Wortgebrauch - Questions on usages in German language.
-2
votes
1answer
43 views
Difference between “dafür” and “dagegen” [on hold]
Both seem to have the meaning of "on the other hand", but am not sure whether they can be used interchangeably.
7
votes
2answers
158 views
German clients addressing a freelancer with “du” on the Internet
My friend who works remotely as a freelancer illustrator is a non-native German speaker, and is surprised that native speakers who request a quote from her online always start the conversation with ...
2
votes
2answers
124 views
What is the meaning of “doch” in these two sentences? [duplicate]
Gib mir doch bitte Bescheid
Gib mir doch bitte 200 hundert Gramm von dem weichen Käse
I think the first doch is when you crave that the other person to give a yes for an answer and the second one is ...
8
votes
5answers
492 views
A box in packaging
We're currently revising translations for packaging machines. Box goes in, product goes in, box filled with product goes out. Confusion has risen whether to use Karton, Kiste, Schachtel, Kasten or ...
3
votes
1answer
103 views
How to “grow closer/get close to” somebody in German
I'm trying to figure out the correct ways to express both, "to grow closer to somebody" and "to get closer to somebody". Let me offer some examples:
We grew closer over the years. It was difficult, ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
What is the difference between Ratschlag and Vorschlag? [closed]
What is the difference between these two?
And one more thing, would empfehlen and vorschlagen be synonyms? what about beraten?
Beraten and vorschlagen appear to be an advise or suggestion, empfehlen ...
3
votes
1answer
68 views
Leute VS Man - which one is it?
If I wanna say that for example "people (in general) sleep at this hour", what will be the right choise?
Leute schlafen um diese Zeit
Or
Man schläft um diese Zeit
When is man the right choise ...
2
votes
2answers
116 views
“nachdenklich” vs. “gedankenvoll”
There seems to be quite a big overlap according to dictionaries, but my guess is that there is a subtle difference. Let me give one example sentence that I would like to translate:
I am looking for ...
4
votes
2answers
152 views
Warum “Flugzeug“, nicht “Fliegzeug“?
Flugzeug kommt ja vom Wort “fliegen“, wäre Fliegzeug dann nicht logischer?
1
vote
3answers
237 views
Schattenparker: Wird dieses Wort wirklich benutzt?
Eine Liste von ungewöhnlichen deutschen Wörtern wurde auf der Facebookseite von German Embassy Delhi gepostet, mit der Bemerkung "these words we need in English". Eines der Wörter war Schattenparker. ...
6
votes
2answers
126 views
What is the difference between “härten”, “verhärten”, and “abhärten”?
I am looking for the difference between these three verbs. All dictionaries I’ve looked at suggest “harden”, and the boundaries between them are hard to distinguish. From what I gather:
Somebody “...
3
votes
2answers
73 views
Wahrheit versus Wahrhaftigkeit
What is the difference between Wahrheit and Wahrhaftigkeit? Because I don't seem to get the difference if there is any.
How can one possibly use wahr and wahrhaftig?
4
votes
3answers
165 views
“Eigentlich” benutzen
Meine Deutschlehrerin meint, dass man das Wort "eigentlich" nicht benutzen muss.
Ich übersetze "eigentlich" zu "actually". Aber sie sagte tatsächlich sei ein besseres Wort.
Gibt es keine ...
3
votes
1answer
88 views
What does “Vorstellung” and “Redemittel” mean in this context?
I came across this table in my textbook Studio D A1 and I don't know what those 2 words mean.
"Redemittel" is the vertical word in purple box. Redemittelkasten means "speech box" (thanks to Google ...
2
votes
3answers
185 views
The different ways to “approach” somebody in German
I have a quick question. I am a bit stuck with the translation of "approach" in German, as simple as it may seem. My main confusion comes between the words "an etwas herangehen" and "sich etwas/...
0
votes
2answers
71 views
What is the meaning of “Einer” in this context and how to use it
I've recently encoutered usage of the word "einer" in a context I don't quite understand, where it seems to refer to any 'single entity'.
Examples:
1) Einer für alle, alle für einen
2) Der ...
13
votes
4answers
3k views
What does “in” mean in “Sprecher/in”?
In my Studio D A1 book, I came across this and I don't know what in of "Sprecher/in" mean in this context.
Before you answer or comment on this question, please read our guidelines for questions on ...
5
votes
1answer
138 views
Wo sind die Knaben hin?
