Questions tagged [speaking]
The speaking tag has no usage guidance.
25
questions
45
votes
18answers
17k views
Speaking German abroad and feeling condescended to when people speak English back to me
I've traveled to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and I found that in the big cities such as Berlin, Vienna, and Zurich a lot of people speak English. When I visited those cities I try to make the ...
-1
votes
2answers
173 views
What is the proper way to greet an unknown person and using a handshake? [closed]
When you meet someone who you do not know. You will formally greet him/her with "Hallo", "Guten Tag" or "Guten Morgen" (whichever is appropriate) with a handshake.
I want to know, when is more ...
3
votes
3answers
248 views
Which word is more harsh to use: “geh raus” or “Hau ab”?
I assume the words "Hau ab" and "geh raus" have kind of same meaning. Which one is considered more harsh or strict way to say someone to get out?
0
votes
2answers
327 views
Do English and German languages share 60 % of their vocabulary?
The German language is different from the English language. Each language has its own words, sentences and grammar. However, I discovered from a website that the German and English languages share 60% ...
5
votes
4answers
274 views
Can we use Zweites Frühstück for brunch in German language?
I basically know that Frühstück, Mittagessen and Abendessen are common in Germany. However, I am interested to know how brunch is called in German language. Can we use zweites Frühstück for brunch? Or ...
5
votes
4answers
291 views
What is the difference between Bildschirm and Monitor?
The word der Bildschirm means computer monitor. I observe that there is another word der Monitor which also means computer monitor. I want to know, is there any difference between these two words?
14
votes
5answers
5k views
Can I say “Gesundheit” if someone is coughing?
I often see when people sneeze, the colleagues suddenly respond with the word "Gesundheit".
My question is that, can we use "Gesundheit" when somebody is coughing? If not, is there any word for it?
16
votes
10answers
14k views
Would people understand me speaking German all over Europe?
I assume that German is a very old and widely spoken language. I am not sure how much of Europe speaks or understands German. I want to know: can you speak German in all of Europe’s big cities, i.e. ...
0
votes
1answer
143 views
how to understand the difference between stimmloss and stimmhaft sound of 's'?
I tried youtube, to understand the sound but am unable to distinguish among the two. Any help would be appreciated.
24
votes
4answers
5k views
When speaking, how do you change your mind mid-sentence?
Imagine that you're saying something, but then realise you want to say something else instead. In English, you might say:
I don't like ice cream, because— actually, no. I like chocolate ice cream, ...
0
votes
1answer
85 views
Why does the below sentence have a falling intonation?
Sentence:
Ja, hier in Bremen ist alles so teuer.
What is the rule that makes this sentence with a falling intonation?
1
vote
0answers
37 views
How to say phone numbers [duplicate]
In my textbook I read that in German you can say phone numbers in single digits
7-6-2-8-3-9-etc. (sieben-sechs-zwei/zwo-acht-drei-neun-etc.)
or in pairs
76-28-39-etc. (sechsundsiebzig-...
1
vote
2answers
194 views
Is “vertragen” much used in daily speaking or is there another choice?
"Vertragen" means "to tolerate", but it has a specific meaning, which is "tolerating sth. physically" not "psychologically".
For example:
Er kann noch mehr Essen nicht vertragen. (If he eats more ...
0
votes
1answer
532 views
German cartoons to improve my German [duplicate]
I want to watch free German cartoons to improve my German level. Which German cartoons do you suggest me and where can I find them freely?
0
votes
2answers
398 views
What is the best way to understand/check whether I speak German correctly?
Currently I am doing German A1 level. My teacher and all my classmates are Indian. I think I am able to grasp German very well compared to others in my class. But I am not sure the way I speak can be ...
7
votes
3answers
863 views
Vermeiden von Personalpronomen für Gegenstände
Ich höre manchmal Sätze wie z. B.:
Die Uhr ist alt, die habe ich von meinem Opa.
Der Zug ist verspätet, der geht aber bald.
Sollte es wohl nicht eigentlich sie bzw. er heißen? Warum macht man ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Wie kann man im Geschäft einem Verkäufer korrekt sagen, dass man sich zuerst nur umschauen möchte und noch keine Hilfe braucht?
Diese Frage wurde auch hier (auf Englisch) beantwortet:
Natural way to deny help from a shopkeeper
Wenn man in ein Geschäft geht und sich zuerst nur umschauen möchte, aber ein Verkäufer kommt und ...
2
votes
1answer
172 views
Woher kommt das Wort „Sprachmuskel“?
Im Wörterbuch von Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm steht nichts weiter als
sprachmuskel, m.: nach Strickers studien über die sprachvorstellungen
(Wien 1880) sind unsere sprachmuskeln auch beim stillen ...
14
votes
5answers
9k views
Wie teile ich mündlich eine E-Mail-Adresse mit?
Diese Frage wurde auch hier (auf Englisch) beantwortet:
How to pronounce email address in German?
Recht häufig muss ich am Telefon eine E-Mail-Adresse mitteilen. Im direkten Gespräch schreibe ich ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
Site to talk with people from German speaking areas
Is there a good site to talk with people from German speaking areas to improve my German ?
32
votes
11answers
10k views
How do Germans react to foreigners messing up noun genders? [closed]
My boyfriend is German and we're going in a few months where I will meet his family for the first time. I am OK at German, but something I really have a hard time with is remembering noun genders, ...
5
votes
3answers
15k views
Is there any difference between “ein bisschen” and “ein wenig”?
As far as I knew, "ein wenig" is mostly used in written German (usually somewhat official language), and sometimes comes off as a bit old-fashioned when used in every-day speach. It at least appears ...
7
votes
5answers
11k views
Why is it so hard to understand German sentences construction?
I’ve been trying to learn German for a few months and I find extremely difficult to acquire the meaning of a spoken sentence (when reading I can take all the time I want and if I know the words, I’m ...
5
votes
3answers
978 views
Finding somebody for speaking German
I’m searching someone or a group with whom I can speak German.
I understand very good and I write good, the problem that, until now, I haven’t had the possibility to speak as much as I need to. First,...
3
votes
3answers
4k views
Written vs. Spoken German
Some teachers (and their books) are used to emphasize that there are certain structures used in "written German". For instance, I was told that Präteritum is rather used in texts and not so common in ...
