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BBC Learning English

  • The Flatmates on YouTube
    Episode 33 - The dripping tap. There's a problem in the kitchen. Will Tim be able to fix it? The Flatmates on YouTube: 9 March...
  • The Flatmates on YouTube
    Episode 33 - The dripping tap. There's a problem in the kitchen. Will Tim be able to fix it? The Flatmates on YouTube: 9 March...
  • Oscar triumph for Hurt Locker
    Words in the News, Oscar triumph for Hurt Locker, 8 March 2010
  • Child directs air traffic at JFK
    US officials are investigating how a child was apparently allowed to direct planes at JFK airport. Pilots heard the voice of a surprisingly young boy...
  • Ask about English
    Amy Lightfoot answers a question from Phong in Vietnam and explains the difference between 'award' and 'reward'. Ask about English: 9 March 2010
Random Facts

Smoking = tuxedo

smoking = Rauchen

 

Peperoni = Jalapeno pepper

pepperoni = (scharfe) Salami

 

muss nicht = don't have to

must not = darf nicht

 

Flur = hall(way)

floor = (Fuß-)boden

 

kurios = strange

curious = neugierig

 

Oldtimer = classic car

Old-timer = älterer Mensch

 

kontrollieren = check, test

control = steuern, zügeln

 

Billion = trillion

billion = Milliarde

 

Allee = (tree-lined) avenue

allee = Gasse

 

Slip = unterwear

slip = unterrock, (aus)rutschen

 

Genie = genius

genie = Flaschengeist

 

A typical American address:

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Governor's Office

State Capitol Building

Sacramento, CA 92814

USA

 

92814 = zip code

 

Wie geht's? = How are you?

How do you do? = Guten Tag, Angenehm

 

Unternehmer = businessperson

undertaker = Leichenbestatter

 

überhören = miss

overhear = zufällig mitbekommen

 

sensibel = sensitive

sensible = vernünftig

 

Handy = cell phone (Br. mobile phone)

handy = praktisch / handlich

 

eventuell = possibly

eventually = schließlich

 

überschlafen = sleep on

over sleep = verschlafen

 

Mist = manure

mist = Dunst

 

dezent = subtle, discreet

decent = anständig

 

Kritik = criticism

critic = Kritiker

 

Beamer = BMW Auto

beamer = (data) projector

 

Chef = boss

chef = Chefkoch

 

also = therefore

also = auch

 

übersehen = overlook

oversee = beaufsichtigen

 

Gift = poison

gift = Geschenk

 

bekommen = get, receive

become = werden

 

(001) 202 456-1111

(001) = country code for the USA

202 = area code for Washington D.C.

11 = extension (Durchwahl)


 

Warenhaus = department store

warehous = Warenlager

 

übernehmen = take over

overtake = überholen

 

sympathisch = nice, likeable

sympathetic = verständnissvoll, mitleidsvoll

 

Note = grade (Br. mark)

note = Musiknote, Geldschein

 

Gymnasium = high school (Br. grammar school)

gymnasium = Turn-, Sporthalle

 

aktuell = current

actual = eigentlich / tatsächlich

 

Tips

dezent = subtle, discreet

decent = anständig