der = r, die = e, das = s, plural = pl.
| Kapitel 1 |
|
| Vokabeln (Seite) |
|
| jenseits (7) |
on the other side of |
| querfeldein (7) |
through the fields |
| r Wachposten (7) |
sentry, guard |
| e Ungeduld (7) |
impatience |
| e Überraschung (8) |
surprise |
| sich überreden lassen (8) |
to let oneself be talked into (something) |
| e Drohung (8) |
threat |
| an.schnallen (9) |
to buckle up |
| r Drahtzaun (10) |
wire fence |
| r Ackerstreifen (10) |
strip of field or land |
| löchrig (10) |
full of holes |
| e Betonplatte (10) |
concret slab |
| s Trara (10) |
hullabaloo, a big deal |
| kitten (11) |
to patch up |
| e Pleite (11) |
here: flop |
| Ausdrücke |
|
| nach alter Schule (9) |
like the old school, in an old-fashioned way |
| Jedem Tierchen sein Pläsierchen (9) |
[lit. to each little animal, his little pleasure] to each his own |
| Kulturelles |
|
| Sophie Scholl (6) |
member of the Nazi resistance group 'Die Weiße Rose', beheaded in 1943 after being caught distributing anti-Nazi flyers at the Universität München |
| in den großen Ferien (9) |
the summer break between school years |
| Essen auf Rädern (9) |
meals on wheels (Meals are delivered to the elderly or infirm by volunteers.) |
| die Vopos (10) |
die Volkspolizisten West German word for the East German police. The East Germans called their police "die VP" (fow pay). |
| Kapitel 2 |
|
| Vokabeln |
|
| betteln (12) |
to beg |
| r Ausflug (12) |
trip |
| entkommen (12) |
to get away |
| Gefangenschaft (12) |
prison |
| SS-Strumbannführer (13) |
leader of a SS-military company or unit |
| sich ergeben (13) |
to surrender |
| e Ehre (13) |
honor |
| r Flakhelfer (13) |
anti-aircraft auxiliary |
| e Böschung (13) |
embankment |
| e Narbe (13) |
scar |
| aus.lutschen (13) |
to suck out |
| heimlich (13) |
secretly |
| gestehen (14) |
to admit |
| e Stange (14) |
pole |
| strampeln (14) |
to flail around, thrash |
| r Schutzengel (14) |
guardian angel |
| dreckig (15) |
dirty, filthy |
| zerlumpt (15) |
ragged, tattered |
| Ausdrücke |
|
| Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen. (12) |
[lit: you can take poison on that.]You can bet on that |
| Das hat mir grade noch gefehlt. (14) |
That was the last thing I needed. |
| ausgerechnet Henning (16) |
Henning, of all people |
| Kulturelles |
|
| 2. Pfingstag (15) |
Pfingsten Pentecost, a Christian holiday, 50 days after Easter. In Deutschland haben Ostern, Pfingsten und Weihnachten jeweils 2 Feiertage (Sonntag und Montag) |
| Kapitel 3 |
|
| Vokabeln |
|
| r Putz (17) |
here: plaster |
| r Bagger (17) |
excavator |
| e Verkabelung (17) |
cabling |
| e Versicherung (17) |
insurance |
| e Kreuzung (17) |
crossing |
| e Aufregung (17) |
excitement |
| r Giebel (18) |
gable (on a house or building) |
| e Scheune (18) |
barn |
| e Birke (19) |
birch tree |
| r Schotterweg (19) |
gravel path |
| e Senke (19) |
valley |
| verschachtelt (19) |
nested |
| r Schleier (19) |
haze, fog |
| trösten (20) |
to comfort |
| schlängeln (20) |
to wind around |
| münden (20) |
to lead |
| e Alm (20) |
alpine pasture |
| weiden (20) |
to graze |
| staksig (21) |
gawky |
| gestatten (21) |
to permit, allow |
| sich verkneifen (21) |
to stop oneself from doing something |
| abweisend (22) |
