Talking about a sore back | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Talking about a sore back to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Mein Rücken tut weh.

myne RUEK-en toot VAY. My back feels sore.

Versuch, aufrecht zu sitzen.

fer-ZOOKH, OWF-rekht tsoo ZIT-sen. Try to sit up straight.

Ich habe heute zu lange gesessen.

ikh HAH-beh HOY-teh tsoo LAHNG-eh geh-ZESS-en. I sat too long today.

Dehne dich langsam, wenn du kannst.

DAY-neh dikh LAHNG-zahm, venn doo kahnst. Stretch slowly if you can.

Dieser Stuhl ist bequemer.

DEE-zer SHTOOL ist beh-KVAY-mer. This chair feels better.

Bleib dort ein paar Minuten.

blype dort eyne pahr mee-NOOT-en. Stay there for a few minutes.

Eine kurze Pause sollte helfen.

EY-neh KOORT-seh POW-zeh SHOL-teh HELF-en. A short rest should help.

Bewege dich langsam, wenn du aufstehst.

beh-VAY-geh dikh LAHNG-zahm, venn doo OWF-shtayst. Move slowly when you stand up.

Word by Word

Mein “Mein” means “my” in “Mein Rücken” and shows that the back belongs to the speaker. It is used directly before the thing that belongs to the speaker, here “Rücken”. This is useful when describing a body part or possession.

Rücken “Rücken” means “back” in “Mein Rücken tut weh.” It names the body part that is painful in this dialogue. Use it when talking about back discomfort or the position of your back.

tut weh “tut weh” means “hurts” in “Mein Rücken tut weh.” The “tut” part supplies the verb form, while “weh” expresses pain; together they make the expression for saying that something hurts. Use “tut weh” after the body part or other thing that causes pain.

Versuch “Versuch” means “try” as a direct informal instruction in “Versuch, aufrecht zu sitzen.” It is the form used when one person tells another person to make an effort. Use it to give friendly advice or an informal suggestion.

aufrecht “aufrecht” means “upright” or “straight” in “aufrecht zu sitzen.” It describes the recommended sitting position. Use it with “sitzen” when advising someone to keep their body straight.

zu “zu” marks the infinitive in “zu sitzen” after “Versuch”. It connects the instruction “Versuch” with the action being attempted. A useful pattern from the dialogue is “Versuch, aufrecht zu sitzen.”

sitzen “sitzen” means “to sit” in “aufrecht zu sitzen.” Here it names the action that the listener is being asked to try. Use it after “zu” in this construction when describing the action to attempt.

Ich “Ich” means “I” in “Ich habe heute zu lange gesessen.” It identifies the speaker as the person who sat for too long. Use it at the start of a statement about your own action or experience.

habe “habe” means “have” in “Ich habe heute zu lange gesessen” and helps form the statement about what the speaker did earlier. It is used with “Ich” and with “gesessen” in this past-action construction. Use it with a past participle when describing a completed action.

heute “heute” means “today” in “Ich habe heute zu lange gesessen.” It places the sitting in the current day. Use it to say when an action happened on the day of speaking.

zu lange “zu lange” means “too long” in “Ich habe heute zu lange gesessen.” It shows that the duration of sitting was excessive and is connected with the back pain. Use it before an action or situation when its duration goes beyond what is appropriate.

gesessen “gesessen” means “sat” in “Ich habe heute zu lange gesessen.” It names the completed sitting action together with “habe”. Use it with “Ich habe” when reporting that you have sat or were seated.

Dehne “Dehne” means “stretch” as a direct informal instruction in “Dehne dich langsam.” It tells the other person to stretch their body. Use it when giving someone informal advice about a physical movement.

dich “dich” means “yourself” in “Dehne dich langsam.” It shows that the person receiving the instruction is also the person being stretched. Use it after a movement verb when the action is directed back at the person doing it.

langsam “langsam” means “slowly” in “Dehne dich langsam.” It tells the listener how to perform the stretching. Use it to describe a careful, unhurried movement, especially when advising someone with pain.

wenn “wenn” means “if” in “wenn du kannst.” It introduces the condition that the listener should stretch only when able to do so. Use it to connect an action with a condition.

du “du” means informal “you” in “wenn du kannst.” It identifies the person who may or may not be able to stretch. Use it when speaking directly to one familiar person.

kannst “kannst” means “can” or “are able to” in “wenn du kannst.” With “du”, it expresses the listener’s ability to do the suggested action. Use it after “du” when saying whether the person is able to do something.

Dieser “Dieser” means “this” in “Dieser Stuhl”. It points to the particular chair the speaker is using or referring to. Use it directly before a specific object that is nearby or already clear in the situation.

