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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

Words

3 sections
8

The words a fable is made of

≈ 3 min
What you'll learn
  • Sixteen naming words — the cast and the scenery — furnish nearly every scene in the first book.
  • Six describing words cover the rest; their endings are bookkeeping.
  • imim“in the” and zumtsoom“to the” are two words squeezed into one.
  • in den Waldin dayn valt is moving into it; im Waldim valt is already there.

The cast and the scenery — a fable without a fox is not a fable

der Hunddair hoont“the dog” · die Katzedee KAT-suh“the cat” · der Vogeldair FOH-gul“the bird”
der Fuchsdair fooks“the fox” · die Mausdee mowss“the mouse” · der Bärdair bair“the bear”
der Hasedair HAH-zuh“the rabbit” · der Wolfdair volf“the wolf”
der Walddair valt“the forest” · der Baumdair bowm“the tree” · das Hausdass howss“the house”
der Wegdair vayk“the path” · die Sonnedee ZON-uh“the sun” · der Winddair vint“the wind”
der Tagdair tahk“the day” · das Wasserdass VAS-uh“the water”

Six describing words

großgrohss“big” · kleinkline“small” · altalt“old”
gutgoot“good” · glücklichGLEWK-lich“happy” · traurigTROW-rich“sad”

They sit in front of the noun, exactly where English puts them.

The same word, different coats

großgrohss“big”
der große Baumdair GROH-suh bowm“the big tree” · ein großer Baumine GROH-suh bowm“a big tree”
The endings are bookkeeping — read past them to the naming word. After istist there is no ending: Der Bär ist groß.“The bear is big.”

Two words squeezed into one

in demin daym
imim“in the”
zu demtsoo daym
zumtsoom“to the”
amam“at the” and vomfom“from the” work the same way.

Moving there, or already there

in den Waldin dayn valt“into the forest”
moving — the movement lands in the forest
The receiving-end dendayn again.
im Waldim valt“in the forest”
already inside — no movement
After inin or aufowf“on”, a demdaym means nobody is moving.

Read the phrase, then say where it puts you

  1. der alte Wolf

    Ignore the ending on the describing word.

    Show answer +
    der alte Wolfdair AL-tuh volf“the old wolf”
  2. in den Wald or im Wald — which is a movement?
    Show answer +
    in den Waldin dayn valt“into the forest” moves; im Waldim valt“in the forest” is standing still.