Einheit 9: zu Hause.

📘 Colloquial German for Beginners

🏠 UNIT 9: At Home

🗣️ Dialogue 1 – Talking About Home Activities (Standard German)

Basic Phrases:

• Was machst du ... zu Hause? – What are you doing ... at home?
• Ich ... gerade. – I’m ... right now.
• Das klingt gut! – That sounds good!
• Seit wann ...? – Since when ...?
• Danke fürs Erzählen! – Thanks for sharing!

Anna: Hallo, was machst du heute zu Hause?

Tom: Ich koche gerade.

Anna: Das klingt gut! Was kochst du?

Tom: Eine Gemüsesuppe.

Anna: Seit wann kochst du gerne?

Tom: Seit zwei Jahren.

Anna: Danke fürs Erzählen!

Tom: Gern geschehen!

📝 Translation

Anna: Hello, what are you doing at home today?

Tom: I’m cooking right now.

Anna: That sounds good! What are you cooking?

Tom: A vegetable soup.

Anna: Since when have you enjoyed cooking?

Tom: For two years.

Anna: Thanks for sharing!

Tom: You’re welcome!

🗣️ Dialogue 2 – Chatting About Home Activities (Colloquial German)

Basic Phrases:

• Was machst’n ... zu Hause? – What are you doing ... at home?
• Ich ... grad. – I’m ... right now.
• Cool, echt? – Cool, really?
• Seit wann ...? – Since when ...?
• Danke, dass du’s erzählt hast! – Thanks for telling!

Ben: Hey, was machst’n heut zu Hause?

Lisa: Ich koch grad.

Ben: Cool, echt? Was kochst’n?

Lisa: ’ne Gemüsesuppe.

Ben: Seit wann kochst’n gern?

Lisa: Seit zwei Jahren.

Ben: Danke, dass du’s erzählt hast!

Lisa: Kein Ding!

📝 Translation

Ben: Hey, what are you doing at home today?

Lisa: I’m cooking right now.

Ben: Cool, really? What are you cooking?

Lisa: A veggie soup.

Ben: Since when have you enjoyed cooking?

Lisa: For two years.

Ben: Thanks for telling!

Lisa: No prob!

🗣️ Dialogue 3 – Talking About Home Activities (Bavarian)

Basic Phrases:

• Was machst ... dahoam? – What are you doing ... at home?
• I ... grad. – I’m ... right now.
• Des is guat! – That’s good!
• Seit wann ...? – Since when ...?
• Danke, dass’d des erzählt hast! – Thanks for telling!

Sepp: Servus, was machst heit dahoam?

Maria: I koch grad.

Sepp: Des is guat! Was kochst’n?

Maria: A Gemüsesupp’n.

Sepp: Seit wann kochst gern?

Maria: Seit zwoa Joar.

Sepp: Danke, dass’d des erzählt hast!

Maria: Gern g’scheh!

📝 Translation

Sepp: Hello, what are you doing at home today?

Maria: I’m cooking right now.

Sepp: That’s good! What are you cooking?

Maria: A vegetable soup.

Sepp: Since when have you enjoyed cooking?

Maria: For two years.

Sepp: Thanks for telling!

Maria: You’re welcome!

🗣️ Dialogue 4 – Talking About Home Activities (Swabian)

Basic Phrases:

• Was machst ... dahoim? – What are you doing ... at home?
• I ... grad. – I’m ... right now.
• Des isch fei schee! – That’s really nice!
• Seit wann ...? – Since when ...?
• Danke, dass’d des verzählt hast! – Thanks for telling!

Lena: Grüß di, was machst heit dahoim?

Max: I koch grad.

Lena: Des isch fei schee! Was kochst’n?

Max: A Gmüasupp.

Lena: Seit wann kochst gern?

Max: Seit zwoi Johr.

Lena: Danke, dass’d des verzählt hast!

Max: Gudd, bittschö!

