Einheit 8: Hobbys und Freizeit.

📘 Colloquial German for Beginners

🎨 UNIT 8: Hobbies and Leisure

🗣️ Dialogue 1 – Talking About Hobbies (Standard German)

Basic Phrases:

• Was sind deine Hobbys? – What are your hobbies?
• Ich ... gerne. – I like to ...
• Das klingt toll! – That sounds great!
• Seit wann ...? – Since when ...?
• Danke fürs Erzählen! – Thanks for sharing!

Anna: Hallo, was sind deine Hobbys?

Tom: Ich male gerne.

Anna: Das klingt toll! Malst du Landschaften?

Tom: Ja, und manchmal Porträts.

Anna: Seit wann malst du?

Tom: Seit drei Jahren.

Anna: Danke fürs Erzählen!

Tom: Gern geschehen!

📝 Translation

Anna: Hello, what are your hobbies?

Tom: I like to paint.

Anna: That sounds great! Do you paint landscapes?

Tom: Yes, and sometimes portraits.

Anna: Since when have you been painting?

Tom: For three years.

Anna: Thanks for sharing!

Tom: You’re welcome!

🗣️ Dialogue 2 – Chatting About Hobbies (Colloquial German)

Basic Phrases:

• Was machst’n so in deiner Freizeit? – What do you do in your free time?
• Ich ... halt gern. – I kinda like to ...
• Cool, echt? – Cool, really?
• Seit wann machst’n das? – Since when have you been doing that?
• Danke, dass du’s erzählt hast! – Thanks for telling!

Ben: Hey, was machst’n so in deiner Freizeit?

Lisa: Ich mal halt gern.

Ben: Cool, echt? Malst’n Landschaften?

Lisa: Jo, und ab und zu Porträts.

Ben: Seit wann machst’n das?

Lisa: Seit drei Jahren.

Ben: Danke, dass du’s erzählt hast!

Lisa: Kein Ding!

📝 Translation

Ben: Hey, what do you do in your free time?

Lisa: I kinda like to paint.

Ben: Cool, really? Do you paint landscapes?

Lisa: Yeah, and sometimes portraits.

Ben: Since when have you been doing that?

Lisa: For three years.

Ben: Thanks for telling!

Lisa: No prob!

🗣️ Dialogue 3 – Talking About Hobbies (Bavarian)

Basic Phrases:

• Was machst in da Freizeit? – What do you do in your free time?
• I ... gern. – I like to ...
• Des is schee! – That’s nice!
• Seit wann machst des? – Since when have you been doing that?
• Danke, dass’d des erzählt hast! – Thanks for telling!

Sepp: Servus, was machst in da Freizeit?

Maria: I mal gern.

Sepp: Des is schee! Malst Landschaft’n?

Maria: Jo, und manchmal Porträts.

Sepp: Seit wann machst des?

Maria: Seit drei Joar.

Sepp: Danke, dass’d des erzählt hast!

Maria: Gern g’scheh!

📝 Translation

Sepp: Hello, what do you do in your free time?

Maria: I like to paint.

Sepp: That’s nice! Do you paint landscapes?

Maria: Yeah, and sometimes portraits.

Sepp: Since when have you been doing that?

Maria: For three years.

Sepp: Thanks for telling!

Maria: You’re welcome!

🗣️ Dialogue 4 – Talking About Hobbies (Swabian)

Basic Phrases:

• Was machst in da Freizeit? – What do you do in your free time?
• I ... gern. – I like to ...
• Des isch schee! – That’s nice!
• Seit wann machst des? – Since when have you been doing that?
• Danke, dass’d des verzählt hast! – Thanks for telling!

Lena: Grüß di, was machst in da Freizeit?

Max: I mal gern.

Lena: Des isch schee! Malst Landschafta?

Max: Jo, und ab und zua Porträts.

Lena: Seit wann machst des?

Max: Seit drei Johr.

Lena: Danke, dass’d des verzählt hast!

Max: Gudd, bittschö!

📝 Translation

Lena: Hello, what do you do in your free time?

Max: I like to paint.

Lena: That’s nice! Do you paint landscapes?

Max: Yeah, and sometimes portraits.

Lena: Since when have you been doing that?

Max: For three years.

Lena: Thanks for telling!

Max: You’re welcome!

🧠 Vocabulary

Standard: Was sind deine Hobbys?

Colloquial: Was machst’n so in deiner Freizeit?

Bavarian: Was machst in da Freizeit?

Swabian: Was machst in da Freizeit?

Meaning: What are your hobbies?

Standard: Ich male gerne.

Colloquial: Ich mal halt gern.

