Latest / Learn German with Fexingo / German at the Hardware Store
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn German with Fexingo. I am Lucas. And this is Luna. Luna: Hi everyone. We are so glad you are here. If Fexingo has been helping you make actual progress with this language, we hope you feel confident today. Lucas: We do have something very practical for you. Last time we were shopping for clothes. Today? We are going to a place that smells like sawdust and metal. Luna: Oh no. Is it loud? I hate loud places. Lucas: It can be. But we are at the hardware store. In German, we call this a Baumarkt. Or simply the Bauhaus, though that is a brand name. Let us just say Baumarkt. Luna: Baumarkt. Okay. I can handle that. So what do we need? I broke my shelf again. Lucas: Right. So we need to ask for help. The most important phrase to start with is: Wo ist... This means Where is... Luna: Wo ist... Got it. Where is... Lucas: Exactly. So if you need screws, you would ask: Wo ist der Schrauben? Luna: Wo ist der Schrauben? Wait, does it change? Der or Die? Lucas: Good question. For now, just focus on the structure. Wo ist... Then the item. Let us try it. Imagine you are looking for glue. Wo ist der Kleber? Luna: Wo ist der Kleber? Okay. That feels easy. Lucas: It is. Now, sometimes the staff member might not hear you clearly, or you want to be more specific. You can use: Ich suche... This means I am looking for... Luna: Ich suche... I am looking for... Lucas: Yes. So you can say: Ich suche Nagel. Or Ich suche einen Hammer. Luna: Ich suche einen Hammer. Oh, I love that hammer sound. Huh-mmer. Lucas: Ha-mer. Close enough. Let us practice together. You are at the counter. You need paint brushes. How do you ask? Luna: Ich suche Pinsel. No, wait. Ich suche die Pinsel. Lucas: Perfect. Plural is often die. So Ich suche die Pinsel. Great job. Luna: I feel like a pro already. But what if I don't know the word? What if I see a tool but I don't know its name? Lucas: Then you use this beautiful phrase: Haben Sie... This means Do you have... Luna: Haben Sie... Do you have... Lucas: Right. It is polite. It uses the formal Sie. So you can point to a picture and say: Haben Sie diese Lampe? Luna: Haben Sie diese Lampe? Do you have this lamp? Lucas: Yes. And if they say yes, you might want to know the price. This is crucial. How much does it cost? Luna: Ah. This one. Wie viel kostet das? Lucas: Exactly. Wie viel kostet das? It is short, sweet, and gets you the answer. Let us try a full scene. You walk up to an employee. You need a ladder. Luna: Okay. Hi. Wo ist die Leiter? Lucas: Good. They point you down the aisle. You find it. Now you check the price. Luna: Wie viel kostet das? Lucas: They tell you fifty euros. You decide it is worth it. How do you confirm? Luna: Das ist genau richtig. Lucas: There it is. Das ist genau richtig. It means That is exactly right. Or in this context, That is perfect. Luna: Das ist genau richtig. I like that confidence. It sounds very German. Lucas: It is direct. Which we appreciate. Let us review our five phrases. First: Wo ist... Where is... Luna: Wo ist... Second: Ich suche... I am looking for... Lucas: Third: Haben Sie... Do you have... Luna: Fourth: Wie viel kostet das? How much does that cost? Lucas: And fifth: Das ist genau richtig. That is exactly right. Luna: Wo ist... Ich suche... Haben Sie... Wie viel kostet das? Das ist genau richtig. Lucas: Repeat them once more. Slowly. Wo ist der Kleber? Luna: Wo ist der Kleber? Lucas: Ich suche den Hammer. Luna: Ich suche den Hammer. Lucas: Haben Sie die Farbe? Luna: Haben Sie die Farbe? Lucas: Wie viel kostet das? Luna: Wie viel kostet das? Lucas: Das ist genau richtig. Luna: Das ist genau richtig. Lucas: Excellent work. Before we go, I want to mention something small. If this episode helped you feel a little more prepared for your next trip or project... Luna: Yeah. It really does feel good to learn these practical things. It makes the world feel smaller. Lucas: It does. And keeping this show ad-free takes resources. If you want to support us directly, there is a link to buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: That helps us keep making these episodes for you. No pressure at all, but it is nice to know. Lucas: Thank you. Now, let us do one last scenario. You are leaving the store. You have your hammer. You are happy. Luna: I am. I finally fixed my shelf. Das war gut. Lucas: Sehr gut. Remember these phrases. Use them. See you next time. Luna: Bye everyone. Practice these till we chat again.