unfriendly |
| pl. Entengössel (22) |
goslings |
| unablässig (23) |
incessantly |
| knarren (23) |
to creak |
| e Diele (23) |
floor board |
| krepieren (24) |
to die (croak) |
| beklommen (24) |
anxious, apprehensive |
| stramm.stehen (24) |
to stand at attention |
| exerzieren (24) |
to drill (military) |
| r Befehl (24) |
order |
| r Gehorsam (24) |
obedience |
| unbehaglich (24) |
uncomfortable, uneasy |
| r Friedhof (25) |
cemetery |
|
Ausdrücke |
|
|
drauf und dran sein, etwas zu tun (18) |
to be on the verge of doing something |
|
weit und breit (19) |
far and wide |
|
mal angenommen (19) |
assuming |
|
Kulturelles |
|
|
Bertolt Brecht (17) |
(1898-1956) one of the most important playwrights of the twentieth century. Author of The Threepenny Opera (Die Dreigroschenoper), among many others |
|
e Raiffeisenkasse (17) |
a name of a bank |
|
Schwäbisch Hall (17) |
here: name of bank that gives loans for building/buying homes |
|
das neue Persil (17) |
a type of laundry detergent |
|
r Westbesuch (23) |
visitors from the West |
|
LPG (24) |
Landwirtschaftliche Produktionsgenossenschaft a collective farm in the GDR |
|
Kapitel 4 |
|
|
Vokabeln |
|
|
e Bergkuppe (26) |
top of the mountain |
|
s Flachdachgebäude (26) |
flat roofed building |
|
struppig (26) |
shaggy |
|
prallen (26) |
to collide |
|
e Steilwand (26) |
steep face of a hill or mountain |
|
e Kuppe (26) |
hilltop |
|
e Abraumhalde (26) |
slag heep |
|
r Kamm (26) |
crest |
|
r Schaukasten (27) |
show-case |
|
e Halde (27) |
mound, heep |
|
r Schornstein (27) |
chimney |
|
holprig (27) |
clumsy, bumpy |
|
e Patenschaft (28) |
partnership, exchange |
|
zaghaft (28) |
timidly |
|
sich verteidigen (29) |
to defend oneself |
|
sich verhaspeln (29) |
to get confused, to get stuck |
|
tuscheln (29) |
to whisper |
|
nach.äffen (29) |
to mimic |
|
s Anliegen (29) |
matter of concern |
|
stottern (29) |
to stutter |
|
überschwappen (29) |
to spill over |
|
s Gemurmel (29) |
murmuring |
|
e Albernheit (29) |
silliness, prank |
|
vorwurfsvoll (29) |
reproachfully |
|
kitten (29) |
to repair |
|
s Knoten-spiel (30) |
a get-to-know-you game |
|
e Auflockerung (30) |
loosening up, breaking the ice |
|
r Versöhnungsdrang (30) |
compulsion for reconciliation |
|
zielstrebig (30) |
determined |
|
auf Verabredung (30) |
by arrangement, according to a plan |
|
r Pulk (31) |
group; |
|
ducken (31) |
to cringe, cower |
|
heulen (31) |
to cry, bawl |
|
e Verblüffung (31) |
amazement |
|
r Kalibergbau (34) |
potash mine |
|
pl. Transperente (34) |
banners |
|
r Rummel (34) |
hustle and bustle, |
|
e Mattscheibe (34) |
here: TV set (sarcastic) |
|
sich an etwas gewöhnen (34) |
to get used to something |
|
ab.wickeln (33) |
here: to finish, to deal with |
|
schroff (33) |
abruptly |
|
s Sagen (33) |
the say (can determine what happens) |
|
(he)rum.trampeln (33) |
to trample around on |
|
vergeblich (33) |
vainly, to no avail |
|
r Vorwurf (33) |
reproach |
|
gedörrt (34) |
dried up |
|
Kerbel (34) |
chervil (a type of herb) |
|
Rittersporn (34) |
larkspur (a type of plant) |
|
Wolfsmilch (34) |
spurge (a type of plant) |
|
r Opferort (34) |
sacrificial place |
|
zur Ehren (34) |
to the glory of |
|
e Bergkante (34) |
edge of the mountain |
|
