Learning a New Word | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: In a language classroom, two adults discuss a new word by checking its meaning, pronunciation, and example sentence..

EN → DE / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Learning a New Word to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Was bedeutet dieses Wort?

vahss beh-DOY-tet DEE-zuhs VORT? What does this word mean?
B

Es bedeutet einen kleinen Raum.

ess beh-DOY-tet EYE-nen KLY-nen ROWM. It means a small room.
A

Kannst du es langsam aussprechen?

kahnst doo ess LAHNG-zahm OWS-shpreh-khen? Can you pronounce it slowly?
B

Ich teile es in Teile auf.

ikh TYLE-uh ess in TYLE-uh OWF. I'll break it into parts.
A

Kannst du mir ein Beispiel geben?

kahnst doo meer eye-n BYE-shpeel GAY-ben? Can you give me an example?
B

Dieses Zimmer ist sauber und hell.

DEE-zuhs TSIM-mer ist ZOW-ber oont hell. This room is clean and bright.
A

Ich möchte üben, das Wort zu benutzen.

ikh MURKH-tuh EW-ben, dahs VORT tsoo beh-NOOT-sen. I want to practice using it.
B

Versuch es in einem kurzen Satz.

fehr-ZOOKH ess in EYE-nem KOOR-tsen ZAHTS. Try it in a short sentence.

