Learn this by Heart! (Romance)

 Google Translate was used to translate this useful phrase:

Learn this by heart!

French: Apprenez cela par cœur!

Italian: Imparalo a memoria!

Portuguese: Aprenda de cor!

Spanish: ¡Aprenda esto de memoria!

Learn this by Heart! (West Germanic)

 Google Translate was used to translate this useful phrase:

Learn this by heart!

Dutch: Leer dit uit het hoofd!

Frisian: Learje dit út 'e holle!

German: Lerne das auswendig!

Luxembourgish: Léiert dëst auswenneg!

Genesis 1:1 (Romance)

Google Translate was used to translate Genesis 1:1 from English to various Romance languages:

English: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

French: Au commencement, Dieu créa les cieux et la terre.

Italian: In principio Dio creò i cieli e la terra.

Portuguese: No princípio, Deus criou os céus e a terra.

Spanish: En el principio, Dios creó los cielos y la tierra.

Genesis 1:1 (West Germanic)

 Google Translate was used to translate Genesis 1:1 from English to various other West Germanic languages.

English: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Dutch: In het begin schiep God de hemel en de aarde.

Frisian: Yn it begjin makke God de himel en de ierde.

German: Am Anfang schuf Gott Himmel und Erde.

Luxembourgish: Am Ufank huet Gott den Himmel an d'Äerd erschaf.

Nothing is Impossible (Romance)

 Google Translate was used to translate the following quote from Adolf Dassler (founder of Adidas):

Nothing is impossible.

French: Rien n'est impossible.

Italian: Niente è impossibile.

Portuguese: Nada é impossível.

Spanish: Nada es imposible.

Nothing is Impossible (Germanic)

 Google Translate was used to translate the following quote from Adolf Dassler (founder of Adidas):

Nothing is impossible.

Danish: Intet er umuligt.

Dutch: Niets is onmogelijk.

Frisian: Neat is ûnmooglik.

German: Nichts ist unmöglich.

Norwegian: Ingenting er umulig.

Swedish: Inget är omöjligt. 

I Got Up Late this Morning (Romance)

 Google Translate was used to translate the phrase, "I got up late this morning" into the following Romance languages:

French: Je me suis levé tard ce matin.

Italian: Stamattina mi sono alzato tardi.

Portuguese: Eu acordei tarde esta manhã.

Spanish: Me levanté tarde esta mañana.

I Got Up Late this Morning (Germanic)

 Google Translate was used to translate the phrase, "I got up late this morning."

Dutch: Ik ben vanmorgen laat opgestaan.

Frisian: Ik kaam fannemoarn let oerein.

German: Ich bin heute morgen spät aufgestanden.

Danish: Jeg stod op sent i morges.

Norwegian: Jeg sto opp sent i morges.

Swedish: Jag gick upp sent i morse.

National Flag of Spain Waving in the Wind 20200307 103733

Japanese Flag Waving in Wind 20200307 103105

Beautiful Fountains at Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri

Innocence and Courage

Google Translate was employed for the Danish, Dutch and Frisian renderings.


English: White is the color of innocence.
High German: Weiß ist die Farbe der Unschuld.
Danish: Hvid er farven på uskyld.
Dutch: Wit is de kleur van onschuld.
Frisian: Wyt is de kleur fan ûnskuld.


English: They showed a lot of courage. (Or, they showed much courage.)
High German: Sie zeigten viel Mut.
Danish: De viste meget mod.
Dutch: Ze toonden veel moed.
Frisian: Se lieten in soad moed sjen.


English: He was very courageous.
High German: Er war sehr mutig.
Danish: Han var meget modig.
Dutch: Hij was erg dapper.
Frisian: Hy wie heul dapper.


English: Those who dare, win.
High German: Wer wagt, gewinnt.
Danish: Hvem tør vinder.
Dutch: Wie durft wint.
Frisian: Wa doar wint.


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May I Take You to Dinner?

I used Google Translate to help with languages other than English and High German.


English: May I take you to dinner? OR May I invite you to dinner?
High German: Darf ich dich zum Essen einladen?
Danish: Må jeg invitere dig til middag?
Dutch: Mag ik je uitnodigen voor het avondeten?
Frisian: Mei ik jo útnoegje foar diner?


English: I gladly accept the invitation.
High German: Ich nehme die Einladung gern an.
Danish: Jeg accepterer med glæde invitationen.
Dutch: Ik accepteer graag de uitnodiging.
Frisian: Ik akseptearje de útnoeging graach.


English: That is nice of you!
High German: Das ist aber nett von dir!
Danish: Det er rart af dig!
Dutch: Dat is aardig van je!
Frisian: Dat is moai fan jo!


English: Which restaurant do you recommend?
High German: Welches Restaurant empfehlen Sie?
Danish: Hvilken restaurant anbefaler du?
Dutch: Welk restaurant beveelt u aan?
Frisian: Hokker restaurant riede jo oan?