Wie ist im deutschen Sprachraum die Verteilung des Gebrauchs der Wörter Knabe, Junge, Bube in Schrift- und Umgangssprache? Ein paar Dinge weiß ich bereits, aber einiges ist mir noch unklar.
Aus der ...
0
votes
2answers
49 views
Nutzung von “sein”
Existiert ein Unterschied, wenn ich sage / Is there a Difference between saying
"Peter sein Ball ..."
oder
"Peters Ball ..."
"... ist rund."?
-2
votes
1answer
98 views
Relation or difference between mag, mögen and gern [closed]
I am new to German and I am confused when to use mag, mögen and gern in a sentence. So please help me to clarify my doubt, as these words have similiar meaning in English and uses in a sentence.
2
votes
2answers
177 views
I've messed up the heads of many people with my German, but how can I express this?
I am wondering how one properly expresses, "to mess up somebody's head", in German. Let me give you two examples:
The constant propaganda took its toll and messed up his head.
Drugs really ...
2
votes
5answers
121 views
Jemand findet sich irgendwo (wieder)
Wenn ich schreibe, dass sich jemand an einem Ort wiederfindet, dann impliziert das wieder- laut Duden (1.a. "sich im Straßengraben wiederfinden") eine gewisse Überraschung: eigentlich hatte die Person ...
2
votes
1answer
172 views
Verschiedene Plurale für unterschiedlich große Mengen
Es ist ein Unterschied zwischen
Zwei Autos und tausend Autos
Aber beide haben dieselbe Endung, es gibt es keine passenden Endungen, z. B.
Zwei Autos, zehn Autoss, zwanzig Autosz, …, hundert ...
2
votes
4answers
146 views
“Dies” before a noun?
In Stefan Zweig's Schachnovelle, I found this:
Minuten lag ich schon wach und genoß noch diese schwere Dumpfheit, dies laue Liegen mit wollüstig betäubten Sinnen.
Is this correct? Shouldn't it be "...
1
vote
1answer
83 views
“In Gang” and “in Gange” in English
I was wondering if somebody could help me with the translation of “in Gang setzen/kommen/sein” and the seemingly related “in Gange” version. Most dictionraries seem to translate these as “get ...
4
votes
3answers
499 views
How to express “getting caught up on” in german
I was wondering if somebody could help me with the following translation:
“I didn’t expect him to like the entire plan. But the first step was the first thing he got caught up on.”
That is, “get ...
3
votes
2answers
270 views
The brain-bending “widersetzen”
This word "widersetzen" is really confusing me. Let me give you some examples, motivated by similar sentences I have found on the internet:
Er widersetzt sich dem Befehl.
Sie widersetzt sich ...
4
votes
3answers
256 views
Expressing “getting stuck with something” in German
I am trying to figure out the proper way of expressing "getting stuck with something" in German.
Let me give some example sentences:
We need to register for classes early, or else we will get ...
18
votes
11answers
4k views
How to express “fizzle out” in German
I'm am struggling with the right way to express, "to fizzle out", in German. Let me give some example sentences:
We were very good friends at first, but over the years, our friendship fizzled out.
...
0
votes
1answer
127 views
Eine Frage zum Wort “Spaßfabrik”
I (vaguely) recall reading once that the word "Spaßfabrik" can be used to refer to someone that tends to be funny and/or joke around. Can any of you provide me with examples of its usage?
0
votes
1answer
50 views
“gar nicht erst” vs “nicht (ein)mal” to express the idea of “not even”
Wohl besser, wir lassen uns gar nicht erst mit dem ein, was?
{vs}: Wohl besser, wir lassen uns mit dem nicht (ein)mal ein, was?
In conversation with my friend, the use of "gar nicht erst" came ...
0
votes
1answer
63 views
Is it appropriate to use the Binnen-I in a formal context (such as a job application cover letter)?
By reading German newspapers (specifically taz) I became acquainted with the Binnen-I (enwiki, dewiki), where the letter I is capitalised in the middle of a word to indicate both male and female are ...
2
votes
2answers
89 views
How to express “manageable” in german
I'm looking for the proper way to express the word "manageable" in German. Let me give some examples:
The city is large, but very manageable (easy to find your way around).
This car would be more ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
A good book on German grammar. Comparable to “The little, brown handbook” [duplicate]
So I have been using the little brown, hand book for quite some time now and I find it exceptionally helpful, since I am not a native English speaker. On the other hand, I am in Germany for the last ...
