PART 2 · LESSON 17 OF 30 · 30 MINUTES

Swearing Lightly

Swear the mild German way when the computer dies before the show, Mist, verdammt, so ein Quatsch, and learn which word stays off the air.

Audio instruction: English

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THE STORY

The studio in Berlin five minutes before the show, Lea at the door and a black screen on Max's desk.

The words and phrases of this lesson, one card each. Best after you’ve listened.

The lesson is for your ears. Open this afterwards, to see what you learned.

Mist! Der Computer ist schon wieder aus.mist, dair kom-PYOO-ter ist shohn VEE-der owsDamn! The computer is off again.

Verdammt. Fünf Minuten vor der Sendung.fair-DAHMT, fuenf mi-NOO-ten for dair ZEN-doongDamn it. Five minutes before the show.

So ein Mist!zoh eyn mistWhat a pain!

Darf man das im Radio sagen? Mist?darf mahn dahs im RAH-dee-oh ZAH-gen, mistCan you say that on the radio? Mist?

Mist geht. Verdammt lieber nicht.mist gayt, fair-DAHMT LEE-ber nikhtMist is fine. Verdammt, better not.

Und wenn ein Hörer Unsinn redet?oont ven eyn HUHR-er OON-zin RAY-detAnd if a listener talks nonsense?

Dann sagst du: So ein Quatsch.dahn zahkst doo, zoh eyn kvahtchThen you say: what nonsense. To a friend.

So ein Quatsch. Klingt fast freundlich.zoh eyn kvahtch, klingt fahst FROYNT-likhWhat nonsense. Sounds almost friendly.

Eben. Das ist der Trick.AY-ben, dahs ist dair trikExactly. That's the trick.