Word by Word

Was Here, "Was" means "what" and asks for the meaning of the word. In the question "Was bedeutet dieses Wort?", it opens a request for an explanation. Use it in questions asking what something means.
bedeutet Here, "bedeutet" means "means" and states the meaning being asked about. It is used in the question "Was bedeutet dieses Wort?" and the answer "Es bedeutet einen kleinen Raum." Use it when asking or stating the meaning of a word or expression.
dieses Here, "dieses" means "this" and points to the particular word being discussed. In "dieses Wort", it identifies the word near the speakers. Use it before a noun when pointing to one specific item.
Wort Here, "Wort" means "word" and refers to the language item whose meaning is being discussed. In "dieses Wort", it names that item directly. Use it when talking about a word in a lesson or conversation.
Es Here, "Es" means "it" and refers back to the word under discussion. In "Es bedeutet einen kleinen Raum.", it is the subject that is said to have a meaning. Use it to refer back to a previously mentioned thing.
einen Here, "einen" introduces the room as the thing represented by the word. It appears with "kleinen Raum" in "einen kleinen Raum". Use it before a suitable noun when referring to one non-specific item in this kind of phrase.
kleinen Here, "kleinen" means "small" and describes the room. In "einen kleinen Raum", it comes before the noun and follows "einen". Use it to describe the size of an item.
Raum Here, "Raum" means "room" and names what the word means. The full phrase "einen kleinen Raum" describes a small room. Use it when referring to a room as a physical space.
Kannst Here, "Kannst" expresses ability and asks whether the listener can do something. In "Kannst du es langsam aussprechen?", it starts a request addressed to one person. Use "Kannst" at the beginning of a direct question about someone’s ability to act.
du Here, "du" means "you" and addresses one person directly. In "Kannst du es langsam aussprechen?", it identifies the person being asked. Use it when speaking informally to one person.
langsam Here, "langsam" means "slowly" and describes how the pronunciation should be done. In "es langsam aussprechen", it modifies the action of pronouncing it. Use it when asking someone to do an action at a slow speed.
aussprechen Here, "aussprechen" means "pronounce" and names the action the listener is asked to perform. In "Kannst du es langsam aussprechen?", it follows the request and refers to saying the word aloud. Use it when asking about or practising the pronunciation of a word.
Ich Here, "Ich" means "I" and identifies the speaker as the person performing the action. In "Ich teile es in Teile auf.", the speaker explains what they will do. Use it to begin a statement about your own action or intention.
teile In lower-case "teile", this form means "divide" or "split" in "Ich teile es in Teile auf." The capitalized "Teile" later means "parts", so the sentence says that the speaker divides it into parts. Here, "teile" works together with the final "auf" to express breaking something into parts.
in Here, "in" means "into" and introduces the parts resulting from the division. In "in Teile auf", it connects the action with the parts. Use it when describing something being divided or placed into a new form or group.
auf Here, "auf" completes the verb expression with "teile" in "Ich teile es in Teile auf." Together, "teile ... auf" expresses dividing something into parts. Keep this particle at the end in this sentence pattern.
mir Here, "mir" means "me" and identifies the person who would receive the example. In "Kannst du mir ein Beispiel geben?", the speaker asks for an example for them. Use it when someone gives, shows, or explains something to you.
ein Here, "ein" means "a" or "an" and introduces one non-specific example. In "ein Beispiel", it comes directly before the noun. Use it before a singular noun when mentioning one item without identifying a particular one.
Beispiel Here, "Beispiel" means "example" and refers to a sentence or situation that demonstrates the word. In "Kannst du mir ein Beispiel geben?", the speaker asks for such a demonstration. Use it when asking for or giving something that makes an explanation clearer.
geben Here, "geben" means "give" and names the action requested in "Kannst du mir ein Beispiel geben?" It combines with "mir" for the recipient and "ein Beispiel" for what is given. Use it when asking someone to provide something.
Zimmer Here, "Zimmer" means "room" and refers to the room described in the example sentence. In "Dieses Zimmer ist sauber und hell.", it is the subject being described. Use it when talking about a room as a space in a home or building.
ist Here, "ist" means "is" and links the room with its descriptions. In "Dieses Zimmer ist sauber und hell.", it introduces the room’s current qualities. Use it to state what something is like.
sauber Here, "sauber" means "clean" and describes the condition of the room. In "ist sauber", it is one of the qualities assigned to the room. Use it to describe a clean room, object, or place.
und Here, "und" means "and" and joins the two descriptions of the room. In "sauber und hell", it connects "clean" with "bright". Use it to link two related words or ideas.
hell Here, "hell" means "bright" and describes the room’s light or appearance. In "ist sauber und hell", it is the second quality of the room. Use it when describing a room or place with plenty of light.
möchte Here, "möchte" expresses a desire or polite intention: the speaker would like to practise. In "Ich möchte üben", it comes before the action the speaker wants to do. Use it to say what you would like to do.
üben Here, "üben" means "practise" and refers to working on the use of the word. In "Ich möchte üben, das Wort zu benutzen.", it names the activity the speaker wants to do. Use it when repeating or applying something in order to improve.
das Here, "das" means "the" and identifies the particular word being practised. In "das Wort", it points back to the word discussed earlier. Use it before a noun when the listener already knows which item is meant.
zu Here, "zu" introduces the action that is being practised in "das Wort zu benutzen". It connects "üben" with the action of using the word. Use it before an infinitive when expressing an action connected to another verb in this pattern.
benutzen Here, "benutzen" means "use" and refers to applying the word in speech or writing. In "das Wort zu benutzen", it names the action the speaker wants to practise. Use it when talking about using a word, object, or other item.
Versuch Here, "Versuch" means "try" and gives a direct instruction to one person. In "Versuch es in einem kurzen Satz.", the speaker encourages the listener to use the word. Use it when telling someone informally to make an attempt.
einem Here, "einem" introduces one non-specific sentence as the setting for trying the word. In "in einem kurzen Satz", it comes before the description and noun. Use it when referring to one item within a context or place.
kurzen Here, "kurzen" means "short" and describes the sentence. In "in einem kurzen Satz", it comes before "Satz" after "einem". Use it to describe a sentence that is not long.
Satz Here, "Satz" means "sentence" and refers to the short sentence in which the learner should use the word. In "in einem kurzen Satz", it names the form of practice being suggested. Use it when talking about a complete sentence in language learning.

Grammar Points

teile ... auf

Du teilst dieses Wort in Teile auf.

doo TYLE-st DEE-zuhs VORT in TYLE-uh OWF.

You split this word into parts.

The prefix auf- separates and moves to the end in a main clause: aufteilen → teilst ... auf.

German Vocabulary

aussprechen verb
OWS-shpreh-khen pronounce
bedeutet verb
beh-DOY-tet means
Beispiel noun
BYE-shpeel example
dieses det
DEE-zuhs this
du pron
DOO you
kleinen adj
KLY-nen small
langsam adv
LAHNG-zahm slowly
mir pron
MEER me
Raum noun
ROWM room
Teile noun
TYLE-uh parts
teile ... auf phrase
TYLE-uh ... OWF break into parts
Wort noun
VORT word

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What does this word mean?

Show AnswerWas bedeutet dieses Wort?

It means a small room.

Show AnswerEs bedeutet einen kleinen Raum.

Can you pronounce it slowly?

Show AnswerKannst du es langsam aussprechen?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

slowly

Show Answerlangsam

pronounce

Show Answeraussprechen

small

Show Answerkleinen

means

Show Answerbedeutet