English: I recommend an Italian restaurant downtown.
High German: Ich empfehle ein italienisches Restaurant in der Innenstadt.
Danish: Jeg anbefaler en italiensk restaurant i byens centrum.
Dutch: Ik beveel een Italiaans restaurant in het stadscentrum aan.
Frisian: Ik rekommandearje in Italiaansk restaurant yn it stedssintrum.


English: I would rather eat German food.
High German: Ich möchte lieber deutsch essen.
Danish: Jeg vil hellere spise tysk.
Dutch: Ik eet liever Duits.
Frisian: Ik soe leaver Dútsk ite.


English: Do you like to drink wine?
High German: Trinken Sie gern Wein?
Danish: Kan du lide at drikke vin?
Dutch: Drink je graag wijn?
Frisian: Wolle jo graach wyn drinke?

Your Wish Is My Command

Google Translate was used for Danish and Dutch translations.

English: Your wish is my command.
High German: Ihr Wunsch ist mir Befehl.
Danish: Dit ønske er min kommando.
Dutch: Uw wens is mijn bevel.
Frisian: Jo winsk is myn kommando.


English: I have a request.
High German: Ich habe eine Bitte.
Danish: Jeg har en anmodning.
Dutch: Ik heb een verzoek.
Frisian: Ik ha in oanfraach.


English: Can you do me a favor?
High German: Kannst du mir einen Gefallen tun?
Danish: Kan du gøre mig en tjeneste?
Dutch: Kun je me een plezier doen?
Frisian: Kinst my in foardiel dwaan?


English: What do you need?
High German: Was brauchst du denn?
Danish: Hvad har du brug for?
Dutch: Wat heb je nodig?
Frisian: Wat hawwe jo nedich?

His Death Came Unexpectedly

Google Translate was used to come up with the Danish and Dutch translation below:

English: His death came unexpectedly.
High German: Sein Tod kam unerwartet.
Danish: Hans død kom uventet.
Dutch: Zijn dood kwam onverwacht.


English: He did it for love.
High German: Er hat es aus Liebe getan.
Danish: Han havde gjort det af kærlighed.
Dutch: Hij had het uit liefde gedaan.


English: He was always consistent.
High German: Er war immer konsequent.
Danish: Han var altid konsekvent.
Dutch: Hij was altijd consistent.


English: This will have terrible consequences.
High German: Das wird schreckliche Folgen haben.
Danish: Det vil have frygtelige konsekvenser.
Dutch: Dat zal vreselijke gevolgen hebben.


English: I'm prepared for everything.
High German: Ich bin auf alles gefasst.
Danish: Jeg er forberedt på alt.
Dutch: Ik ben op alles voorbereid.

It's Cold Today

Using Google Translate to help with Danish and Dutch.

English: It's cold today.
High German: Es ist kalt heute.
Danish: Det er koldt i dag.
Dutch: Het is koud vandaag.


English: Dress warmly.
High German: Zieh dich warm an.
Danish: Tag på varmt tøj.
Dutch: Trek warme kleren aan.


English: I'm wearing a coat.
High German: Ich trage einen Mantel.
Danish: Jeg har på mig en frakke.
Dutch: Ik draag een jas.


English: Does the scarf go well with my coat?
High German: Passt der Schal zu meinem Mantel?
Danish: Passer tørklædet til min frakke?
Dutch: Past de sjaal in mijn jas?


English: I forgot my gloves.
High German: Ich habe meine Handschuhe vergessen.
Danish: Jeg har glemt mine handsker.
Dutch: Ik ben mijn handschoenen vergeten.


English: Is this cap made from wool?
High German: Ist diese Mütze aus Wolle?
Danish: Er denne beanie lavet af uld?
Dutch: Is deze muts gemaakt van wol?

English: Is the jacket new?
High German: Ist die Jacke neu?
Danish: Er jakken ny?
Dutch: Is de jas nieuw?


English: Yes, the jacket was a Christmas present.
High German: Ja, die Jacke war ein Weihnachtsgeschenk.
Danish: Ja, jakken var en julegave.
Dutch: Ja, de jas was een kerstcadeau.


English: Looks great!
High German: Sieht toll aus!
Danish: Ser godt ud!
Dutch: Ziet er goed uit!


English: Thanks for the compliment.
High German: Danke für das Kompliment.
Danish: Tak for komplimentet.
Dutch: Bedankt voor het compliment.

English: Don't mention it.
High German: Gern geschehen!
Danish: Du er velkommen!
Dutch: Graag gedaan!

Where Are You Going?

English: Where are you going?
High German: Wohin gehst du denn?
Danish: Hvor skal du hen?
Dutch: Waar ga je naar toe?


English: I am traveling to Germany.
High German: Ich reise nach Deutschland.
Danish: Jeg rejser til Tyskland.
Dutch: Ik reis naar Duitsland.


