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Classroom Objects

Was ist das? is used to ask what something is.
The response is Das ist... and then you insert the object.
Remember that German nouns may have three genders: masculine, feminine, or neuter. It is important to remember each noun with its proper gender. For masculine nouns, use der. For feminine nouns, use die. For neuter nouns, use das.

If the teacher points to a pen and asks, "Was ist das?", you have to first think of the word for pen. Then think that Kuli is masculine, so you will use der. Your response would be as follows: "Das ist der Kuli."

Here is a list of our vocabulary words used in class. Remember to memorize the gender (article) with the noun.

English German
article noun article noun
the pen der Kuli

Remember to memorize each noun with its article.
window das Fenster
chair der Stuhl
pencil der Bleistift
pen der Kuli
book das Buch
paper das Papier
chalkboard die Tafel
door die Tür
teacher der Lehrer
notebook das Heft
table der Tisch
desk der Schreibtisch
student der Student, die Studentin

Notice that desk is a long word. This is a compound word in German. It is made up of two words: Schrieb = to write and Tisch = table. Germans call a desk a 'writing table'. Don't get worried about the length of German words. Words may be very long in German, but we'll learn to break them down into smaller segments. This makes for easier comprehension in the long run.

Notice also that the word for 'student' has two forms. This depends on the sex of the student. If the student is a male, you use der Student. If it is a female, you use die Studentin

chalk die Kreide
globe der Globus
map die Landkarte
eraser das Gummi
rubber band die Gummiband
stapler die Heftmaschine
television der Fernseher
Video cassette recdorder (VCR) der Magnetophon

Click here to see printable flashcards for the Vocabulary