Using the shared laundry room fairly | Learn German in English

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Use Using the shared laundry room fairly to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Alle Waschmaschinen sind wieder voll.

AH-luh VASH-mah-SHEE-nun zint VEE-dur foll. All the washing machines are full again.

Schau in den Zeitplan und sieh nach, wann die nächste Ladung fertig wird.

sh-OW in dayn TSYTE-plahn oont zee nahkh, vahn dee NEKH-stuh LAH-doong FAIR-tikh veert. Check the schedule and see when the next load finishes.

Eine sollte bald fertig sein, aber die Person, die sie gestartet hat, ist nicht da.

EYE-nuh ZOL-tuh bahlt FAIR-tikh zine, AH-bur dee pair-ZOHN, dee zee geh-SHTAR-tet haht, ist nikht dah. One should be done soon, but the person who started it isn't around.

Gib der Person ein paar Minuten, bevor du ihre Wäsche umräumst.

Gip dair pair-ZOHN ine pahr mee-NOO-ten, beh-FOHR doo EE-ruh VESH-uh oom-ROYMST. Give them a few minutes before moving their laundry.

Wie lange sollte ich fairerweise warten, bevor ich sie umräume?

Vee LAHNG-uh ZOL-tuh ikh FAIR-uh-VY-zuh VART-en, beh-FOHR ikh zee oom-ROY-muh? How long is fair before I move it?

Eine kurze Kulanzzeit reicht aus, wenn andere Leute warten.

EYE-nuh KOOR-tsuh koo-LAHNTS-tsite RYKHT ows, venn AHN-duh-ruh LOY-tuh VART-en. A short grace period is enough if other people are waiting.

Ich stelle eine Erinnerung ein, damit ich zurückkomme, sobald meine Wäsche fertig ist.

Ikh SHTEL-luh EYE-nuh air-IN-uh-roong ine, dah-MIT ikh tsoo-ROOK-kom-uh, zoh-BAHLT MY-nuh VESH-uh FAIR-tikh ist. I'll set a reminder so I come back as soon as my load is done.

So ist es leichter, dasselbe von allen anderen zu erwarten.

Zoh ist ess LYKHT-uh, dahs-ZEL-buh fon AH-lun AHN-duh-run tsoo air-VAR-ten. That makes it easier to ask the same of everyone else.

Ich kann mich nicht über liegen gelassene Wäsche beschweren, wenn ich meine auch dort liegen lasse.

Ikh kahn mikh nikht OO-bur LEE-gun geh-LAS-uh-nuh VESH-uh beh-SHVAIR-en, venn ikh MY-nuh OWKH dort LEE-gun LAS-suh. I can't complain about abandoned laundry if I leave mine there too.

Das gemeinsame Waschen läuft reibungsloser, wenn die Leute auf die Laufzeiten achten.

Dahs geh-MYNE-zah-muh VASH-un loyft RY-boongs-LOH-zur, venn dee LOY-tuh owf dee LOWF-tsye-tun AHKH-tun. Shared laundry goes more smoothly when people watch the cycle times.

Word by Word

Alle “Alle” means all in “Alle Waschmaschinen” and covers every washing machine in the room. It is used before the plural noun “Waschmaschinen” to describe the whole group.

Waschmaschinen “Waschmaschinen” means washing machines here. The plural form is used because the sentence refers to all the machines in the shared laundry room.

sind “Sind” means are in “Alle Waschmaschinen sind wieder voll.” It connects the washing machines with their current condition, “voll.”

wieder “Wieder” means again, showing that the machines are full once more. It can be placed with a description of a situation that has happened before.

voll “Voll” means full here: every washing machine already contains laundry. It describes the current state after “sind.”

Schau “Schau” means look or check and is used as a direct request to one person in “Schau in den Zeitplan.” It is useful when asking someone to inspect a schedule, list, or display.

in In “Schau in den Zeitplan,” “in” directs attention into or toward the schedule. The reusable pattern is “in den Zeitplan schauen,” meaning to check the schedule.

den “Den” means the in “in den Zeitplan.” Here it is the article used with the masculine noun “Zeitplan” inside this direction-focused phrase.

