Table of Contents

About This Book 1

Conventions Used in This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 3

Icons Used in This Book 3

Where to Go from Here 4

Chapter 1: I Say It How? Speaking German 5

The German You Know 5

Friendly allies (perfect cognates) 5

Kissing cousins (near cognates) 7

False friends 9

Lenders and borrowers 11

Mouthing Off: Basic Pronunciation 13

Pronouncing vowels 14

Pronouncing umlauts 15

Pronouncing diphthongs 16

Pronouncing consonants 17

Identifying a new letter: ß 18

Pronouncing combinations of consonants 19

Using Popular Expressions 21

Chapter 2: Grammar on a Diet: Just the Basics 23

Looking at the Types of Words 23

Nouns 23

Adjectives 25

Verbs 26

Adverbs 27

Figuring Out Simple Sentence Construction 27

Arranging words in the right order 27

Independent clauses: Putting the verb in second place 28

Dependent clauses: Pushing the verb to the end 28

Forming questions 29

The Tenses: Present, Past, and Future 30

Looking at the present 30

Talking about the past: Using the perfect tense 31

Writing about the past: Using simple past tense 36

Talking about the future 37

Getting Funky: Reflexive and Separable Verbs 38

Right back at you: Reflexive verbs 38

Knowing when to separate your verbs 40

Putting the Language in the Right Case 41

Nominative case 41

Accusative case 42

Dative case 42

Genitive case 42

Why all these cases matter 42

Getting Formal or Informal 48

Chapter 3: Numerical Gumbo: Counting of All Kinds 49

1, 2, 3: Cardinal Numbers 49

The First, Second, Third, and So On 51

Telling Time 53

Telling time the “old-fashioned” way: From 1 to 12 54

Using the 24-hour routine: 0 to 24 55

Times of the day 56

Monday, Tuesday: Weekdays 56

Using the Calendar and Dates 58

Covering the units of the calendar 58

The basic names of the months 59

Describing events in specific months 59

Naming specific times in the months 60

Keeping track of dates 60

Money, Money, Money 62

Changing currency 63

Heading to the ATM 64

Chapter 4: Making New Friends and Enjoying Small Talk 67

Hello! Greetings and Introductions 67

Saying hello and good-bye 68

Asking “How are you?” 68

Replying to “How are you?” 69

Introducing yourself and others 70

So Where Are You From? 72

Asking people where they come from 73

Understanding nationalities 74

What Languages Do You Speak? 76

Talking about Yourself 78

Describing your work 78

Giving out your address and phone number 80

Talking about Your Family 81

Talking about the Weather 84

Chapter 5: Enjoying a Drink and a Snack (or Meal!) 85

Is It Time to Eat Yet? 85

Setting the Table 87

Going Out to a Restaurant 87

Distinguishing places to eat 88

Making reservations 89

Arriving and being seated 91

Deciphering the menu 92

Placing your order 96

Replying to “How did you like the food?” 97

Getting the Check 97

Chapter 6: Shop ’til You Drop 99

Heading Out on the Town 99

Getting around the store 100

Browsing with style 102

Getting assistance 102

Shopping politely 103

Shopping for Clothes 104

Color me German 105

Trying it on 107

Hitting the Markets 109

Finding what you need 110

Asking for amounts 111

Paying the Bill 113

Chapter 7: Making Leisure a Top Priority 115

Figuring Out What You Want to Do 115

Going to the movies 116

Going to the museum 118

Bringing down the (opera) house 118

How Was the Show? Talking about Entertainment 120

Going to a Party 122

Talking about Hobbies and Interests 124

Playing Sports 125

Exploring the Outdoors 127

Getting out and going 127

Things to see along the way 127

Going to the mountains 128

Going to the country 130

Going to the sea 130

Chapter 8: When You Gotta Work 131

Phoning Made Simple 131

Asking for your party 132

Making the connection 132

Leaving messages 133

Saying good-bye 134

Making Appointments 136

Sending a Letter, Fax, or E-Mail 137

Sending a letter or postcard 138

Sending a fax or an e-mail 140

Getting Around at the Office 140

Mastering your desk and supplies 141

Elsewhere in the office 142

Chapter 9: Getting Around: Transportation 143

On the Move: Types of Transportation 143

At the airport 144

At the train station 146

Catching the bus 148

Getting a taxi 150

Renting a car 150

Dealing with Passports, Visas, and Customs 152

Your passport and visa 152

Going through immigration 153

Going through customs 154

Asking for Help with Directions 155

Going Here and There 156

Asking “How Do I Get There?” 157

Describing a Position or Location 157

Going Right, Left, North, South, East, and West 159

Getting on the Move 160

Driving Around in German 161

Chapter 10: Finding a Place to Lay Your Weary Head 165

Scoping Out a Hotel 165

Reserving Rooms 166

Checking In: Names, Addresses, and Room Numbers 168

How long are you staying? 168

Filling out the registration form 169

Understanding the key game 170

Asking about amenities and facilities 170

Checking Out and Paying the Bill 173

Asking for your bill 173

Parting shots at the hotel 173

Chapter 11: Dealing with Emergencies 175

Asking for Help with Accidents 175

Shouting for help 175

Reporting a problem 176

Asking for English-speaking help 176

Going to the Doctor or Hospital 177

Describing what ails you 178

Announcing any special conditions 178

Getting an examination 179

Specifying parts of the body 180

Getting the diagnosis 181

Getting treatment 182

Talking to the Police 183

Describing what was stolen 184

Answering questions from the police 185

Protecting your rights abroad 186

Chapter 12: Ten Favorite German Expressions 187

Alles klar! 187

Geht in Ordnung 187

Kein Problem 188

Guten Appetit! 188

Deine Sorgen möchte ich haben! 188

Das darf doch wohl nicht wahr sein! 188

Mir reicht’s! 189

Wie schön! 189

Genau 189

Stimmt’s? 189

Chapter 13: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Like a Local 191

Das ist ja toll! 191

Ruf mich an! / Rufen Sie mich an! 191

Was ist los? 192

Keine Ahnung 192

Gehen wir! 192

Nicht zu fassen! 192

Du hast Recht! / Sie haben Recht! 192

Auf keinen Fall! 193

Nicht schlecht! 193

Das ist mir (völlig) egal 193

Index 195