Remembering new words with example sentences | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Remembering new words with example sentences to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ich merke mir beim Lernen neue Wörter.

ikh MAIR-kuh meer byme LAIR-nen NOY-uh VUR-ter. I remember new words during study time.

Aber ich vergesse sie, wenn ich sprechen will.

AH-ber ikh fer-GESS-uh zee, ven ikh SHPREKH-en vil. But I forget them when I try to speak.

Die Wörter haben vielleicht keinen Bezug zu Situationen, in denen du sie wirklich benutzen würdest.

dee VUR-ter HAH-ben fee-LIEKHT KYE-nen beh-TSOOK tsoo zee-too-ah-TSYOH-nen, in DAY-nen doo zee VEERK-likh ben-OO-tsen VUR-dest. The words may not be connected to situations where you would actually use them.

Normalerweise schreibe ich die Übersetzung auf und sehe mir später dieselbe Liste noch einmal an.

nor-ma-LAIR-vy-zuh SHRY-buh ikh dee YOO-ber-ZET-soong owf unt ZAY-uh meer SHPAY-ter DEE-zel-buh LIS-tuh nokh EYE-nmal an. I usually write the translation and review the same list later.

Versuch, zu jedem nützlichen Wort einen einfachen Beispielsatz zu schreiben.

fer-ZOOK, tsoo YAY-dem NYUUTS-likh-en VORT EYE-nen EYN-fakh-en BYE-shpeel-zats tsoo SHRY-ben. Try adding one simple example sentence for each useful word.

Ich kann Sätze über die Arbeit, das Einkaufen oder Nachrichten an Freunde schreiben.

ikh kan ZET-suh YOO-ber dee AR-bite, das EYN-kow-fen OH-der NAKH-rikh-ten an FROYN-duh SHRY-ben. I can write sentences about work, shopping, or messages to friends.

Diese Situationen werden es dir leichter machen, dich im Gespräch an die Bedeutung zu erinnern.

DEE-zuh zee-too-ah-TSYOH-nen VAIR-den es deer LYKH-ter MAKH-en, dikh im guh-SHPRAIKH an dee beh-DOY-toong tsoo er-IN-nern. Those situations will make the meaning easier to recall during conversation.

Ich sollte wahrscheinlich weniger Wörter lernen und sie öfter benutzen.

ikh SHOL-tuh Vahr-SHINE-likh VAY-nee-ger VUR-ter LAIR-nen unt zee URF-ter ben-OO-tsen. I should probably study fewer words and use them more often.

Die wiederholte Verwendung wird dazu beitragen, dass die Wörter Teil deines aktiven Wortschatzes werden.

dee VEE-der-hol-tuh fer-VEN-doong veert DAH-tsoo BAI-trah-gen, das dee VUR-ter TYLE DYE-nes AK-tee-ven VORT-shats-es VAIR-den. Repeated use will help the words become part of your active vocabulary.

Ich werde eine kleine Auswahl treffen und nach dem Unterricht persönliche Beispiele schreiben.

ikh VAIR-duh EYE-nuh KLY-nuh OWS-vahl TREF-en unt nahkh daym OON-ter-rikht pair-ZOEN-likh-uh BYE-shpee-luh SHRY-ben. I will choose a small set and write personal examples after class.

Diese Routine sollte dein Wortschatztraining praktischer machen.

DEE-zuh roo-TEE-nuh SHOL-tuh dine VORT-shats-tray-ning PRAK-tee-sher MAKH-en. That routine should make your vocabulary practice more practical.

