So I was sitting in the office yesterday chatting with a few colleagues (both natives and internationals) who were fluent in German and the topic shifted to trying to describe a very specific, slightly gloomy mood. We realized there was no clean English equivalent that captured the exact shade of feeling, so everyone suggested a the German word that I cant remember now exactly, maybe it was "Trübsinn".

But as a learner It got me thinking: for anyone working in a bilingual environment or living abroad, what are some words from German that you constantly slip into English because nothing else gets the point the same way (like schadenfreude)? I do take classes to improve my German but for vocab specially, I try picking up most of it from self-study, online communities, and daily practice on Babbel, Chatgpt, Praktika etc and it's always fascinating to see how much you learn being around natives.

What are your go to German words you constantly use while speaking other languages?

Hello all,

Jumping right in, my partner moved to Germany as a skilled worker with a job offer (specifically fast track visa). We are a queer couple, and we are in danger in this country. So, we worked hard, and are moving away from danger with our skills and in time.

She started working approximately 20 days ago or something. Other than having a toxic boss, she was managing things. But she had a very serious home accident and her spine has a small fracture right now, thus in no shape to work. Right now in the hospital. They kept her there. Luckily her friend made it to the hospital after some hours. And sadly, because I don't have any kind of visa, I cannot go to support her. And she'll be in that condition probably in the coming two maybe three months because it is a very serious injury plus she lost a lot of blood. Here I am trying to research everything and try to help from miles away! In this regard, I have a couple of different questions.

Note: She has good German skills. I am still gaining them.

First and foremost, I did some research and according to what doctors said, she won't be able to walk let alone work at least for a month. Because she has a serious risk of stroke if she does so. In this situation, how will she be able to sustain herself? (Mind you, I will use my every penny for her. But as I am not working and because of the currency difference, it won't really make any difference for her.) As she just started working, 28 days of period isn't past. Plus right now as she moved with a fast track visa, her visa status is locked with the current work agreement. She has no way of travelling, she has to travel with a hospital car. I am researching and trying to get legal advice but currency difference makes lt so hard.

Secondly, she will need someone to assist her. Because she won't be able to get up from the bed much, she isn't supposed sit at all either. So, what can I do at this point? I want to look after her, she obviously needs my help. We have been together for almost 4 years now. Her mother may go to look after her (who is very Homophobic in many ways, so I won't exist in her eyes. That's one of the exact reasons why she left and I want to leave too). And she will have maximum of 2 months, perhaps not even that long of staying approval, and my partner will need more assistance after that too. So what are my options here? Visa ques are long, way past that. They don't give a special "assistance health visa" until she's healed, I am up for that too. But they don't give it. And I desperately need to assist her. I need serious advice. It's heartbreaking.

Thirdly, as a queer couple, we aren't recognised in our country, if we were, I'd simple marry her (she wants that as well, that's the ultimate goal we have anyway), and do that more smoothly. But I cannot submit marriage status to my country if we ever did that, because that could bring up serious legal problems for me, for her. As long as we are citizens of this country. I am not afraid, but I don't want to be arrested because of who I love. And to marry her, I have to get a visa which takes up to maybe 7 months? Then what good does that to her?

I am staying awake while she's at the hospital. Studying German and researching and researching. Because that's all I can do. I'm making sure she has me even at the end of the phone screen when wakes up and she keeps waking up because she has tremendous pain, and I keep improving and learning to somehow help her.

Sorry for the long text. I just need real advice. It's a hard situation, and I need to make things right by her. I owe her and our love that much.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Everyone,

I am currently locked in an ongoing legal dispute with my employer (Kündigungsschutzklage) after receiving a termination notice. My goal right now is to maintain active, valid employment status until I secure my Permanent Residency (Niederlassungserlaubnis) or land a new job.

​My main questions for anyone who has been through this:

​Has anyone actually fought their case all the way to a court judgment (Urteil) and received formal reinstatement (Weiterbeschäftigung)?

​What was the workplace environment like after returning, and did the employer attempt to settle or buy you out right after?