r Drachenflieger (34) |
hangglider (person) |
|
s Gestell (35) |
here: hangglider apparatus |
|
r Hang (35) |
slope |
|
feige (35) |
cowardly |
|
e Abwehr (38) |
defense |
|
flackern (39) |
to flicker |
|
verbissen (39) |
grim, determined |
|
staksen (39) |
to hobble |
|
e Abweisung (39) |
rejection |
|
verjüngt (40) |
rejuvenated |
|
gönnerhaft (40) |
patronizingly |
|
r Zauber (40) |
[lit: magic] here: the communist system in the GDR |
|
stöhnen (41) |
to groan |
| r Eifer (41) |
enthusiasm |
| widersprechen (41) |
to contradict |
|
redlich (42) |
honestly |
| übersichtlich (42) |
clearly |
| e Obrigkeit (42) |
the authorities |
| trotzig (42) |
defiant |
| e Verlassenheit (42) |
desolateness |
|
Ausdrücke |
|
|
auf und ab (26) |
up and down |
|
etwas im Auge behalten (26) |
to keep an eye on something |
|
du Schande (28) |
[lit: you shame] here: what the hell? |
|
hoch erhobenen Hauptes (30) |
with head held high |
|
jdm eine schmieren (31) |
to slap someone |
|
in der Partei sein (33) |
to be in the (here: communist) party |
|
jdn vor die Tür setzen (33) |
to show someone the door, kick someone out |
|
jdm von etw. vorschwärmen (36) |
to speak glowingly about something to someone |
|
Dickes Ei! (38) |
[lit: fat egg] I'll be damned! |
|
Kulturelles |
|
|
s Kollektiv (29) |
e Produktionsgemeinschaft Group, generally a manufacturing or service group (GDR term) |
|
Bischofferode (32) |
mining town near Sonnenstein |
|
Holungen (32) |
mining town near Sonnenstein |
|
Schacht Thomas Münzer (32) |
name of a mine in Bischofferode |
|
e Gemeindebibliothek (36) |
community library |
|
e Volkshochschule (36) |
community college |
|
kleine rote Socke (38) |
here: little communist |
|
braun oder rot (42) |
braun - fascist, rot -- communist |
|
r Verbrecher (42) |
criminal, here: reference to Adolf Hitler |
|
Kapitel 5 |
|
|
Vokabeln |
|
|
schwankend (43) |
uncertain |
| r Schneidersitz (43) |
cross-legged |
|
r Weltuntergang (43) |
end of the world |
|
kreischen (43) |
to screech |
|
scheppern (43) |
to clatter |
|
e Empörung (44) |
indignation |
|
schmächtig (44) |
frail |
|
s Sträuben (44) |
resistance |
|
s Flickzeug (44) |
patch kit (for tires) |
|
drahtlos (44) |
cordless |
|
pl. Sträucher (45) |
bushes, shrubs |
|
r Bahndamm (45) |
railway embankment |
|
entrüstet (46) |
outraged |
|
poltern (47) |
to be noisy |
|
r Rauhhaardackel (47) |
a type of dachshund |
|
morsch (48) |
rotten |
|
pl. Pfähle (48) |
posts, stakes |
|
ertappt (49) |
caught |
|
s Gequatsche (49) |
twaddle, chatter |
|
s Laub (50) |
leaves (on trees) |
|
r Kohlweißling (51) |
a type of butterfly |
|
r Maschendraht (52) |
wire netting |
|
r Sendemast (52) |
broadcasting tower |
|
r Verstärker (52) |
amplifier |
|
flattern (53) |
to flutter |
|
achselzuckend (53) |
shrugging shoulders |
|
begierig (55) |
eagerly |
|
Ausdrücke |
|
|
auf Empfang geschalteter Hörer (46) |
cordless telephone receiver switched on |
|
von heute auf morgen (50) |
from one day to the next |
|
von oben herab (53) |
condescending |
|
Es herrscht Aufbruchstimmung (55) |
Everyone is packing up, getting ready to go. |
|
Kulturelles |
|
|
Reeperbahn (45) |
red-light district in Hamburg |
|
Ossi und Wessi (49) |
derogatory nicknames for east German (former citizen of the GDR) and west German |
