Coffee Break German

Coffee Break German

Coffee Break German – All You Need To Know

Join Mark and Thomas for this special episode of Coffee Break German where we’re talking about something a bit different. We receive emails and messages all the time asking us “where should I start?”, so we thought we’d answer that in this episode. We share details about how Coffee Break German first started and all

Coffee Break German

The many uses of the German verb ‘ziehen’

Today, we are looking at a single German word that many learners come across early in their studies: ziehen. You might have seen it on doors, where it means “to pull.” However, this verb is one of those versatile ones in German and it has multiple meanings depending on the context. Let’s explore some of

Coffee Break German

Using colours in German: when to adjust endings, hyphenate or use capitals

In this article, we’re not just learning the colours in German. You might pick up a few new words, but we’re focusing on how to use them as adjectives, what to keep in mind regarding spelling, and some key questions surrounding them. 

The Coffee Break German Show is a video and audio podcast series in

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Coffee Break German

The imperative in German: how to make suggestions and give commands

In this article, we’ll explore key verbs and their imperative forms, distinguishing between when you’re addressing one person or multiple people, and depending on whether or not you’re part of the group. 

The Coffee Break German Show is a podcast series in which we discuss useful and tricky topics for anyone learning German. In the

Coffee Break German

Creating compound adjectives in German to elevate your vocabulary

You’ve probably heard all about those German compound nouns. But did you know there’s a whole world of fantastic compound adjectives in German waiting to be discovered? These adjective combinations aren’t only fun to use, they can also add something to your German. Sure, you can always use adverbs like sehr or total, but creating

Coffee Break German

Pronunciation of vowels: the intricacies of double letter sounds

In this article about pronunciation, we’re looking at German vowels, particularly double letter sounds. We’ve already explored umlauts and letter combinations in another episode of 

The Coffee Break German Show. Today, our focus shifts to the short and long pronunciations of vowels, which significantly impact the meaning and clarity of words in German. 

The Coffee

Coffee Break German

Making sense of German separable verbs: a guide for learners

If you’ve ever found yourself scratching your head over why a verb suddenly splits in half, fear not! Because today we’re looking at German separable verbs, and we’re here to shed some light on this special category of verbs that can be confusing for learners. 

The Coffee Break German Show is a podcast series of

Two smiling male presenters wearing black and yellow polo shirts are seated against an orange background with the title 'The Coffee Break German Show' in bold white text.
Coffee Break German

German past tenses: when to use the imperfect tense in spoken German

When talking about events in the past in German, we often have to make the choice between using the perfect tense and the imperfect tense, also known as the preterite (Präteritum). While both tenses are grammatically correct in most situations, there’s a clear favourite in spoken German: the perfect tense. However, there are some verbs

Coffee Break German

Mastering prepositions of location in German: a handy guide



Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of prepositions of location in German.

 So, whether you’re a beginner just starting your German journey, or a seasoned learner looking to polish your skills, understanding how to identify and use these prepositions with confidence will let you take your German to the next level. The Coffee Break

Coffee Break German

Deciphering the dative and accusative cases: exploring two-way prepositions in German

Understanding which case to use when talking about locations and destinations can be a game-changer in your German-learning journey. Today we’re focusing on prepositions of location in German. So, let’s decipher the dative and accusative cases in German and unravel whether it’s a location or destination together! The Coffee Break German Show is a podcast

Coffee Break German

A guide to German pronunciation: ‘sch’, ‘ei’, ‘ie’ and more

German pronunciation can, at times, seem daunting when you’re learning the language, but once you get the hang of some of the most common sounds and letter combinations, you’ll be speaking more confidently in no time. The Coffee Break German Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations in which we demystify tricky German

Coffee Break German

Negation in German: ‘nein’, ‘nicht’ and ‘kein’

Making negative sentences in German does not have to be a negative experience! If you understand how to use nein, nicht and kein then you will have no problem negating sentences in German. The Coffee Break German Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations, in which we demystify tricky German language topics. In

Coffee Break German

‘Zu’ and ‘um … zu’ constructions in German

There are various ways the infinitive form of verbs can be used in German: on their own as an infinitive, with zu, or with um … zu. Remember that the infinitive form of a verb is the base form that you would find in a dictionary. The Coffee Break German Show is a podcast series of

Coffee Break German

Compound nouns – breaking down long German words

You may have already come across some long German words in your experience as a German learner – and they can be very long! Why does this happen? It’s mostly because German allows us to join different words together to form a new one, called a compound word. The Coffee Break German Show is a

Coffee Break German

An introduction to German cases

When we start to learn German, one of the most important steps is to get our heads around cases of nouns and pronouns. For that reason, it’s time for a crash course on cases in German! The Coffee Break German Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations, in which we demystify tricky German

Coffee Break German

How to use the formal ‘you’ in German

It’s time to get to know “you”! Saying “you” in German is slightly more complicated than in English, but what an important word it is. It won’t surprise you that the word “you”’ is one of the most commonly used words in English. It’s equally as common in German, but there are seven different ways

Coffee Break German

A guide to forming questions in German

How do you ask questions in German? Questions are essential to every conversation and will always be part of your interactions when visiting a German-speaking country. So, read on, as we’re going to answer all your questions about forming questions in German! The Coffee Break German Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations,

Coffee Break German

Everything you need to know about the German umlaut

As you may already know, the umlaut in German is the two small dots that can be used above the letters a, o and u. But when and why do we use an umlaut? And how does the umlaut change the sound of the letter? The Coffee Break German Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations in

Coffee Break German

Saying ‘to go’ in German: ‘fahren’ or ‘gehen’?

Most learners think of the verb gehen when they want to say “to go” in German, but that’s not always correct! Yes, there are times when you should use gehen, but at other times we use fahren. Both verbs can mean “to go” in different contexts. The Coffee Break German Show is a podcast series