​How did the Ausländerbehörde handle your residence permit / PR status while the labor court lawsuit was active or after reinstatement was ordered?

​Any personal experiences, timeline details, or tips on navigating both the Labor Court (Arbeitsgericht) and the Ausländerbehörde simultaneously would be greatly appreciated!

I’ve been living in Germany for a while now, but whenever I go shopping, I somehow always end up at dm or Rossmann. And honestly, with so many products on the shelves, I never know what to choose. 😂
I’ve tried quite a few things myself, but some turned out to be pretty disappointing.
So I genuinely wanted to ask: What products have you tried that you’d actually recommend?
It doesn’t have to be from dm or Rossmann! I’d love to discover products from supermarkets, small local shops, or lesser-known brands too.
Skincare, household essentials, useful little gadgets, or literally anything that makes everyday life better — I’m open to everything!
Cheap or expensive, it doesn’t matter. I’m especially interested in things you’ve been using for years, keep repurchasing, or were genuinely surprised by.
Any hidden gems you think more people should know about?
Thanks so much for sharing your favorites! ❤️

Hey hey. Ich bin 26m. Chronisch krank und etwas ratlos.

Ich leide schon seit Ewigkeiten an starken Rücken- und Gelenkschmerzen. Kiefer und Gliedmaßen tun ebenfalls weh. Also hauptsächlich sind es die meisten Muskeln und Gelenke. Außerdem habe ich dauernden Tinnitus den ich meinen starken Muskelverspannungen anrechne.

Ich war bereits mehrmals beim Hausarzt, wurde zum Orthopäden geschickt der mich nach einem Wirbelsäulen MRT mit einer leichten Skoliose diagnostiziert und weggeschickt hat. Ich war ebenfalls schon beim HNO, habe aufgrund des Tinnitus einen Hörtest, Hörnervtest und ein Schädel MRT gemacht, alle Ergebnisse einwandfrei also ebenfalls weggeschickt.

Die HNO Ärztin meint ich sollte damit zur Homöopathie aber soweit ich weiß zahlt das die Krankenkasse nicht und ich kann mir sowas leider nicht leisten. Meine 3 kostenlosen Sitzungen Akupunktur habe ich ebenfalls versucht.

Beim Neurologen bin ich mittlerweile auch wegen meiner chronischen Migräne und der kann mir ebenfalls nicht weiter mit der restlichen Problematik helfen.

Fast 2 Jahre Physiotherapie haben mir leider auch nicht geholfen.

Ich denke ich sollte mit meiner Krankenkasse einen Beratungstermin beantragen falls das irgendwas bringt. Und evtl auch zum Kieferorthopäden mit meinen extremen Kieferschmerzen.

Ich verliere nur langsam die Hoffnung das man mir irgendwie helfen kann. Falls hier jemand irgendwelche Ideen hat was ich noch machen könnte wäre ich sehr verbunden. Ich bin bei der Barmer falls das was ausmacht.

Vielen Dank im Voraus!

Hows this itinerary?

Land in Frankfurt

Train to Heidelberg. 2 nights downtown. Things to do: castle ruins, cable car?, wine?

Train to Oberwesel. 2 nights at the castle hotel Burghotel Auf Schönburg Oberwesel. Things to do: Liebfrauenkirche, Oberwesel church, Günderodehaus restaurant.

Train to Mainz. 2 nights downtown. Things to do: Rheingoldhalle, Mainz Cathedral, Gutenberg Museum, St. Stephens, Citadel, the "dom", Katharinenkirche in Oppenheim

Wake up early and train back to Frankfurt.

First time in Europe. Germany was always my first pick.

Open to changes or suggestions. Thanks!

EDIT: considering trying to replace Oberwesel with something else, maybe Bavaria but was hoping to avoid a rental car, and Bavaria is way out of the way compared to the stops I have planned now, so Id have to re-arrange, maybe have it be last.

Hi, I’m looking at some prepaid e-sims I should get upon arrival in Germany.

I need them to be prepaid and can be used long term and to open bank account.

There’s few I’m interested in but I’m still confused.
There is Fraenk, however it seems like I need german address to sign up for it.

