A beautiful water color painting by a German painter which shows one of the many wall memorials in Berlin (Bernauerstraße).
das Aquarell = water color painting
der Maler = painter
(pic via markofenske.de)
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The usage of “doch” Part 2
Sometimes, “doch” can turn a statement into a question. A positive answer is expected then. In those cases, “doch” is the equivalent of a following “oder?” or “nicht wahr?”.
Examples:
Du kommst doch morgen (, oder/nicht wahr)? = You’re coming over tomorrow (, aren’t you)?
Ich kann dich doch anrufen (, oder/nicht wahr)? = I can give you a call (, can’t I)?
In w-questions (e.g. Warum? Wo? Wann?…), adding a “doch” means that you want repetition of an information.
Examples:
Wie heißt dein Freund doch gleich? -> What did you say your boyfriend’s name is again?
Was war das doch? -> What was that again?
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Das Brandenburger Tor in Berlin mit einem großen Weihnachtsbaum.
Happy 3rd Advent-weekend! :)
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The usage of “doch” Part 1
I bet you’ve already stumbled upon the little German word “doch” and didn’t know how to translate it. Am I right? Well… the English language doesn’t really have an equivalent for it. That’s why it gives people a hard time. And that’s why I’d like to try and tell you more about its usage. I’m splitting the posts into different parts, because there’s a lot to say - so keep an eye out for more!
doch: In general, it expresses contradiction or disagreement (usually). Persuasion can be more stressed if you add a doch. Also, it can appeal for agreement or confirmation.
Examples:
Ich habe doch recht gehabt. -> (Nevertheless) I was right!
Wieso gehst du nicht schlafen? Du musst morgen doch früh aufstehen! -> Why don’t you go to bed? You have to get up early tomorrow?
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On the radio, they remembered a moving event which has its 42th anniversary today. I wanted to share it with you.
On December 7th 1970, social democrat Willy Brandt - West Germany’s Federal Chancellor from 1969-1974 - visited the holocaust memorial in Warsaw, Poland. He put down a floral wreath to remember the Jewish resistance in the ghetto in Warsaw in 1943 (Warsaw Ghetto Uprising). All of a sudden, he fell on his knees onto the dirty and wet asphalt and remained there in silence for a few minutes. Later he said, that he was kneeing there for Germany and that he was asking for forgiveness.
This went down in history as “Der Kniefall von Warschau” (lit: the genuflection of Warsaw). On the same day, Brandt signed the Treaty of Warsaw (Warschauer Vertrag). A year later, he received the Nobel Peace Prize.
(pic via vorwaerts.de)
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Mmmmh…. Weihnachtsplätzchen. Christmas cookies are probably one of my favourite things about the Christmas season.
The easiest and most classic German Xmas cookies are called “Butterplätzchen”. They are the ones that you can decorate the way you want. Here’s an easy recipe for you.
You need:
150g - 200g butter; 100g - 150g sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla sugar
1/2 tsp grated lemon rind
1 egg
300g flour
Mix the butter, the vanilla sugar and the sugar; then add the grated lemon and egg. Lastly add the flour - mix well. It’s best to cool the dough in the fridge for a couple of hours because that makes cutting out the cookies easier.
Prepare two baking trays with baking paper and preheat the oven (180°C; ) Roll out the dough - and have some nice cookie cutters ready. ;) Bake the cookies for about 15mins until they’re golden brown. Let them cool before you decorate them. :)
(pic via erdbeerlounge.de)
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Listening comprehension #8: Der 150. Geburtstag des Telefons
sich verspäten = (to) be late
vorstellbar = imaginable
die Erfindung(-en) = invention(-s)
der Startschuss =
der Erfinder = inventor
der Fernsprecher = (oldfashioned way to say) telephone
entwickeln (reg.) = to design / develop
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Today one of Germany’s most important post-war authors died at the age of 82 in Berlin: Christa Wolf.
Christa Wolf was awarded with a bunch of big literature awards e.g. the Georg Büchner award and the Thomas Mann award. She even received the Georg Büchner lifetime achievement award in 2002. Her writing was profound and critical and she animated many people to reflect on topics like the DDR and Chernobyl.
R.I.P. Ruhe in Frieden! :(
(pic via
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A couple of hours ago, the world famous Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt has opened its doors and this year’s Christkind, the Christmas messenger, held her famous speech -> CLICK TO WATCH. Until December 24th you can enjoy great Christmas food / candy / mulled wine and buy beautiful Christmas decoration.
It’s one of the oldest and biggest German christmas markets and has been around since the middle of the 16th century. About 2 million visitors come every year. Have you already been or are you planning a visit?
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Happy Turkeyday, my dear American followers :)
In Deutschland feiern wir kein Thanksgiving. We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Germany. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have some pie, right? ;) GUTEN APPETIT!
der Kürbiskuchen = pumpkin pie
der Apfelkuchen = apple pie
der Truthahn = turkey
der Süßkartoffelauflauf = sweet potato casserole
die Moosbeerensauce = cranberry sauce
der Kartoffelbrei = mashed potatoes
der Mais = corn
die Erbsen = peas
(pic via lizpezzuto.blogspot.com)
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