New here? This is lesson 139 of a free 240-lesson German course.
What's in the flat in German
Jule comes up to Priya's third-floor Hinterhaus flat with Keks. The rooms are still half-empty, and a few things already fail.
The radiator stays cold. There is no washing machine. Keks sniffs a dark socket by the wall.
You will name what is broken or missing, then start a short list for Herr Schulze.
Jule uses du with Priya. Keep the lines short, like a note to the landlord.
By the end of this lesson
Name things in the apartment and say what is broken or missing.
- Die Heizung geht nicht.The heating isn't working.
- Der Kühlschrank ist kaputt.The fridge is broken.
- Es gibt keine Waschmaschine.There is no washing machine.
- Das Fenster schließt nicht.The window won't close.
- Die Steckdose funktioniert nicht.The socket doesn't work.
- Es fehlt eine Lampe.There is a lamp missing.
Scene — the Hinterhaus flat
Sunday on Fliederstraße. Jule climbs the Hinterhaus stairs with Keks. Priya holds the flat door open.
The radiator is cold. The fridge sits dark. A socket by the skirting has no light, and one corner needs a lamp.
Learn — broken or missing
Six lines name a heater, a fridge, a washing machine, a window, a socket, and a lamp.
Each line says it is broken, missing, or will not work.
Die Heizung geht nicht.
The heating isn't working.
When to use it: Say this when the heating in the flat does not work.
Keep die with Heizung; learn the noun with its article.
Say it: Heizung puts the stress on the first syllable.
Der Kühlschrank ist kaputt.
The fridge is broken.
When to use it: Say this when the fridge in the kitchen is broken.
Keep der with Kühlschrank; learn the noun with its article.
Say it: The ü in Kühl is a tight ee with rounded lips.
Es gibt keine Waschmaschine.
There is no washing machine.
When to use it: Say this when the flat has no washing machine.
Keine comes with a feminine noun; Waschmaschine is learned with die.
Das Fenster schließt nicht.
The window won't close.
When to use it: Say this when a window in the flat will not shut.
In a main clause the verb stays second, so schließt comes before nicht.
Say it: schließt starts with sch, said like sh in ship.
Die Steckdose funktioniert nicht.
The socket doesn't work.
When to use it: Say this when a wall socket has no power.
Keep die with Steckdose; learn the noun with its article.
Say it: Steckdose starts with st, said like sht.
Es fehlt eine Lampe.
There is a lamp missing.
When to use it: Say this when a lamp should be there but is not.
Eine marks one feminine thing; learn Lampe with die.
Story — Keks and the socket
Jule walks the Hinterhaus flat with Keks at her side. Priya names each fault and starts a list for Herr Schulze.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- Jule is at the door with Keks. Priya holds it open.
PriyaKomm doch rein!Come on in!
JuleNa, hallo.Oh, hello.- PriyaSetz dich.Have a seat.
- JuleGanz schön kalt hier.It's pretty cold in here.
- PriyaDie Heizung geht nicht.The heating isn't working.
- JuleDas ist schade.That's a shame.
- Jule opens the fridge. The light stays off.
- PriyaDer Kühlschrank ist kaputt.The fridge is broken.
- JuleUnd die Wäsche?And the laundry?
- PriyaEs gibt keine Waschmaschine.There is no washing machine.
- Keks sniffs a dark socket by the skirting.
- JuleKeks, vorsichtig!Keks, careful!
- PriyaDie Steckdose funktioniert nicht.The socket doesn't work.
- JuleUnd das Fenster?And the window?
- PriyaDas Fenster schließt nicht.The window won't close.
- JuleFehlt noch Licht?Is light still missing?
- PriyaEs fehlt eine Lampe.There is a lamp missing.
- Priya writes a short list for Herr Schulze.
Practice — name the faults
Ten short tasks check the faults in the flat. You'll hear a line, fill a gap, and build one from chips.
Watch keine and eine, and keep each noun with its article.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Der Kühlschrank ist kaputt.
What do you say?
What do you say?
There is no washing machine in the flat. Tell Jule.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
The window won't close.
Das Fenster ____ nicht.
Build the line
Build the line
The socket doesn't work.
.
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
A lamp is missing in the corner, not a door.
Es fehlt eine ____.
Pick the reply
Jule says:
Pick the reply
Hallo, ich bin da.
Hello, I'm here.
And you reply with:
True or false?
True or false?
You say this when you feel sorry about a fault in the flat.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Jule is inside now. Offer her a seat.
Match the pairs
German
Die Heizung geht nicht.Drop the English hereDer Kühlschrank ist kaputt.Drop the English hereEs fehlt eine Lampe.Drop the English hereEnglish
Say it — tell Jule
Now you're Priya showing Jule around your Hinterhaus flat. 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.
- JuleGanz schön kalt hier.It's pretty cold in here.
- Priya (you)Tell her the heating isn't working.
Tell her the heating isn't working.
Die Heizung geht nicht.
The heating isn't working.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| German | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Die Heizung geht nicht. | The heating isn't working. | |
| Der Kühlschrank ist kaputt. | The fridge is broken. | |
| Es gibt keine Waschmaschine. | There is no washing machine. | |
| Das Fenster schließt nicht. | The window won't close. | |
| Die Steckdose funktioniert nicht. | The socket doesn't work. | |
| Es fehlt eine Lampe. | There is a lamp missing. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these flat faults handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your list for Herr Schulze ready.
Open Yak Cards