New here? This is lesson 147 of a free 240-lesson German course.
Black ice is coming in German
Black ice hits Fliederstraße. Priya's foot slides, and Jonas is already there with a warning.
The buses have stopped. Priya decides to work from home, and Jonas tells her to stay in.
At Deniz's Späti the last milk is still in the fridge. Someone jokes the old key must open a warm room.
You'll warn people it's icy, say the buses aren't running, work from home, and stock up.
By the end of this lesson
Warn someone it's icy, say the buses aren't running, work from home, and stock up.
- Es ist glatt.It's icy
- Pass auf!Watch out!
- Die Busse fahren nicht.The buses aren't running
- Ich arbeite heute von zu Hause.I'm working from home today
- Bleib lieber zu Hause.You'd better stay home
- Kauf noch Brot und Milch.Get some more bread and milk
Scene — icy Fliederstraße
Ice covers Fliederstraße. Priya steps out near the co-working loft and her boot slides on the pavement.
Jonas is already outside in his denim shirt, coffee in hand, watching the street.
Across the road, Deniz's Späti is open, with one last milk carton in the fridge.
Learn — ice, buses, and home
Six lines for ice, a warning, stopped buses, working from home, staying in, and a quick shop.
You'll tell a friend to watch their step and to stock up.
Es ist glatt.
It's icy
When to use it: Say this when the pavement is icy.
Ist stays in second place after Es in this main clause.
Pass auf!
Watch out!
When to use it: Shout this to a friend who might slip.
Auf comes at the end of this short command.
Die Busse fahren nicht.
The buses aren't running
When to use it: Tell someone the buses have stopped today.
Fahren stays in second place in this main clause.
Say it: Busse puts the stress on the first syllable.
Ich arbeite heute von zu Hause.
I'm working from home today
When to use it: Tell a colleague you will work from home today.
Arbeite stays in second place; the rest follows.
Bleib lieber zu Hause.
You'd better stay home
When to use it: Tell a friend they should stay home today.
Bleib is the friendly command you use with a friend.
Say it: The final -er in lieber is an unstressed vowel, not an English 'air' sound.
Kauf noch Brot und Milch.
Get some more bread and milk
When to use it: Tell a friend to pick up bread and milk.
Kauf is the short command you use with a friend.
Say it: Milch uses the soft ich-sound for ch.
Story — the last milk
Watch Priya hit the ice, then hear Jonas send her home. Deniz still has one milk left.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- Ice on Fliederstraße. Priya's boot slides. Jonas grabs her arm.
JonasPass auf!Watch out!
PriyaEs ist glatt.It's icy.- JonasDie Busse fahren nicht.The buses aren't running.
- PriyaIch arbeite heute von zu Hause.I'm working from home today.
- JonasBleib lieber zu Hause.You'd better stay home.
- PriyaLass uns lieber zu Hause bleiben.Let's just stay in.
- They cross to Deniz's Späti. He holds the last milk by the open fridge.
DenizKauf noch Brot und Milch.Get some more bread and milk.- PriyaDie letzte?The last one?
- DenizJa. Der Schlüssel öffnet bestimmt ein warmes Zimmer.Yes. The key must open a warm room.
- JonasNa ja. Es hängt vom Wetter ab.Well. It depends on the weather.
Practice — watch the ice
Eleven short tasks mix listening, gaps, and building. You'll pick the icy warning and the stay-home line.
They stay small, so the round moves fast.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
German
Es ist glatt.Drop the English herePass auf!Drop the English hereDie Busse fahren nicht.Drop the English hereKauf noch Brot und Milch.Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
Your friend is slipping on the ice. Shout the short warning.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
It's icy
Es ist ____.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Ich arbeite heute von zu Hause.
Swap the word
Swap the word
Tell a friend they should stay home in this ice.
Bleib ____ zu Hause.
Pick the reply
Jonas says:
Pick the reply
Und was machst du heute wegen der Arbeit?
And what are you doing about work today?
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
The buses aren't running
.
Tap the words in order.
True or false?
True or false?
This says it depends on the weather.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You and a friend are both outside. Suggest you stay in together.
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Say it — say it on ice
Now you're Priya on the icy street. 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.
- JonasPass auf!Watch out!
- Priya (you)Tell him the ground is icy.
Tell him the ground is icy.
Es ist glatt.
It's icy
0 of 3 said
Recap — what you can say now
| German | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Es ist glatt. | It's icy | |
| Pass auf! | Watch out! | |
| Die Busse fahren nicht. | The buses aren't running | |
| Ich arbeite heute von zu Hause. | I'm working from home today | |
| Bleib lieber zu Hause. | You'd better stay home | |
| Kauf noch Brot und Milch. | Get some more bread and milk |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Need these ice lines on the street? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps the ice warnings ready.
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