen es in der Grundschule auswendig. St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin ritt durch Schnee und Wind, sein Ross, das trug ihn fort geschwind. St. Martin ritt mit leichtem Mut, sein Mantel deckt ihn warm und gut. Im Schnee da, im Schnee da, im Schnee da saß ein armer Mann, hatt‘ Kleider nicht, hatt‘ Lumpen an. O helft mir doch in meiner Not, sonst ist der bitt(e)re Frost mein Tod! St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin zog die Zügel an, sein Ross stand still beim armen Mann, St. Martin mit dem Schwerte teilt‘ den warmen Mantel unverweilt. St. Martin St. Martin, St. Martin gab den halben still, der Bettler rasch ihm danken will. Sankt Martin aber ritt in Eil‘ hinweg mit seinem Mantelteil. Laterne, Laterne Refrain: Laterne, Laterne, Sonne, Mond und Sterne. Brenne auf mein Licht, brenne auf mein Licht Aber nur meine liebe Laterne nicht! Sperrt ihn ein, den Wind, sperrt ihn ein, den Wind, er soll warten, bis wir alle zu Hause sind! Bleibe hell, mein Licht, Bleibe hell, mein Licht, denn sonst strahlt meine liebe Laterne nicht! Durch die Straßen auf und nieder… Durch die Straßen auf und nieder Leuchten die Laternen wieder, rote, gelbe, grüne, blaue – lieber Martin komm und schaue. Wie die Blumen in dem Garten blüh’n Laternen aller Arten, rote, gelbe, grüne, blaue – lieber Martin komm und schaue. Und wir gehen lange Strecken Mit Laternen an den Stecken rote, gelbe, grüne, blaue – lieber Martin komm und schaue. Ich geh mit meiner Laterne Refrain: Ich geh mit meiner Laterne Und meine Laterne mit mir. Da oben leuchten die Sterne und unten leuchten wir. : Ein Lichtermeer zu Martins Ehr‘ Rabimmel rabammel rabumm : : Der Martinsmann, der zieht voran Rabimmel rabammel rabumm : : Wie schön das klingt, wenn jeder singt Rabimmel rabammel rabumm : : Ich trag mein Licht, ich fürcht‘ mich nicht Rabimmel rabammel rabumm. : : Mein Licht ist aus, ich geh‘ nach Haus‘ Rabimmel rabammel rabumm : You can ask anyone in Germany - everyone will know these songs! And they will bring up fond memories: Of walking through the cold, dark night (even if it's actually just evening), carefully holding the precious lantern so that it won't catch fire, and singing those songs at the same time. Then there is the bonfire afterward with the traditional cookies. And, best of all, the story of a man who was really brave, good, and only thought of others. This is why Sankt Martin or Martin's Day really is very special for children. Do you want to practice your German? Read the German version with lots of vocabulary

Once you have mastered the first basic conversation in German, you’ll want to talk about something that happened a while ago. Maybe about something that happened to you yesterday. Or when you were a kid. Maybe you’ll want to talk about something that will happen tomorrow. Or in a few months, like a holiday you want to take. That’s when you realize: you need different tenses. Fortunately, the German tense system is much easier than the English one. While we love to conjugate, use accusative, and push the parts of the sentences creatively around, we are quite generous with using the tenses. So, you will get there easily! In this blog post, I’ll give you a quick overview of all German tenses, how to form them, and how to use them correctly. So, let’s take a closer look: Content Six tenses in German Present tense (Präsens) Simple Past Tense (Präteritum) Present Perfect Tense (Perfekt) Past Perfect Tense (Plusquamperfekt) Future Tense (Futur I) Future Perfect Tense (Futur II) Indicative, Subjunctive, or Imperative Mood Six tenses in German There are 6 basic tenses in German. present (Präsens) present perfect (Perfekt) simple past (Präteritum) past perfect (Plusquamperfekt) future (Futur I) future perfect (Futur II) Two of them are simple tenses: present and simple past. They use just one conjugated verb. Four tenses are compound tenses: present perfect, past perfect, future, and future perfect. They use two verbs: a conjugated ‘helping’ verb and an infinitive or past participle. There are no continuous or progressive tenses in German (like: I am walking/ he was sitting). Present Tense (Präsens) The present tense (Präsens) is the one we use most. How to form the present tense The present tense is formed by simply removing the infinitive-ending -en, which leaves us with the stem, and adding the appropriate ending onto it: Example: machen (to make) ich mache du machst er/ es/ sie macht wir machen ihr macht sie/ Sie machen If the verb is ‘strong’ (unregelmäßig), there may also be a stem-vowel change for the 2nd and 3rd persons, singular: sehen (to see) ich sehe du siehst er/ es / sie sieht wir sehen ihr seht sie/ Sie sehen How to use the present tense The present tense is used to talk about what‘s happening now (of course) but also to talk about future actions that have already been determined. Beispiel: An Weihnachten fahre ich (dieses Jahr) zu meinen Eltern. - Im going to visit my parents for Christmas this year. This tense can be used to express concepts in three equivalent English tenses: the present, the present continuous, and the future. When we tell precisely what a situation was like in the past, we also often use the present tense: this makes the report more lively: Beispiel: "Also, gestern auf dem Heimweg ist mir etwas komisches passiert. Ich stehe gerade mit dem Auto an der roten Ampel. Da kommt ein Mann, klopft an die Scheibe und ruft ...." "Well, yesterday on the way home, something strange happened to me. I'm just standing in my car at the red light. A man comes, knocks on the window, and calls...." Simple Past Tense (Präteritum) How to form the Simple Past Tense The Simple past tense is formed in a similar way: If you have a ‘weak’ (regular) verb, you simply insert a ‘t(e)‘ in between the stem and the conjugations and add an 'e' at the 3rd