Coffee Break German Coffee Break German

Five common mistakes German learners make, and how to fix them

Jul 6, 2026 · 7m

Summary

Host Thomas addresses five common German mistakes that learners frequently make despite improving skills. He explains correct usage for phrases like "du hast recht," distinguishes between "machen" and "nehmen," and clarifies when to use "als" versus "wenn." The episode also covers expressing physical sensations with "mir ist" and using "macht Spaß" for fun activities. Thomas provides memory tricks and a summary sentence to help listeners avoid these errors and speak more naturally.

Topics discussed

Sponsor: Citizens Bank advertisement Intro: Common German mistakes and Mistake 1 (Du hast recht) Explanation: Why 'Du hast recht' is used instead of 'Du bist recht' Mistake 2: Mixing up 'machen' and 'nehmen' Mistake 3: Using 'wenn' instead of 'als' for past events Mistake 4: Saying 'I am cold' instead of 'Mir ist kalt' Mistake 5: Saying 'It is fun' instead of 'Es macht Spaß' Summary: Reviewing all five mistakes in example sentences Outro: Encouragement and newsletter subscription info Credits and repeat sponsor message
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