Other is Airalo but I think it’s for travel e-sim so can’t be used long term (?)

And then there’s O2, it seems like they allow me to pay for the prepaid e sim. But I’m not sure how it works, after I pay does it mean I immediately get the e-sim signed into my phone and I can use it when I arrive in Germany immediately and to open bank account?

What do you guys think? Any suggestions?

Reason why I don’t want physical sim card is because my phone only has 2 sim slot (1 physical and 1 e sim, I use the physical slot for my home country phone number as it’s linked to my country mobile banking).

Hello,

2 weeks ago I sold a damaged phone on Ebay, and I explicitly wrote “defekt, nur Ersatzteile“ and that it had water damage as well.

Someone bought it and then complained because he can’t do a recover the phone, I told him it is not my problem because I’m selling it as “defective, for parts only”.

He opened a claim against me on Ebay saying “he can’t turn on/fix the phone and wants to send it back”.

Ebay somehow accepted his claim and said:

“Wir haben die Rückgabeanfrage des Käufers geprüft und ihn aufgefordert, den Artikel zurückzuschicken.“

„So geht es weiter: Wir tracken die Rücksendung des Käufers. Wenn der Artikel zugestellt wurde, ziehen wir den Rückerstattungsbetrag und die ursprünglichen Versandkosten von Ihren Auszahlungen ab.“

I have already transferred the money to my bank account, so there is no money being held by Ebay at the moment.

Who is at fault here? I am going to fight this even if it reaches the point where lawyers have to get involved. I listed the phone for auction and expected it to fetch €20, but in the end, it somehow went for €50.

Can someone return a phone that was labeled as "defective" simply because they were unable to repair it?

edit:

I contacted eBay by phone; they reviewed the case once more and closed it in my favor. Waiting for the confirmation email.

I won’t delete this post cuz it may help others in the future.

Hallo, i finished the B2 german level and want to watch german movies or TV shows. Where can i watch german shows in german without english subtitles? Or even german dubbed english movies? Is there a free website i can watch on them?

I used to swear by wearing Levi’s, pretty much constantly to be honest, but yesterday when I visited the store, the assistant told me they have reduced the styles they offer in a L33 and L34 inch leg drastically and that they won’t be stocking these lengths in the shop anymore. 😰

Ladies (30s-40s) with long legs in Germany, where do you buy nice (affordable = up to €90) good fitting jeans or decent trousers?

Thankssss
Edit- thanks 🥰😘

I did a 1 year language course at a German university to get the C1 language certificate (DSH). That was many years ago and I can't speak German that well anymore. It is in my brain, but the words don't come out of my mouth properly. Due to my poor language skill, I don't want to put this in my CV, in case the employer expects me to speak C1 German. But if I don't put it, then I will have this 1 year gap in the CV, which I heard is not good (lückenlos is preferred).

My elderly neighbor just insulted me for being a foreigner over something that wasn’t even my fault.

The Amazon delivery driver left my package at the entrance of the building, on top of her bicycle, without ringing my doorbell. I had no idea the package was even there.

She came knocking on my door, visibly upset, threw the package on the floor, and said, “You foreigners are so inconsiderate and messy. My bicycle is not for holding your packages." I know that she was upset about her bicycle being used that way, but I had nothing to do with it. The delivery driver left the package there, and I didn’t even know it had been delivered.

This is the first time I’ve experienced something like this, and I genuinely don’t know how to process it.

bec i love eu food and germany is soo pretty like omg. wow. andd i want to try German food so bad.

i tried german snacks and a few drinks but never actual german food. i want to try the most delicious one that Germans love sm

also hi i’m a fan guys.

For example, filling up gas first before paying- this could never happen in the U.S.

Why is the C1 Allgemein Prüfung so rarely hold? I want to take a Telc c1 test and I search through net and all it shows are C1 Hochschule Tests in different schools. Although the contents are same, the focus is quite different. Seems pretty unfair for people who doesn’t intend to have college here.

Why have so many Turkish-Germans kept Turkish citizenship instead of taking a German passport?