Word by Word

Ich Ich means “I” in this dialogue and identifies the person speaking. The same pronoun appears as lowercase ich after the first position, as in „ich vergesse sie“. Use Ich or ich to talk about yourself.

merke In „Ich merke mir“ means “I remember” or “I retain”. It works together with mir in the reusable pattern „sich etwas merken“, used for remembering information such as new words. You can use this pattern when describing something you want to remember.

mir In „Ich merke mir“ mir indicates that the information is being retained for me. It also appears in „sehe mir ... an“, where it accompanies the act of reviewing something for myself. Learn these expressions as complete patterns rather than translating mir separately each time.

beim Beim means “during” or “while” in „beim Lernen“. It is the contracted form of bei dem and introduces an activity taking place at the same time. Use „beim“ before an activity when saying what happens while doing it.

Lernen Lernen means “studying” in „beim Lernen“. The capitalized form names the activity, while the verb lernen appears elsewhere in the dialogue in „Wörter lernen“. Use „beim Lernen“ to describe something that happens during study.

neue Neue means “new” and describes the words in „neue Wörter“. Its form belongs with the noun phrase used here. You can reuse it before a noun when introducing something unfamiliar or newly acquired.

Wörter Wörter means “words” in the dialogue, especially new vocabulary items. It is the plural form used in „neue Wörter“ and appears again in „Die Wörter“. Use Wörter when referring to several individual words.

Aber Aber means “but” and introduces a contrast with the previous statement: the speaker remembers words while studying but forgets them while speaking. It connects two statements with different or opposing information. Use Aber at the start of a contrasting sentence.

vergesse Vergesse means “forget” in „ich vergesse sie“. It describes losing the ability to recall the words when trying to speak. Use it with the thing forgotten, as in „Ich vergesse sie“.

sie Sie means “them” here and refers back to the words. In „ich vergesse sie“, it is the object of the verb vergesse. Use sie when referring back to several things already mentioned.

wenn Wenn means “when” in „wenn ich sprechen will“ and introduces the situation in which the forgetting happens. The verb appears at the end of this subordinate clause. Use wenn to connect an event with a time or condition.

sprechen Sprechen means “to speak” in „sprechen will“. It is the infinitive used with will, and it stays at the end of the subordinate clause. Use it after a verb expressing what someone wants to do.

will Will means “want to” in „ich sprechen will“. It expresses the speaker’s intention to speak and is used with the infinitive sprechen. Use „ich will“ followed by an infinitive to state what you want to do.

Die Die means “the” in „Die Wörter“ and introduces the specific words being discussed. Here it comes before Wörter. Use die when referring to known items in this plural noun phrase.

haben Haben contributes the meaning “have” in „Die Wörter haben vielleicht keinen Bezug“. Together, haben keinen Bezug expresses that the words may lack a connection to relevant situations. Use „Bezug zu etwas haben“ when describing a connection to something.

vielleicht Vielleicht means “perhaps” or “maybe” and makes the statement less certain: the words may not be connected to useful situations. It can modify a whole statement, as in „haben vielleicht keinen Bezug“. Use it when offering a possible explanation rather than a definite one.

keinen Keinen means “no” or “not any” in „keinen Bezug“. It negates the connection expressed by Bezug and shows that there is no such connection. Use it before a masculine noun in similar negative expressions when the noun is the object of the verb.

Bezug Bezug means “connection” or “relation” in „keinen Bezug zu Situationen“. The reusable expression „Bezug zu etwas haben“ describes a connection to a person, thing, or situation. Here it explains why the vocabulary may be hard to use.

zu Zu means “to” in „Bezug zu Situationen“ and links Bezug with the situations it relates to. The complete pattern is „Bezug zu etwas haben“. In another dialogue phrase, „zu schreiben“, zu introduces an infinitive, so its function depends on the construction.