Stuhl “Stuhl” means “chair” in “Dieser Stuhl ist bequemer.” It identifies the seat that feels more comfortable. Use it when talking about a chair for sitting at home or elsewhere.

ist “ist” means “is” in “Dieser Stuhl ist bequemer.” It links the chair with the description “bequemer”. Use it to describe what something is like or how it compares in the situation.

bequemer “bequemer” means “more comfortable” in “Dieser Stuhl ist bequemer.” It compares this chair favorably with another sitting option understood from the context. Use it after “ist” to say that one seat or position is more comfortable.

Bleib “Bleib” means “stay” as a direct informal instruction in “Bleib dort ein paar Minuten.” It tells the listener not to leave the indicated place. Use it when asking someone to remain somewhere for a period of time.

dort “dort” means “there” in “Bleib dort”. It points to the place where the listener is supposed to remain. Use it after a verb such as “Bleib” when the location is clear from the situation.

ein “ein” contributes “a” to the expression “ein paar Minuten”, which means “a few minutes”. It appears together with “paar” before the time expression. Use “ein paar” to refer to a small, unspecified number of things or units of time.

paar “paar” contributes “few” to “ein paar Minuten”. Together, “ein paar Minuten” indicates a small number of minutes. Use it with “ein” before a plural time or quantity expression.

Minuten “Minuten” means “minutes” in “ein paar Minuten.” It measures how long the listener should stay in the chair. Use it after a quantity such as “ein paar” when stating a short duration.

Eine “Eine” means “a” in “Eine kurze Pause.” It introduces the short rest being discussed as one possible helpful measure. Use it before a singular feminine noun phrase such as “Pause”.

kurze “kurze” means “short” in “Eine kurze Pause.” It describes the pause as lasting only a limited amount of time. Use it before “Pause” when referring to a brief rest.

Pause “Pause” means “break” or “rest” in “Eine kurze Pause sollte helfen.” It refers to taking time away from the uncomfortable position or activity. Use it when suggesting a period of rest.

sollte “sollte” means “should” in “Eine kurze Pause sollte helfen.” It expresses an expectation that the short rest will be beneficial. Use it to make a cautious recommendation or prediction about what is likely to help.

helfen “helfen” means “help” in “Eine kurze Pause sollte helfen.” It names the benefit expected from the short rest and follows “sollte”. Use it after “sollte” when saying that an action or thing is expected to provide help.

Bewege “Bewege” means “move” as a direct informal instruction in “Bewege dich langsam.” It tells the listener to move their body carefully. Use it when giving an informal instruction about physical movement.

aufstehst “aufstehst” means “stand up” or “get up” in “wenn du aufstehst.” It names the moment when the listener rises from sitting, and the advice is to move slowly at that time. Use it after “du” in the condition “wenn du aufstehst.”

Grammar Points

Imperativ mit Reflexivpronomen: Dehne dich ...

Dehne dich langsam!

DAY-neh dikh LAHNG-zahm!

Stretch yourself slowly!

In German, the reflexive pronoun dich follows the imperative verb for a direct instruction to one person.

zu + Adverb: zu lange

zu lange sitzen

tsoo LAHNG-eh ZIT-sen

to sit for too long

zu before an adverb expresses an excessive degree: zu lange means “for too long.”

German Vocabulary

aufrecht adv

OWF-rekht upright; straight

Versuch, aufrecht zu sitzen.

bequem adj

beh-KVAYM comfortable bequemer

Dieser Stuhl ist bequemer.

dehnen verb

DAY-nen to stretch Dehne

Dehne dich langsam, wenn du kannst.

dich pron

dikh yourself

Dehne dich langsam, wenn du kannst.

heute adv

HOY-teh today

Ich habe heute zu lange gesessen.

lange adv

LAHNG-eh for a long time zu lange

Ich habe heute zu lange gesessen.

langsam adv

LAHNG-zahm slowly

Dehne dich langsam, wenn du kannst.

Rücken noun

RUEK-en back

Mein Rücken tut weh.

sitzen verb

ZIT-sen to sit

Versuch, aufrecht zu sitzen.

Stuhl noun

SHTOOL chair

Dieser Stuhl ist bequemer.

versuchen verb

fer-ZOOKH-en to try Versuch

Versuch, aufrecht zu sitzen.

wehtun verb

VAYT-toon to hurt tut weh

Mein Rücken tut weh.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

My back feels sore.

Show Answer

Mein Rücken tut weh.

Try to sit up straight.

Show Answer

Versuch, aufrecht zu sitzen.

I sat too long today.

Show Answer

Ich habe heute zu lange gesessen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to stretch

Show Answer

Dehne

yourself

Show Answer

dich

back

Show Answer

Rücken

to sit

Show Answer

sitzen