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1500 questions
24
votes
1 answer
Wann und warum ging das Beugen von Namen verloren?
Beim Lesen von Literatur zu Goethe und Schiller fiel mir auf, dass deren Namen in manchen Texten mitgebeugt wurden, so wie wir das heute noch mit den Objekten machen.
Der Lautwandlungsprozess zum Neuhochdeutschen war meines Wissens bereits…
Samuel Herzog
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24
votes
8 answers
Is "Ich bin gut" a valid reply for "How are you"?
I know you have to say
Es geht mir gut.
but
Ich bin gut.
sounds good to me. Can I say that?
mihirjoshi
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24
votes
3 answers
“Es gibt” vs. “Da ist/da sind”
I asked a German friend of mine if da ist and da sind are valid constructions for saying there is/are, and she confirmed my suspicion, though she was unable to explain the difference between those constructions and es gibt construction.
My…
Dustin
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24
votes
2 answers
Dictionary abbreviation meanings: "jdm", "jdn", "etw",
While I'm studying German vocabulary from a dictionary, I constantly see that the definitions of verbs have abbreviations next to them, such as "jdm: jemandem" and "jdn: jemanden" and "etw: etwas". I learned the words, but I still do not know their…
ntrstd11
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24
votes
7 answers
Is Gandalf really on 'du' terms with the Balrog? (Odd 'duzen' example)
Gandalf's line "You shall not pass!" from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is something of a meme, so I naturally wondered how it was translated into German. This video has the relevant dialog (once at :40, and again at 1:15).…
RDBury
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24
votes
2 answers
Are there any German Internet slang acronyms like "LOL"?
LOL (an acronym for "laughing out loud"), LMAO, ROTFL and other Internet slang acronyms that express bodily reactions, in particular laughter, are very popular.
Are there equivalent or similar German expressions? If they do exist, are they actually…
splattne
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24
votes
1 answer
Understanding the point of a kölsche Witz
Zwei kölsche Putzfrauen bei der Arbeit. Die eine: „Ich mach’ Diät.“ Darauf die andere: „Jot, dann maach ich die Finster.“
I can guess that 'Diät' here is a play on words for something like 'die …' but fail to see what it is.
Quora Feans
- 580
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24
votes
2 answers
The difference between "spüren" and "fühlen"
Could somebody please explain to me, the difference between the verbs "spüren" and "fühlen"? I know they both mean to feel, but do they both have different connotations? My initial feeling was that one is more physical and the other more…
MattyBeales
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24
votes
2 answers
»Wie lange« vs. »Wie lang«
Worin unterscheiden sich die Ausdrücke wie lange und wie lang?
Wie lange lernst du Deutsch?
Wie lang ist die Arbeitzeit pro Tag?
user508
24
votes
4 answers
When speaking, how do you change your mind mid-sentence?
Imagine that you're saying something, but then realise you want to say something else instead. In English, you might say:
I don't like ice cream, because— actually, no. I like chocolate ice cream, but I don't find other flavours tasty.
How would…
wizzwizz4
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24
votes
3 answers
What is the meaning of 'Marsch' in Marschflugkörper?
'Marschflugkörper' is 'cruise missile' in english. And 'Flugkörper' is 'missile'. However, 'der Marsch' is the march, as in what an army troop does in a parade square. Do German speakers conceive of a cruise missile as a missile that 'marches'? That…
schreck
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24
votes
3 answers
Different way of saying "Feuer!"
In certain war films, Germans are shown shouting "Feuer!" to give the order to open fire. However, during the movie U-571, the German U-boat commander (Thomas Kretschmann) shouted something that sounded like "lawss!" to fire a torpedo. Subtitles…
Morgan
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24
votes
5 answers
Is German on social media very distinct from standard German?
When I read the Germans' writing on Facebook such as when commenting on news by Spiegel or Bild or any other posts, I do not notice a big difference from standard German in terms of spelling or tenses or even use of words. Am I correct to some…
user34137
24
votes
2 answers
Was ist das (der?) Effeff?
Was ist das (der?) Effeff im folgenden Satz?
Das müsst ihr aus dem Effeff können!
swegi
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24
votes
7 answers
Why do Netflix German subtitles always make use of formal pronouns?
I am watching a lot of American and English movies on Netflix with the original sound and German subtitles. I've noticed that in the subtitles, when two people are talking, the formal pronouns are always used when the two characters address each…
kioleanu
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