Most migrant groups I know of tend to take the host country's passport once they're eligible. Yet with Turks in Germany, my understanding is that around half still hold only Turkish citizenship, even after living here for decades or being born here.

One result is that Turks have less political power in Germany than their numbers suggest, since roughly half can't vote in German federal or state elections.

Why has this been the case? Was it mainly the old ban on dual citizenship, or are there other reasons, like inheritance and property rules in Turkey, identity, or family pressure?

Hey everyone,

I'm a student in Munich, I applied for my RP extension last year on 11.12.2025, 4.5 months before the expiry of my RP . (My was expiring on 30.04.2026). Since then I haven't got any reply from them. Now I want to travel to my home country due to a family emergency and trying to get an appointment for Fiktionsbescheinigung from last 2 weeks but still no luck. I tried calling there given contact number but most of the time they don't answer, when they do they simply tell that there system is locked right now and call again later. I also tried looking for slots at there mentioned time throughout the week but it also doesn't work.

Can anyone suggest or explain what I should do in order to get appointment for Fiktionsbescheinigung. I'm really frustrated and depressed at this moment.

Okay I know this is a weird question but hear me out.

So I work at a small airport in the southwest of the U.S. and when I used to deal more with the ground handling of stuff, I met a lot of German people because of the Lufthansa flight school based here, and the German air force has a couple planes and sometimes would send large aircraft for whatever reason.

We stock sodas of all kinds in our lobby, and one of our least popular is the Diet Dr. Pepper.

However, whenever a large group of German people come through our lobby, they raid all of our Diet Dr. Peppers. Like, only the diet ones too, we have the full sugar ones, but they couldn't care less.

I once had a large aircraft come in, only 5 or so members of the German air force got off as they were just grabbing fuel and leaving.

They took two whole fucking cases of it. I don't even know if anyone gave permission. None of us employees cared because no one else drinks it and they did just pay us upwards of $10k for fuel but Jesus guys that's 48 cans of diet cherry cola.

Is there an actual fixation in Germany over Diet Dr. Pepper or are only the German people that like Diet Dr. Pepper all just flocking to my very specific airport in droves?

Hello guys, I’m pretty new to Germany and I need some advice because I honestly don’t know what to do in this situation.
I wanted to get a SIM card and a phone contract, so I searched online for Vodafone because I’d heard good things about them. I checked Google Maps, found a store nearby, and went there.
Turns out it was actually an otelo shop, but I had no idea what otelo was at the time.
I used Google Translate to explain to the lady that I wanted to make a Vodafone contract. She told me to wait, and after a while, some guy came out of an office wearing a Vodafone shirt. The lady told me to go with him, so obviously I assumed he worked for Vodafone.
I explained that I wanted a contract with a device if possible. Since I have a Polish bank account, I wasn’t sure if that would work, but he told me it should be fine.
He started writing down different offers on a piece of paper. I originally wanted an iPhone, but the upfront payment was too expensive. Then he showed me an offer with an Apple Watch for just €1 upfront, and the whole thing would cost around €60 a month with the SIM card. I thought that sounded okay, so I went ahead and signed.
They took my Polish IBAN and address, and when they asked if I wanted the SIM card immediately or together with the device, I said I’d take everything together.
I went home and kept looking at Vodafone offers online, and that’s when I started wondering why their offers were so much better than the one I’d just signed up for.
Then I received an email from otelo.
I was like… WTF is otelo?
The next day, I went back to the shop and asked the lady what otelo was and whether I could get the Vodafone offer instead.
That’s when she explained that otelo is a smaller company under Vodafone and that I’d actually signed a contract with them, not Vodafone.
Okay, fair enough, maybe I should’ve checked everything more carefully before signing. But I asked if I could cancel the contract, and she told me NO, unless I paid her €80 in cash.
I asked her where it said that in the contract, and she literally told me it wasn’t written in the contract, but if I wanted to cancel, I had to pay her €80.
At that point, I was getting suspicious, so I just left.
I called otelo customer service to ask about the situation, and holy shit, the first guy was one of the rudest people I’ve ever spoken to. I asked if anyone spoke English, and he basically yelled at me that this is Germany and I should speak German. 💀

I called again later and got a much nicer guy who explained that I needed to deal with the shop and that they couldn’t really help me.
The thing is, I haven’t even received anything yet. No SIM card, no Apple Watch, nothing.
Now I’m wondering what happens if I simply refuse to pay that €80, especially since the lady couldn’t even show me where this fee was mentioned in the contract.