|
Junge Pioniere (49) |
group for children in the GDR |
|
ZDF (52) |
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (a TV channel, like NBC, CBS, FOX, etc.) |
|
Kapitel 6 |
|
|
Vokabeln |
|
|
r Läufer (57) |
here: carpet runner |
|
ausgefallen (58) |
unusual |
|
reichlich (58) |
plentiful |
|
r Beifuß (58) |
mugwort (a type of herb) |
|
r Estragon (58) |
tarragon (a type of herb) |
|
verschwörerisch (58) |
conspiratorially |
|
verraten (58) |
to betray |
|
dämlich (59) |
dumb, stupid |
|
nachkommen (59) |
to keep up, follow |
|
blendend (59) |
wonderful, brilliant |
|
r Einsiedlerplatz (60) |
hermit's hideaway |
|
widerwillig (61) |
reluctantly |
|
johlen (62) |
to howl |
| s Schilf (62) |
reeds |
| pl. Krickenten (62) |
small ducks |
| r Graugans (62) |
a type of goose |
| r Reiher (62) |
heron (a type of bird) |
|
keuchen (63) |
to pant, wheeze |
|
e Stulle (63) |
(N. Ger.) sandwich |
|
pl. Klönstunden (64) |
gab session klönen (N. Ger.) to chat, shoot the breeze |
|
umständlich (64) |
elaborately |
|
e Bedenkenlosigkeit (65) |
readiness |
|
unausrottbar (65) |
indestructible |
|
flüchtig (65) |
briefly |
|
Ausdrücke |
|
|
in Reih und Glied (58) |
all lined up |
|
Heul mit den Wölfen! (60) |
[lit: Howl with the wolves!] When in Rome, do as the Romans do. |
|
jdm einen Floh ins Ohr setzen (62) |
to put a bug [lit: flea] in someone's ear |
|
zwischen Tür und Angel (63) |
[lit: between door and hinge] in passing |
|
Hals über Kopf (64) |
[lit: neck over head] |
|
eine Mücke machen (66) |
[lit: to make a mosquito] to fly the coop, take off |
| Kulturelles |
|
| Joe Cocker, Peter Maffay und Chris de Burgh (64) |
singers |
| Kapitel 7 |
|
| Vokabeln |
|
| e Entbehrung (68) |
deprivation |
| astrein (70) |
here: really |
| s Spalier (71) |
here: row, line |
| r Zauberspruch (71) |
magic spell |
| platschen (72) |
to splash |
| zack (72) |
chop, chop |
| im Frotzelton (73) |
in a teasing way |
| unverhofft (73) |
unexpectedly |
| pl. Waden (74) |
calves (of legs) |
| aus.flippen (75) |
to flip out |
| zerknüllt (75) |
crumpled |
| annehmbar (77) |
acceptable |
| r Paddler (77) |
canoeist |
| mäßig (77) |
moderate |
| unerträglich (79) |
unbearable |
| wirr (79) |
confused |
| r Kiesel (79) |
pebble |
| auf.titschen (79) |
to skip (a stone on the water) |
| beiläufig (79) |
casually |
| sachlich (80) |
factually |
| förmlich (81) |
formal |
| r Nachbeter (81) |
parrot, i.e., person who repeats what he's been told |
| r Strammsteher (81) |
person who stands at attention |
| r Anschwärzer (81) |
tattle-tale, denouncer |
| Ausdrücke |
|
| die Stirn kraus.ziehen (67) |
to furrow one's brow |
| Da bin ich gespannt (69) |
I'm looking forward to that. |
| einen Volltreffer landen (73) |
[lit: to land a bullseye] to make a perfect pun or joke (that puts someone in his place). |
| eine Party sprengen (73) |
to break up a party |
| zusammen wie die Kletten hängen (74) |
[lit: to hang together like burs] to stick together like glue |
| Mach dir keinen Kopf (76) |
Don't worry about it. |
| an die Stirn tippen (77) |
to tap on the forehead (A gesture that indicates that the person referred to is dumb) |
| Kulturelles |
|
| FDJ-Delegation (70) |