Bavarian: I mal gern.

Swabian: I mal gern.

Meaning: I like to paint.

Standard: Das klingt toll!

Colloquial: Cool, echt?

Bavarian: Des is schee!

Swabian: Des isch schee!

Meaning: That sounds great!

Standard: Seit wann malst du?

Colloquial: Seit wann machst’n das?

Bavarian: Seit wann machst des?

Swabian: Seit wann machst des?

Meaning: Since when have you been painting?

Standard: Danke fürs Erzählen!

Colloquial: Danke, dass du’s erzählt hast!

Bavarian: Danke, dass’d des erzählt hast!

Swabian: Danke, dass’d des verzählt hast!

Meaning: Thanks for telling!

Standard: Hobby

Colloquial: Hobby

Bavarian: Hobby

Swabian: Hobby

Meaning: Hobby

Standard: Malen

Colloquial: Malen

Bavarian: Malen

Swabian: Malen

Meaning: Paint

Standard: Landschaften

Colloquial: Landschaften

Bavarian: Landschaft’n

Swabian: Landschafta

Meaning: Landscapes

Note: Colloquial German uses contractions like “machst’n” and slang like “kein Ding.” Bavarian uses “jo” and regional terms like “Joar.” Swabian has a melodic tone with words like “isch” and “verzählt.”

📚 Grammar Focus: Present Tense and Expressing Preferences

The present tense is key for describing hobbies and leisure activities in German:

• Standard German: Formal verbs with “gerne” (Dialogue 1).
• Colloquial German: Simplified with “halt” and contractions (Dialogue 2).
• Bavarian: Regional terms like “Joar” and “gern” (Dialogue 3).
• Swabian: Softer pronunciation with “isch” (Dialogue 4).

Verb: Malen

Standard: Ich male

Colloquial: Ich mal

Bavarian: I mal

Swabian: I mal

Meaning: I paint

Expression: Gerne

Standard: Ich male gerne

Colloquial: Ich mal halt gern

Bavarian: I mal gern

Swabian: I mal gern

Meaning: I like to paint

Phrase: Seit drei Jahren

Standard: Seit drei Jahren

Colloquial: Seit drei Jahren

Bavarian: Seit drei Joar

Swabian: Seit drei Johr

Meaning: For three years

Examples:

Standard:

• “Ich male gerne.” – Formal.
• “Ich male Landschaften.” – Clear.
• “Ich male seit drei Jahren.” – Polite.

Colloquial:

• “Ich mal halt gern.” – Casual.
• “Ich mal Landschaften.” – Relaxed.
• “Ich mach das seit drei Jahren.” – Lively.

Bavarian:

• “I mal gern.” – Regional.
• “I mal Landschaft’n.” – Warm.
• “I mach des seit drei Joar.” – Sing-song.

Swabian:

• “I mal gern.” – Soft.
• “I mal Landschafta.” – Melodic.
• “I mach des seit drei Johr.” – Expressive.

✍️ Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank (Standard German)

Fill in the blank with the correct phrase or hobby term in Standard German.

• 1. Was sind deine ___?
• 2. Ich ___ gerne.
• 3. Das klingt ___!
• 4. Malst du ___?
• 5. Seit wann ___ du?

Solutions:

• 1. Was sind deine Hobbys?
• 2. Ich male gerne.
• 3. Das klingt toll!
• 4. Malst du Landschaften?
• 5. Seit wann malst du?

Exercise 2: Matching Phrases to Dialects

Match the phrase to its dialect.

• 1. Was sind deine Hobbys?
• 2. Was machst’n so in deiner Freizeit?
• 3. Was machst in da Freizeit?
• 4. Was machst in da Freizeit?

Options:

• A. Standard German
• B. Colloquial German
• C. Bavarian
• D. Swabian

Solutions:

• 1. Was sind deine Hobbys? – A. Standard German
• 2. Was machst’n so in deiner Freizeit? – B. Colloquial German
• 3. Was machst in da Freizeit? – C. Bavarian
• 4. Was machst in da Freizeit? – D. Swabian

Exercise 3: Sentence Ordering (Colloquial German)

Put the words in order to form a correct sentence in Colloquial German.

• 1. machst’n / Freizeit / deiner / so / in / was?
• 2. gern / mal / ich / halt!
• 3. machst’n / wann / das / seit?

Solutions:

• 1. Was machst’n so in deiner Freizeit?
• 2. Ich mal halt gern!
• 3. Seit wann machst’n das?

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice Vocabulary

Choose the correct vocabulary word to complete the sentence (use the dialect indicated).