Zeitplan “Zeitplan” means schedule, specifically the schedule for the laundry machines here. “In den Zeitplan schauen” is a useful way to say that you check scheduled times.

und “Und” means and, linking the two requests “Schau in den Zeitplan” and “sieh nach.” It joins related actions in the same instruction.

sieh “Sieh” means look or see in the request “sieh nach.” Together, “sieh nach” means check or find out, such as checking when something will finish.

nach In “sieh nach,” “nach” completes the checking expression rather than meaning after. The full pattern “sieh nach, wann ...” introduces something the listener should find out.

wann “Wann” means when and introduces the time at which the next load will be finished. It is useful for asking or checking a specific time.

die “Die” means the in “die nächste Ladung.” It introduces the feminine noun “Ladung” in this noun phrase.

nächste “Nächste” means next, identifying the load that will finish after the current one. It directly describes “Ladung” in “die nächste Ladung.”

Ladung “Ladung” means a load of laundry in this laundry-room context. It refers to the contents being washed in one machine, and “die nächste Ladung” means the next load.

fertig “Fertig” means finished or done in “fertig wird.” It describes the result the next load will reach when its cycle is complete.

wird “Wird” contributes the idea of becoming or reaching a state in “fertig wird.” The phrase “fertig wird” says that the load will become finished.

Eine “Eine” means one here, standing for one washing machine understood from the previous sentence. The same form appears as “eine” in “Eine kurze Kulanzzeit,” where it means a.

sollte “Sollte” means should in “Eine sollte bald fertig sein,” expressing an expectation that one machine will be done soon. It is useful when something is expected but not yet confirmed.

bald “Bald” means soon, referring to a short time from now. It is used here with “fertig sein” to say that the machine is expected to be done shortly.

sein “Sein” means be in “fertig sein.” Together with “fertig,” it describes the expected state of the machine: being finished.

aber “Aber” means but and introduces a problem that contrasts with the expectation that the machine will soon be finished. It connects two opposing parts of the sentence.

Person “Person” means person in “die Person, die sie gestartet hat.” It identifies the individual who started the washing machine.

sie “Sie” means it here, referring to the feminine washing machine represented by “Eine.” In “die sie gestartet hat,” it is the thing that the person started.

gestartet “Gestartet” means started in “die sie gestartet hat.” It describes the action already carried out on the washing machine.

hat “Hat” helps express that the person has started the machine in “die sie gestartet hat.” It appears with “gestartet” at the end of the relative clause.

ist “Ist” means is in “ist nicht da.” It describes the person’s current presence or absence.

nicht “Nicht” means not and negates “da” in “ist nicht da.” The phrase says that the person is not present in the laundry room.

da “Da” means there or present in “ist nicht da.” With “nicht,” the expression “nicht da” means absent or not present.

Gib “Gib” means give and is a direct request to one person in “Gib der Person ein paar Minuten.” The pattern is useful when asking someone to allow another person some time.

der “Der” means the in “der Person.” It is the article used for the person receiving the few minutes in this expression.

ein “Ein” means a in “ein paar Minuten.” Together, “ein paar” means a few, so the phrase requests a small number of minutes.

paar “Paar” contributes the meaning few in “ein paar Minuten.” This expression is a common way to refer to a small, non-specific number of minutes or other countable things.

Minuten “Minuten” means minutes. In “ein paar Minuten,” it specifies the amount of time the person should be given before the laundry is moved.

bevor “Bevor” means before and introduces the action that should happen later: moving the laundry. It is useful for setting a time boundary between two actions.

du “Du” means you, referring to the person who may move the laundry. It addresses one person directly in the subordinate clause.

ihre “Ihre” means their in “ihre Wäsche,” referring to the absent person’s laundry. It links the laundry to the person who started the machine.

Wäsche “Wäsche” means laundry here, the clothes inside the washing machine. The phrase “ihre Wäsche” identifies it as belonging to the absent person.

umräumst “Umräumst” means move or rearrange in “ihre Wäsche umräumst,” specifically moving the laundry to another place. It addresses one person directly and contrasts with “umräume,” the speaker’s form later.

