A thread for learning German.

[Hartmann von Aue]

I'm going to continue to add to this as I study German. Anyone who wants to contribute is of course welcome.

A vocab list for today.

this link for flashcards

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/246186/o3s1

das Alter age
die Beschäftigung, -en activity, occupation
das Ereignis -se the event
die Freizeit leisure time
die Jahrezeit, -en season
Lieblings(beschäftigung) favorite (activity)
die Möglichkeit, -en possibility, chance, opportunity
der/die Verwandte relative
das Ziel, -e goal, objective, destination
campen to camp
faulenzen to be lazy, take it easy
fotografieren to photograph, take pictures
überreden to persuade
unterstützen to support
vergleichen (verglich, verglichen) to compare
sich (dat.) vor*stellen to imagine
zeichnen to draw, sketch
zu*stimmen (+dat.) to agree
Ich stimme dir zu. I agree with you.
beliebt popular

This is a good German old-fashioned German reader, The section on Grimm's laws and rules for recognizing cognates, as well as a long list of cognate expressions can be found on p. 214.

http://books.google.com/books?id=OVcBAAAAYAAJ

A clip with an example of the word Ereignis:

HfNxiZycG7I&hl

[Mike]

Good start. For my part, I will contribute some tables for articles, adjective declensions, and verb conjugations.

If you don't mind me adding some suggestions, I think we should put the German in bold followed by the English definition in normal font. Also, I think we should use the German characters when ever possible: ä, ö, ü, ß (Caps: Ä, Ö, Ü). I use TextPad which allows me to type the characters using special escape codes. Also, you've misspelled Freizeit ;)

[Dan Dare]

Beschäftigung also misspelt (twice).

A handy tip: almost half of all German nouns are masculine, about a third feminine and the rest neuter. So if you can't tell a noun's gender by its form (usually the ending) or its classification (eg young persons and animals are neuter) guessing masculine would be right almost half the time.

[Hartmann von Aue]

this link for flash cards:

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/246223/g7q1

der Fahrplan, die Fahrpläne schedule, timetable
die Lüge -n lie, falsehood
die Nachricht, -en news, report
Punkt exactly, on the dot
Punkt 3 Uhr 3 o'clock sharp
der Vorwurf, die Vorwürfe reproach
die Wut rage, fury, madness
ab*fahren (fährt ab, fuhr ab, ist abgefahren) to depart
an*klagen to accuse
jemanden wegen etwas anklagen to accuse someone of something
beißen (biß, gebissen) to bite
bestrafen to punish
beten to pray
lügen (log, gelogen) to tell a lie
schreien (schrie, geschrien) to shout, scream
einem die Hand schütteln to shake someone's hand
stürzen (ist gestürzt) to fall, plunge
umarmen to embrace
lustig amusing, funny
nebenan close by; next door
stumm silent, mute
vergnügt pleased, cheerful

[Dan Dare]

A handy cheat-sheet for active vs passive verb forms:

Active vs Passive tenses


Präsens Present

er beobachtet he observes
er wird beobachtet he is observed

Präterium Simple past

er beobachtete he observed
er wurde beobachtet he was observed

Perfekt Present perfect

er hat beobachtet he has observed
er ist beobachtet worden he has been observed

Plusquamperfekt Past perfect

er hatte beobachtet he had observed
er war beobachtet worden he had been observed

Zukunft/Futur Future

er wird beobachten he will observe
er wird beobachtet werden he will be observed

Note also however:

Er ist Bürgermeister geworden he has become (the) mayor

[Hartmann von Aue]

flash card link: http://www.flashcardmachine.com/246374/9d4r

die Ansichtskarte, -n picture postcard
der Eindruck, die Eindrücke impression
der Fall, die Fälle case
auf jeden Fall definitely
auf keinen Fall in no case
die Gewalt power; violence
die Gewalttat act of violence
das Interesse, -n (an + dat.) interest (in)
der Nachteil, -e disadvantage
die Sendung, -en TV or radio program
der Vorteil, -e advantage
auf*schrieben (schrieb auf, aufgeschrieben) to write down.
dar*stellen to represent;depict, portray
sich erholen to recover; take a rest
erholt rested
freuen to make happy, please
sich freuen (über + accusative) to rejoice, be glad, happy (about)
genießen (genoß, genossen) to enjoy
halten von to think of
laden (lädt; lud, geladen) to load
runter*laden to download
überein*stimmen (mit jemandem) to agree (with someone)
zurück*kehren (ist) to return
aktuell current;topical;latest
jedoch however;nevertheless

[Hartmann von Aue]

flash cards at: http://www.flashcardmachine.com/246399/r9s1

der Briefträger -/die Breiträgerin, -nen letter carrier
die Illustrierte, -n, -n illustrated magazine
der Kasten, die Kästen box, boxes
der Künstler, -/die Künstlerin, -nen artist/performer
die Probe, -n rehearsal
der Schauspieler,-/die Schauspielerin, -nen actor,actress
auf*heben (hob auf, aufgehoben) to keep, preserve
auf*shließen (schloß auf, aufgeschlossen) to unlock, open
ein*packen to pack up; to wrap
gucken to look; to peek
mieten to rent
Sommergäste mieten ein Zimmer in der Villa Seewind Summer guests rent a room in Villa Seewind
sich verabschieden (von) to pardon, forgive
ab und zu now and then
allerdings certainly, of course; though
endgültig final, definitive
herzlich cordial(ly), warm(ly)
herzliche Grüße (letter closing) kind regards
unbedingt unconditional, absolute

[Hartmann von Aue]

flash cards for lesson 5 http://www.flashcardmachine.com/246628/8z7n

das Bundesland, die Bundesländer federal state
der Bürger, -/die Bürgerin, -nen citizen
der Einwohner, -/die Einwohnerin, -nen inhabitant
das Gesetz, -e law
die Heimat homeland
das Kaufhaus, die Kaufhaüser department store
der Kreis, -e circle
die Schlange, -n waiting line, queue
Schlange stehen to wait in line
der Stau, -s traffic jam
im Stau stehen to be in a traffic jam
die Vereinigung, -en unification
die Wirtschaft economy
erleben to experience
kriegen to receive, get
schimpfen to scold; swear; grumble
er schimpft über ihn he complains about him
statt*finden (fand statt, stattgefunden) to take place, happen
überzeugen to convince
überzeugt (von) convinced (of)
berufstätig working, (gainfully) employed
stolz proud
verantwortlich (für) responsible for

[Hartmann von Aue]

flash cards here: http://www.flashcardmachine.com/246727/7v8p

das Abenteuer, - adventure
die Hauptsache, -n main thing
der/die Jugendliche (noun decl. like adj.) young person
die Ruhe rest; quiet; peace
in Ruhe calmly
der Schritt, -e step; pace
die Stimmung, -en atmosphere; mood
der Unterschied, -e difference
begleiten to accompany
entdecken to discover
hupen to honk
lächeln (über + acc.) to smile (about)
reichen to pass; to reach; to hand
herum*reichen to pass around
stehen*bleiben (blieb stehen, ist stehen geblieben) to stop; to remain standing
(sich) streiten (stritt, gestritten) to quarrel; to dispute
sie streiten sich they quarrel
vermissen to miss (someone)
verpassen to miss (an opportunity; a train)
versprechen (verspricht; versprach, versprochen) to promise
er hat mir versprochen, mit mir ins Kino zu gehen he promised to go to the movies with me
heftig violently
mitten in (+dat.) in the middle of
wieso? why? why so? but why?