Situationen Situationen means “situations” in „zu Situationen“. It refers to real-life contexts in which the learner might use the words. Use Situationen when discussing several circumstances or contexts.

in In means “in” in „in denen du sie wirklich benutzen würdest“. Together with denen, it introduces the situations in which the words would be used. Use „in ...“ to describe the setting where an action takes place.

denen Denen means “which” or “in which” in „in denen“. It refers back to Situationen and forms the relative expression „in denen“. Use this pattern to add information about situations or other previously mentioned plural items.

du Du means “you” when speaking to one person in the familiar form. In this dialogue, it refers to the learner being advised. Use du when addressing one person informally.

wirklich Wirklich means “really” or “actually” in „wirklich benutzen“. It emphasizes that the situations are ones where the learner would genuinely use the words. Use it before or near the verb or phrase you want to emphasize.

benutzen Benutzen means “use” in „sie wirklich benutzen würdest“. It is the infinitive used with würdest and refers to using the words in real situations. Use it with the thing being used, as in „Wörter benutzen“.

würdest Würdest contributes the meaning “would” in „du sie wirklich benutzen würdest“. Together with the infinitive benutzen, it describes a hypothetical or imagined use of the words. Use „würdest“ with an infinitive when discussing what someone would do.

Normalerweise Normalerweise means “usually” or “normally” and introduces the speaker’s regular study method. In „Normalerweise schreibe ich ...“, it appears at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the verb. Use it to describe a habitual action.

schreibe Schreibe means “write” in „schreibe ich die Übersetzung auf“. It is used with the separable expression „aufschreiben“, meaning to write something down. Use it with the information or object that you record.

Übersetzung Übersetzung means “translation” in „die Übersetzung aufschreiben“. It is the information the speaker normally writes down for a word. Use it when referring to a translated version of a word or expression.

auf Auf is the separable particle in „schreibe ... auf“ and completes the expression „aufschreiben“, meaning “write down”. It moves to the end of the main clause after the object. Use this particle in the same separable pattern when recording information.

und Und means “and” and connects the two study actions „schreibe ... auf“ and „sehe ... an“. It adds one action to another without contrast. Use und to join related words, phrases, or clauses.

sehe Sehe means “look at” or “review” in „sehe mir ... an“. Together with mir and an, it forms the expression „sich etwas ansehen“, used here for reviewing the list. Use this pattern when looking over written material or another object.

später Später means “later” and places the review after the initial writing activity. In „sehe mir später ... an“, it describes when the action happens. Use it to refer to a later point in time.

dieselbe Dieselbe means “the same” in „dieselbe Liste“. It shows that the speaker reviews the list already mentioned, not a different list. Use it before a noun when referring back to the identical item.

Liste Liste means “list” in „dieselbe Liste“. Here it is a list containing vocabulary and translations. Use Liste for an organized series of written items.

noch Noch contributes the meaning “again” in „noch einmal“. It combines with einmal to express repeating the review. Use noch with einmal when saying that something happens one more time.

einmal Einmal means “once” in isolation, but in „noch einmal“ it contributes to the meaning “again” or “one more time“. This expression is useful for repeated actions. Use „noch einmal“ when asking for or describing another repetition.

an An is the separable particle in „sehe mir ... an“, completing the expression for reviewing something. It also appears in „an die Bedeutung erinnern“, where it belongs to the construction for remembering something. Learn its function together with the surrounding verb in each expression.

Versuch Versuch means “try” in „Versuch, ... zu schreiben“. It is an informal singular imperative telling one person to attempt an action. Use „Versuch, ... zu“ followed by an infinitive when giving this kind of suggestion.

jedem Jedem means “each” or “every” in „zu jedem nützlichen Wort“. It shows that the suggested example sentence should be added separately for every useful word. Use it in a pattern such as „zu jedem Wort“ when assigning something to individual items.

nützlichen Nützlichen means “useful” in „jedem nützlichen Wort“. It describes the words for which an example sentence would be helpful. Use it before a noun when identifying something as practically helpful.

Wort Wort means “word” in „zu jedem nützlichen Wort“. Here it refers to one vocabulary item at a time. Use Wort for a single word and place it in the relevant expression, such as „ein Wort schreiben“.

einen Einen means “a” or “one” in „einen einfachen Beispielsatz“. It introduces one example sentence for each word. Use it before a masculine noun in a phrase describing one object or item.

einfachen Einfachen means “simple” in „einen einfachen Beispielsatz“. It describes an example sentence that is not complicated. Use it before a noun when recommending a straightforward example.