Wie “Wie” means how in the question “Wie lange.” Together with “lange,” it asks about the duration of the waiting period.

lange “Lange” contributes the meaning long in “Wie lange,” which asks how much time someone should wait. This pattern is used for questions about duration.

ich “Ich” means I and identifies the speaker as the person who is deciding whether to move the laundry. It is the subject of “sollte ... warten.”

fairerweise “Fairerweise” means fairly or reasonably, showing that the speaker wants to act in a fair way toward the absent person. It is useful when judging what would be reasonable in a shared situation.

warten “Warten” means wait in “sollte ich fairerweise warten.” It describes the action the speaker is considering before moving the laundry.

umräume “Umräume” means move or rearrange in “bevor ich sie umräume,” referring to moving the laundry. This first-person form contrasts with “umräumst,” which addresses the other person.

kurze “Kurze” means short in “Eine kurze Kulanzzeit.” It describes the grace period as lasting only a limited amount of time.

Kulanzzeit “Kulanzzeit” means grace period here, the extra time given before someone moves another person’s laundry. The phrase “eine kurze Kulanzzeit” refers to a brief, considerate delay.

reicht “Reicht” means is enough in “reicht aus.” It says that the short grace period provides sufficient time.

aus In “reicht aus,” “aus” completes the meaning of being sufficient. The full expression “reicht aus” means is enough for the situation.

wenn “Wenn” means if or when here, introducing the condition that other people are waiting. It connects the grace period with the shared need for a machine.

andere “Andere” means other in “andere Leute,” distinguishing these people from the person whose laundry is in the machine. It directly describes “Leute.”

Leute “Leute” means people in “andere Leute.” It refers to the other people waiting to use the washing machines.

stelle “Stelle” means set in “Ich stelle eine Erinnerung ein.” Together with the final “ein,” it forms the expression for setting a reminder.

Erinnerung “Erinnerung” means reminder. In “eine Erinnerung einstellen,” it is the alert the speaker sets to remember to return for the laundry.

damit “Damit” means so that and introduces the purpose of setting the reminder. The purpose is that the speaker comes back when the laundry is finished.

zurückkomme “Zurückkomme” means come back in “damit ich zurückkomme.” It describes returning to the laundry room, and the clause explains the purpose of the reminder.

sobald “Sobald” means as soon as and introduces the event that triggers the return: the laundry being finished. It is useful for linking an action to the earliest moment another event is complete.

meine “Meine” means my in “meine Wäsche,” referring to the speaker’s own laundry. The noun “Wäsche” is understood again in this possessive phrase.

So “So” means in this way in “So ist es leichter.” It points back to using a reminder and presents the result of that action.

es “Es” means it in “So ist es leichter,” referring to the situation or arrangement just described. The phrase says that this makes the expectation easier to apply.

leichter “Leichter” means easier in “So ist es leichter.” It compares the situation with one in which the speaker might not return promptly.

dasselbe “Dasselbe” means the same thing in “dasselbe von allen anderen zu erwarten.” Here it refers to expecting the same prompt behavior from everyone else.

von In “dasselbe von allen anderen erwarten,” “von” marks the people from whom the same behavior is expected. This is a common pattern with “etwas von jemandem erwarten.”

allen “Allen” means all in “allen anderen.” It includes every person in the group being held to the same expectation.

anderen “Anderen” means others in “allen anderen,” referring to the other people who use the shared laundry room. Together, “allen anderen” means everyone else.

zu “Zu” marks the infinitive phrase “zu erwarten,” which expresses what is easier to expect. It links that action to “leichter.”

erwarten “Erwarten” means expect in “dasselbe von allen anderen zu erwarten.” The pattern “etwas von jemandem erwarten” means to expect something from someone.

kann “Kann” means can in “Ich kann mich nicht ... beschweren.” With “nicht,” it says that the speaker cannot reasonably complain in this situation.

mich “Mich” means me in the reflexive expression “mich ... beschweren.” It shows that the speaker is the person making the complaint.