📝 Translation

Lena: Hello, what are you doing at home today?

Max: I’m cooking right now.

Lena: That’s really nice! What are you cooking?

Max: A vegetable soup.

Lena: Since when have you enjoyed cooking?

Max: For two years.

Lena: Thanks for telling!

Max: You’re welcome!

🧠 Vocabulary

Standard: Was machst du heute zu Hause?

Colloquial: Was machst’n heut zu Hause?

Bavarian: Was machst heit dahoam?

Swabian: Was machst heit dahoim?

Meaning: What are you doing at home today?

Standard: Ich koche gerade.

Colloquial: Ich koch grad.

Bavarian: I koch grad.

Swabian: I koch grad.

Meaning: I’m cooking right now.

Standard: Das klingt gut!

Colloquial: Cool, echt?

Bavarian: Des is guat!

Swabian: Des isch fei schee!

Meaning: That sounds good!

Standard: Seit wann kochst du gerne?

Colloquial: Seit wann kochst’n gern?

Bavarian: Seit wann kochst gern?

Swabian: Seit wann kochst gern?

Meaning: Since when have you enjoyed cooking?

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: Zu Hause

Colloquial: Zu Haus

Bavarian: Dahoam

Swabian: Dahoim

Meaning: At home

Standard: Kochen

Colloquial: Kochen

Bavarian: Kochen

Swabian: Kochen

Meaning: Cook

Standard: Gemüsesuppe

Colloquial: Gemüsesuppe

Bavarian: Gemüsesupp’n

Swabian: Gmüasupp

Meaning: Vegetable soup

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

📚 Grammar Focus: Present Tense and Home Activities

The present tense is key for describing activities at home in German:

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

Verb: Kochen

Standard: Ich koche

Colloquial: Ich koch

Bavarian: I koch

Swabian: I koch

Meaning: I cook

Expression: Gerade

Standard: Ich koche gerade

Colloquial: Ich koch grad

Bavarian: I koch grad

Swabian: I koch grad

Meaning: I’m cooking right now

Phrase: Seit zwei Jahren

Standard: Seit zwei Jahren

Colloquial: Seit zwei Jahren

Bavarian: Seit zwoa Joar

Swabian: Seit zwoi Johr

Meaning: For two years

Examples:

Standard:

• “Ich koche gerade.” – Formal.
• “Ich koche Gemüsesuppe.” – Clear.
• “Ich koche seit zwei Jahren.” – Polite.

Colloquial:

• “Ich koch grad.” – Casual.
• “Ich koch ’ne Gemüsesuppe.” – Relaxed.
• “Ich mach das seit zwei Jahren.” – Lively.

Bavarian:

• “I koch grad.” – Regional.
• “I koch a Gemüsesupp’n.” – Warm.
• “I mach des seit zwoa Joar.” – Sing-song.

Swabian:

• “I koch grad.” – Soft.
• “I koch a Gmüasupp.” – Melodic.
• “I mach des seit zwoi Johr.” – Expressive.

✍️ Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank (Standard German)

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

• 1. Was machst du heute ___?
• 2. Ich ___ gerade.
• 3. Das klingt ___!
• 4. Kochst du ___?
• 5. Seit wann ___ du gerne?

Solutions:

• 1. Was machst du heute zu Hause?
• 2. Ich koche gerade.
• 3. Das klingt gut!
• 4. Kochst du Gemüsesuppe?
• 5. Seit wann kochst du gerne?

Exercise 2: Matching Phrases to Dialects

Match the phrase to its dialect.

• 1. Was machst du heute zu Hause?
• 2. Was machst’n heut zu Hause?
• 3. Was machst heit dahoam?
• 4. Was machst heit dahoim?

Options:

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

Solutions:

• 1. Was machst du heute zu Hause? – A. Standard German
• 2. Was machst’n heut zu Hause? – B. Colloquial German
• 3. Was machst heit dahoam? – C. Bavarian
• 4. Was machst heit dahoim? – D. Swabian

Exercise 3: Sentence Ordering (Colloquial German)

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

• 1. machst’n / heut / Hause / zu / was?
• 2. grad / koch / ich!
• 3. kochst’n / gern / wann / seit?

