German grammar
Norddeutsch von der Küste: Moin!, is' nich', … nich?, Schiet, schnacken
Understand the German of the North Sea coast: Moin, swallowed endings, nich?, Schiet, schnacken.
From the scene Moin! Schön hier, nich? (Moin! Nice here, isn't it?)
In short
North German says Moin at any time, swallows endings and tags nich? on the end.
Your turn
Which one goes with it's not bad (endings swallowed)?
Options: Moin! · schön hier, nich? · is' nich' schlimm
Show answer
it's not bad (endings swallowed) → is' nich' schlimm
How it works
Tío Efraín talks like someone from Germany's North Sea coast.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
(blank) heißt quatschen. Und dann sagte er, er wollte mich nur verkackeiern.
Options: Schiet · Moin · Schnacken
Show answer
Schnacken heißt quatschen. Und dann sagte er, er wollte mich nur verkackeiern.
Schnacken means chatting. And then he said he just wanted to verkackeiern me.
Good to know
Moin means hello at any time of day.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Verkackeiern heißt auf den (blank) nehmen, Frau Elena.
Options: Arm · Kopf · Hals
Show answer
Verkackeiern heißt auf den Arm nehmen, Frau Elena.
Verkackeiern means pulling someone's leg, Frau Elena.
Good to know
Endings get swallowed (is' nich' = ist nicht); nich? goes on the end of a sentence like 'isn't it?'; Schiet (Low German for 'rubbish') is a mild 'what a pain!' (So'n Schiet!); schnacken means to chat.
Good to know
Verkackeiern (to pull someone's leg) is everyday colloquial German everywhere — it only sounds rude.
hello (any time of day) Moin!
it's not bad (endings swallowed) is' nich' schlimm
Your turn
What goes with is' nich' schlimm?
Options: nice here, isn't it? · it's not bad (endings swallowed) · hello (any time of day)
Show answer
is' nich' schlimm → it's not bad (endings swallowed)
nice here, isn't it? schön hier, nich?
Javi
An der Küste hängt man „nich?“ an: „Schön hier, nich?“
On the coast you add "nich?": "Nice here, nich?"
Your turn
What fills the gap?
An der Küste hängt man „nich?“ an: „(blank)?“
Options: Schön hier, nich · Moin · Is' nich' schlimm
Show answer
Javi
An der Küste hängt man „nich?“ an: „Schön hier, nich?“
On the coast you add "nich?": "Nice here, nich?"
what a pain! So'n Schiet!
Javi
„Schiet“ ist alles: das Wetter, ein Problem... So'n Schiet!
"Schiet" is everything: the weather, a problem... What a load of Schiet!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
„Schiet“ ist alles: das Wetter, ein Problem... (blank)!
Options: Moin · Is' nich' schlimm · So'n Schiet
Show answer
Javi
„Schiet“ ist alles: das Wetter, ein Problem... So'n Schiet!
"Schiet" is everything: the weather, a problem... What a load of Schiet!
to chat · to pull someone's leg schnacken · verkackeiern
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| hello (any time of day) | Moin! |
|---|---|
| it's not bad (endings swallowed) | is' nich' schlimm |
| nice here, isn't it? | schön hier, nich? |
| what a pain! | So'n Schiet! |
| to chat · to pull someone's leg | schnacken · verkackeiern |
More lines from the story
- JaviSchnacken heißt quatschen. Und dann sagte er, er wollte mich nur verkackeiern.Schnacken means chatting. And then he said he just wanted to verkackeiern me.
- JaviVerkackeiern heißt auf den Arm nehmen, Frau Elena.Verkackeiern means pulling someone's leg, Frau Elena.
- JaviMein Onkel Efraín, aus Barranquilla. Er ist von der Küste.My uncle Efraín, from Barranquilla. He is from the coast.
- ElenaEr hat wahnsinnig schnell geredet und alle Endungen verschluckt.He talked incredibly fast and swallowed all his word endings.