person, singular (er /es /sie): ich machte du machtest er/ es/ sie machte wir machten ihr machtet sie/ Sie machten If the verb is strong (unregelmäßig), you take the past-form of the infinite’s stem and add the appropriate conjugation onto it: ich sah du sahst er/ es / sie sah wir sahen ihr saht sie/ Sie sahen Notice: the 3rd person, singular (er/, es/ sie) does not end in -t! Instead, it has the same conjugation as ‘ich’ How to use the Simple Past Tense: We use the Simple Past tense for facts and actions that took place in the past. It is mainly used for stories and reports, especially when writing. In spoken German, it is mostly interchangeable with the Present Perfect tense. Present Perfect Tense (Perfekt) How to form the Present Perfect Tense This tense looks almost the same as the to have + past participle construction in English. (I have seen, you have taken, he has gone). The Present Perfect tense is formed by combining a helping verb (either haben or sein) with a past participle. The helping verb must be conjugated. The past participle is formed differently based on what type of verb the infinitive is (e.g. strong, weak, mixed). haben (to have)+ past participle ich habe gesehen du hast gesehen er/ es/ sie hat gesehen wir haben gesehen ihr habt gesehen sie/ Sie haben gesehen sein (to be) + past participle ich bin gelaufen du bist gelaufen er/ es/ sie ist gelaufen wir sind gelaufen ihr seid gelaufen sie/ Sie sind gelaufen How to use the Present Perfect Tense The present perfect (Perfekt) shows that an action took place in the past, but the focus is on the result of the action, not on the action itself. Even though this tense looks so similar to the English construction of to have + past participle, we use it in a different way! In German, this is the most commonly used tense for everything we want to talk about in the past. However, in written texts, the Simple Past Tense is considered to give your text a “better” and more formal style. Past Pefect Tense (Plusquamperfekt) How to form the Past Perfect Tense If you know how to form the Present Perfect Tense, forming the past perfect is really easy: Simply take the same past participle, but change the tense of the helping verbinto its simple past form: haben => hatten sein => waren hatten + past participle ich hatte gesehen du hattest gesehen er/ es/ sie hatte gesehen wir hatten gesehen ihr hattet gesehen sie/ Sie hatten gesehen waren + past participle ich war gelaufen du warst gelaufen er/ es/ war ist gelaufen wir waren gelaufen ihr wart gelaufen sie/ Sie waren gelaufen How to use the Past Perfect Tense We use the past perfect tense to talk about actions in the past that occurred before a specific point in the past. Der Zug war abgefahren, bevor ich zum Bahnhof kam. The train had left before I got to the station. The use is very similar to the same tense in English. Future (Futur I) How to Form the Future Tense Just like in English, the future tense is another compound tense. And, just like in English, it is really easy to form: You use the present tense form of werden and combine it with the infinitive form of the verb. werden + Infinitv ich werde machen du wirst machen er/ es/ sie wird machen wir werden machen ihr werdet machen sie/ Sie werden machen How to use the Future Tense The future tense is used in a different way than in English. If you want to talk about the future, this tense is used to express a prediction, a plan, or an idea. The weather forecast: Morgen wird es regnen - tomorrow it will rain. = There is a high probability. If something is certain or we have made up our minds about something, we use the present tense instead. Morgen fahre ich nach München. = I’ve got the ticket, nothing can stop me. Future Perfect Tense (Futur II) How to form the Future Perfect Tense The future perfect tense combines aspects of the future tense and the perfect tense. The conjugated verb werden is now combined with the two additional verbs: a past participle and then either haben or sein. werden + Partizip II + haben ich werde gemacht haben du wirst gemacht haben er/ es/ sie wird gemacht haben wir werden gemacht haben ihr werdet gemacht haben sie/ Sie werden gemacht haben werden + Partizip II + sein ich werde gefahren sein du wirst gefahren sein er/ es/ sie wird gefahren sein wir werden gefahren sein ihr werdet gefahren sein sie/ Sie werden gefahren sein Morgen Abend werde ich es gehört haben. By tomorrow evening I will have heard it. How to use the Future Perfect Tense The future perfect tense is used to talk about both the past and the future. It’s used to express the assumption, that something happened or will happen. Ich verstehe nicht, warum Anna das getan hat, aber sie wird sich etwas dabei gedacht haben. I don't understand why Anna did that, but she must have had something in mind. Peter war im Supermarkt - ich denke, er wird den Käse gekauft haben. Peter was in the supermarket - I think he must have bought the cheese. Peter ist jetzt im Supermarkt. Wenn wir nach Hause kommen (in einer Stunde) wird er eingekauft haben. Peter is now in the supermarket. When we get home (in an hour) he will have done the shopping. Indicative, Subjunctive, or Imperative Mood All the tenses above are in the indicative mood. The indicative mood is used to talk about real things happening. The subjunctive mood can be divided into Konjunktiv I and Konjunktiv II in German: Konjunktiv I is used for indirect speech. Konjunktiv II expresses wishes or possibilities (things that aren’t happening in real life). The imperative is used to deliver commands. Summary As you’ve seen, learning how to use verb tenses in German can be a bit tricky. I hope that this article helped you to understand how to use them properly to talk or write about the past, present, and future. To learn more German, follow me on Instagram: @deutsch.charlingua