Frame description

The lexical units in this frame have to do with Partners involved in personal relationships; sometimes they are mentioned separately (as Partner_1 and Partner_2). Some of the words denote people engaged in a particular kind of relationship, others denote the relationship itself, and still others the events bringing about or ending the relationships. Read the Details for these lexical units carefully -- German and English speakers use many of them in very different ways (in relation to both cultural meaning and grammatical use)!
 
Examples:
 
1. Jan und seine Kollegin haben die ganze Zeit miteinander geflirtet.1. Jan and his colleague flirted with each other the whole time.
2. Dank ihrer langjährigen Freundschaft weiß Hannah immer, was Emma denkt.2. Thanks to their long-standing friendship, Hannah always knows what Emma is thinking.
3. In Mallorca lernte sie ihren Verlobten Sebastian kennen, einen 27-jährigen Fotografen.3. In Mallorca she met her fiancé Sebastian, a 27 year old Photographer.
 

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Examples
Grammar Notes
Sentence Templates
Alternate Forms

Frame Elements

Frame Element descriptions (on hover):

Partner_2
The other person in the relationship (can be omitted).

Framey mag den Freund (Partner 1) von Framette (Partner 2) nicht.Framey doesn’t like the boyfriend of Framette.

Partner_1
The person in the relationship.

Framey mag den Freund (Partner 1) von Framette (Partner 2) nicht.Framey doesn’t like the boyfriend of Framette.

Partners
The joint construal of both partners in the relationship.

Framey und Framette (Partners) sind seit 8 Jahren Freunde. "Framey and (some girl) have been friends for 8 years.

Details
Examples
Grammar Notes
Sentence Templates
Alternate Forms
See All Information
Affäre, die noun affair

Details:

affair

The German term "die Affäre" is used similarly to the English term "affair" when a partner who is already in a relationship has a love affair with someone else. In German, the term is also commonly used to refer to the person someone is romantically or sexually involved with (this is called metonymy). In such a context, you will likely see a possessive adjective ("meine," "deine," etc.) with the term "Affäre." "Seine Affäre ist blond." - "His affair / lover is blond."

Hat er eine Affäre? / Does he have an affair?

Pixabay license, via Pixabay.com

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Bestechungsaffäre" ("bribery affair"), "die Dopingaffäre" ("doping scandal"), "die Liebesaffäre" ("love affair"), among others

Synonyms:

"(das) Fremdgehen," "die Liason," "die Liebelei," "das Liebesverhältnis," "die Liebschaft," "der Seitensprung," "das Techtelmechtel," "die Angelegenheit," "der Skandal"

More information in DWDS, the digital dictionary of the German language:

„Affäre“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/Aff%C3%A4re>, abgerufen am 09.02.2022.

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Example Sentences:

  1. Dieser Junggeselle hat jede Woche eine neue Affäre.
  2. Bill Clinton sagte, er habe nie eine sexuelle Affäre mit Ms. Lewinsky gehabt.
  3. Sie begannen eine Affäre, die nicht von langer Dauer war.
  4. Tony und Andy hatten eine leidenschaftliche Affäre, streng geheim natürlich.
  5. Ich habe die Affäre dann sofort beendet.
  6. Die Partei wollte die Affäre vertuschen.
  1. This bachelor has a new affair every week.
  2. Bill Clinton said he had never had a sexual affair with Ms. Lewinsky.
  3. They began an affair that didn't last long.
  4. Tony and Andy had a passionate affair, strictly confidential of course.
  5. I ended the affair then immediately.
  6. The party wanted to cover the affair up.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. PARTNER_1 hat eine Affäre mit PARTNER_2.
  2. PARTNERS haben eine Affäre.
  1. PARTNER_1 has an affair with PARTNER_2.
  2. PARTNERS are having an affair.
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Details:

affair

The German term "die Affäre" is used similarly to the English term "affair" when a partner who is already in a relationship has a love affair with someone else. In German, the term is also commonly used to refer to the person someone is romantically or sexually involved with (this is called metonymy). In such a context, you will likely see a possessive adjective ("meine," "deine," etc.) with the term "Affäre." "Seine Affäre ist blond." - "His affair / lover is blond."

Hat er eine Affäre? / Does he have an affair?

Pixabay license, via Pixabay.com

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Bestechungsaffäre" ("bribery affair"), "die Dopingaffäre" ("doping scandal"), "die Liebesaffäre" ("love affair"), among others

Synonyms:

"(das) Fremdgehen," "die Liason," "die Liebelei," "das Liebesverhältnis," "die Liebschaft," "der Seitensprung," "das Techtelmechtel," "die Angelegenheit," "der Skandal"

More information in DWDS, the digital dictionary of the German language:

„Affäre“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/Aff%C3%A4re>, abgerufen am 09.02.2022.

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Alternate Forms:

(pl.) die Affären
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anmachen verb to hit on

Details:

to hit on, to make a pass at; lit. to switch on 

In the context of the Personal Relationship frame, this separable prefix verb is slang. It is used for situations where one person talks to another, thereby showing that they are interested in that person sexually. This situation is often construed as negative or unwanted by the Partner_2 on the receiving end.

But be warned! This verb is highly polysemous (i.e. it has many different meanings in different contexts), so don't assume this is the only possible meaning every time you hear it.

Grobe Anmache! / rude harassment!

