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Lesson 192 of 240

New here? This is lesson 192 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Change the subject in German

Snow sits on Fliederstraße, and Priya is at the corner table with Anton. She asks about the old key in the Fundkiste, and he will not stay on that topic.

He says by the way and talks about the snow instead. Renate does not look up from the counter.

By the end, you'll bring up another topic, step away from this one, and keep the chat moving.

These lines help when a subject feels stuck or too sharp.

By the end of this lesson

Bring up another topic or step away from this one.

  • Übrigens, ___.By the way, ___.
  • Mal was anderes: ___.On another note, ___.
  • Da fällt mir ein, ich muss dir noch was sagen.That reminds me, I still need to tell you something.
  • Bevor ich's vergesse, noch eine Sache.Before I forget, one more thing.
  • Lass uns das Thema wechseln.Let's change the subject.
  • Das gehört jetzt nicht ganz zum Thema, aber egal.This is a bit off topic, but anyway.

Scene — the snowy table

Sunday snow sits on Fliederstraße, and the bakery is quiet. Priya sits with Anton at the corner table. His Milchkaffee is still full.

She looks toward the Fundkiste behind the counter and asks about the old key on its faded tag. Renate wipes a plate and does not look up.

A quiet snowy Sunday bakery holds Priya and Anton at the corner table while Renate wipes a plate behind the counter.

Learn — change the subject

Six short lines here help you step off a topic or bring up a new one without a long speech.

You'll flag a side note, say you still have something, or ask to switch.

  1. Priya turns her attention toward the lost-and-found crate and its old key.

    Übrigens, ___.

    By the way, ___.

    When to use it: Use this to drop in a small extra point without a long pause.

    Fill the blank with the new point you want to raise.

    Say it: The ü in Übrigens is a tight rounded vowel.

  2. Anton looks toward Priya as she gestures toward the key with an open palm.

    Mal was anderes: ___.

    On another note, ___.

    When to use it: Use this when you want a clean jump to a different topic.

    Say the three words as one piece, then add the new topic.

  3. Priya pauses in profile with one finger raised as a new thought comes to her.

    Da fällt mir ein, ich muss dir noch was sagen.

    That reminds me, I still need to tell you something.

    When to use it: Say this when something just popped into your head for a friend.

    The prefix of einfallen sits at the end of the first clause.

    Say it: The ä in fällt sounds like the e in get.

  4. Priya half-rises toward the old key while Renate continues wiping a plate without looking up.

    Bevor ich's vergesse, noch eine Sache.

    Before I forget, one more thing.

    When to use it: Use this when one last point is still in your head.

    ich's is ich plus es, said together as one piece.

    Say it: The ch in Sache is the ach sound after a.

  5. Renate wipes a plate at the counter without turning toward the table.

    Lass uns das Thema wechseln.

    Let's change the subject.

    When to use it: Say this when you want both of you to leave this topic.

    This is a we-line, so you and the other person both leave the topic.

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

  6. The old key fills the foreground while Priya sits beyond it and gives a small shrug.

    Das gehört jetzt nicht ganz zum Thema, aber egal.

    This is a bit off topic, but anyway.

    When to use it: Use this when your next point is slightly off topic, but you still say it.

    After zu, use dem; zu dem contracts to zum.

    Say it: The ö in gehört is a rounded eh sound.

Story — he talks about snow

Watch Priya ask about the key. Anton will not stay on that topic, and he talks about the snow instead.

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

  1. The window is white with snow. Priya looks at the Fundkiste.
  2. PriyaWas ist das?What's that?
  3. AntonDer alte Schlüssel. Liegt da schon ewig.The old key. It has been lying there forever.
  4. PriyaGehört das dir?Is this yours?
  5. AntonDas weiß ich gerade nicht mehr. Übrigens, draußen schneit es schon wieder.I can't remember that right now. By the way, it's snowing outside again.
  6. Renate wipes a plate. She does not look up.
  7. PriyaIch meinte den Schlüssel.I meant the key.
  8. AntonMal was anderes: Der Schnee bleibt liegen.On another note: the snow is staying.
  9. PriyaLass uns das Thema wechseln.Let's change the subject.
  10. AntonEs ist kalt.It's cold.
  11. PriyaDa fällt mir ein, ich muss dir noch was sagen.That reminds me, I still need to tell you something.
  12. AntonJa?Yes?
  13. PriyaBevor ich's vergesse, noch eine Sache.Before I forget, one more thing.
  14. AntonJa.Yes.
  15. PriyaDas gehört jetzt nicht ganz zum Thema, aber egal.This is a bit off topic, but anyway.
  16. AntonWas denn?What is it?
  17. PriyaDein Milchkaffee wird kalt.Your coffee with milk is getting cold.
  18. AntonIch komme gleich.I'm coming in a moment.
  19. He does not stand up. The Milchkaffee stays full.

Practice — side notes and switches

Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay short, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    Übrigens, ___.

  3. What do you say?

    You want a clean on-another-note switch after the talk got stuck.

  4. Fill the gap

    That reminds me, I still need to tell you something.

    Da ____ mir ein, ich muss dir noch was sagen.

  5. Build the line

    Before I forget, one more thing.

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. What do you say?

    Say the exact phrase that says your next point is not quite on topic, but you will say it anyway.

  7. True or false?

    You use this to ask whether something belongs to the person you're speaking to.

  8. Match the pairs

    German

    Übrigens, ___.Drop the English here
    Lass uns das Thema wechseln.Drop the English here
    Das gehört jetzt nicht ganz zum Thema, aber egal.Drop the English here

    English

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

  9. What do you say?

    You want to know whether the old key belongs to the friend in front of you.

  10. What does it mean?

    Es ist kalt.

Say it — say it back

Now you're Priya at the snowy bakery table. 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. AntonDeniz denkt, der Schlüssel öffnet einen Schatz.Deniz thinks the key opens a treasure.
  2. Priya (you)Ask to change the subject with him.

    Lass uns das Thema wechseln.

    Let's change the subject.

0 of 7 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Übrigens, ___.By the way, ___.
Mal was anderes: ___.On another note, ___.
Da fällt mir ein, ich muss dir noch was sagen.That reminds me, I still need to tell you something.
Bevor ich's vergesse, noch eine Sache.Before I forget, one more thing.
Lass uns das Thema wechseln.Let's change the subject.
Das gehört jetzt nicht ganz zum Thema, aber egal.This is a bit off topic, but anyway.
Next: lesson 193Linking what you say

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these switches handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your topic changes ready for the table.

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