Thursday, November 20, 2008

Parenting auf Deutsch

If you are a non-native speaker of German, you might not automatically have all the phrases you'll need when providing gentle parental correction to your offspring :) Therefore, I've compiled this list of useful phrases. Feel free to add 'bitte' to any of these! Use liberally as needed.
  • Komm 'runter vom Tisch (Come down off of the table)
  • Finger aus der Nase (Take your finger out of your nose)
  • Schon wieder? (Already?)
  • Na los! Auf geht's! (Let's go!)
  • Langsam (slow, slowly)
  • Vorsichtig (carefully)
  • Nicht hauen (Don't hit)
  • Bitte nicht anfassen (Don't touch)
  • Fertig essen (Finish chewing)
  • Mach's ordentlich (Do it properly)
  • Alles klar? (Is everything ok? ...or... Do you understand?)
  • Schlafenzeit (Bedtime)
And the most important one of all...
  • Ich habe dich lieb! (I love you!)
Do you have any to add to the list? Leave me a comment!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for those phrases! They're exactly what I need. Please do more!

Unknown said...

I'm collecting more! :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks Sarah - these are great! I always want to say more and just don't have the appropriate phrases.

Anonymous said...

I don't know if this is totally correct but I been using it.

Seht mit deinen augen, nicht deinen handen.

look with your eyes, not your hands

Brenda said...

How about... "Schlaf gut!" and I've also heard (I'm not a native speaker) "Schlaf schön!"

Anonymous said...

Although I am a native speaker, these are all very helpful. Here are some we use at home:

Schlafe gut und träume schön. (Sleep well and sweet dreams)

Viel Spass! (Have fun)

Nicht jammern, bitte, (Don't whine)

Wehwehchen (Boo-boo)

Bitte erst alles aufräumen. (First we clean everything up).

Pass auf (watch out)

Pass auf wo Du hingehst (Watch where you're going)

Liz said...

This is exactly the kind of help I need!! They didn't teach these phrases in college German!

I'm looking for potty training words, appropriate words for "private" body parts and diaper changing vocab and phrases. Any suggestions there? Are there any good parenting books AUF DEUTSCH that you could suggest as reading to build "kid vocab"?

Unknown said...

There is a good book (mentioned by another poster) called Kids Stuff German which has lots of these phrases. You can probably find it on Amazon.com

We hope to be offering lots more guides like this as well!

schnitzelbank said...

How about "Kein Aber!" - No Ifs, Ands, or Buts!

and my Oma used to give us, "Freundchen!" with the finger wag and warning look... :)

veronica said...

These are great! I hear my youngster telling me 'schnell machen' 'beeil dich doch' and 'dalli dalli' quite a bit-- perhaps I tell her that too often?

Alterton Scottish Terriers said...

Hilarious! Great choices - we have five boys and I will be using these for sure. Berlitz covers all kinds of phrases for travel, but life with toddlers needs a whole 'nother vocabulary. Thanks!

Tami said...

Dont forget "Hoppla" for Ut Oh!

Unknown said...

t.t. - Yes, that's a very useful one!

Unknown said...

Thanks! These are great!