Difference between revisions of "Speak Simple German"
(importing article from wikihow) |
m (Text replacement - "[[Category: G" to "[[Category:G") |
||
| (4 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Greeting People and Saying Goodbye=== | ===Greeting People and Saying Goodbye=== | ||
| − | #Use standard greetings. Each German-speaking country has its own particular greetings.<ref>http://www.fluentu.com/german/blog/german-greetings-say-hi-bye/</ref> Yet no matter where you are, the following standard greetings will work. | + | #Use standard greetings. Each German-speaking country has its own particular greetings.<ref name="rf1">http://www.fluentu.com/german/blog/german-greetings-say-hi-bye/</ref> Yet no matter where you are, the following standard greetings will work. |
#*"Guten Tag" (goo-tehn tahg), “Good day.” Use this as a general way of saying “hello” during daytime hours. | #*"Guten Tag" (goo-tehn tahg), “Good day.” Use this as a general way of saying “hello” during daytime hours. | ||
#*"Guten Morgen" (goo-tehn mor-gen), "Good Morning." | #*"Guten Morgen" (goo-tehn mor-gen), "Good Morning." | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
#*"Hallo" (hah-low), “hello.” This is basically used anytime, anywhere. | #*"Hallo" (hah-low), “hello.” This is basically used anytime, anywhere. | ||
#*In Austria greetings such as "Servus" or "Grüß Gott" "Greet god" are common. | #*In Austria greetings such as "Servus" or "Grüß Gott" "Greet god" are common. | ||
| − | #Say your name and ask others theirs. There are two easy ways to say “My name is…” in German<ref> http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/german.php</ref>: | + | #Say your name and ask others theirs. There are two easy ways to say “My name is…” in German<ref name="rf2"> http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/german.php</ref>: |
#*"Ich heiße [insert Name]" (“ich hi-seh [Name],” literally “I am called…”) | #*"Ich heiße [insert Name]" (“ich hi-seh [Name],” literally “I am called…”) | ||
#*“Mein Name ist [insert Name]” (“mine nam-eh ist [Name],” literally “my name is…”). | #*“Mein Name ist [insert Name]” (“mine nam-eh ist [Name],” literally “my name is…”). | ||
#*For example, say either “Ich heiße Andreas” or “Mein Name ist Andreas” to mean “My name is Andreas.” | #*For example, say either “Ich heiße Andreas” or “Mein Name ist Andreas” to mean “My name is Andreas.” | ||
| − | #Understand the formal/informal distinction when talking to people in German. In German, as in many languages, you will often need to differentiate between acquaintances and strangers (formal) and people you know well (informal) when speaking.<ref>http://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/german-language/du-and-sie/</ref> To ask someone’s name, for example<ref | + | #Understand the formal/informal distinction when talking to people in German. In German, as in many languages, you will often need to differentiate between acquaintances and strangers (formal) and people you know well (informal) when speaking.<ref name="rf3">http://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/german-language/du-and-sie/</ref> To ask someone’s name, for example<ref name="rf2" />: |
#*"Wie heißen Sie?" (vee hi-sehn zee), “What is your name?” (formal) | #*"Wie heißen Sie?" (vee hi-sehn zee), “What is your name?” (formal) | ||
#*"Wie heißt du?" (vee heist du), “What is your name?” (informal) | #*"Wie heißt du?" (vee heist du), “What is your name?” (informal) | ||
| − | #Say goodbye. As with greetings, goodbyes may vary somewhat depending on where you are or who you are speaking to.<ref | + | #Say goodbye. As with greetings, goodbyes may vary somewhat depending on where you are or who you are speaking to.<ref name="rf1" /> Generally, however, you can’t go wrong with these: |
#*"Auf Wiedersehen" or (owf vee-dair-zayn), "Good-bye!" | #*"Auf Wiedersehen" or (owf vee-dair-zayn), "Good-bye!" | ||
#*"Tschüss!" (choos), "Bye!" | #*"Tschüss!" (choos), "Bye!" | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
#*Use the formal phrase "Wie geht es Ihnen?" (vee gate ess eenin), when asking strangers or acquaintances, “How are you?” | #*Use the formal phrase "Wie geht es Ihnen?" (vee gate ess eenin), when asking strangers or acquaintances, “How are you?” | ||
#*Use the informal phrase "Wie geht es dir?" (vee gate ess deer) or simply “Wie geht’s?” (vee gates) to ask someone you know well, or a child, "How are you?" | #*Use the informal phrase "Wie geht es dir?" (vee gate ess deer) or simply “Wie geht’s?” (vee gates) to ask someone you know well, or a child, "How are you?" | ||
| − | #*Generally speaking, to be polite use the formal version with someone you don’t know, unless they begin using the informal with you. This is especially the case in settings involving areas like business, education, and government.<ref | + | #*Generally speaking, to be polite use the formal version with someone you don’t know, unless they begin using the informal with you. This is especially the case in settings involving areas like business, education, and government.<ref name="rf3" /> |
#Tell others how you are doing. If someone asks, you can respond to the question “Wie geht es Ihnen?” or “Wie geht’s” in a variety of ways. | #Tell others how you are doing. If someone asks, you can respond to the question “Wie geht es Ihnen?” or “Wie geht’s” in a variety of ways. | ||