[Hartmann von Aue]

flashcards: http://www.flashcardmachine.com/246811/n3n2

der Briefumschlag, die Briefumschäge envelope
die Ehe, -n marriage
das Ehepaar,-e married couple
die Erfindung, -en invention; discovery
der Gegensatz, die Gegensätze constrast; (the) opposite
im Gegensatz (zu) in contrast (to)
der Haushalt, -e household
der Schluß, pl. Schlüsse end; conclusion
Schluß damit that's it
die Sprechstunde, -n office hour; consultation
der Unterricht instructions; classes
der Zettel, - note; slip (of paper)
an*gehen (ging an, is angegangen) to concern
das geht(mich) nichts an that doesn't concern (me)
bestehen (bestand, bestanden) to exist
bestehen aus to consist of
bestehen auf (+ dat.) to insist on
erziehen (erzog, erzogen) to raise, educate
handeln to act
handeln von to be about, deal with
es handelt sich um it is a matter of
heiraten to marry
mit*teilen to inform
nach*sitzen (saß nach, nachgesessen) to be kept after school
scheiden (schied, geschieden) to separate
sich scheiden lassen to get a divorce
stören to disturb
verschwinden (verschwand, ist verschwunden) to disappear; to vanish
geschieden divorced
schriftlich in writing, written
verheiratet married

[Hartmann von Aue]

flashcards: http://www.flashcardmachine.com/246972/6w2e

die Gestalt, -en shape, figure
die Höhe, -n height, hill
der Knochen, - bone
das Knöchelchen, - little bone
der Krug, die Krüge pitcher, mug
die Quelle, -n spring, source
der Schluck, -e swallow, sip
das Schlückchen, - small sip
die Schuld, -en debt; fault, guilt
shuld sein (an + dat.) to be guilty (of)
ich bin (nicht) daran schuld it's (not) my fault!
der Trost comfort, consolation
der Verlust, -e loss
blicken to look
ein*treten (tritt ein; trat ein, ist eingetreten) to enter, come in
entgegen*kommen (kam entgegen, ist entgegengekommen) to come toward; to meet
ärgerlich annoying, angry
eilig speedy, hurried
es eilig haben to be in a hurry
heim home
kräftig strong, powerful

[Hartmann von Aue]

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/247081/9eo8

die Beziehung, -en relationship; connection
der Erfolg success
die Erlaubnis permission
das Haupt, die Häupter head; chief
Haupt- (used in compounds) main, leading
die Heirat, -en marriage; wedding
der Komponist, -en, -en/die Komponistin, -nen composer
der Musiker, -/die Musikerin, -nen musician
die Not distress; difficulties; need
die Stellung, -en position; job
der Vorname, -ns, -n first name
der Zustand, die Zustände condition; situation
beschäftigen to employ
sich beschäftigen (mit) to occupy oneself (with); to work at; to think about
entstehen (entstand, ist entstanden) to come into being; to emerge
sorgen (für) to take care of; to care for
vor*ziehen (zog vor, vorgezogen) to prefer
ich ziehe Jazz dem Rap vor I prefer Jazz to Rap
öffentlich public
unvollendet unfinished, incomplete
vor allem above all

[Hartmann von Aue]

a shorter set today: http://www.flashcardmachine.com/247259/6h7i

die Blatt, die Blätter leaf; sheet (paper)
die Handlung, -en plot, action
der Kampf, die Kämpfe fight, battle, contest
die Kultur culture; civilization
die Mühe trouble; effort; difficulty
der Nebel fog, mist
an*fassen to take hold of; seize, touch
beruhigen to quiet
sich beruhigen to quiet, calm down
beruhigt calm, assured
ängstlich anxious, fearful; timid
deutlich clear; evident
schrecklich terrible; horrible

[Hartmann von Aue]

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/247366/8tg5

der/die Angestellte (noun decl. like adj.) (salaried) employee, white-collar worker
die Anstrengung, -en effort, exertion
der/die Behinderte (noun decl. like adj.) disabled person
die Bewerbung, -en application
das Einkommen, - income
die Karriere, -n career
das Mitglied, -er member
die Rede, -n speech, talk
die Schwierigkeit, -en difficulty; problem
sich bewerben (bewirbt; bewarb, beworben) to apply
sich bewerben um to apply for
sich bewerben bei to apply to
ein*stellen to hire
verwechseln to confuse
behindert disabled
fest firm; regular, steady
gleichzeitig at the same time; simultaneous
jedenfalls in any case, at all events
mindestens at least, no less than
schwierig difficult; hard
tatsächlich real, actual; indeed, really, actually