Beispielsatz Beispielsatz means “example sentence” in „einen einfachen Beispielsatz“. It names a sentence created to show how a word can be used. Use it when giving or writing a practical sentence for vocabulary study.

schreiben Schreiben means “to write” in „zu schreiben“. The expression „Versuch, ... zu schreiben“ tells someone to try writing something. Use schreiben with the thing being written, such as a sentence or example.

kann Kann means “can” in „Ich kann Sätze ... schreiben“. It expresses the speaker’s ability or possibility to write the sentences. Use kann with an infinitive, which appears at the end of the phrase.

Sätze Sätze means “sentences” in „Sätze über die Arbeit“. It refers to several written examples about different everyday topics. Use Sätze when talking about more than one complete sentence.

über Über means “about” in „Sätze über die Arbeit“. It introduces the topic of the sentences. Use „Sätze über etwas schreiben“ when saying that sentences are written about a particular subject.

Arbeit Arbeit means “work” in „über die Arbeit“. It names one possible everyday topic for a personal example sentence. Use it with die when referring to work as the activity or area being discussed.

das Das means “the” in „das Einkaufen“. It introduces Einkaufen as a specific activity used as a noun. Use das before this activity when referring to shopping as a topic.

Einkaufen Einkaufen means “shopping” in „das Einkaufen“. The capitalized form names the activity and appears as one of the topics for example sentences. Use it after das when referring to shopping as an activity.

oder Oder means “or” and offers alternatives among the topics: work, shopping, or messages to friends. It connects options rather than adding all of them as one combined item. Use oder between alternatives.

Nachrichten Nachrichten means “messages” in „Nachrichten an Freunde“. The surrounding phrase shows that these are messages sent to friends, not news reports. Use it with a recipient phrase such as „Nachrichten an Freunde“ when discussing messages.

Freunde Freunde means “friends” in „Nachrichten an Freunde“. It identifies the people who receive the messages. Use Freunde when referring to several friends.

Diese Diese means “these” or “those” in „Diese Situationen“. It points back to the situations just mentioned, such as work, shopping, and messages to friends. Use it before a noun when referring to specific items already identified.

werden Werden means “will” in „Diese Situationen werden es dir leichter machen“. It helps form a future statement and works with the infinitive machen at the end. Use werden with an infinitive to describe what will happen.

es Es functions as “it” in „werden es dir leichter machen“. Together with the surrounding construction, it refers to making the act of recalling easier for the learner. Use es in this type of expression when the thing being made easier is expressed by a later action or clause.

dir Dir means “to you” in „es dir leichter machen“. It identifies the person who benefits from the situations making recall easier. Use dir when addressing one person informally as the recipient or beneficiary of an action.

leichter Leichter means “easier” in „es dir leichter machen“. It describes the result: the situations make recalling the meaning easier. Use it with machen in the reusable pattern „etwas leichter machen“.

machen Machen means “make” in „es dir leichter machen“. The full construction expresses causing something to become easier for someone. Use „etwas jemandem leichter machen“ when describing how one thing helps another person do something.

dich Dich means “you” in „dich ... an die Bedeutung zu erinnern“. It is part of the expression for remembering something, where the person remembering is referred to directly. Use „dich erinnern“ when speaking to one informal singular person about recalling something.

im Im means “in the” in „im Gespräch“. It is the contracted form of in dem and describes the setting in which the meaning is recalled. Use „im Gespräch“ for something happening during a conversation.

Gespräch Gespräch means “conversation” in „im Gespräch“. The phrase „im Gespräch“ refers to speaking with someone rather than studying alone. Use it when describing something that happens during a conversation.

