Day 16: The Prodigal Son Returns, Again
In the hall of the family home in Bamberg, Thomas (A) welcomes his son Felix (B), who is moving back into his old room after a third year of trying things out.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
- Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a German word to see what it means.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native German, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning
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A
Und siehe, der verlorene Sohn kehrte heim, fürwahr zum dritten Mal. Soll ich das gemästete Kalb schlachten, oder tut's auch ein Schäufele?
And lo, the prodigal son returned home, verily for the third time. Shall I kill the fatted calf, or will a Franconian pork roast do?
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B
Servus, Papa, du hast deine Predigt also vorbereitet. Bring sie hinter dich, ich trag derweil die Kisten rauf.
Hi, Dad, so you've prepared your sermon. Get it over with, I'll carry the boxes up in the meantime.
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A
Dein Kinderzimmer harrt deiner, unverändert seit dem Abi. Nach Surfschule, Insektenburgern und Foodtruck frage ich mich nur, was als Nächstes kommt.
Thy childhood bedroom awaits thee, unchanged since your A levels. After the surf school, the insect burgers and the food truck, I merely wonder what comes next.
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B
Bist du fertig, oder kommt noch eine Plage? Heuschrecken vielleicht, passend zu den Insektenburgern?
Are you done, or is there another plague to come? Locusts, perhaps, to go with the insect burgers?
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A
Fast, eine Frage noch: Gedenkst du, dereinst einen Beruf zu ergreifen, oder wird das Kinderzimmer dein Alterssitz?
Almost, one more question: dost thou intend, at some distant date, to take up a profession, or is your childhood bedroom to be your retirement home?
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B
Gut, dass du fragst: Ich hab bei einer Münchner Brauerei eine Stelle im Marketing angeboten bekommen. Den Vertrag hab ich gestern zugeschickt bekommen.
Glad you asked: I've been offered a job in marketing at a Munich brewery. I was sent the contract yesterday.
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A
Ausgerechnet München? Die füllen doch Touristenbier in Maßkrüge, das bei uns in Bamberg nicht mal in die Soße käme.
Munich, of all places? They pour tourist beer into litre steins there that wouldn't even go into the gravy here in Bamberg.
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B
Die zahlen gut, Papa, und in zwei Wochen fang ich an. Zurückgezogen bin ich nur übergangsweise.
They pay well, Dad, and I start in two weeks. I've only moved back for the time being.
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A
Nur zwei Wochen? Ich meine: na endlich, dann wird dein Zimmer alsbald das Bügelzimmer, das sich deine Mutter schon ewig wünscht.
Only two weeks? I mean: about time, then your room will soon be the ironing room your mother has wanted for ages.
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B
Schon gut, Papa. Und siehe, der Vater ward gerührt und tat, als hätte er Staub im Auge.
It's all right, Dad. And lo, the father was moved, and pretended he had dust in his eye.
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