What fast talk swallows whole in German

1. 1
   eigentlich/ˈaɪ̯ɡəntlɪç/iAlso said aŋç.

   actuallyadverb

   In reality, different from what one might think.
2. 2
   natürlich/naˈtyːɐ̯lɪç/

   naturallyadverb

   A word used to say that something is self-evident.
3. 3
   tatsächlich/taːtˈzɛçlɪç/

   actually, reallyadverb

   Truly the way it's said to be.
4. 4
   überhaupt/yːbɐˈhaʊ̯pt/

   at alladverb

   Wholly and completely, usually after a negative word.
5. 5
   wahrscheinlich/vaːˈʃaɪ̯nlɪç/

   probablyadjective

   Quite possible, almost certain.
6. 6
   entschuldigen/ɛntˈʃʊldɪɡən/

   to forgiveverb

   To forgive someone for a mistake.
7. 7
   verschwinden/fɛɐ̯ˈʃvɪndən/

   to disappearverb

   To go away quickly.
8. 8
   Entschuldigung/ɛntˈʃʊldiɡʊŋ/

   apologynoun

   Words used to say that something is regretted.
9. 9
   Missverständnis/ˈmɪsfɛɐ̯ʃtɛntnɪs/

   misunderstandingnoun

   A mistake in understanding something.
10. 10
    Aussprache/ˈaʊ̯sʃpʁaːxə/

    pronunciationnoun

    The way a word is said.

The sentences

1. Was wollten Sie mir eigentlich gestern erzählen?

   What did you actually want to tell me yesterday?

2. Natürlich helfe ich Ihnen gern im Garten.

   Of course I'll help you in the garden.

3. Ist der Baum tatsächlich in der Nacht umgefallen?

   Did the tree really fall over in the night?

4. Ich habe davon überhaupt nichts mitbekommen.

   I didn't hear anything about that at all.

5. Das Wetter wird morgen wahrscheinlich besser.

   The weather will probably be better tomorrow.

6. Sie müssen mich kurz entschuldigen, das Essen kocht.

   You'll have to excuse me for a moment, the food is cooking.

7. Die Katze wollte schnell unter der Hecke verschwinden.

   The cat wanted to quickly disappear under the hedge.

8. Entschuldigung, können Sie das bitte langsamer sagen?

   Excuse me, could you say that more slowly, please?

9. Das war wohl nur ein kleines Missverständnis.

   That was probably just a small misunderstanding.

10. Meine Aussprache ist noch nicht besonders gut.

    My pronunciation isn't very good yet.

Pronunciation

• eigentlich/ˈaɪ̯ɡəntlɪç/

  The ch at the end is the soft sound as in "ich," not a throat scrape.

• natürlich/naˈtyːɐ̯lɪç/

  The stress is on the second syllable, the ü is long, and the r after it sounds almost like a short a.

• tatsächlich/taːtˈzɛçlɪç/

  The stress falls on the second syllable, "säch," not on "tat."

• überhaupt/yːbɐˈhaʊ̯pt/

  The stress lies on "haupt" at the end, not on the ü.

• wahrscheinlich/vaːˈʃaɪ̯nlɪç/

  The stress falls on the second syllable, "schein," while "wahr" before it stays light.

• entschuldigen/ɛntˈʃʊldɪɡən/

  The g in "digen" stays a true g like in "good," because a vowel follows.

• Entschuldigung/ɛntˈʃʊldiɡʊŋ/

  The ending "ung" ends like in "song," with no audible g afterward.

• Missverständnis/ˈmɪsfɛɐ̯ʃtɛntnɪs/

  The v sounds like an f, as in "father."

• Aussprache/ˈaʊ̯sʃpʁaːxə/

  The sp in the middle starts with sh, as in "shop."

Good to know

Kleiner Plausch am Zaun

In Germany, a short chat over the garden fence with neighbors is common, often about the weather, plants or daily life. You don't need to stay long, a few sentences are enough.

Direkte Sprechweise

Germans often speak directly and quickly in everyday life, especially with people they know well. Asking "Können Sie das bitte langsamer sagen?" is completely normal and isn't seen as rude.

Siezen bei Nachbarn

Whether you use the formal Sie or informal du with neighbors depends on age and familiarity. With new or older neighbors, Sie is usually the safe choice until du is offered.

Questions

How do you ask someone to speak more slowly in German?

You say "Entschuldigung, können Sie das bitte langsamer sagen?"

What does eigentlich mean?

It means "actually" or "really," pointing out that things are different from what you'd think.

What's the German word for pronunciation?

It's Aussprache, meaning the way a word is said.