über In “mich über liegen gelassene Wäsche beschweren,” “über” introduces what the complaint is about. This is the preposition used in the expression for complaining about something.

liegen “Liegen” contributes the idea of remaining or being left in place in “liegen gelassene Wäsche.” Together with “gelassene,” it describes laundry that has been left behind.

gelassene “Gelassene” contributes the meaning left in “liegen gelassene Wäsche.” The full description refers to laundry someone has left in the machine or room.

beschweren “Beschweren” means complain in “mich über ... beschweren.” The reusable construction is “sich über etwas beschweren,” meaning to complain about something.

auch “Auch” means also or too in “meine auch dort liegen lasse.” It adds that the speaker leaves their own laundry there in the same way.

dort “Dort” means there, referring to the place where the laundry has been left. It locates the speaker’s laundry in the same place.

lasse “Lasse” means leave or let remain in “meine auch dort liegen lasse.” Together with “liegen,” it says that the speaker leaves their own laundry there.

Das “Das” means the in “Das gemeinsame Waschen.” It introduces “Waschen” as the shared activity being discussed.

gemeinsame “Gemeinsame” means shared or communal in “Das gemeinsame Waschen.” It describes washing as an activity done in a space used by multiple people.

Waschen “Waschen” means washing here and names the shared laundry activity. In “Das gemeinsame Waschen,” it refers to using the laundry room collectively.

läuft “Läuft” means runs or proceeds in “Das gemeinsame Waschen läuft reibungsloser.” It describes how the shared laundry process functions.

reibungsloser “Reibungsloser” means more smoothly, comparing the shared washing process with a less orderly situation. It is used with “läuft” to describe how well an activity proceeds.

auf In “auf die Laufzeiten achten,” “auf” belongs to the expression for paying attention to something. The full pattern is used when identifying what people should monitor.

Laufzeiten “Laufzeiten” means cycle times here, the durations of the washing-machine programs. People watch these times so they know when machines are likely to become available.

achten “Achten” means pay attention to in “auf die Laufzeiten achten.” The reusable pattern “auf etwas achten” means to monitor or take care with something.

Grammar Points

sobald + Nebensatz: Verb am Ende

Sobald ich zurückkomme, stelle ich eine Erinnerung ein.

zoh-BAHLT ikh tsoo-ROOK-kom-uh, SHTEL-luh ikh EYE-nuh air-IN-uh-roong ine.

As soon as I come back, I set a reminder.

Nach „sobald“ steht das konjugierte Verb am Ende des Nebensatzes.

Trennbare Verben im Hauptsatz

Ich stelle eine Erinnerung ein.

Ikh SHTEL-luh EYE-nuh air-IN-uh-roong ine.

I set a reminder.

Bei trennbaren Verben steht der Präfix im Hauptsatz am Satzende.

German Vocabulary

bald adv

bahlt soon

Eine sollte bald fertig sein, aber die Person, die sie gestartet hat, ist nicht da.

da adv

dah there; around

Eine sollte bald fertig sein, aber die Person, die sie gestartet hat, ist nicht da.

fertig adj

FAIR-tikh done; finished

Eine sollte bald fertig sein, aber die Person, die sie gestartet hat, ist nicht da.

fertig werden phrase

FAIR-tikh VAYR-den to finish fertig wird

Schau in den Zeitplan und sieh nach, wann die nächste Ladung fertig wird.

geben verb

GAY-ben to give Gib

Gib der Person ein paar Minuten, bevor du ihre Wäsche umräumst.

Ladung noun

LAH-doong load

Schau in den Zeitplan und sieh nach, wann die nächste Ladung fertig wird.

nachsehen verb

NAHKH-zay-un to check sieh nach

Schau in den Zeitplan und sieh nach, wann die nächste Ladung fertig wird.

starten verb

SHTAR-ten to start gestartet

Eine sollte bald fertig sein, aber die Person, die sie gestartet hat, ist nicht da.

voll adj

foll full

Alle Waschmaschinen sind wieder voll.

Waschmaschine noun

VASH-mah-SHEE-nuh washing machine Waschmaschinen

Alle Waschmaschinen sind wieder voll.

wieder adv

VEE-dur again

Alle Waschmaschinen sind wieder voll.

Zeitplan noun

TSYTE-plahn schedule

Schau in den Zeitplan und sieh nach, wann die nächste Ladung fertig wird.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

All the washing machines are full again.

Show Answer

Alle Waschmaschinen sind wieder voll.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

soon

Show Answer

bald

again

Show Answer

wieder

schedule

Show Answer

Zeitplan

full

Show Answer

voll