Bedeutung Bedeutung means “meaning” in „an die Bedeutung erinnern“. It refers to what a word or expression signifies. Use it with „sich an etwas erinnern“ when talking about recalling a meaning.

erinnern Erinnern means “remember” or “recall” in „dich ... an die Bedeutung zu erinnern“. Together with an and the remembered item, the expression is „sich an etwas erinnern“. Use it when describing the act of bringing something back to mind.

sollte Sollte means “should” in „Ich sollte wahrscheinlich ...“. It expresses the speaker’s considered recommendation for their own study habits. Use sollte with an infinitive to suggest what someone ought to do.

wahrscheinlich Wahrscheinlich means “probably” and softens the recommendation in „Ich sollte wahrscheinlich ...“. It shows that the speaker considers the change likely to be useful but is not presenting it as absolute. Use it when expressing a likely conclusion or plan.

weniger Weniger means “fewer” in „weniger Wörter“. It refers to a smaller number of words being studied. Use it before a plural noun when comparing quantities.

öfter Öfter means “more often” in „sie öfter benutzen“. It recommends increasing the frequency of using the words. Use it with a verb to describe an action that should happen more frequently.

wiederholte Wiederholte means “repeated” in „die wiederholte Verwendung“. It describes use that happens again and again. Use it before a noun when emphasizing repetition.

Verwendung Verwendung means “use” or “usage” in „Die wiederholte Verwendung“. It names the act of using the words repeatedly. Use it in the pattern „wiederholte Verwendung“ when discussing regular practice.

wird Wird means “will” in „wird dazu beitragen“. It helps express that repeated use will have a helpful effect. Use it with an infinitive such as beitragen to describe a future result.

dazu Dazu means “to this” or “toward this result” in „dazu beitragen, dass ...“. Together with beitragen, it introduces the result that something helps produce. Use the pattern „dazu beitragen, dass ...“ to explain how an action supports an outcome.

beitragen Beitragen means “contribute” or “help” in „dazu beitragen, dass ...“. The expression describes repeated use as helping the words become part of the active vocabulary. Use it with dazu and a dass-clause when explaining a contributing factor.

dass Dass means “that” and introduces the result clause „dass die Wörter Teil ... werden“. It connects beitragen with the outcome being described. Use dass to introduce a complete clause explaining what happens or is true.

Teil Teil means “part” in „Teil deines aktiven Wortschatzes“. The phrase says that the words become part of the learner’s active vocabulary. Use „Teil von etwas sein“ or a similar „Teil ... werden“ construction when describing membership in a larger whole.

deines Deines means “of your” in „deines aktiven Wortschatzes“. It identifies the vocabulary as belonging to the person being addressed. Use it before a noun phrase when expressing that something is part of one informal person’s possession or area.

aktiven Aktiven means “active” in „deines aktiven Wortschatzes“. It describes vocabulary that the learner can use, not merely recognize. Use it before Wortschatz when discussing vocabulary available for active use.

Wortschatzes Wortschatzes means “of vocabulary” in „deines aktiven Wortschatzes“. It refers to the learner’s active collection of known words. Use it in a phrase such as „Teil deines Wortschatzes“ when describing vocabulary membership.

werde Werde means “will” in „Ich werde eine kleine Auswahl treffen“. It helps form the speaker’s future plan and is used with the infinitives treffen and schreiben. Use „ich werde“ followed by an infinitive to state what you plan to do.

eine Eine means “a” or “one” in „eine kleine Auswahl“. It introduces one selection or set. Use it before a feminine noun phrase when referring to one item or group.

kleine Kleine means “small” in „eine kleine Auswahl“. It describes a limited set of words chosen for practice. Use it before a noun when emphasizing a limited size or amount.

