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Advice, explanations and ideas for learning German, from Stephan.
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20 December 2025
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR or CEF for short) is a standardized guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe and beyond. At Deutschable, we follow these guidelines in all of our German classes, including level B2.1 in German. (Not sure about your level? Test it here now for […]
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20 December 2025
Dunkelheit means darkness; dunkel means dark. Finsternis can have a strong or literary tone and appears in Sonnenfinsternis. Düster means gloomy; zappenduster means pitch-dark or bleak.
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20 December 2025
'Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof' (I only understand train station) means 'It's all Greek to me' - I don't understand a thing.
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20 December 2025
'Besuchen' is to visit people or attend a course; 'besichtigen' is to visit sights. 'Ich habe Besuch' = I have guests.
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20 December 2025
'Kennen' is knowing people, places and things (familiarity); 'wissen' is knowing facts. Languages and skills use 'können' ('Ich kann Deutsch').
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20 December 2025
German ways to say exhausted: erschöpft, kaputt, fertig, fix und fertig, k.o., hundemüde, alle. Simply tired is 'müde'.
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20 December 2025
'Der springende Punkt' (the jumping point) means the crux or key point of a matter.
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20 December 2025
Agreeing to a plan: 'Ich bin einverstanden'. Agreeing with an opinion: 'Ich stimme dir zu' or 'Ich bin deiner Meinung'. 'Wir sind uns einig' = we agree.
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20 December 2025
Es zieht means there is a draft. The noun is die Zugluft; zugig means drafty. Mach bitte das Fenster zu! means Please close the window!
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20 December 2025
Das klingt gut! means That sounds good! Klang describes sound quality; Ton can mean a note or tone; Geräusch means noise; Laut can mean a vocal or speech sound; Schall is the physical term for sound.
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20 December 2025
Everyday German for 'electricity' is 'Strom' (also: stream, current); 'Elektrizität' is more scientific. Plug: Stecker; socket: Steckdose.
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20 December 2025
'Betrügen' is serious cheating or fraud (also on a partner); 'schummeln/mogeln' is cheating in games or tests; 'fremdgehen' is being unfaithful.
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20 December 2025
'Pressure' is 'der Druck': unter Druck stehen (to be under pressure), Druck machen (to put pressure on). 'Drücken' = press; 'drucken' = print.
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20 December 2025
'Einen Vogel haben' (to have a bird) means to be crazy. Tapping your forehead at someone ('einen Vogel zeigen') is a rude insult in Germany.
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20 December 2025
'Hardworking' is 'fleißig' (Fleiß); 'lazy' is 'faul' (Faulheit). 'Ohne Fleiß kein Preis' = No pain, no gain.
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20 December 2025
'Den Teufel an die Wand malen' (to paint the devil on the wall) means to imagine the worst-case scenario; closest English: 'Don't tempt fate.'
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20 December 2025
Main words: 'verrückt' and 'wahnsinnig'; casual: 'irre', 'bescheuert', 'bekloppt'; 'Du spinnst!' = You're crazy! The neutral term for mentally ill is 'psychisch krank'.
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20 December 2025
Most common: 'lieber' + verb (Ich trinke lieber Tee); favorite: 'am liebsten'. 'Vorziehen' compares (accusative over dative); 'bevorzugen' is formal.
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