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Lessons for English speakers

Learn to read German

A short, active path into reading German: decode nine real words from a ten-rule sound table, learn where the verb goes and why der becomes den, then read a fable whose pronunciation and English begin hidden.

13 core sections · ≈ 33 min + 4 optional lookups · ≈ 53 min with everything

Reading

3 sections
15

First reading with help: two animals meet

≈ 3 min
What you'll learn
  • Read the German line first, then the support lines.
  • Every word has appeared earlier; three small fixes come just above the story.
  • After Danndan the doing word comes second; after weilvile the verb ends its half.

Three things to fix in mind before the story

MinaMEE-na + die Mausdee mowss“the mouse”
Mina die MausMEE-na dee mowss“Mina the mouse”
A name sits beside its noun.
der Wegdair vayk“the path”
auf dem Wegowf daym vayk“on the path”
Nobody is moving onto it — the no-movement demdaym.
er siehtair zeet“he sees”
du siehstdoo zeest“you see”
The -st ending.

Mina and Dara on the path

  1. Mina die Maus ist auf dem Weg.

    MEE-na dee mowss ist owf daym vayk

    Mina the mouse is on the path.

  2. Dann kommt Dara der Fuchs.

    dan komt DAH-ra dair fooks

    Then Dara the fox comes.

  3. „Guten Morgen, Mina!“, sagt Dara.

    GOO-ten MOR-gen, MEE-na, zahkt DAH-ra

    "Good morning, Mina!" says Dara.

  4. „Wohin gehst du?“, fragt Dara.

    voh-HIN gayst doo, frahkt DAH-ra

    "Where are you going?" asks Dara.

  5. „Ich gehe zum Baum, weil ich Hunger habe“, sagt Mina.

    ich GAY-uh tsoom bowm, vile ich HOONG-uh HAH-buh, zahkt MEE-na

    "I am going to the tree, because I am hungry," says Mina.

  6. „Siehst du den Vogel?“, fragt Dara.

    zeest doo dayn FOH-gul, frahkt DAH-ra

    "Do you see the bird?" asks Dara.

  7. „Ja! Auf Wiedersehen, Dara!“, sagt Mina.

    yah! owf VEE-duh-zay-en, DAH-ra, zahkt MEE-na

    "Yes! Goodbye, Dara!" says Mina.

Three delayed recalls before the new story

No hints this time.

  1. der Baum
    Show answer +
    der Baumdair bowm“the tree”
  2. die Maus
    Show answer +
    die Mausdee mowss“the mouse”
  3. der Wald
    Show answer +
    der Walddair valt“the forest”