Freie Deutsche Jugend; a communist party group for older youth in the GDR. here: refers to Martin and his sister. |
| Silvester (76) |
New Year's Eve (so called because it is St. Silvester's Day) |
| Kapitel 8 |
|
| Vokabeln |
|
| e Einbildung (82) |
imagination, fantasy |
| verschränkt (82) |
folded |
| gleichmäßig (82) |
steady |
| e Erwartung (82) |
expectation |
| kneifen (82) |
to back out, give up, chicken out |
| r Partykram (83) |
stuff about parties |
| unergründlich (83) |
unfathomable |
| dozieren (84) |
to pontificate |
| s Freilaufgehege (84) |
open reserve (for animals) |
| kläglich (85) |
miserably |
| scheitern (85) |
to fail |
| r Maßstab (85) |
standard |
| r Muffelkopf (86) |
sourpuss |
| belagern (87) |
here: to crowd |
| traumwandlerisch (88) |
like a sleep walker |
| r Oberschenkel (88) |
thigh |
| schlurfen (88) |
to shuffle, drag one's feet |
| närrisch (89) |
foolish, crazy |
| Ausdrücke |
|
| klug aus jdm werden (83) |
to figure someone out |
| tote Hose (85) |
[lit: dead pants] nothing's going on, It's dead |
| Kulturelles |
|
| r Fahnenappell (84) |
flag ceremony |
| e Jugendweihe (84) |
initiation ceremony in the GDR in which 14 year olds are given adult social status. |
| Schlipstypen (87) |
yuppies |
| Kapitel 9 |
|
| Vokabeln |
|
| s Vorleben (92) |
former life |
| e Tarnung (92) |
camouflage |
| ab.hauen (92) |
to leave, to go away |
| e Gerichtsverhandlung (92) |
trial in court |
| r Lenkergriff (92) |
handlebars (of bike) |
| glotzen (93) |
to stare at |
| e Ödnis (93) |
dreariness |
| s Stöhnen (94) |
groaning |
| r Schweißfußgeruch (94) |
smell of sweaty feet |
| sommersprossig (94) |
freckled |
| sich wälzen (94) |
to toss and turn |
| wimmern (94) |
to whimper |
| e Ehrfurcht (95) |
respect |
| s Rätsel (95) |
puzzle |
| sich verhaspeln (95) |
to get muddled, mixed up |
| r Faden (95) |
thread |
| e Schwüle (95) |
humidity |
| s Sumpfgebiet (96) |
swamp area |
| unkrautüberwuchert (97) |
overgrown with weeds |
| überqueren (97) |
to cross |
| r Acker (97) |
field |
| nach.grübeln (98) |
to ponder |
| auf.muntern (98) |
to cheer up |
| e Felge (98) |
(wheel) rim |
| r Redeschwall (98) |
flood of words |
| r Fischadler (98) |
osprey (a type of bird) |
| r Landstreicher (98) |
tramp, hobo, vagrant |
| Ausdrücke |
|
| wahres Gesicht zeigen (92) |
to show your true colors |
| echt die Härte (93) |
here: you really burned us |
| Bescheid wissen (93) |
to know (something) |
| Kulturelles |
|
| Ich beweis ihr meine Liebe - natürlich mit Kondom. (94) |
I proved my love to her - with a condom, of course. (from an advertisement promoting condom use) |
| Western-Klamotte (im Kino) (96) |
western movie |
| Kapitel 10 |
|
| Vokabeln |
|
| häufig (100) |
frequently |
| unweigerlich (100) |
inevitably |
| s Knittergesicht (101) |
wrinkled face |
| wuschelköpfig (102) |
shaggy headed |
| zügig (102) |
quickly |
| füllig (102) |
plump |
| zerfurchen (102) |
to furrow one's brow |
| r Durchschlag (103) |
carbon copy |
| r Tresen (103) |
counter, bar |
| e Schikane (103) |
nasty trick |
| Heringe ein.schlagen (103) |
pounding in the tent stakes |
| s Piratenfloß (105) |
here: their imaginary pirate ship |
| e Augenbinde (105) |
here: eye patch |
| r Enterhaken (105) |
grappling iron or hook |