Solutions:

• 1. Was machst’n heut zu Hause?
• 2. Ich koch grad!
• 3. Seit wann kochst’n gern?

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice Vocabulary

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

• 1. (Standard) ___ machst du heute zu Hause?
  A. Was   B. Wie   C. Wo
• 2. (Colloquial) ___ heut zu Hause?
  A. Was machst’n   B. Wie machst’n   C. Wo machst’n
• 3. (Bavarian) ___ des is guat!
  A. Jo   B. Gudd   C. Klar
• 4. (Swabian) ___ gudd, danke!
  A. Jo   B. Naus   C. Hin

Solutions:

• 1. Was machst du heute zu Hause?
• 2. Was machst’n heut zu Hause?
• 3. Jo des is guat!
• 4. Jo gudd, danke!

Exercise 5: Fill in the Blank (Mixed Dialects)

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

• 1. (Standard) Ich ___ gerade.
• 2. (Colloquial) Ich ___ grad.
• 3. (Bavarian) I ___ grad.
• 4. (Swabian) Seit wann machst des ___?
• 5. (Standard) Ich koche ___.

Solutions:

• 1. Ich koche gerade.
• 2. Ich koch grad.
• 3. I koch grad.
• 4. Seit wann machst des scho?
• 5. Ich koche Gemüsesuppe.

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 machst du heute zu Hause?
• 2. Ich koche gerade.
• 3. Seit wann kochst du gerne?
• 4. Danke fürs Erzählen!

Solutions:

• 1. Colloquial: Was machst’n heut zu Hause?
  Explanation: “Was machst du” becomes “Was machst’n” with a contraction for casual tone.
• 2. Colloquial: Ich koch grad.
  Explanation: “Gerade” is simplified to “grad” for informality.
• 3. Colloquial: Seit wann kochst’n gern?
  Explanation: “Kochst du gerne” is relaxed with “kochst’n gern.”
• 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 home activities, using one of the following styles: Standard German, Colloquial German, Bavarian, or Swabian. Include at least one home activity term and one phrase from the vocabulary section. Provide the translation into English.

Example:

• Style: Colloquial German
• Person 1: Hey, was machst’n heut zu Hause?
• Person 2: Ich koch grad, so’n Ding.
• Person 1: Cool, echt? Was kochst’n?
• Person 2: ’ne Gemüsesuppe. Danke, dass du fragst!
• Translation:
• Person 1: Hey, what are you doing at home today?
• Person 2: I’m cooking right now, kinda thing.
• Person 1: Cool, really? What are you cooking?
• Person 2: A veggie soup. Thanks for asking!

Exercise 8: Multiple Choice (Dialect Identification)

Identify the dialect of the following sentences.

• 1. Was machst heit dahoam?
  A. Standard German   B. Colloquial German   C. Bavarian   D. Swabian
• 2. Was machst du heute zu Hause?
  A. Standard German   B. Colloquial German   C. Bavarian   D. Swabian
• 3. Was machst’n heut zu Hause?
  A. Standard German   B. Colloquial German   C. Bavarian   D. Swabian
• 4. Was machst heit dahoim?
  A. Standard German   B. Colloquial German   C. Bavarian   D. Swabian

Solutions:

• 1. Was machst heit dahoam? – C. Bavarian
• 2. Was machst du heute zu Hause? – A. Standard German
• 3. Was machst’n heut zu Hause? – B. Colloquial German
• 4. Was machst heit dahoim? – 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 koche gerade.
• 2. Ich koche Gemüsesuppe.
• 3. Seit wann kochst du gerne?
• 4. Danke fürs Erzählen!