• 1. (Standard) ___ sind deine Hobbys?
  A. Was   B. Wie   C. Wo
• 2. (Colloquial) ___ so in deiner Freizeit?
  A. Was machst’n   B. Wie machst’n   C. Wo machst’n
• 3. (Bavarian) ___ des is schee!
  A. Jo   B. Gudd   C. Klar
• 4. (Swabian) ___ gudd, danke!
  A. Jo   B. Naus   C. Hin

Solutions:

• 1. Was sind deine Hobbys?
• 2. Was machst’n so in deiner Freizeit?
• 3. Jo des is schee!
• 4. Jo gudd, danke!

Exercise 5: Fill in the Blank (Mixed Dialects)

Fill in the blank with the correct phrase or hobby term (use the dialect indicated).

• 1. (Standard) Ich ___ gerne.
• 2. (Colloquial) Ich ___ halt gern.
• 3. (Bavarian) I ___ gern.
• 4. (Swabian) Seit wann machst des ___?
• 5. (Standard) Ich male ___.

Solutions:

• 1. Ich male gerne.
• 2. Ich mal halt gern.
• 3. I mal gern.
• 4. Seit wann machst des scho?
• 5. Ich male Landschaften.

Exercise 6: Translate and Transform (Standard to Colloquial)

Translate the following Standard German sentences into Colloquial German, using slang or informal expressions. Provide a brief explanation of the changes.

• 1. Was sind deine Hobbys?
• 2. Ich male gerne.
• 3. Seit wann malst du?
• 4. Danke fürs Erzählen!

Solutions:

• 1. Colloquial: Was machst’n so in deiner Freizeit?
  Explanation: “Was sind deine Hobbys” becomes “Was machst’n so in deiner Freizeit” for a casual tone.
• 2. Colloquial: Ich mal halt gern.
  Explanation: “Gerne” is replaced with “halt gern” for informal flair.
• 3. Colloquial: Seit wann machst’n das?
  Explanation: “Seit wann malst du” is simplified to “Seit wann machst’n das” for a relaxed vibe.
• 4. Colloquial: Danke, dass du’s erzählt hast!
  Explanation: “Danke fürs Erzählen” is replaced with a more conversational phrase.

Exercise 7: Create Your Own Dialogue (Mixed Dialects)

Write a short dialogue (4-6 lines) between two people talking about hobbies, using one of the following styles: Standard German, Colloquial German, Bavarian, or Swabian. Include at least one hobby term and one phrase from the vocabulary section. Provide the translation into English.

Example:

• Style: Colloquial German
• Person 1: Hey, was machst’n so in deiner Freizeit?
• Person 2: Ich mal halt gern.
• Person 1: Cool, echt? Malst’n Landschaften?
• Person 2: Jo, und ab und zu Porträts. Danke, dass du fragst!
• Translation:
• Person 1: Hey, what do you do in your free time?
• Person 2: I kinda like to paint.
• Person 1: Cool, really? Do you paint landscapes?
• Person 2: Yeah, and sometimes portraits. Thanks for asking!

Exercise 8: Multiple Choice (Dialect Identification)

Identify the dialect of the following sentences.

• 1. Was machst in da Freizeit?
  A. Standard German   B. Colloquial German   C. Bavarian   D. Swabian
• 2. Was sind deine Hobbys?
  A. Standard German   B. Colloquial German   C. Bavarian   D. Swabian
• 3. Was machst’n so in deiner Freizeit?
  A. Standard German   B. Colloquial German   C. Bavarian   D. Swabian
• 4. Was machst in da Freizeit?
  A. Standard German   B. Colloquial German   C. Bavarian   D. Swabian

Solutions:

• 1. Was machst in da Freizeit? – C. Bavarian
• 2. Was sind deine Hobbys? – A. Standard German
• 3. Was machst’n so in deiner Freizeit? – B. Colloquial German
• 4. Was machst in da Freizeit? – D. Swabian

Exercise 9: Vocabulary Substitution (Regional Dialects)

Rewrite the following Standard German sentences by substituting key words with their Bavarian or Swabian equivalents.

• 1. Ich male gerne.
• 2. Ich male Landschaften.
• 3. Seit wann malst du?
• 4. Danke fürs Erzählen!

Solutions:

• 1. Bavarian: I mal gern.
  Swabian: I mal gern.
• 2. Bavarian: I mal Landschaft’n.
  Swabian: I mal Landschafta.
• 3. Bavarian: Seit wann machst des?
  Swabian: Seit wann machst des?
• 4. Bavarian: Danke, dass’d des erzählt hast!
  Swabian: Danke, dass’d des verzählt hast!

