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Lesson 49 of 240

New here? This is lesson 49 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Keys from the landlord in German

Priya meets Herr Schulze in the courtyard on Fliederstraße. He has the keys and not much time for small talk.

He points at the Hinterhaus, then at the bins. An old bicycle sits under the ivy at the back. Nobody mentions it.

By the end, you'll take the building key, name the back building and the third floor, and ask where the letterbox and the bins are.

Herr Schulze stays on Sie. Call him if you have questions.

By the end of this lesson

Take the keys, name the back building, and ask where the letterbox and bins are.

  • Hier ist der Hausschlüssel.Here's the building key.
  • Das ist das Hinterhaus.That's the back building.
  • Im dritten Stock.On the third floor.
  • Wo ist der Briefkasten?Where is the letterbox?
  • Wo sind die Mülltonnen?Where are the bins?
  • Bei Fragen rufen Sie an.Call if you have questions.

Scene — the courtyard

The courtyard on Fliederstraße is quiet. Herr Schulze waits with a clipboard and a set of keys.

Priya's flat is in the Hinterhaus, up on the third floor. Bins stand by the wall. An old bicycle sits under the ivy. He does not look at it.

A quiet courtyard with Herr Schulze checking his clipboard as Priya arrives.

Learn — keys and the house

Six short lines cover the building key, the back building, and the third floor.

You'll also ask where the letterbox and the bins are, and when to call.

  1. Herr Schulze holds out the building key for Priya to take.

    Hier ist der Hausschlüssel.

    Here's the building key.

    When to use it: Say this as you hand someone the building key.

    Learn it as one piece at the door.

    Say it: Hausschlüssel puts the stress on the first syllable.

  2. Herr Schulze points across the courtyard toward the back building.

    Das ist das Hinterhaus.

    That's the back building.

    When to use it: Say this when you point out the back building.

    Learn it as one piece for that house.

    Say it: Hinterhaus puts the stress on the first syllable.

  3. Herr Schulze points up toward the upper floor of the back building.

    Im dritten Stock.

    On the third floor.

    When to use it: Say this to name a flat on the third floor.

    Learn it as one piece for the floor.

  4. Priya looks along the row of letterboxes to find hers.

    Wo ist der Briefkasten?

    Where is the letterbox?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need the letterbox.

    Learn it as one piece to find the box.

  5. Priya looks toward the bins as Herr Schulze nods in their direction.

    Wo sind die Mülltonnen?

    Where are the bins?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need the bins.

    Learn it as one piece for the bins.

    Say it: Müll starts with a rounded ü sound.

  6. Near the courtyard gate, Herr Schulze gestures toward Priya while holding his phone.

    Bei Fragen rufen Sie an.

    Call if you have questions.

    When to use it: Say this when you tell someone they can call.

    Learn it as one piece if they should call.

Story — he hands the keys

Watch Priya take the keys in the courtyard. Herr Schulze points and keeps it short.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The courtyard is still. Herr Schulze checks his clipboard.
  2. Herr SchulzeGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  3. PriyaGuten Tag.Good afternoon.
  4. He holds out a key. An old bicycle sits under the ivy.
  5. Herr SchulzeHier ist der Hausschlüssel.Here's the building key.
  6. PriyaDanke.Thank you.
  7. Herr SchulzeDas ist das Hinterhaus.That's the back building.
  8. He points up at the windows.
  9. Herr SchulzeIm dritten Stock.On the third floor.
  10. PriyaWo ist der Briefkasten?Where is the letterbox?
  11. Herr SchulzeDa.There.
  12. PriyaWo sind die Mülltonnen?Where are the bins?
  13. He nods at the bins by the wall.
  14. Herr SchulzeBei Fragen rufen Sie an.Call if you have questions.
  15. PriyaAuf Wiedersehen.Goodbye.

Practice — key or bins

Ten short checks wait here. You will listen, pick a line, match, fill a gap, and build one.

The items stay small, so the round moves on.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Das ist das Hinterhaus.Drop the English here
    Wo ist der Briefkasten?Drop the English here
    Wo sind die Mülltonnen?Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Herr Schulze points behind you at the back building. Name it.

  4. Fill the gap

    Where is the letterbox?

    Wo ist der ____?

  5. What does it mean?

    Im dritten Stock.

  6. Swap the word

    You need the bins in the courtyard, not the letterboxes.

    Wo sind die ____?

  7. Pick the reply

    Herr Schulze says:

    Hier ist der Hausschlüssel.

    Here's the building key.

    And you reply with:

  8. Fill the gap

    Call if you have questions.

    Bei Fragen rufen Sie ____.

  9. What do you say?

    You meet the landlord in the courtyard later in the day. Greet him.

  10. True or false?

    You can say this as you leave Herr Schulze.

Say it — ask in the yard

Now you're Priya in the courtyard with Herr Schulze. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Herr SchulzeHier ist der Hausschlüssel.Here's the building key.
  2. Priya (you)He points behind you. Name that back building.

    Das ist das Hinterhaus.

    That's the back building.

0 of 3 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Hier ist der Hausschlüssel.Here's the building key.
Das ist das Hinterhaus.That's the back building.
Im dritten Stock.On the third floor.
Wo ist der Briefkasten?Where is the letterbox?
Wo sind die Mülltonnen?Where are the bins?
Bei Fragen rufen Sie an.Call if you have questions.
Next: lesson 50Your phone number

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these courtyard lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps the key and house lines ready.

Open Yak Cards