Level: B1+ Focus: Compound Nouns & The "Fugen-S" (Connecting S).
Part 1: Story & Dialogue
Context: Lukas has accidentally broken a window in his apartment building. He is on the phone with his insurance company. He has to use very specific bureaucratic words.
Mitarbeiter: Hier ist die "Sicher-Wohnen-Versicherung". Guten Tag.
Here is the "Safe-Living-Insurance". Good day.
Lukas: Hallo. Ich möchte einen Schaden melden.
Hello. I would like to report a damage.
Mitarbeiter: Alles klar. Wie ist Ihre Versicherungsnummer?
All right. What is your insurance number?
Lukas: Moment... ah, hier. Sie steht auf dem Versicherungsschein.
One moment... ah, here. It is on the insurance certificate.
Lukas: Die Nummer ist 123-456.
The number is 123-456.
Mitarbeiter: Danke. Handelt es sich um eine Haftpflichtversicherung oder eine Hausratversicherung?
Thanks. Is it about a liability insurance or a household contents insurance?
Lukas: Es ist die Haftpflicht.
It is the liability.
Lukas: Ich habe beim Fußballspielen das Wohnzimmerfenster meines Nachbarn kaputt gemacht.
I broke the living room window of my neighbor while playing football.
Mitarbeiter: Verstehe. Ein klassischer Glasschaden.
Understand. A classic glass damage.
Mitarbeiter: Wir schicken Ihnen ein Schadenformular per E-Mail.
We send you a damage form via email.
Lukas: Danke. Muss ich die Reparaturkostenrechnung einreichen?
Thanks. Must I submit the repair cost bill?
Mitarbeiter: Ja, bitte. Und wir brauchen Fotos vom Unfallort.
Yes, please. And we need photos of the accident location.
Lukas: Okay. Ich kümmere mich darum.
Okay. I will take care of it.
Lukas: Eine Frage noch: Steigt jetzt mein Monatsbeitrag?
One more question: Does my monthly contribution rise now?
Mitarbeiter: Nein, keine Sorge. Das ist Ihr erster Schaden.
No, no worry. That is your first damage.
Mitarbeiter: Schönen Tag noch!
Have a nice day!
Part 2: Vocabulary Section (Deconstructing the Bricks)
Look how these long words are built:
The word > die Versicherungsnummer is built from > Versicherung (Insurance) + s + Nummer (Number) and means Insurance number.
The word > das Wohnzimmerfenster is built from > Wohnen (Living) + Zimmer (Room) + Fenster (Window) and means Living room window.
The word > die Hausratversicherung is built from > Haus (House) + Rat (Items/Advice) + Versicherung and means Household contents insurance.
The word > die Schadenfreude is built from > Schaden (Damage) + Freude (Joy) and means Joy at another's misfortune.
The word > der Kühlschrank is built from > Kühlen (To cool) + Schrank (Cupboard) and means Fridge (Cooling-Cupboard).
The word > das Fingerspitzengefühl is built from > Finger + Spitzen (Tips) + Gefühl (Feeling) and means Instinct / Tact / Intuition.
The word > der Handschuh is built from > Hand + Schuh (Shoe) and means Glove (Hand-Shoe).
The word > das Flugzeug is built from > Flug (Flight) + Zeug (Stuff/Thing) and means Airplane (Flight-Thing).
The word > der Staubsauger is built from > Staub (Dust) + Sauger (Sucker) and means Vacuum cleaner.
Part 3: Grammar Focus
Topic: Rules of Compound Nouns
1. The "Last Word is King" Rule The LAST word in the chain determines the Gender (Der/Die/Das) and the Plural. The words before it are just adjectives describing the King.
Das Haus (The House) + > Die Tür (The Door). Is it > Das Haustür or > Die Haustür? Look at the last word (> Die Tür). Result: > Die Haustür.
Der Apfel (Apple) + > Der Saft (Juice) = > Der Apfelsaft.
Der Apfel (Apple) + > Die Schorle (Spritzer) = > Die Apfelschorle.
2. Reading Backwards To understand a long word, read it from right to left.
Donaudampfschifffahrtskapitän
...Kapitän (Captain)
...des Schifffahrts (of the shipping trip)
...mit Dampf (with steam)
...auf der Donau (on the Danube).
3. The Connecting Sounds (Fugen-Laute) Sometimes, to make the word flow better, we add a letter between the bricks.
The "s": Very common after nouns ending in > -ung, > -heit, > -keit.
Geburt + > Tag - > Geburtstag.
Versicherung + > Nummer - > Versicherungsnummer.
Liebe + > Brief - > Liebesbrief.
The "n": Often used if the first word is plural or weak.
Straße + > Bahn - > Straßenbahn (Street train / Tram).
Student + > Ausweis - > Studentenausweis.
4. How to Create Your Own You can be creative!
Is it a key for the house? - > Hausschlüssel.
Is it a key for the room? - > Zimmerschlüssel.
Is it a key for the car? - > Autoschlüssel.
Is it a key for the basement door? - > Kellertürschlüssel.