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Lesson 207 of 240

New here? This is lesson 207 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Taking a day off in German

Priya needs a full day off on Tuesday so a plumber can get into her Hinterhaus flat. At the loft she asks Jonas, who uses du from day one.

He wants the recycling-app work finished first, then he will listen. Keep the reason short.

By the end, you'll ask for a day off, name the day, promise the handover, and thank him.

Stay on du with Jonas. He likes plans in plain words.

By the end of this lesson

Ask your lead for a day off and explain why.

  • Ich würde gern einen Tag frei nehmen.I'd like to take a day off.
  • Nächste Woche Dienstag muss ich kurz weg.I need to stay home all day next Tuesday.
  • Ich mache vorher noch alles fertig.I'll get everything finished first.
  • Ich habe die Übergabe schon geklärt.I've already sorted the handover.
  • Wer übernimmt das, während ich weg bin?Who's covering that while I'm away?
  • Danke, dass ich den Tag nehmen kann.Thanks for letting me take the day.

Scene — the loft

The co-working loft by the canal is quiet after lunch. Jonas has a coffee mug and a blank whiteboard behind him.

Priya sits down with her laptop. She needs to be home all next Tuesday for the plumber, and she has to ask in plain words.

Priya settles at her laptop while Jonas looks up from his coffee mug in the quiet loft.

Learn — a day off

Six lines cover asking for a day off, naming Tuesday, finishing work first, and thanking your lead.

You'll also ask who covers things while you are away.

  1. Priya leans toward Jonas and makes a calm request for a day off.

    Ich würde gern einen Tag frei nehmen.

    I'd like to take a day off.

    When to use it: Ask your lead this when you want a whole day off.

    Use einen with Tag, the form for the thing you take.

    Say it: würde starts with a rounded ü sound.

  2. Priya raises one hand as she explains she needs to stay home next Tuesday.

    Nächste Woche Dienstag muss ich kurz weg.

    I need to stay home all day next Tuesday.

    When to use it: Name the day when you need to stay home all day.

    The verb muss comes second, right after the day.

    Say it: Nächsten has an open ä in the first syllable.

  3. Priya works at her laptop, preparing to finish her tasks before taking the day off.

    Ich mache vorher noch alles fertig.

    I'll get everything finished first.

    When to use it: Promise this when your lead wants the work done first.

    Fertig machen means to get something finished, with fertig at the end of this sentence.

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

  4. Priya slides a closed folder toward Jonas as they arrange the handover.

    Ich habe die Übergabe schon geklärt.

    I've already sorted the handover.

    When to use it: Say this once the handoff is already arranged.

    Learn die Übergabe as one piece with the noun.

    Say it: Übergabe starts with a rounded ü sound.

  5. Priya opens her hands as she asks who will cover her work while she is away.

    Wer übernimmt das, während ich weg bin?

    Who's covering that while I'm away?

    When to use it: Ask this so someone covers the work while you are out.

    Ask Wer when you need a person to take over.

    Say it: während has an open ä in the first syllable.

  6. Priya nods appreciatively toward Jonas after he agrees to the day off.

    Danke, dass ich den Tag nehmen kann.

    Thanks for letting me take the day.

    When to use it: Thank your lead once the day off is agreed.

    After dass, the verb kann comes last in that clause.

Story — the plumber

Watch Priya ask Jonas for a full day off. He wants the work finished first, then he agrees.

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

  1. After lunch the loft is quiet. Jonas looks up from his mug.
  2. JonasSetz dich.Have a seat.
  3. Priya sits. She keeps the reason short.
  4. PriyaIch würde gern einen Tag frei nehmen.I'd like to take a day off.
  5. JonasWann denn?When, then?
  6. PriyaNächste Woche Dienstag muss ich kurz weg.I need to stay home all day next Tuesday.
  7. JonasDer Klempner kommt, oder?The plumber is coming, right?
  8. PriyaJa, genau.Yes, exactly.
  9. PriyaWer übernimmt das, während ich weg bin?Who's covering that while I'm away?
  10. JonasErst die Arbeit. Ist die Arbeit vorher fertig?Work first. Is the work finished first?
  11. PriyaIch mache vorher noch alles fertig.I'll get everything finished first.
  12. JonasGut. Übernimmt Lea das, während du weg bist?Good. Is Lea covering that while you're away?
  13. PriyaIch habe die Übergabe schon geklärt.I've already sorted the handover.
  14. JonasDann machen wir das so.Let's do it that way then.
  15. PriyaDanke, dass ich den Tag nehmen kann.Thanks for letting me take the day.
  16. JonasAbgemacht.Deal.

Practice — finish first

Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, build, fill a gap, and pick the right reply.

They stay on the loft talk with Jonas, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    You sit down with Jonas. Ask to take a day off.

  3. Fill the gap

    I'll get everything finished first.

    Ich mache vorher noch alles ____.

  4. What does it mean?

    Ich habe die Übergabe schon geklärt.

  5. What do you say?

    Jonas is waiting. Ask who will cover the work while you are out.

  6. Pick the reply

    Jonas says:

    Abgemacht.

    Deal.

    And you reply with:

  7. True or false?

    Jonas is telling Priya to have a seat.

  8. Swap the word

    Jonas agrees with your plan and wraps it up.

    Dann machen wir das ____.

  9. What does it mean?

    Abgemacht.

  10. Build the line

    Thanks for letting me take the day.

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — ask Jonas

Now you're Priya at the loft. 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. JonasSetz dich.Have a seat.
  2. Priya (you)Ask if you can take a day off.

    Ich würde gern einen Tag frei nehmen.

    I'd like to take a day off.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ich würde gern einen Tag frei nehmen.I'd like to take a day off.
Nächste Woche Dienstag muss ich kurz weg.I need to stay home all day next Tuesday.
Ich mache vorher noch alles fertig.I'll get everything finished first.
Ich habe die Übergabe schon geklärt.I've already sorted the handover.
Wer übernimmt das, während ich weg bin?Who's covering that while I'm away?
Danke, dass ich den Tag nehmen kann.Thanks for letting me take the day.
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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your time-off lines ready for the loft.

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