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
13
Once upon a time, and the words that hold a paragraph together
≈ 2 min
What you'll learn
- Es war einmal …ess var INE-mahl opens every German fairy tale — word for word, “it was once”.
- Eight joining words hold a paragraph together.
- weilvile“because” sends its own half’s doing word to the end; the comma is the signpost.
- An order puts the doing word first and drops the doer.
Once upon a time…
Es war einmal …
ess var INE-mahl
Word for word “it was once”. Every German fairy tale begins with it.
Eight joining words
| English | German |
|---|---|
| and | undoont“and” |
| but | aberAH-buh“but” |
| then | danndan“then” |
| because | weilvile“because” |
| with | mitmit“with” |
| very | sehrzair“very” |
| again | wiederVEE-duh“again” |
| one day | eines TagesINE-es TAH-gess“one day” |
What “because” does to the verb
I am going to the forest, because I am hungry.
Ichich geheGAY-uh in den Wald,in dayn valt weilvile ich Hungerich HOONG-uh habe.HAH-buh
After weilvile the doing word goes to the very end of its half. The comma is your signpost.
Come with me!
Komm mit mir!
kom mit meer
An order: the doing word goes first, drops its ending, and the doer is unsaid. mirmeer“me” is “me” when something is given or said to you — recognise it, do not work it out.
Follow the comma
- Ich gehe in den Wald, weil ich Hunger habe.
The half after the comma ends on its doing word.
Show answer +Hide answer −
Ich gehe in den Wald, weil ich Hunger habe.ich GAY-uh in dayn valt, vile ich HOONG-uh HAH-buh“I am going to the forest, because I am hungry.” - Der Hase kam wieder.
Show answer +Hide answer −
Der Hase kam wieder.dair HAH-zuh kahm VEE-duh“The rabbit came again.”