[Hartmann von Aue]

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/247516/3v6k

die Mode fashion
die Screibmachine, -n typewriter
die Sonnenbrille, -n sun glasses
das Spielzeug, -e toy, plaything
beantworten to answer
bedauern to regret
blättern (in + dat.) to leaf (through)
beobachten to observe; to watch
reichen to suffice
es reicht nicht it's not enough
rot werden (wird; wurde, ist geworden) to blush
spüren to feel; to sense, to perceive
sich verlieben (in + acc.) to fall in love (with)
sich verspäten to be late
anstregend exhausting
besetzt occupied
regelmäßig regularly

http://books.google.com/books?client=firefox-a&q=german+grammar&um=1&as_brr=1

[Mike]

I'm overdue to contribute something, so here's a start.

Some Pronouns

First Person
Singular Plural
"I/me" "we/us"
Nominative ich wir
Accusative mich uns
Dative mir uns
Genitive meiner unserer

Second Person
Informal Formal
Singular Plural Singular or plural
"you" "you guys" "you"
Nominative du ihr Sie
Accusative dich euch Sie
Dative dir euch Ihnen
Genitive deiner eurer Ihrer

Third Person
Singular Plural
"he/his" "she/her" "it" "they/them"
Nominative er sie es sie
Accusative ihn sie es sie
Dative ihm ihr ihm ihnen
Genitive seiner ihrer seiner ihrer

Third person reflexive
Singular and Plural
"himself/herself/itself/themselves"
"yourself(formal)/yourselves(formal)"
Accusative sich
Dative sich

[Geist]

Deutsch – Warum nicht?

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,2142,2548,00.html

You can also listen to their radio station.

[Mike]

Continuing with German declension. Here's the declension of articles and related words, collectively called determiners. As in English, determiners stand in front of both adjectives and nouns in German.

Articles

The definite article der "the"
Singular Plural
Masculine Feminine Neuter All
Nominative der die das die
Accusative den die das die
Dative dem der dem den
Genitive des der des der

The indefinite article ein "a(n)"
Singular Plural
M. F. N. All
Nominative ein eine ein -
Accusative einen eine ein -
Dative einem einer einem -
Genitive eines einer eines -

Note that ein can also mean "one". Naturally, it lacks the plural.


Der words
These words have endings which resemble der. Here is dieser, "this/these":

The demonstrative dieser "this/these"
Singular Plural
Masculine Feminine Neuter All
Nominative dieser diese dieses diese
Accusative diesen diese dieses diese
Dative diesem dieser diesem diesen
Genitive dieses dieser dieses dieser

Declined similarly are:
dieser this, these
jeder each, every
jener that, those
welcher which
mancher many (a)
solcher such (a)
aller all

Ein words
These words have endings which resemble ein, except they do not lack the plural. Here is kein "no/not a/not any":

The indefinite kein "no/not a/not any"
Singular Plural
Masculine Feminine Neuter All
Nominative kein keine kein keine
Accusative keinen keine kein keine
Dative keinem keiner keinem keinen
Genitive keines keiner keines keiner

Declined similarly include the pronomial genitives we saw above:
mein my
unser our
dein your (informal, speaking to singular 'you')
euer you guys' (informal, speaking to plural 'you')
Ihr your (formal, speaking to singular or plural 'you')
sein his/her/its* (masculine singular and neuter singular)
ihr his/her/its*; their (feminine singular and common plural)
kein no/not a/not any

*Note that these words can be translated into English "his", "her" or "its", depending on the real-life gender of the noun.


Note: I should point out that it's not quite as bad as it looks. The der word endings and the ein word endings are the same except in the masc. sing. nom., and in the neut. sing. nom+acc.


