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Idiomatic German Trivia Quiz

Ten questions on idiomatic German. Some of the questions are basic, while others more advanced. In all cases, choose the most idiomatic option.

A multiple-choice quiz by bloomsby. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
bloomsby

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
141,815

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
3123

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which of these greetings is NOT used in German? Hint

Guten Morgen

Guten Nachmittag

Guten Tag

Guten Abend

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Question 2 of 10

2. You want to ask the way to the Town Hall (or City Hall). Which of these is the most idiomatic? Hint

Wo ist das Rathaus?

Wie komm' ich hier zum Rathaus?

W�rden Sir mir sagen, wie ich das Rathaus erreichen kann?

Wo ist der Weg zum Rathaus?

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. You want to buy a return (roundtrip) rail ticket to Wismar. What do you say to the booking-clerk? Hint

Wismar - hin und zur�ck, bitte

Eine Rundkarte - Wismar, bitte

Eine Rundfahrt nach Wismar, bitte

Eine Heimkehrkarte nach Wismar, bitte

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Question 4 of 10

4. You want a cup of coffee. What should you ask for? Hint

eine Kaffeetasse

eine Tasse von Kaffee

eine Tasse Kaffee

eine Tasse Kaffees

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Question 5 of 10

5. You are looking for accommodation. What is the idiomatic German for 'a single room'? Hint

ein Zimmer f�r eine Person

ein Zimmer mit einem Bett

ein Einzelzimmer

ein Einbettzimmer

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Question 6 of 10

6. You want to ask what a word or phrase is in English. What's the best way of saying 'What's that in English'? Hint

Was ist das auf Englisch?

Wie hei�t das auf Englisch?

Kannitverstan

Was ist das in Englisch?

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. You want to ask when the next train to Koblenz leaves. Which of these is most idiomatic? Hint

Wenn f�hrt der n�chste Zug nach Koblenz?

Wann wird der n�chste Zug nach Koblenz losfahren?

Ob ein Zug nach Koblenz f�hrt?

Wann f�hrt der n�chste Zug nach Koblenz?

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. You need to disappear for a moment. How does one say 'I'll be back in a moment'? Hint

Ich werde in einem Augenblick zur�ckkommem

Ich bin im Augenblick wieder zur�ck

Ich komme schnell zur�ck

Ich bin gleich wieder da

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Question 9 of 10

9. You are walking and have lost your way. Which of these best expresses 'I've lost my way'? Hint

Ich habe mich verlaufen

Ich wei� nicht, wo ich bin

Ich kenne mich hier nicht aus

Ich habe meinen Weg verloren

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of these is the best way of saying 'I must get up at nine o'clock tomorrow morning'? Hint

Ich muss morgen morgen um neun Uhr aufstehen

Ich muss morgen um neun Uhr in der Fr�he aufstehen

Ich muss morgen Vormittag um neun Uhr aufstehen

Ich muss morgen fr�h um neun Uhr aufstehen

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of these greetings is NOT used in German?

Answer: Guten Nachmittag

If you greet someone in the afternoon, use 'Guten Tag'. All these greetings are in the accusative and in writing, the nouns all have initial capital letters. However, if 'Abend' is qualified by an adverb it generally starts with a small letter, as in 'Bis heute abend' - 'See you this evening'.

The same applies if 'Abend' is used with a day of the week, for example, 'Montag abend'. These rules also apply to 'der Morgen'.

2. You want to ask the way to the Town Hall (or City Hall). Which of these is the most idiomatic?

Answer: Wie komm' ich hier zum Rathaus?

Alternatively, you could ask 'Wie komm' ich am besten zum Rathaus?' - which is also perfectly idiomatic. The non-idiomatic versions would be understood.

3. You want to buy a return (roundtrip) rail ticket to Wismar. What do you say to the booking-clerk?

Answer: Wismar - hin und zur�ck, bitte

'Eine Rundfahrt' (pl -en) is a tour, so you might go on 'eine Stadtrundfahrt' - 'a sightseeing tour [of a city]', for example. The incorrect versions are all likely to cause at least some problems, if only delays in comprehension.

4. You want a cup of coffee. What should you ask for?

Answer: eine Tasse Kaffee

In such cases in German the two nouns are in apposition and there is no visible or audible 'linkage' comparable to English 'of'. Die Tasse (pl. -n) - cup; der Kaffee (no pl.) - coffee. Cf. 'ein Glas Wasser' - 'a glas of water'; 'eine Flasche Wein' - 'a bottle of wine'.

Note also 'die Stadt London' ('City of London') where 'Stadt' and 'London' are similarly in apposition and there is nothing corresponding to 'of'.

5. You are looking for accommodation. What is the idiomatic German for 'a single room'?

Answer: ein Einzelzimmer

'Das Einzelzimmer' (pl. - ). Note also 'das Doppelzimmer' (pl. - ) - 'double-room'.

6. You want to ask what a word or phrase is in English. What's the best way of saying 'What's that in English'?

Answer: Wie hei�t das auf Englisch?

In writing, 'auf englisch' and 'auf Englisch' are both used. As for 'Kannitverstan', it's jocular (usually in a negative sense) and is best translated as 'Me no understand': it's just *the* thing to say if you want to clown in a German-speaking country!

7. You want to ask when the next train to Koblenz leaves. Which of these is most idiomatic?

Answer: Wann f�hrt der n�chste Zug nach Koblenz?

'Wenn' means 'if, whenever'. The word for 'when' (as a question, direct or indirect) is 'wann'. In spoken German it's commonplace to use the present tense with a future sense with verbs of motion. Note: fahren - f�hrt - ist gefahren - to go, travel (by vehicle).

8. You need to disappear for a moment. How does one say 'I'll be back in a moment'?

Answer: Ich bin gleich wieder da

An equally acceptable alternative is 'Ich komm' gleich wieder'.

9. You are walking and have lost your way. Which of these best expresses 'I've lost my way'?

Answer: Ich habe mich verlaufen

There are a number of German verbs of the type 'sich (acc.) ver-' which mean doing something wrongly, for example: 'sich verrechnen - to miscalculate', 'sich versprechen - '1. to make a slip of the tongue, 2. to mispronounce' and 'sich verfahren' - 'to take a wrong turning (when driving)'.

'Sich (acc.) auskennen' means '1. to know one's way around, 2. be conversant with, well versed in'.

10. Which of these is the best way of saying 'I must get up at nine o'clock tomorrow morning'?

Answer: Ich muss morgen fr�h um neun Uhr aufstehen

Note that 'morgen morgen' is a complete no-no. The standard expression for 'tomorrow morning' is 'morgen fr�h'. This is used even with a specified time that isn't particularly early. If you wish to stress 'early' it's best to detach the word 'fr�h' from 'morgen' and stress it, for example as follows: 'Morgen muss ich ganz fr�h aufstehen.'

Source: Author bloomsby

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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