Solutions:

• 1. Bavarian: I koch grad.
  Swabian: I koch grad.
• 2. Bavarian: I koch a Gemüsesupp’n.
  Swabian: I koch a Gmüasupp.
• 3. Bavarian: Seit wann kochst gern?
  Swabian: Seit wann kochst gern?
• 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 a home activity).

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

Example Response (Colloquial German):

• 1. Text 1 is in der Küche, Text 2 is a in ’ner Wohnung.
• 2. In Text 1 is es ein Freund, in Text 2 ’n Typ.
• 3. In Text 1 is’s Kochen, in Text 2 a Kochen.
• Paragraph: In der Wohnung is voll gemütlich! Ein Typ erzählt, dass er grad kocht. Er macht ’ne Gemüsesuppe!

📖 Reading Passages

Text 1: A Home Activity Discussion (Standard German)

Es ist ein ruhiger Abend zu Hause. Eine Gruppe von Freunden sitzt in der Küche. Ein Freund erzählt von seiner Aktivität. „Ich koche gerade,“ sagt er. „Das klingt gut! Was kochst du?“ fragt ein anderer. „Eine Gemüsesuppe,“ antwortet er. Alle genießen die gemütliche Atmosphäre.

📝 Translation

It’s a quiet evening at home. A group of friends sits in the kitchen. One friend talks about his activity. “I’m cooking right now,” he says. “That sounds good! What are you cooking?” another asks. “A vegetable soup,” he replies. Everyone enjoys the cozy atmosphere.

📘 Glossary

Term: Ruhiger Abend

Meaning: Quiet evening

Term: Zu Hause

Meaning: At home

Term: Gruppe von Freunden

Meaning: Group of friends

Term: Küche

Meaning: Kitchen

Term: Erzählt

Meaning: Talks

Term: Aktivität

Meaning: Activity

Term: Koche gerade

Meaning: Cooking right now

Term: Das klingt gut

Meaning: That sounds good

Term: Was kochst du

Meaning: What are you cooking

Term: Gemüsesuppe

Meaning: Vegetable soup

Term: Antwortet

Meaning: Replies

Term: Genießen

Meaning: Enjoy

Term: Gemütliche Atmosphäre

Meaning: Cozy atmosphere

🧩 Comprehension Questions

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

Solutions

• The setting is a kitchen on a quiet evening.
• A friend is talking about his home activity.
• The activity mentioned is cooking.
• Another friend asks, “What are you cooking?”
• The atmosphere is described as cozy.

Text 2: A Chill Chat at Home (Colloquial German)

Is’ ’n entspannter Abend in der Wohnung. ’n Typ quatscht mit seinen Kumpels. „Ich koch grad,“ sagt er. „Cool, echt? Was kochst’n?“ fragt einer. „’ne Gemüsesuppe,“ grinst er. Alle haben Spaß und plaudern weiter.

📝 Translation

It’s a relaxed evening in the apartment. A guy chats with his buddies. “I’m cooking right now,” he says. “Cool, really? What are you cooking?” one asks. “A veggie soup,” he grins. Everyone’s having fun and keeps talking.

📘 Glossary

Term: Entspannter Abend

Meaning: Relaxed evening

Term: Wohnung

Meaning: Apartment

Term: Typ

Meaning: Guy

Term: Quatscht

Meaning: Chats

Term: Kumpels

Meaning: Buddies

Term: Koch grad

Meaning: Cooking right now

Term: Cool, echt

Meaning: Cool, really

Term: Was kochst’n

Meaning: What are you cooking

Term: Gemüsesuppe

Meaning: Vegetable soup

Term: Grinst

Meaning: Grins

Term: Haben Spaß

Meaning: Have fun

Term: Plaudern

Meaning: Chat

🧪 Comprehension Questions

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

Solutions

• The setting is an apartment on a relaxed evening.
• A guy is talking about his home activity.
• The activity mentioned is cooking.
• Someone asks, “What are you cooking?”
• The atmosphere is described as fun and chatty.