0
votes
2answers
74 views
Wie unterscheidet man am besten zwischen dem inklusiven und dem exklusiven Wir?
Person A spricht mit B.
Inklusiv:
A meint mit »wir« sich und B.
Exklusiv:
A meint mit »wir« sich und C.
Selbst mit dem Wort »beide« ist es oft nicht eindeutig. Meint »Wir beide sind ...
3
votes
4answers
272 views
How to properly express “to mess up” in German
I'm looking for the best way to express "to mess something up" in German. I get the feeling that in English, it is used more widely in German, and hence I have tended to make some mistakes while ...
4
votes
3answers
239 views
Wie vermeidet man das Wort »Führerin«?
In den USA beschreiben wir Angela Merkel oft als »The Leader of the Free World.«
Als Nichtmuttersprachler fällt es mir schwer, den Ausdruck adäquat zu übersetzen.
Was würde ein deutscher ...
2
votes
2answers
101 views
The difference between “auswirken auf” , “einwirken auf”, and “wirken auf”
I'm trying to figure out the subtle differences between "auswirken auf" , "einwirken auf", and "wirken auf". Dictionaries tend to all point in the same direction, and that is "impact/have an impact on/...
4
votes
2answers
174 views
Gehalt «stunden»
Ein Bekannter (aus Deutschland) hat erzählt, dass er einem Mitarbeiter das Gehalt um zwei Monate «stunden» müsse, also dem Mitarbeiter das Gehalt erst zwei Monate später auszahlen kann. In der Schweiz ...
0
votes
1answer
96 views
Warum ist es “tagesthemen” und nicht “Tagesthemen”
Warum heißt die Fernsehsendung "tagesthemen" und nicht "Tagesthemen" großgeschrieben?
3
votes
1answer
152 views
Pluralis Majestatis?
Lässt sich bei dieser Widmungsgravur der Artikel "den" vor Kaiser durch Pluralis Majestatis erklären?
Wenn so, warum steht dann auch nicht seiner Majestät in Plural (seinen Majestäten)?
Ich habe hier ...
3
votes
3answers
142 views
Translations of “child psychologist” into German (nouns with preceding multifunction adjectives)
I am an extreme novice novice at German. As I am aware of the fact that there are some common grammatical constructions to German and English, and in view of the fact that I am also aware that in ...
1
vote
3answers
81 views
Use of the word “clever”
How common is the word "clever" in German these days? I hear it used everywhere, as if it's a native word. Also, Google NGrams shows a steady incline in use for phrases like "sehr clever" ever since ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
How to say “can be played” [closed]
Es kann mit zwei bis zehn Leute gespielt werden.
That is what I have written off of something I've gathered. This is talking about a game.
I would like it to say "It can be played with 2 to 10 ...
4
votes
3answers
143 views
Is a “Besserwisser” knowledgeable about the topics they give advice on?
You suggested this as a word to describe someone who offers unsolicited advice. When I heard of this word long ago I was told that it meant not only the offering of unsolicited advice but also that ...
5
votes
2answers
82 views
Acceptable alternatives to 'in petto'
The following sentence is from an article in Cicero:
Die SPD sollte froh sein, nach einem desolaten Wahlergebnis bei der
Bundestagswahl noch eine Frau im Petto zu haben, deren ganzes
...
3
votes
1answer
298 views
Respond back to “Alles gut?”
When my colleagues or friends greet me by asking "Alles gut?". I am only able to reply "gut, danke". What are different ways to reply in case you are in good mood or bad mood?
1
vote
2answers
92 views
Is it normal for heißen to be used with objects?
As the title says, is it normal to use the verb "heißen" to describe the names of objects/places as well, as opposed to merely people?
For example:
Die Insel heißt "Malta"
Die Stadt heißt "...
2
votes
2answers
73 views
Kann man Hauptwörter in Zusammensetzungen als Eigenschaft bezeichnen?
Bezugnehmend auf diese Frage
Heißt es Schinken-Käse- oder Käse-Schinken-Croissant?
... welche Eigenschaft bei derartig zusammengesetzten Wörtern zuerst genannt wird?
Kann man in diesem ...
-1
votes
1answer
56 views
Can “hoffentlich” be used familiarly and between close friends (in writing) or does it show formality?
For example:
Hoffentlich geht es dir zur Zeit besser ?
Is it typical in such case or is there a better word.