| r Wichser (105) |
jerk, asshole |
| stämmig (106) |
sturdy |
| r Schlappen (106) |
slipper |
| s Gerümpel (108) |
junk |
| r Greifarm (108) |
claw arm |
| r Knuffer (109) |
r Knuff push, nudge |
| jammern (110) |
to whine, complain |
| r Repräsentant (110) |
representative |
| schmeißen (110) |
to throw |
| mies (110) |
seedy, low life |
| r Erpresser (110) |
extortioner |
| s Großmaul (111) |
braggart |
| e Schramme (111) |
a scratch, scrape |
| Ausdrücke |
|
| haste, weißte (109, 110) |
hast du, weißt du |
| Kulturelles |
|
| Stasi (104) |
Staatssicherheitsdienst East German security police |
| Kapitel 11 |
|
| Vokabeln |
|
| übermütig (114) |
in high spirits |
| an.flachsen (115) |
to make wise cracks, to joke around |
| unentwegt (116) |
here: constantly |
| s Anhängsel (116) |
hanger-on (fifth wheel) |
| spöttisch (117) |
scornful |
| wehmütig (117) |
melancholic |
| pl. Käuzchenrufe (117) |
cries of a screech owl |
| ungehörig (117) |
improper |
| r Fiesling (119) |
slob |
| Ausdrücke |
|
| Hast du Kartoffeln auf den Augen? (113) |
[lit: Do you have potatoes on your eyes?] Are you blind? |
| Kulturelles |
|
| rote Halstücher, weiße Hemden (117) |
uniform of the Junge Pioniere, the group for children in the GDR |
| Kapitel 12 |
|
| Vokabeln |
|
| e Neugier (120) |
curiosity |
| e Gleichgültigkeit (120) |
indifference, apathy |
| e Posaunenstimme (120) |
booming voice |
| eintönig (122) |
monotonous |
| e Wohnwabe (122) |
apartment complex that looks like a honeycomb e Wabe -- honeycomb; |
| e Ameise (122) |
ant |
| e Gegensprechanlage (123) |
intercom |
| pusten (123) |
to pant |
| unpässlich (124) |
unwell, indisposed |
| erpressen (124) |
to blackmail |
| an.feuchten (124) |
here: to wet stamps |
| puterrot (127) |
red as a lobster |
| stapfen (128) |
to trudge |
| s Klettergerüst (128) |
monkey bars (for children to climb on) |
| auf.bocken (129) |
to jack up |
| herb (132) |
harsh |
| e Kehle (133) |
throat |
| an.stehen (133) |
to stand in line |
| stümperhaft (134) |
clumsy |
| e Verbohrtheit (134) |
inflexibility |
| Ausdrücke |
|
| im Stande sein zu + inf. (122) |
to be able to |
| Es sträubt sich alles in ihm (126) |
he is very reluctant |
| Das hängt einem doch lang zu den Ohren raus. (129) |
Das hängt einem aus dem Hals heraus [lit: That hangs out of your ears, neck] We've had it up to here. |
| Kulturelles |
|
| e Wende (121) |
turning point, refers to all events taking place in 1989 leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the political developments afterwards. |
| e Brigade (124) |
name of the smallest work unit in the GDR |
| die beiden gelben, das Örtliche Telefonbuch und das mit den amtlichen Postleitzahlen (130) |
the two yellow books, the local telephone book and the zip code book |
| Das Thälmann-Lied (134) |
song of the Junge Pioniere |
| Cis (134) |
C sharp (musical term) |
| Kapitel 13 |
|
| Vokabeln |
|
| schwülstig (136) |
pompous, bombastic |
| klimpern (136) |
here: to play a little on the piano |
| quietschen (137) |
to squeak |
| schmalzig (138) |
sentimental |
| e Abschlussbenotung (139) |
final grade, final evaluation |
| Ausdrücke |
|
| drei Kreuze (136) |
3 sharps (musical term) |
| ein Rädchen im Getriebe (142) |
a cog in the wheel |