New here? This is lesson 103 of a free 240-lesson German course.
Rent a shared bike in German
Priya needs a Leihrad by the Landwehrkanal. The dock is in a row on the path, and the lock on her bike will not click open.
Anton is already there, Deutschlandticket on its cord, sure it will help. It will not.
By the end, you'll rent a shared bike, say the lock will not open, and find another dock when this one is full.
Ask how to unlock, and where you can leave the bike.
By the end of this lesson
Rent a shared bike, say when a lock will not open, and find a dock.
- Ich möchte ein Leihrad mieten.I'd like to rent a hire bike.
- Das Schloss geht nicht auf.The lock won't open.
- Die Station ist voll.The dock is full.
- Wo ist die nächste Station?Where is the next station?
- Wie entsperre ich das Rad?How do I unlock the bike?
- Wo kann ich das Rad abstellen?Where can I return the bike?
Scene — the canal dock
The Landwehrkanal path has a Leihrad dock in a short row. Priya stands by one bike with her phone out.
Anton is already on the path, Deutschlandticket on a cord, as if he had been waiting for this lock.
Learn — hire and unlock
Six lines cover renting a Leihrad, a lock that will not open, and a dock that is full.
You'll also ask how to unlock, and where to leave the bike.
Ich möchte ein Leihrad mieten.
I'd like to rent a hire bike.
When to use it: Say this when you want to hire a shared bike.
Learn das Leihrad with the noun and still say ein after möchten.
Say it: möchte uses a rounded ö sound.
Das Schloss geht nicht auf.
The lock won't open.
When to use it: Say this when the bike lock will not open.
The prefix auf stands at the end of this clause.
Say it: Schloss starts with sch, like English sh.
Die Station ist voll.
The dock is full.
When to use it: Say this when every dock space is taken.
Learn die Station with the noun.
Wo ist die nächste Station?
Where is the next station?
When to use it: Ask this when you need another bike dock nearby.
After Wo, the verb ist comes next.
Say it: The ch in nächste is the soft ich sound.
Wie entsperre ich das Rad?
How do I unlock the bike?
When to use it: Ask this when you cannot get the bike unlocked.
The verb entsperre comes second, right after Wie.
Wo kann ich das Rad abstellen?
Where can I return the bike?
When to use it: Ask this when you need a place to leave the bike.
After kann, abstellen stays in one piece at the end.
Story — the lock stays shut
Watch Priya at the canal dock. The lock will not open, and Anton's ticket will not help.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- The lamps along the canal are on. A short row of silver bikes stands on the path.
PriyaIch möchte ein Leihrad mieten.I'd like to rent a hire bike.- She taps her phone. The lock on the bike does not click.
- PriyaDas Schloss geht nicht auf.The lock won't open.
- PriyaOh nein!Oh no!
AntonIch war nur zufällig in der Gegend.I just happened to be in the area.- PriyaWie entsperre ich das Rad?How do I unlock the bike?
- AntonHier, nimm mein Deutschlandticket.Here, take my Deutschlandticket.
- He holds the plastic sleeve against the lock. Nothing moves.
- PriyaWie ist das möglich?How is that possible?
- AntonNa ja. Das öffnet kein Schloss.Well. That doesn't open a lock.
- AntonNimm die App und tippe auf ‚Entsperren'.Take the app and tap Unlock.
- Priya taps the app. The lock clicks. They roll a little along the water.
- PriyaWo kann ich das Rad abstellen?Where can I return the bike?
- AntonDie Station ist voll.The dock is full.
- PriyaWo ist die nächste Station?Where is the next station?
- AntonGleich weiter am Kanal.Just further along the canal.
Practice — lock and dock
Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.
They stay on the dock, so the round stays useful.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
German
Die Station ist voll.Drop the English hereWo ist die nächste Station?Drop the English hereWo kann ich das Rad abstellen?Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You already said the lock will not open. You need the steps from Anton.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
The lock won't open.
Das Schloss geht nicht ____.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Die Station ist voll.
Build the line
Build the line
The lock won't open.
.
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Anton says:
Pick the reply
Mein Ticket hilft nicht.
My ticket is not helping.
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want a shared hire bike, not just any bicycle.
Ich möchte ein ____ mieten.
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
True or false?
True or false?
You say this to greet someone at a bakery.
Say it — say it at the dock
Now you're Priya at the Leihrad dock by the canal. 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.
- AntonDu willst ein Rad, oder?You want a bike, right?
- Priya (you)Say you would like to hire a shared bike.
Say you would like to hire a shared bike.
Ich möchte ein Leihrad mieten.
I'd like to rent a hire bike.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| German | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Ich möchte ein Leihrad mieten. | I'd like to rent a hire bike. | |
| Das Schloss geht nicht auf. | The lock won't open. | |
| Die Station ist voll. | The dock is full. | |
| Wo ist die nächste Station? | Where is the next station? | |
| Wie entsperre ich das Rad? | How do I unlock the bike? | |
| Wo kann ich das Rad abstellen? | Where can I return the bike? |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these bike lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps the dock lines ready.
Open Yak Cards