The der and ein endings (red endings are dropped in ein words)
Singular Plural
Masculine Feminine Neuter All
Nominative -er -e -es -e
Accusative -en -e -es -e
Dative -em -er -em -en
Genitive -es -er -es -er

[Hartmann von Aue]

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/247904/v45e

der Ausländer, -/die Ausländerin, -nen foreigner
der Betrieb, -e firm, business
der Blick, -e look; glance
die Geduld patience
die Gegenwart presence; the present time
die Geschwister (pl.) brother(s) and sister(s)
die Haut skin
die Lebensmittel (pl.) food; groceries
der Meister, -/die Meisterin, -nen master; master craftsperson; foreperson
die Minderheit, -en minority
das Päckchen, - pack; small package
der Sinn, -e sense, mind; meaning; purpose, use
der Unsinn nonsense
in den Sinn kommon to come to mind
der Traum, die Träume dream
das Vorteil, -e prejudice
auf*geben (gibt auf; gab auf; aufgegeben) to give up
fest*stellen to determine; to delare; to find out
zerschlagen (zerschlägt; zersclug, zerschlagen) to smash (to pieces)
zu*hören (+dat) to listen to
ich höre ihr zu I listen to her
ehrlich honest; sincere; open
feindlich hostile
gemeinsam joint; sincere; open
glatt smooth; level; slippery
glatt gehen to run smoothly
neidisch (auf+acc.) envious (of)

[Hartmann von Aue]

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/248065/3wm8

der Abschied departure
beim Abschied on leaving
die Aktentasche, -n briefcase
die Ansicht, -en view, opinion
die Armbanduhr, -en wristwatch
der Buchstabe, -ns, -n letter of alphabet
der Geschmack taste
der Hügel, - hill
das Leder leather
das Produkt, -e product
die Zitrone, -n lemon
die Zitronenlimonade lemonade
sich entschließen (entschloß, entschlossen) to decide
(sich) entspannen to relax
zum Entspannen for relaxation
sich gewöhnen an (+acc.) to get used to
überqueren to cross (street, river)
altmodisch old-fashioned
begeistert (von) enthused, enthusiastic (about)
doppelt double, twice
einst formerly, at one time, some day, (future)
komisch strange, odd; comical, funny
nicht mehr no more, no longer
üblich usual, customary

[Hartmann von Aue]

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/248214/7x2o

die Ausbildung training; education
die Hälfte, -n half
die Kneipe, -n pub, bar
die Lehre, -n apprenticeship
die Nähe nearness, proximity, vicinity
in der Nähe near
die Rente, -n pension
der Rentner, -/die Rentnerin, -nen retiree, senior citizen
der Ruhestand retirement
die Tätigkeit, -en activity; occupation; work
der Termin, -e appointment; date
die Umwelt environment
die Verschmutzung pollution
die Zukunft future
der Zusammenhang connection; correlation
erhalten (erhält; erhielt, erhalten) to get; receive
nutzen to use
stressen to put under stress
gestreßt sein to be under stress
übernehmen (übernimmt, übernahm, übernommen) to take; to take on (e.g. work); to take over (e.g. business)
untersuchen to examine; to investigate
häuftig frequent; common
sinnvoll meaningful

[Hartmann von Aue]

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/248303/o28t

der Blitz lightning
die Einladung, -en invitation
die Feier, -n party; celebration
das Fieber fever
die Lage, -n situation; state of affairs; position
der Rücken,- back
das Taschentuch, die Taschentücher handkerchief, handkerchiefs
die Zunge, -n tongue
es liegt mir auf der Zunge it's on the tip of my tongue
begreifen (begriff, begriffen) to grasp, to understand
sich kümmern (um) to be concerned about, care
prüfen to test; to check
seufzen to sigh
unterscheiden (unterschied, unterschieden) to distinguish
wagen to dare
wechseln to exchange; to change
zweifeln (an etwas) to doubt (something)
ich zweifle daran I doubt it
seltsam strange, odd
schlecht werden (sein) to feel sick
mir wird (ist) shlecht I'm getting sick

