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Lesson 148 of 240

New here? This is lesson 148 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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The lost umbrella in German

Priya left her umbrella on the U1. At Bäckerei Krause she needs the words for a lost thing, a description, and lost and found.

She also asks about a key in the Fundkiste. Renate has heard every theory. Deniz has not.

By the end, you'll say what you lost, describe it, and leave a number.

By the end of this lesson

Describe a lost item and ask at lost and found.

  • Ich habe meinen Schirm verloren.I've lost my umbrella.
  • Wo ist bitte das Fundbüro?Where is lost and found, please?
  • Hat jemand einen Schlüssel abgegeben?Has anyone handed in a key?
  • Es ist ein schwarzer Schirm.It's a black umbrella.
  • Ich habe ihn in der U-Bahn vergessen.I left it on the U-Bahn.
  • Kann ich meine Nummer hinterlassen?Can I leave my number?

Scene — the wet counter

Rain on Fliederstraße. Priya pushes the bakery door with wet hair and no umbrella.

Renate is at the counter. Anton sits at the corner table with a Milchkaffee he has not finished.

Deniz comes in from the Späti, shaking water off his vest.

Priya enters the rainy bakery while Renate works at the counter and Anton sits at the corner table.

Learn — a lost umbrella

Six lines cover a lost umbrella, a description, lost and found, a key, and leaving a number.

You also say where you left the umbrella: on the U-Bahn.

  1. Priya stands just inside the bakery doorway, wet from the rain and without an umbrella.

    Ich habe meinen Schirm verloren.

    I've lost my umbrella.

    When to use it: Say this when you have lost your umbrella.

    Use meinen with der Schirm when the umbrella is the object.

    Say it: Schirm starts with sch, like the start of ship.

  2. Priya leans toward Renate at the counter to ask where lost and found is.

    Wo ist bitte das Fundbüro?

    Where is lost and found, please?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need the lost-and-found office.

    Ask this as one piece at a station or shop.

    Say it: Fundbüro has ü: round your lips for a tight ee.

  3. Deniz asks about a handed-in key as Renate looks into the Fundkiste.

    Hat jemand einen Schlüssel abgegeben?

    Has anyone handed in a key?

    When to use it: Ask this at a desk that keeps lost keys.

    Use einen with der Schlüssel when the key is the object.

    Say it: Schlüssel starts with sch, then a short ü.

  4. Priya uses her hands to outline the black umbrella she has lost.

    Es ist ein schwarzer Schirm.

    It's a black umbrella.

    When to use it: Use this to describe the umbrella you lost.

    After ist, ein schwarzer names it; it is not the object.

    Say it: In schwarzer, final -er sounds like a weak uh.

  5. Priya looks through the rainy bakery window toward the U-Bahn entrance as she recalls leaving her umbrella there.

    Ich habe ihn in der U-Bahn vergessen.

    I left it on the U-Bahn.

    When to use it: Say this when you left the umbrella on the U-Bahn.

    ihn stands for der Schirm, the lost umbrella.

  6. Priya reaches for a blank scrap of paper as Renate slides it across the counter.

    Kann ich meine Nummer hinterlassen?

    Can I leave my number?

    When to use it: Ask this so they can call you later.

    Use meine with die Nummer when you leave the number.

Story — the Fundkiste

Watch Priya report a lost umbrella, then ask about a key in the Fundkiste.

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

  1. Rain hits the bakery window. Priya's hair is wet, and her hands are empty.
  2. PriyaIch habe meinen Schirm verloren.I've lost my umbrella.
  3. RenateOh nein!Oh no!
  4. PriyaIch habe ihn in der U-Bahn vergessen.I left it on the U-Bahn.
  5. RenateWie sieht er aus?What does it look like?
  6. PriyaEs ist ein schwarzer Schirm.It's a black umbrella.
  7. RenateAch so.Ah, right.
  8. PriyaWo ist bitte das Fundbüro?Where is lost and found, please?
  9. RenateAn der Station, gleich oben.At the station, just upstairs.
  10. Priya looks at the Fundkiste. The old key sits on a blank tag.
  11. PriyaHat jemand einen Schlüssel abgegeben?Has anyone handed in a key?
  12. DenizDas weiß ich nicht.I don't know that.
  13. RenateDen alten? Ich kenne jede Theorie.The old one? I know every theory.
  14. DenizWelche Theorie?Which theory?
  15. RenateIch glaube keine davon.I don't believe any of them.
  16. PriyaKann ich meine Nummer hinterlassen?Can I leave my number?
  17. RenateJa, schreib sie hier auf.Yes, write it down here.

Practice — key or umbrella

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.

They stay short, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Ich habe meinen Schirm verloren.Drop the English here
    Wo ist bitte das Fundbüro?Drop the English here
    Es ist ein schwarzer Schirm.Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    You need the lost-and-found office. Ask where it is, politely.

  4. Pick the reply

    Anton says:

    Ich habe meinen Schirm verloren.

    I've lost my umbrella.

    And you reply with:

  5. Fill the gap

    It's a black umbrella.

    Es ist ein ____ Schirm.

  6. What does it mean?

    Hat jemand einen Schlüssel abgegeben?

  7. Swap the word

    You left the umbrella on the underground. Choose the word for der Schirm.

    Ich habe ____ in der U-Bahn vergessen.

  8. Build the line

    Can I leave my number?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  9. What do you say?

    A friend just told you bad news. React with a short shock.

  10. Pick the reply

    Renate says:

    Warum denn?

    Why's that?

    And you reply with:

Say it — say it back

Now you're Priya at Bäckerei Krause after a wet ride. 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. RenateWas ist denn passiert?What happened?
  2. Priya (you)Tell her you have lost your umbrella.

    Ich habe meinen Schirm verloren.

    I've lost my umbrella.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ich habe meinen Schirm verloren.I've lost my umbrella.
Wo ist bitte das Fundbüro?Where is lost and found, please?
Hat jemand einen Schlüssel abgegeben?Has anyone handed in a key?
Es ist ein schwarzer Schirm.It's a black umbrella.
Ich habe ihn in der U-Bahn vergessen.I left it on the U-Bahn.
Kann ich meine Nummer hinterlassen?Can I leave my number?
Next: lesson 149A birthday at the bakery

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