Day 46: Investing in the Trattoria
At their favourite Italian restaurant in Dortmund's Kreuzviertel, Valentin (A) and his girlfriend Judith (B) talk about a notice from the owner, Mr Esposito (C), who soon joins them at their table.
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
Hast du den Aushang gelesen? Herr Esposito will das Haus kaufen und sucht Geldgeber unter seinen Stammgästen.
Did you read the notice? Mr Esposito wants to buy the building and is looking for backers among his regulars.
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B
Ja, aber in ein Restaurant zu investieren, ist doch das Riskanteste, was man mit seinem Geld machen kann.
Yes, but investing in a restaurant is just about the riskiest thing you can do with your money.
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C
Nicht, wenn man sich ans Rezept hält: Man nehme ein Haus in bester Lage, einen guten Koch und treue Gäste wie Sie.
Not if you stick to the recipe: take one building in a prime location, one good chef and loyal guests like you.
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A
Klingt verlockend. Aber was haben die treuen Gäste davon, außer Pasta?
Sounds tempting. But what's in it for the loyal guests, apart from pasta?
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C
Vier Prozent Zinsen im Jahr, ab 5.000 Euro. Die von anderen Stammgästen zugesagten 150.000 Euro sind schon mal die halbe Miete.
Four per cent interest a year, from 5,000 euros. The 150,000 euros other regulars have pledged are already half the battle, or 'half the rent', as the Germans say.
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B
Die halbe Miete, wie passend. Unser Tagesgeld bringt jedenfalls weniger als vier Prozent, Valentin.
Half the rent, how fitting. Our easy-access savings certainly pay less than four per cent, Valentin.
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A
Also gut, wir sind dabei, es sei denn, Ihre Zahlen überzeugen weniger als Ihre Lasagne.
All right, we're in, unless your figures turn out less convincing than your lasagne.
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C
Die Zahlen bringe ich Ihnen zum Tiramisu. Das geht natürlich aufs Haus, und bald ja sogar aufs eigene.
I'll bring you the figures with the tiramisu. That's on the house, of course, and soon it'll even be my own house.
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