[Hartmann von Aue]

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/248454/d9u7

die Autobahn, -en superhighway
der Flughafen, die Flughäfen the airport, the airports
die Geschwindigkeit, -en speed
die Geschwindigkeitbegrenzung, -en speed limit
der/die Reisende (noun decl. like adj.) traveler; passenger
das Steuer, - steering wheel
am Steuer at the wheel
die Stundenkilometer (pl.) kilometers per hour
das Tempo speed, tempo
das Tempolimit speed limit
die Unabhängigkeit independence
die Verspätung, -en lateness; delay
klagen to complain, lament
sich lohnen to be worthwhile, worth the trouble
es lohnt sich (nicht) it's (not) worthwhile
durchschnittlich on an average
heutig today's
nirgendwo nowhere

[Hartmann von Aue]

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/248610/8y7b

die Auskunft, die Auskünfte information; information desk
das Fahrzeuge, -e tire
der Reifen,- tire
der Zeuge, -n -n/die Zeugin, -nen witness
anhalten (hält an; hielt an, angehalten) to stop (in a vehicle)
entdecken to discover; to find out
sich ereignen to happen; to take placel
flüstern to whisper
melden to report; to inform
schweigen (schwieg, geschwiegen) to be silent
blöde stupid; silly
dauernd continually
derjenige/diejenige (decl. like adj.) the one (who)
dringend urgent
geradeaus straight ahead
vorn(e) in front
vorsichtig careful; cautious
zufällig by chance; accidental

[Hartmann von Aue]

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/248844/1f5g

der Abfall waste, trash
die Dose, -n can
die Einwegflasche, -n non-returnable bottle
die Folge, -n consequence, result; sequence
das Getränk, -e drink, beverage
die Herstellung production; manufacture
die Kohle coal
das Loch, die Löcher hole
die Mehrwegflasche, -n returnable bottle
der Müll garbage, trash
das Öl oil
der Ozon ozone
das Ozonloch, die Ozonlöcher hole in the ozone layer
das Schild, -er sign
schützen to protect
unternehmen (unternimmt; unternahm, unternommen) to undertake; to attempt
verbrauchen to consume; to use up; to wear out
vermeiden (ie, ie) to avoid
verschmutzen to soil; to pollute
verschwenden to waste
verzichten (auf + acc.) to do without; to relinquish
ich verzichte auf deine Hilfe I'll do without your help
sparsam saving, thrifty

[Hartmann von Aue]

There will be a hiatus for a few days.

[Draugen]

There's an excellent language course freely available in the Foreign Service Institute website here. I suggest you try it.

http://www.fsi-language-courses.com/German.aspx

[Hartmann von Aue]

There's an excellent language course freely available in the Foreign Service Institute website here. I suggest you try it.

http://www.fsi-language-courses.com/German.aspx

Great link.

Here's the last vocab set in the second year book I've been using:

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/250014/6dr4

der Eimer,- pail
der Ersatz replacement, substitute
der Feierabend after work; time off
der Lappen,- rag; cloth
bilden to form, create, establish
gähnen to yawn
loben to praise
aufmersksam attentive; watchful

[Hartmann von Aue]

Okay, well, I'm looking through the glossary of an old reader (there's a link to it above) and picking out words.

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/250889/5t8c

Here's some words under A

abschenlich horrid, abominable
der Abschied -es, -e departure, leave, farewell
absichtlich intentional
absonderlich sundered from, extraordinary
abtroknen wife off, dry
abwechseln alternate
acht*geben (auf) (gab acht, acht gegeben) give heed to; attend to, watch; gieb acht, mark my words
der Acker, s Äcker (cultivated) field, acre
allerliebt most lovely, charming
allzubald (altogether) to soon
allzuviel (altogether) to much
alsbald instantly, at once
das Altertum antiquity
an*nehmen, (nahm an, angenommen) take on, accept assume
atemlos breathless
die Aufregung stirring up, excitement
der Ausspruch, -(e)s judgement, sentence
bauen cultivate, till; grow; build
die Ausrede excuse, subterfuge
bebuscht bushy

[Königin Luise von Preußen]

I'm going to continue to add to this as I study German. Anyone who wants to contribute is of course welcome.

