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Coffee Break German

Coffee Break German

Coffee Break Languages 202 Episodes Aug 22, 2026

Coffee Break German offers short, manageable lessons for learning German, focusing on practical language skills. Each lesson is designed to fit into a coffee break, helping learners gradually build confidence in speaking with native speakers. The podcast is part of the Radio Lingua Network and is hosted on Acast.

Episodes

The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2026
The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2026 Aug 22, 2026 3:05 Four mystery cities. Four cryptic clues. One week to work out where we're going.The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt is back for 2026, and everything happens here: https://coffeebreaklanguages.com/treasurehuntEach clue is a short poem describing a European city without ever naming it. Every clue is written from scratch in French, Italian, German and Spanish by the team who teach it, so it rhymes a
The many meanings of the German verb 'stehen'
The many meanings of the German verb 'stehen' Aug 17, 2026 7:48 You probably learned 'stehen' as the German verb for "standing". In this episode, Thomas explains the range of other meanings it carries in everyday German, including expressions like 'auf jemanden stehen', where the English translation is nothing to do with standing at all. Small verb, surprisingly wide reach.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Get free mini-lessons and la
The hidden German continuous tense: am + verb
The hidden German continuous tense: am + verb Aug 3, 2026 8:07 Thomas explains how German handles continuous actions, something that doesn't come with its own dedicated tense the way English '-ing' forms do. He also introduces the increasingly popular am-progressive: 'Wir sind gerade am Entspannen', 'Gestern waren wir am Wandern'. It's a handy shortcut that also means one less set of conjugation rules to worry about.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of
How to say 'feel' in German: fühlen, sich fühlen and sich anfühlen
How to say 'feel' in German: fühlen, sich fühlen and sich anfühlen Jul 20, 2026 7:07 One English word, three German ones. In this episode, Thomas explains why "feel" splits into "fühlen", "sich fühlen" and "sich anfühlen" in German, and how to know which one you need. In this episode we provide a short summary of the three, alongside a mention of the exercises on the YouTube video.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ To receive regular free mini-lessons like
Five common mistakes German learners make, and how to fix them
Five common mistakes German learners make, and how to fix them Jul 6, 2026 7:53 I bet you've done at least one of these. In this episode I walk through five mistakes German learners make all the time, from getting the construction behind "recht haben" right, to knowing when to use "wenn" and when to use "als", to the little contrast between "ich bin ..." and "mir ist ..." when you talk about how you feel. We'll also sort out "machen" versus "nehmen" and why fun "macht Spaß" r
Ordering ice cream in the German-speaking world: what to know first
Ordering ice cream in the German-speaking world: what to know first Jun 22, 2026 9:00 Ordering an ice cream might sound simple, but in German-speaking countries it can be a surprisingly different experience. In this episode, Thomas explains how it all works, from reading the menu to ordering at the counter, along with the words and phrases you need to get your 'Eis' just right. You'll be ready for your next visit to an 'Eiscafé'.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this epis
What to say in German when you're lost for words
What to say in German when you're lost for words Jun 8, 2026 7:28 We've all been there: you're mid-sentence and the word just won't come. In this episode, Thomas shares the little phrases German speakers reach for when they're lost for words or need a second to think. Learn how to buy yourself time and keep a conversation flowing naturally.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Want more tips like these delivered straight to your inbox? Sign
Nach, nachdem or danach? How to say 'after' and 'during' in German
Nach, nachdem or danach? How to say 'after' and 'during' in German May 25, 2026 9:37 English gets by with one little word, after, but German has three: nach, nachdem and danach. In this episode, Thomas picks up where the 'before' episode left off and shows you when to use each one, along with während, the single German word for during. He finishes with some handy vocabulary for saying just, right and directly before or after something.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of th
Vor, bevor or davor? 3 German words for 'before' explained
Vor, bevor or davor? 3 German words for 'before' explained May 11, 2026 8:07 Thomas explains how German handles the word "before". You'll see when to use "vor", "bevor" and "davor", with clear example sentences that show each one in context. By the end, you'll know exactly which word to reach for and when. Which one trips you up the most?➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Love learning in short bursts? Our free weekly newsletter is packed with tips
5 German words with no English equivalent
5 German words with no English equivalent Apr 27, 2026 7:37 Thomas introduces five beautifully untranslatable German words that capture feelings and experiences English needs a whole sentence to describe. From "Kopfkino" and "Fernweh" to the warm, hard-to-define "Geborgenheit", you'll discover what each word means, how to use it, and why German has words for ideas other languages don't. Which one is your favourite?➡️ Click here to watch the video version o
10 German words that look English: true friends or false friends?
10 German words that look English: true friends or false friends? Apr 13, 2026 8:15 Are you ready for a test? In this episode, Thomas presents 10 German words that look just like English words and challenges you to decide whether they share the same meaning or not. You'll pick up some new vocabulary and learn to avoid some surprisingly common misunderstandings.➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode and access a free worksheet in the comments section. ➡️ Love lea
Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 10: Ein Anfang und ein Ende
Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 10: Ein Anfang und ein Ende Mar 24, 2026 30:30 Welcome back to Erna’s Café - our charming German café, where the aroma of fresh coffee lingers, conversations flow, and life unfolds around every table. In this immersive series, we follow a compelling story set in a local café and help you build your language skills naturally through storytelling.Today, some regulars’ routines are unexpectedly changed.Die Erzählerin beobachtet eine Mutter, die d

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