Exercise 10: Comprehension and Writing (Reading-Based)

Based on the reading passages (Text 1: Standard German and Text 2: Colloquial German), answer the following questions in complete sentences using either Standard German or Colloquial German. Then, write a short 3-4 sentence paragraph in the same style describing a similar scene (e.g., someone talking about their hobby).

• 1. What is the setting of each reading passage?
• 2. Who is the person talking about their hobby?
• 3. What hobby is mentioned in each passage?

Example Response (Colloquial German):

• 1. Text 1 is im Park, Text 2 is a in ’ner Kneipe.
• 2. In Text 1 is es ein Freund, in Text 2 ’n Typ.
• 3. In Text 1 is’s Malen, in Text 2 a Malen.
• Paragraph: In der Kneipe is voll gemütlich! Ein Typ erzählt von seinem Hobby, er malt. Er sagt, er malt Landschaften!

📖 Reading Passages

Text 1: A Hobby Discussion (Standard German)

Es ist ein schöner Nachmittag im Park. Eine Gruppe von Freunden sitzt auf einer Decke. Ein Freund erzählt von seinem Hobby. „Ich male gerne,“ sagt er. „Das klingt toll! Malst du Landschaften?“ fragt ein anderer. „Ja, Landschaften und Porträts,“ antwortet er. Alle genießen die Sonne und das Gespräch.

📝 Translation

It’s a beautiful afternoon in the park. A group of friends sits on a blanket. One friend talks about his hobby. “I like to paint,” he says. “That sounds great! Do you paint landscapes?” another asks. “Yes, landscapes and portraits,” he replies. Everyone enjoys the sun and the conversation.

📘 Glossary

Term: Schöner Nachmittag

Meaning: Beautiful afternoon

Term: Gruppe von Freunden

Meaning: Group of friends

Term: Decke

Meaning: Blanket

Term: Erzählt

Meaning: Talks

Term: Hobby

Meaning: Hobby

Term: Male gerne

Meaning: Like to paint

Term: Das klingt toll

Meaning: That sounds great

Term: Malst du Landschaften

Meaning: Do you paint landscapes

Term: Landschaften

Meaning: Landscapes

Term: Porträts

Meaning: Portraits

Term: Antwortet

Meaning: Replies

Term: Genießen

Meaning: Enjoy

Term: Sonne

Meaning: Sun

Term: Gespräch

Meaning: Conversation

🧩 Comprehension Questions

• What is the setting of the passage?
• Who is talking about their hobby?
• What hobby is mentioned?
• What question does another friend ask?
• How is the atmosphere described?

Solutions

• The setting is a park on a beautiful afternoon.
• A friend is talking about his hobby.
• The hobby mentioned is painting.
• Another friend asks, “Do you paint landscapes?”
• The atmosphere is described as sunny and enjoyable.

Text 2: A Chill Chat in the Pub (Colloquial German)

Is’ ’n entspannter Abend in der Kneipe. ’n Typ plaudert mit seinen Kumpels. „Ich mal halt gern,“ sagt er. „Cool, echt? Malst’n Landschaften?“ fragt einer. „Jo, Landschaften und Porträts,“ grinst er. Alle haben Spaß und quatschen weiter.

📝 Translation

It’s a relaxed evening in the pub. A guy chats with his buddies. “I kinda like to paint,” he says. “Cool, really? Do you paint landscapes?” one asks. “Yeah, landscapes and portraits,” he grins. Everyone’s having fun and keeps talking.

📘 Glossary

Term: Entspannter Abend

Meaning: Relaxed evening

Term: Kneipe

Meaning: Pub

“‘n Typ”: Guy

Meaning: Guy

Term: Plaudert

Meaning: Chats

Term: Kumpels

Meaning: Buddies

Term: Ich mal halt gern

Meaning: I kinda like to paint

Term: Cool, echt

Meaning: Cool, really

Term: Malst’n Landschaften

Meaning: Do you paint landscapes

Term: Landschaften

Meaning: Landscapes

Term: Porträts

Meaning: Portraits

Term: Grinst

Meaning: Grins

Term: Haben Spaß

Meaning: Have fun

Term: Quatschen

Meaning: Chat

🧪 Comprehension Questions

• What is the setting of the passage?
• Who is talking about their hobby?
• What hobby is mentioned?
• What question does someone ask?
• How is the atmosphere described?

Solutions

• The setting is a pub on a relaxed evening.
• A guy is talking about his hobby.
• The hobby mentioned is painting.
• Someone asks, “Do you paint landscapes?”
• The atmosphere is described as fun and chatty.