A vocab list for today.

this link for flashcards

http://www.flashcardmachine.com/246186/o3s1


Gute Idee, sehr löblich, BRAVO Leon!!

[Wahrheitssuchende]

Hello Leon,

Although I'm new here, I would like to offer you a couple of suggestions since I also taught myself German. They may or may not help you, but I thought you might like to know.

First, I want to say that it's great that you have enough ambition to teach yourself a language. It's not an easy task, but it's very rewarding.

Here are some tricks that helped me:

1. Make sure you are able to listen to and speak the language. I found some very helpful programs (if you have a PC or PC-compatible computer, Tell Me More is a brilliant program, not too expensive, either). Also, try to listen to German TV and radio. There are possibilities online!

2. When you learn enough vocabulary, try to use them in complete sentences. Otherwise, you will never be able to speak or write properly. Then have a native/good speaker correct you.

3. Once you have learned German for a while, try to explain German words with other German words (immersion). I find it helps.

4. If you can, try to get into a program abroad. That will do wonders for you!

If you want to practice, I can try, but my German is not perfect. It's near-native speaker level, but not exactly. :D It might be enjoyable, if you want.

[Hartmann von Aue]

If you want to practice, I can try, but my German is not perfect. It's near-native speaker level, but not exactly. :D It might be enjoyable, if you want.

A very gracious offer. Hopefully you will be around when I'm prepared to take advantage of it. As it is I have neglected my German study - your post is a reminder and a source of motivation.

[Wahrheitssuchende]

A very gracious offer. Hopefully you will be around when I'm prepared to take advantage of it. As it is I have neglected my German study - your post is a reminder and a source of motivation.

Dear Leon,

Glad I could help you get back on track! :D Just let me know when and if you are prepared to continue.

Regards,

Caro

[Hartmann von Aue]

This site looks like it could be very good:

http://www.livemocha.com/

[Geist]

I'm going back to Germany next year (6 months). Having began by using tapes etc. I'm pretty much convinced living somewhere is the only way to do it. Its nice to have some basics, and vocab, but you'll be utterly lost until you have to do mundane stuff in the language like buying shampoo or ringing up about an apartment. Once you engage in conversation the structured fantasy world of the tapes collapse.

[Mike]

Came across this sample of how crazy German word order can get:

"Derjenige, der denjenigen, der den Wegweiser, der an der Brücke, die auf dem Weg, der nach Soltau führt, liegt, steht, umgeworfen hat, anzeigt, erhält eine Belohnung."


Rough English translation in German word order:

"Whosoever, that whomsoever, that the signpost, that at the bridge, that on the route, that to Soltau leads, lies, stands, overturned has, reports, receives a reward."


English translation in English word order:

"Whoever reports whoever knocked over the sign that stands at the bridge that lies on the route that leads to Soltau receives a reward."

Luckily, sentences like this are limited to technical and legal writing and do not occur in ordinary speech!

[Geist]

Another fun thing I encountered German wise was a game of hangman...I'm sure you can guess the relevance.

[Vissario]

What's the easiest way to find other forums operating exclusively (or mainly) in German?

[Königin Luise von Preußen]

What's the easiest way to find other forums operating exclusively (or mainly) in German?

if you type in into google for example: "deutsche foren" ..

here is an overview of the big ones..
big-boards (http://www.big-boards.com/index.php?type=DE)

I guess it really depends on in what you are interested.. here is another overview of a selection, subdivided into groups..
foren (http://www.foren.net/)

[sphinx]

it is very pleasing to see people interested in learning German. So many people nowadays only learn English after their first language. And the English of course will not learn anyone else's language!

Please note that many silly people in Germany and Austria (especially in Austria) are now putting English words in their conversations and maiing a mess of the language. A "handy" is a mobile phone (!); when you download a file they say "downloaden" - a real bastard construction of a word.

