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On this FAQ page, we have gathered together some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about learning German - from our German forums. Some of the questions below have an answer here, while others are linked to answers in the forum.
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FAQ MENU > German Language FAQs
Free MBA in Germany
I just finished my MBA (Master of Business Administration) at the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences here in Germany. It was absolutely fantastic... The best part is that the government picks up the tuition and the program is in English (although you take German classes to learn the language). So all you have to pay for is living costs (and those are all subsidized since you are a student). Anyhow, here is the info...
Q: I was told that a pig is considered lucky in Germany. Why is that? I know there is an expression (Schwein haben) to comment on someone being lucky. One person told me that it is related to a Grimm story. Someone else told me it is an older folklore belief. Does anyone know?
A: According to the radio station Deutsche Welle, the expression "Schwein haben" originated in the middle ages, when the person who came last in shooting competitions, etc. would be given a pig as a consolation prize. Because (unlike the winners of the other prizes) he had done nothing to deserve the pig, he was regarded as lucky to get it.
Q: What is the correct German terminology for 'friend'? Meine freund -- my boy friend? Meine freund, Ken -- my friend Ken? Meine mann -- my husband?
A: Meine freund -- my boy friend = MEIN FREUND. Meine freund, Ken -- my friend Ken? = MEIN FREUND KEN. Meine mann -- my husband? = MEIN MANN. (More info given, LOTS more, in the Forum...)
Q: Could anyone tell me the names of the phases of the moon in German?
A: Vollmond, Halbmond and Neumond are pretty straightforward. We also have zunehmenden and abnehmenden Mond. To my knowledge we do not have a German word to differentiate gibbous and crescent moon, although one can speak of Mondsichel which should refer to the crescent moon.
Q: Can someone explain in English when I would use kein(e) and when I would use nicht?
A: In German we very often negate the object of the sentence, whereas in English you rather negate the verb. The result is that the literal translation often sounds a bit odd: Good German: Ich habe keinen Hund. English, literally: I have no dog. (object is negated) Better English: I do not have a dog. (verb is negated instead of object) German, literally from above: Ich habe nicht einen Hund (Attention! Meaning of this sentence would be: I do not have a single dog.) You see the problem: Literally translated "kein" becomes "no" and "nicht" becomes "not".
Q: I just heard a beautiful German folk song that somebody told me to be about a siren who sits on the rock beside the Rhine singing beautifully and mesmerizing sailors into crashing their ships. However, the person who told me the story vaguely remembers the name of the siren. Something like *Lolelei.... It sounds like a famous folk tale, you know of it?
A: The poem you refer to is based on one of the best-known legends in Germany. H. Heine wrote it in 1823, and it was set to music by Friedrich Silcher in 1838. There are many translations available on the Internet.
Sample: Heinrich Heine - Loreley
Ich weiss nicht was soll es bedeuten,
Dass ich so traurig bin;
Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten,
Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn
Q: Ich habe eine Frage. How do Germans feel about the adoption of the euro, which began January 1?
A: So far (i.e. from 1999 up to now) the euro has been more stable than DM previously. The prognosis seems to be at this point that the euro is expected to do OK. But then, only time will really tell.
Personally, I have no sentimental feelings about the DM. Euros are money and are a means for paying my bills, that's all.
Für mich persönlich bringt der Euro den Vorteil, dass mir nun das häufige Schillingtauschen erspart bleibt und ich sowohl in Bayern als auch im benachbarten Österreich mit der gleichen Währung bezahlen kann.
Q: I'm looking for a conversational class/group that meets in New York City or Brooklyn. Does anyone know of any... or have any advice on where to look? I can't afford any expensive classes, so I was hoping maybe there was some sort of casual group around.
A: If there really isn't an existing conversational class for beginners to speak German, perhaps a group of us could start one? There are plenty of Starbucks and similar type places for groups to meet and chat. I'd be interested. Count me in. Anyone else in NYC out there?
Also see our Tutor Directory for German
Q: I am looking for a dictionary or a glossary, preferably on-line, where I could look up the modern equivalents of some of the medieval German words? What I would like to find is something similar to A Basic Chaucer Glossary, except in German of course. > Answer in the Forum
Q: Does anyone know where I can find a German transcript of Lola rennt? I tried a Google search but had no luck. > Answer in the Forum
Q: Ich finde es sehr schwer, 'tenses' zu benutzen. Zum Beispiel, wenn ich möchte sagen, wo und wann ich studierte Musik habe, ich werde sehr verwirrt. Wie kann ich 'tenses' übersetzen? > Answer in the Forum
Q: Was ist der Unterschied zwischen dennoch und jedoch? Kann jemand ein Paar Sätze mit Beispielen über die Benutzung dieser zwei Wörter hier schreiben? > Answer in the Forum
Q: Also, wenn es um die deutsche Grammatik geht, was findet ihr am seltsamsten? Zum Beispiel, wenn ich spazieren gehe, gehe ich entweder mit den Hunden, oder ohne die Hunde. > Answer in the Forum
Q: Als ich jung war las ich "Der Biberpelz". Ich erinnere mich, dass der Dialog sehr dialektisch war. In welchem Teile Deutschlands spielten die Handlungen und Gesprächen ab? > Answer in the Forum
Q: Können Sie mir helfen? Erster, ein fremdlander findet the Artikeln ein grosses Problem. Sie sind ohne kein Logik. Zum Beispiel, warum ist Mädchen Neutrum? Ich kann nicht verstehen. Wie Lehrer unterichtet Deutscher Kinder bei Artikeln? > Answer in the Forum
Q: Könntest du mir helfen mit mein großes Problem über 'genders'? > Answer in the Forum
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