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1500 questions
24
votes
13 answers
Wörter mit ungünstiger Silbentrennung
Gibt es noch andere Beispiele außer das klassische Wort "Urinstinkt", bei denen eine an und für sich korrekte Silbentrennung einen falschen Sinn suggeriert?
Phira
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24
votes
2 answers
Kann man »erinnern« (ohne »an«) auch intransitiv verwenden?
Ich höre seit einiger Zeit immer wieder Sätze wie
Ich erinnere, dass das Brot früher anders geschmeckt hat.
... und es rollen sich mir die Zehennägel hoch!
Für mich fühlt sich das an wie ein ganz kruder Anglizismus (vgl. "to remember"), aber eine…
Jan
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23
votes
3 answers
When is the last sound of a syllable unvoiced?
It is very common to unvoice consonant sounds appearing last in a word.
die Hand -- /hant/ -- d → /t/
der Tag -- /taːk/ -- g → /k/
der Staub -- /ʃtaʊp/ -- b → /p/
This sometimes happens with consonant sounds at the end of a syllable that does not…
Tim
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23
votes
7 answers
"Das Deutsch" or "das Deutsche"?
I know that the latter is a substantivated adjective, but I can't really seem to get the difference in meaning. To me, both indicate the German language. Yes, "das Deutsche" is used "im Allgemeinen", but how is "das Deutsch" less general?
Also it…
persson
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23
votes
4 answers
Woher kommt das g in „Kopenhagen“? Why is there a g in “Copenhagen”?
Der zweite Wortteil des dänischen Namens København bedeutet, wie man auch leicht errät, Hafen, und in der Tat ist der schwedische Name Köpenhamn, wobei hamn das schwedische Wort für Hafen ist.
Wikipedia entnimmt man, dass der dänische Name im…
Carsten S
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23
votes
4 answers
When to use “der/die/das” instead of “er/sie/es”?
I see many times sentences like:
Ich nehme diese schönen Äpfel. Die sind billig! (or: Wie schmecken die?)
whereas I’d say: “Sie sind billig/wie schmecken sie?”, or
Mark ist dort. Den will ich kennen lernen
whereas I’d say: “Ihn will ich kennen…
persson
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23
votes
4 answers
What is the difference between "versuchen" and "probieren"?
According to my Collins dictionary, both versuchen and probieren mean to try. Are they synonyms?
Tom Phillips
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23
votes
7 answers
Reading a Swiss newspaper as a German learner
I'd like to know if, by reading a Swiss newspaper like the NZZ, I'll come across language usage that, in spite of being perfectly correct in Swiss standard German, would be frowned upon if I used them in most German proficiency exams.
In other…
Beneficium
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23
votes
5 answers
Why is 'Guten Tag' accusative?
Is it just an idiom, or is it a general rule?
I'm wishing a good day to someone, so I guess there is some kind of metaphorical motion involved. Would it be similar if I wanted to say "vielen Spaß"?
StrixVaria
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23
votes
5 answers
What is the equivalent of "if you say so" in German?
In English we have a very specific colloquialism/idiom to indicate our doubt in someone's premise. For example:
Joe: Wow, you've really lost weight!
Fred (who doesn't feel that way): If you say so.
Or:
Mary: I love Tom. He's so loyal and…
Robert Oschler
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23
votes
11 answers
German equivalent to "going down the rabbit hole"
Was ist eine passende Übersetzung für die Redewendung "going down the rabbit hole"?
Im Sinne von: man informiert sich über Thema X, stößt dann auf Wikipedia auf das zusammenhängende Thema Y, von da zum Thema Z und auf einmal ist es 2 Uhr…
sxz
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23
votes
12 answers
Are there any German nonsense poems (Jabberwocky)?
English has nonsense poetry, such as The Owl and the Pussycat, by Edward Lear, and the incomparable Jabberwocky, by Lewis Carroll:
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome…
Mawg says reinstate Monica
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23
votes
9 answers
Is there a difference between "Fahrstuhl" and "Aufzug"?
As a Swiss guy, I always thought the proper German word is Fahrstuhl (and always remembering the song Liebe im Fahrstuhl from Die Prinzen when using the word).
However, recently I have read a blog post from a (native I guess) German speaker (from…
hitchhiker
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23
votes
3 answers
If we say "Frankfurt am Main" why do we have "Frankfurt an der Oder"?
What's the difference here - why we use am in one example, and an der in the other?
mcjlnrtwcz
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23
votes
10 answers
Is there a German equivalent for "self defeating"?
How would you express "self defeating" in German?
Specifically, to express that someone is taking a perspective or actions that are actually leading him or her away from their goal instead of towards it?
Doug Morse
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