English: I'm going skiing.
High German: Ich gehe skifahren.
Danish: Jeg går på ski.
Dutch: Ik ga skiën.


English: Come with me.
High German: Komm doch mit.
Danish: Kom med mig.
Dutch: Kom met mij mee.


English: Unfortunately, I have to work.
High German: Leider muss ich arbeiten.
Danish: Desværre er jeg nødt til at arbejde.
Dutch: Helaas moet ik werken.


English: That's too bad.
High German: Das ist aber schade.
Danish: Det er en skam.
Dutch: Dat is jammer.

Talking About Money

I am using Google Translate for the Danish, Dutch and Frisian renderings.

English: money
High German: das Geld
Danish: penge
Dutch: geld
Frisian: jild


English: I have to exchange money.
High German: Ich muss Geld Umtauschen.
Danish: Jeg er nødt til at veksle penge.
Dutch: Ik moet geld wisselen.
Frisian: Ik moat jild wikselje.

Another way to say "I have to exchange money" is to say "I must exchange money." I am thinking that the English must, the High German muss, the Dutch moet and the Frisian moat are related.

I don't see anything in the other languages that looks like the High German umtauschen; however, there is a High German word, wechseln, that means to change or to switch. I am thinking that veksle, wisselen, and wikselje are variants of wechseln.



English: Which currency do you need?
German: Welche Währung brauchst du?
Danish: Hvilken valuta har du brug for?
Dutch: Welke valuta heb je nodig?
Frisian: Hokker faluta hawwe jo nedich?

It looks to me like the German, Danish and Dutch words for which could be related. The Frisian word is clearly different. The English word currency is clearly unrelated to the equivalent word in the other languages, as is the German word Währung. The equivalent words in Danish, Dutch and Frisian seem to be related.

Min Modersprak

In a previous post I mentioned that my paternal grandparents spoke High German when they were young but that my maternal grandparents spoke Low German in their youth.

Quite some time ago I was in a book store in Hamburg when I saw a book of poetry written in Low German. I bought it. When I got back home I let my maternal grandmother read it and she enjoyed it quite much.

Below is one of the poems from that book:


Min Modersprak 
von Klaus Groth

Min Modersprak, wa klingst du schön!
Wa büst du mi vertrut!
Weer ok min Hart as Stahl un Steen,
Du drevst den Stolt heruf.

Du bögst min stiwe Nack so licht
As Moder mit ern Arm
Du fichelst mi umt' Angesicht
Un still is alle Larm.

Ik föhl mi as en lüttjet Kind,
De ganze Welt is weg.
Du pust mi as en Vœrjahrswind
De kranke Boss torecht.

Min Obbe folt mi noch de Hann'
Un seggt to mi: Nu be!
Un <<Vaderunser>> fang ik an,
As ik wul fröher de.

Un föhl so deep: dat ward verstan,
So sprickt dat Hart sik ut.
Un Rau vunn Himmel weiht mi an
Un Allns is wedder gut!

Min Modersprak, so slicht un recht,
Du ole framn'e Red!
Wenn blot en Mund <<min Vader>> seggt,
So klingt mi't as'en Bed.

So herrli klingt mi keen Musik
Un singt keen Nachtigall;
Mi lopt je glik in Ogenblick
De hellen Thran hendal.

It was kind of interesting to run the verses through Google Translate one at a time. Clearly, Google Translate does not have an algorithm for this dialect of Low German. But the algorithm translated parts in ways that made sense. The algorithm translated other parts that made no sense. And still other parts were left untranslated.

As I ran each verse through Google Translate, I saw that Danish, Luxembourgish, German, Dutch and Frisian were detected.

German Lesson (2) - How to Introduce Yourself in German - A1

It looks like we have some similarities in the greetings.



German: Hallo! Ich heiße Janine. Danish: Hej! Mit navn er Janine.  English: Hello! My name is Janine.

German: Ich bin Janine Schmidt.  Danish: Jeg er Janine Schmidt.  English: I am Janine Schmidt.

German: Guten Tag. Mein Name ist...  Danish: Goddag. Mit navn er...  English: Hello. My name is...

German: Und Sie? (formal)  Danish: Og de?  English: And you?

German: Und du? (familiar)  Danish: Og dig?  English: And you?

German: Guten Morgen.  Danish: Godmorgen  English: Good morning.

German: Guten Tag.  Danish: Goddag.  English: Good day.

German: Guten Abend.  Danish: Godaften  English: Good evening.

German: Wie heißen Sie? Danish: Hvad er dit navn?  English: What is your name?

German: Ich komme aus...  Danish: Jeg kommer fra...  English: I come from...

German: Ich wohne in...  Danish: Jeg bor i...  English: I live in...


I think the Danish word og is related to the German word auch. Auch is usually translated also. But also and and mean similar things. Both have to do with adding something.

I see quite a bit of similarities in the German and Danish for good morning, good day and good evening.

The phrase "I come from..." seems pretty similar in all three languages.