Tagged Questions
3
votes
4answers
189 views
What's the meaning of “schon”?
Today in the class I heard German guy saying: "Ist der Platz schon frei?". Which supposedly means "Is this place already available/free?" and that makes no sense to me. What's the meaning of "schon" ...
7
votes
7answers
180 views
dann doch noch schnell
What does the phrase "dann doch noch schnell" mean?
As in
Ich habe mir heute dann doch noch schnell einen neuen Hartschalenkoffer gekauft.
is this some kind of an idiom?
6
votes
3answers
212 views
What does “an die bemooste See” mean?
Gestreckt auf wildes Kraut, an die bemooste See." - Andreas Gryphius, Einsamkeit
Does he mean a lake (dialect?) or is the lake mossy?
2
votes
3answers
135 views
Which of these is more common to say? - zweideutig, mehrdeutig, vieldeutig
Well, the title has the question, but I also wanted to ask if "deutig" alone means something.
One would think that it comes from Deutung (interpretation?) and since it looks like an adjective, it ...
6
votes
6answers
191 views
“Ansatz” isn't thoroughly defined in German dictionaries!
What's the meaning of "Ansatz" in these sentences? Could someone paraphrase them in German?:
Der Ansatz für Multikulti ist gescheitert, absolut gescheitert!
Ansätze zu einem besseren ...
10
votes
2answers
688 views
Meaning and origin of 'Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof'
What does the following sentence mean and what is its origin?
Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof.
I've heard this expression from some friends – I guess it's what you say when you don't really understand ...
18
votes
1answer
208 views
Is unwillkürlich the opposite of willkürlich?
My dictionary translates willkürlich as arbitrary and unwillkürlich as involuntary. I do not understand in what sense these concepts are opposites. Could someone give an example where this becomes ...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
Meaning of 0815 and ger/eng alternatives?
Does 0815 simply mean something is very standard and common, or does it carry any connotations? Where can one use it, e.g. for description of processes, objects, persons? Can you give alternative ...
4
votes
2answers
594 views
“So” in German - meanings and usages
Does "so" have similar usage and meaning in English and German?
so ein schönes Lied!
das tut uns [ja] so leid!
so? Das wäre aber sonderbar
du darfst nehmen, so viel wie du willst.
...
