Day 22: A Peace Treaty for Christmas
In their kitchen in Mainz, Nicole (A) and Markus (B) are arguing over whether to spend Christmas with his parents in Passau or hers in Flensburg, when their ten-year-old daughter Mila (C) steps in.
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
Markus, letztes Jahr waren wir bei deinen Eltern in Passau. Diesmal ist Flensburg dran, so war es abgemacht.
Markus, last year we were at your parents' in Passau. This time it's Flensburg's turn, that was the deal.
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B
Von einer Abmachung weiß ich nichts. Außerdem haben meine werten Schwiegereltern meinen Kartoffelsalat letztes Mal „interessant“ genannt.
I know nothing about any deal. Besides, last time my esteemed in-laws called my potato salad 'interesting'.
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C
Stopp, Waffenstillstand! Wir hatten gerade die UNO in der Schule, und ab jetzt vermittle ich zwischen euch.
Stop, ceasefire! We've just done the UN at school, and from now on I'm mediating between you.
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B
Gewönne bei deinem Friedensplan nicht zufällig vor allem die Vermittlerin, Frau Generalsekretärin?
Wouldn't the main winner from your peace plan happen to be the mediator, Madam Secretary-General?
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C
Präambel: Die Vertragsparteien haben sich lieb, sei es in Passau, sei es in Flensburg. Artikel eins: Heiligabend feiern alle hier in Mainz.
Preamble: the parties to the treaty love each other, be it in Passau or in Flensburg. Article one: everyone celebrates Christmas Eve here in Mainz.
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A
Alle vier Großeltern an einem Tisch? Die beiden Omas würfen sich doch nach zehn Minuten die Rezepte an den Kopf.
All four grandparents at one table? The two grandmas would be throwing recipes at each other within ten minutes.
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C
Dafür gibt es Artikel zwei: Oma Flensburg macht den Kartoffelsalat, Oma Passau den Nachtisch, und Papa kocht ausnahmsweise gar nichts.
That's what Article two is for: Grandma Flensburg makes the potato salad, Grandma Passau the pudding, and Dad, for once, cooks nothing at all.
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B
Ein Diktatfrieden, nicht mal ein Kompromiss! Und wer sagt, dass die Großeltern deinen Vertrag überhaupt unterschreiben?
A dictated peace, not even a compromise! And who says the grandparents will even sign your treaty?
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C
Die haben schon zugestimmt, ich hab heute Nachmittag beide Omas angerufen. Also unterschreibt hier, es sei denn, ihr wollt Heiligabend zu zweit feiern.
They've already agreed; I rang both grandmas this afternoon. So sign here, unless you'd rather spend Christmas Eve on your own.
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A
Beide Omas, ohne uns zu fragen? Markus, ich fürchte, wir sind soeben von einer Zehnjährigen ausmanövriert worden.
Both grandmas, without asking us? Markus, I'm afraid we've just been outmanoeuvred by a ten-year-old.
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