Auswahl Auswahl means “selection” in „eine kleine Auswahl treffen“. The complete expression means to choose a small set of items. Use „eine Auswahl treffen“ when making a choice from several possibilities.

treffen Treffen means “make” or “choose” in the expression „eine Auswahl treffen“. Here it does not mean meeting a person; with Auswahl, it means making a selection. Use the complete pattern „eine Auswahl treffen“ for choosing a set.

nach Nach means “after” in „nach dem Unterricht“. It places the writing activity later than the class. Use „nach“ with an activity or event when saying what happens afterward.

dem Dem means “the” in „nach dem Unterricht“. It introduces Unterricht within the time expression meaning “after class”. Use the complete phrase „nach dem Unterricht“ to refer to the period following class.

Unterricht Unterricht means “class” or “lesson” in „nach dem Unterricht“. It identifies the teaching session after which the speaker plans to write. Use it in time expressions such as „nach dem Unterricht“.

persönliche Persönliche means “personal” in „persönliche Beispiele“. It describes examples connected to the speaker’s own life. Use it before a noun when emphasizing that something is individual or personally relevant.

Beispiele Beispiele means “examples” in „persönliche Beispiele schreiben“. These are sentences based on personal situations that help make vocabulary practical. Use Beispiele when giving several illustrations or practical instances.

Routine Routine means “routine” in „Diese Routine“. It refers to the regular study method of selecting words and writing personal examples. Use it for a repeated pattern of activities.

dein Dein means “your” in „dein Wortschatztraining“. It identifies the vocabulary practice as belonging to the person being addressed. Use dein before a singular noun when speaking informally to one person about something associated with them.

Wortschatztraining Wortschatztraining means “vocabulary practice” in „dein Wortschatztraining“. It names the activity of practicing and developing vocabulary. Use it when referring to organized practice focused on words.

praktischer Praktischer means “more practical” in „dein Wortschatztraining praktischer machen“. It describes the intended improvement: vocabulary practice becomes more connected to real use. Use it with machen in the pattern „etwas praktischer machen“.

Grammar Points

sich etwas merken: mir + Akkusativ

Ich merke mir die Bedeutung.

ikh MAIR-kuh meer dee beh-DOY-toong.

I remember the meaning.

The reflexive verb uses a dative pronoun for the person: mir, dir, sich. The thing remembered is in the accusative.

Trennbare Verben: Präfix am Satzende

Ich schreibe den Beispielsatz auf.

ikh SHRY-buh dayn BYE-shpeel-zats owf.

I write down the example sentence.

In a main clause, the verb prefix separates and moves to the end: aufschreiben → schreibe ... auf.

German Vocabulary

aufschreiben verb

OWF-shry-ben write down schreibe ... auf

schreibe ich die Übersetzung auf

beim Lernen phrase

byme LAIR-nen during studying

Ich merke mir beim Lernen neue Wörter.

benutzen verb

ben-OO-tsen use

in denen du sie wirklich benutzen würdest

Bezug noun

beh-TSOOK connection

keinen Bezug zu Situationen

dieselbe det

DEE-zel-buh the same

dieselbe Liste

normalerweise adv

nor-ma-LAIR-vy-zuh usually Normalerweise

Normalerweise schreibe ich die Übersetzung auf.

sich ansehen verb

zikh AHN-zay-en look at; review sehe mir ... an

sehe mir später dieselbe Liste noch einmal an

sich merken verb

zikh MAIR-ken remember merke mir

Ich merke mir beim Lernen neue Wörter.

Situation noun

zee-too-ah-TSYOHN situation Situationen

zu Situationen, in denen du sie wirklich benutzen würdest

sprechen verb

SHPREKH-en speak

wenn ich sprechen will

Übersetzung noun

YOO-ber-ZET-soong translation

die Übersetzung

vergessen verb

fer-GESS-en forget vergesse

Aber ich vergesse sie, wenn ich sprechen will.

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

connection

Show Answer

Bezug

forget

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vergesse

situation

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Situationen

use

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benutzen