Day 76 of 97

Day 76: His Majesty Orders Hoovering

On a Saturday morning in Chemnitz, ten-year-old Liam (A) finds his father Henrik (B) standing in the doorway of his room in a rather unusual costume.

How to study this lesson 3 steps
  1. Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. A

    Papa, warum trägst du Omas Tagesdecke als Umhang und hältst den Staubwedel wie ein Zepter?

    Dad, why are you wearing Grandma's bedspread as a cloak and holding the feather duster like a sceptre?

  2. B

    Schweig, Knappe! Wir, König Blitzblank der Erste, befehlen: Das königliche Kinderzimmer werde bis zum Mittagsmahl aufgeräumt!

    Silence, squire! We, King Spick-and-Span the First, decree: the royal bedroom shall be tidied by the midday meal!

  3. A

    Sehr wohl, Majestät. Ich gebe jedoch untertänigst zu bedenken, dass hier seit drei Wochen ein Legokrieg tobt und die Fronten noch ungeklärt sind.

    Very good, Your Majesty. I would, however, humbly point out that a Lego war has been raging in here for three weeks and the front lines are still unclear.

  4. B

    Papperlapapp! Man nehme den Staubsauger und sauge unter dem Bett, die Socken aber werfe man in den Wäschekorb, es sei denn, sie laufen schon allein dorthin.

    Poppycock! Take the hoover and hoover under the bed, but put the socks in the laundry basket, unless they can already walk there on their own.

  5. A

    Ich schlage einen Handel vor: eine Partie Schach. Gewönne Eure Majestät, räumte ich alles auf; gewönne ich, griffe Eure Majestät selbst zum Staubsauger.

    I propose a bargain: one game of chess. Should Your Majesty win, I would tidy everything; should I win, Your Majesty would take up the hoover himself.

  6. B

    Gewönne, griffe? Wo hast du denn das her? Egal, die Wette gilt, stell die Figuren auf, schließlich haben wir dir das Schachspielen höchstselbst beigebracht.

    'Should Your Majesty win'? Where did you get that from? Never mind, the bet stands, set up the pieces: after all, we taught you chess ourselves.

  7. A

    Aus deinen alten Asterix-Heften, Majestät. Und nach nur vier Zügen: Dame schlägt f7, Schäfermatt.

    From your old Asterix comics, Your Majesty. And after just four moves: queen takes f7, scholar's mate.

  8. B

    Hochverrat! Stünde die Sonne nicht so tief, wäre ich nie auf das älteste Matt der Welt hereingefallen.

    High treason! If the sun weren't so low, I'd never have fallen for the oldest mate in the book.

  9. A

    Wette ist Wette, Majestät. Der Staubsauger steht im Flur, und unter dem Bett warten drei Gummibärchen aus der Kreidezeit.

    A bet's a bet, Your Majesty. The hoover's in the hall, and under the bed there are three gummy bears from the Cretaceous waiting for you.

  10. B

    Na schön, ein König steht zu seinem Wort. Aber hülfe mir der Knappe beim Bettverrücken, schlüge ich ihn glatt zum Ritter.

    Very well, a king keeps his word. But if the squire helped me move the bed, I'd knight him on the spot.

  11. A

    Verlockend, aber Ritter müssen nicht saugen. Der König hat verloren, es lebe der König, und bitte auch hinter dem Schrank, Papa!

    Tempting, but knights don't have to hoover. The king has lost, long live the king, and behind the wardrobe too, please, Dad!

  12. B

    Hiermit danken wir ab. Nächsten Samstag entscheidet „Mensch ärgere Dich nicht“, da zählt wenigstens nur das Glück.

    We hereby abdicate. Next Saturday it'll be settled by Ludo: at least that's pure luck.

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