When you get really fluent start reading the newspapers and you will see how far this bad usage has gone; we call it "Engleutsch" and "Denglish"; it is so bad when German is so capable of creating its own words - we don't need all these English words to be imported!

[Vissario]

When you get really fluent start reading the newspapers and you will see how far this bad usage has gone; we call it "Engleutsch" and "Denglish"; it is so bad when German is so capable of creating its own words - we don't need all these English words to be imported!


A friend of mine calls it Gerglish :rofl:

In seriousness, I do agree with the absurdity of the bastardization of the languages merely for the expediency of identifying or creating a word, but, in reality, that is how most languages grew and evolved through-out history. English has borrowed thousands of words of from Spanish, French, German, and numerous others by changing either part (or all) of the original word and remodeling it into something English speakers could say within reason. It's easy, and it's the way cultures react to changing environments and language needs.

http://www.livemocha.com/

First visited it today; looks like a great sight. Care to exchange friend requests?

[Saqqara]

I found some slight errors in some of the vocabulary posted:

in den Sinn kommon to come to mind - should be in den Sinn kommen
häuftig frequent; common - häufig - no T
die Folge, -n consequence, result; sequence - No error here, but die Folgen also can refer to tv show episodes.
abschenlich horrid, abominable - Should be abscheulich
abtroknen wipe off, dry - abtrocknen

[Saqqara]

Some useful vocabulary:

sollte - should
konnte - could
nicht - not, non
kein(e) - none, not any
wer - who
wem - whom
einige - a few, some
einsam - lonely
der Freund(e) - friend(s)
wie - how
gehen - to go, to walk
fahren - to drive, to ride
die Nacht - night
der abend - evening
der Morgen - morning
der Nachmittag - afternoon
der mittag - midday, noon, also can imply lunch
die Woche - week
der Tag - day
wann - when
wo - where
ist - is
die Toilette, WC - restroom
ich - I
du - informal you
Sie - formal you
sie - them, they
er - he
sie - she
es - it
was gibt's - what is there
arbeiten - working, to work (at something)
die Ferien - vacation
studieren - studying, to study
anrufen - to call (on the phone)
schreiben - to write
machen - to do, to make
einkaufen - to go shopping, to buy
fertig - finished, done, ready
es tut mir leid - I'm sorry
danke - thanks
bitte - please, you're welcome (polite response to "danke")
essen - to eat, eating, food
Es tut (mir) weh - It hurts (me)
hilfe - help
Was ist das? - What is that?
Ich verstehe nicht - I don't understand
sehen - to see
etwas - something
jemand - someone
niemand - no one

[Königin Luise von Preußen]

I have found only a very small error at the beginning..

die Jahrezeit, -en season

it should be with an genitiv-s bound together as the time - Zeit stemms from des Jahres - the year = die, diese Jahreszeit

[Guilelmus_Secundus]

die Nacht - night
der abend - evening
der Morgen - morning
der Nachmittag - afternoon
der mittag - midday, noon, also can imply lunch

It makes no sense not to capitalize some nouns:

der Abend, der Mittag

[Geist]

I do wonder how useful flashcards from other people can be. With my own flashcards I need to remember where they were derived. If I simply read die Beschaeftigung but have no context I can never remember it.

However a word such as 'Ereignis' has vast meaning for me because I associate it heavily with philosophy, and therefore my reading in German.

On a side note I am coming closer to my second long-term visit in Germany, and will be dropping in here more hopefully.

[Königin Luise von Preußen]

this tool might be nice as well, especially for proverbs..

linguee.de (http://www.linguee.de/search?direction=auto&query=Hochmut)

[schtocken]

Hey thanks!

These lessons are way better than the crappy pink(!) textbooks we had to buy for German I credits at my "university".:thanks:

[Draugen]

Time do dig this one out from the grave.

Here's a nice place with the whole collection of Grimm's fairy tales, presented with a side by side translation in English:

http://www.northvegr.org/lore/grimmsf/