#*You could simply say: “Gut” (“goot”), “good”; “Sehr gut” (“zair goot”), “very good”; or “Schlecht” (“shle-cht”), “bad.” | #*You could simply say: “Gut” (“goot”), “good”; “Sehr gut” (“zair goot”), “very good”; or “Schlecht” (“shle-cht”), “bad.” | ||
| − | #*However, a more extensive response is more polite. You can say “Mir geht es…” (“mere gate es…”), followed by “gut,” “sehr gut,” or “schlecht” to mean “I am doing…” “well,” “very well” or “bad,” respectively.<ref> http://www.chioulaoshi.org/GERMAN/lesson01.html</ref> | + | #*However, a more extensive response is more polite. You can say “Mir geht es…” (“mere gate es…”), followed by “gut,” “sehr gut,” or “schlecht” to mean “I am doing…” “well,” “very well” or “bad,” respectively.<ref name="rf4"> http://www.chioulaoshi.org/GERMAN/lesson01.html</ref> |
#Ask people where they’re from. A good conversation starter is to ask people about their backgrounds. Try these questions, using the formal / informal version as appropriate: | #Ask people where they’re from. A good conversation starter is to ask people about their backgrounds. Try these questions, using the formal / informal version as appropriate: | ||
#*“Woher Kommen Sie?” (“Voh-hair co-men zee?”) / “Woher kommst du?” (“Voh-hair comst do?”) = “Where are you from?” | #*“Woher Kommen Sie?” (“Voh-hair co-men zee?”) / “Woher kommst du?” (“Voh-hair comst do?”) = “Where are you from?” | ||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
#*“Entschuldigung!” (ehnt-shool-dig-ung), “Excuse me!” | #*“Entschuldigung!” (ehnt-shool-dig-ung), “Excuse me!” | ||
#Say please and thank you. While technically speaking, saying “thank you” in German has a formal/informal distinction, a simple “Danke!” (dank-eh), or “thanks!” is absolutely fine to be used in any situation. | #Say please and thank you. While technically speaking, saying “thank you” in German has a formal/informal distinction, a simple “Danke!” (dank-eh), or “thanks!” is absolutely fine to be used in any situation. | ||
| − | #*If you are curious, the full formal version is “Ich danke Ihnen” (ich dank-eh eenin), while the informal is “Ich danke dir” (ich dank-eh deer).<ref>http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/german.php</ref> | + | #*If you are curious, the full formal version is “Ich danke Ihnen” (ich dank-eh eenin), while the informal is “Ich danke dir” (ich dank-eh deer).<ref name="rf5">http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/german.php</ref> |
#*The word for “please” is “Bitte!” (bittuh). The same phrase doubles as “you’re welcome!” | #*The word for “please” is “Bitte!” (bittuh). The same phrase doubles as “you’re welcome!” | ||
#Make simple requests and questions about items. If you want to know if something is available at a store, restaurant, etc., then simply ask “Haben Sie [insert item]?” (hah-ben zee), or “Do you have [insert item]?” For example, “Haben Sie Kaffee?” (hah-ben zee cah-fay), “Do you have coffee?” | #Make simple requests and questions about items. If you want to know if something is available at a store, restaurant, etc., then simply ask “Haben Sie [insert item]?” (hah-ben zee), or “Do you have [insert item]?” For example, “Haben Sie Kaffee?” (hah-ben zee cah-fay), “Do you have coffee?” | ||
| Line 85: | Line 85: | ||
== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
*The pronunciation of German varies significantly from region to region—people in Austria, for example, will sound quite different from people in Germany. This guide reflects what is called “standard” or “High German” pronunciation. | *The pronunciation of German varies significantly from region to region—people in Austria, for example, will sound quite different from people in Germany. This guide reflects what is called “standard” or “High German” pronunciation. | ||
| − | *Many German sounds are quite similar to English sounds. If you study German, however, you will have to pay special attention to a few consonants (like the German “ch” sound, which is like the “ch” in the Scottish word “loch”), and the set of vowels known as “umlauts” (ä, ö, and ü).<ref> http://germanforenglishspeakers.com/basics/pronunciation-vowels/</ref> There is no exact equivalent to these sounds in English, so it will take some practice to get them just right. | + | *Many German sounds are quite similar to English sounds. If you study German, however, you will have to pay special attention to a few consonants (like the German “ch” sound, which is like the “ch” in the Scottish word “loch”), and the set of vowels known as “umlauts” (ä, ö, and ü).<ref name="rf6"> http://germanforenglishspeakers.com/basics/pronunciation-vowels/</ref> There is no exact equivalent to these sounds in English, so it will take some practice to get them just right. |
*As with practicing any language, try to do a little at a time, but regularly, rather than cramming a lot in at once. This will help you to retain the language. | *As with practicing any language, try to do a little at a time, but regularly, rather than cramming a lot in at once. This will help you to retain the language. | ||
*If you find pronouncing German difficult, you’re not alone! Keep at it however, and have fun trying to say tongue-twisting words like “Streichholzschächtelchen” (shtraich-holts-shehch-tel-chen), which simply means “small matchbook"! | *If you find pronouncing German difficult, you’re not alone! Keep at it however, and have fun trying to say tongue-twisting words like “Streichholzschächtelchen” (shtraich-holts-shehch-tel-chen), which simply means “small matchbook"! | ||