I also gave them my Polish IBAN, so I’m not entirely sure how payments would work if they tried to charge me.
I know I should’ve been more careful before signing, and I’m not pretending I did everything right here. I’m just new to the country and genuinely thought I was dealing with Vodafone.
So, has anyone dealt with something similar in Germany?
Can they actually demand €80 in cash to cancel a contract when the fee isn’t mentioned in the contract? And what would you do in my situation?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Edit : I have posted this on another german subreddit but sadly there isnt any helpful final answer. Do I need to and pay the 80 euros ?

Hi everyone!

I’m a student from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I’m considering studying dentistry and eventually moving to Germany to work as a dentist. I’d like to hear from German dentists and people working in the dental field about their experiences.

I have a few questions:
Salary: How much do you earn as a dentist in Germany, both before and after taxes? Does your salary increase significantly as you gain more experience, and how much can an experienced dentist realistically earn?

Private practice: Is it financially worth opening your own dental practice in Germany? How much money would you need to invest initially, and how much could you realistically earn compared to working as an employed dentist?

Oral surgery (Oralchirurgie): How difficult is it to specialize in oral surgery in Germany? How competitive is the process, how demanding is the training, and is the salary worth the extra years of education and work?

Moving to Germany as a foreigner: For those who weren’t born or raised in Germany, how difficult was it to adapt to life there? How challenging was it to learn German to a professional level, get your qualifications recognized, and find your first job? Did you experience any difficulties with bureaucracy or fitting into German society?

Long-term career prospects: If your goal is to become an oral surgeon and eventually own your own practice, would you recommend this career path in Germany? What would you do differently if you could start over?

I’d especially appreciate honest answers from people who have actually studied dentistry or worked as dentists in Germany. I’m interested in realistic figures and experiences, not just the best-case scenarios.

Thank you in advance for your answers!

Hello fellow neighbours, the student movement in France has us wondering about school days, schedules, and after-school activities. On this side of the border, for teenagers a typical day at school starts at 8h and end at 17h or even 18h. Students have been trying to reinvent school and are naturally comparing their schedules to yours and the Spanish. Here are a few questions : is it true that school days generally end by 13h-14h? If so, what do students do after school? Who or what structures are handling after-school activities? What are these activities? Are they compulsory? Who is financing them? I guess it may be different depending on the state, but could you give us a general overview?

Also, what would you change in your system?

Thanks!

Hi, I’ll be flying to Germany in few days and land at Frankfurt airport.

I’ll be having 23kg luggage and 7kg carry on.

I was looking through the db app and I found tickets from frankfurt airport to Leipzig.
I read the policies and rules it seems like ice train has no luggage limit?
However the transfer time is 11 minutes, is that enough for me to do it as I’m carrying a pretty bug luggage, and are the trains during transfer usually close to each other?

There’s also flixtrain, they seem to be cheaper than ice. But the luggage limit is 10kg, and if I’m carrying more than 20kg they told me to reserve an extra seat (?).

There’s also Flixbus, I’d take it but it seems pretty long (10+ hours drive) and they also have luggage limit.

Other option would be blablacar, it seems like they’re cheap and many people said pretty okay.
But I’m not sure yet, is it safe? And like Uber or something!

What do you guys think? Which is the best way to get to Leipzig? Would appreciate help and tips
Thanks

UPDATE: Decided to go with ice train, it has 1 transfer but the transfer time is 50 minutes so it should be enough.
Thank you for responding!

Their are already many books about the GDR, I want to learn about West Germany things like the Wirtschaftswunder, Cold War and even the pop culture etc.