Edith Castro Roldán, Oscar Manuel Luna Nieto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Anmache" ("harassment"), "der Anmachversuch," "der Anmachspruch" (both "chat-up line," "pick-up attempt")

Synonyms:

"jmdn. anbaggern" (coll.), "jmdm. den Hof machen," "jmdn. anbraten" (coll., Austria), "jmdn. angraben" (coll.), among others

More information in DWDS, the digital dictionary of the German language:

„anmachen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/anmachen>, abgerufen am 09.02.2022.

 

This word is part of the vocabulary for the Goethe-Zertifikat A1.

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Example Sentences:

  1. Ich will doch nicht, dass meine Frau von Arbeitskollegen  angemacht wird!
  2. Vor der Attacke im Mai 2010 hatten der Angeklagte und ein Begleiter vor einer Disco zwei Frauen mit obszönen Worten angemacht.
  3. Als Frau wird man hier ständig angemacht.
  4. Ein Mann in der Midlife-Crisis versucht, junge Mädchen anzumachen.
  5. Die Typen wollen die Kellnerin blöd anmachen.
  1. I just don't want, that my wife by coworkers gets hit on!
  2. Before the attack in May 2010 the accused and an associate had hit on two women in front of a nightclub with obscene words.
  3. As woman, one gets here constantly hit on.
  4. A man in midlife crisis tries to hit on young girls.
  5. The  blokes want to hit on the waitress.
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Grammar:

Verbs with Separable Prefixes

Some verbs have a prefix that moves around in the sentence, depending on what form the verb takes. You can expect the prefix to appear at the end of the sentence or clause, but whether the verb appears there with it depends on the rest of the sentence (tense, presence of a modal verb, etc.). In the infinitive form, the prefix is attached, like "ausgehen" ("to go out"). If the verb is conjugated (in present or simple past tense), the prefix appears at the end of the clause, as in "Ich gehe heute Abend aus" ("I am going out tonight"). The chart below shows several structural variants for these kinds of verbs. For more information, see the examples for individual verbs in the G-FOL or read these explanations from Grimm Grammar: present tense, conversational past tense (Perfekt).

Die erste Stelle (first position)V2 (verb 2nd)Rest (the rest of the info)am Ende (at the end)
Am Samstagabendgeheich mit Freundenaus.
Ichgingam Samstagabend mit Freunden aus.
Mit Freundenbinich am Samstagabendausgegangen.
Wanngeheich mit Freundenaus?
Ichkannnicht am Samstagabend mit Freunden ausgehen.
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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. PARTNER_1 macht PARTNER_2 an.
  1. PARTNER_1 hits on PARTNER_2.
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Details:

to hit on, to make a pass at; lit. to switch on 

In the context of the Personal Relationship frame, this separable prefix verb is slang. It is used for situations where one person talks to another, thereby showing that they are interested in that person sexually. This situation is often construed as negative or unwanted by the Partner_2 on the receiving end.

But be warned! This verb is highly polysemous (i.e. it has many different meanings in different contexts), so don't assume this is the only possible meaning every time you hear it.

Grobe Anmache! / rude harassment!

Edith Castro Roldán, Oscar Manuel Luna Nieto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Further details:

Word formation:

"die Anmache" ("harassment"), "der Anmachversuch," "der Anmachspruch" (both "chat-up line," "pick-up attempt")

Synonyms:

"jmdn. anbaggern" (coll.), "jmdm. den Hof machen," "jmdn. anbraten" (coll., Austria), "jmdn. angraben" (coll.), among others

More information in DWDS, the digital dictionary of the German language:

„anmachen“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/anmachen>, abgerufen am 09.02.2022.

 

This word is part of the vocabulary for the Goethe-Zertifikat A1.

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Alternate Forms:

(er) macht an, machte an, hat angemacht
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befreunden: sich (acc.) befreunden (mit) verb to befriend

Details:

to befriend

Germans use this inseparable-prefix verb as English speakers use the phrase "to become friends with." For example, "Ich habe mich mit meinen Arbeitskollegen befreundet." ("I became friends with my colleagues at work."). See also "befreundet sein" ("to be friends").

Note: In certain contexts, "befreunden" can mean "to familiarize (yourself with something)" or "get comfortable with."

Die Studenten haben sich im Seminar befreundet. / The students became friends in the course.

Pixabay license, via Pixabay.com

Further details:

Synonyms:

"Freunde werden," "sich anfreunden," "Freundschaft schließen"

More information in DWDS, the digital dictionary of the German language:

„befreunden“, bereitgestellt durch das Digitale Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, <https://www.dwds.de/wb/befreunden>, abgerufen am 09.02.2022.

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Example Sentences:

  1. Ich habe mich mit dem alten Mann befreundet.
  2. Die Klassenkameraden haben sich alle am ersten Tag befreundet.
  3. Frau Mix hatte sich mit dem 30-jährigen Arbeiter befreundet.
  1. I befriended the old man.
  2. The classmates all befriended each other on the first day.
  3. Ms. Mix had befriended the 30-year-old worker.
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Grammar:

Starting and Ending Relationships: Reflexive Pronouns and Prepositions

Frames: 
Personal Relationship
There are a number of words for starting and ending relationships that involve the use of an (accusative) reflexive pronoun and a preposition. The person who is starting/ending the relationship (FE Partner_1) is realized as both the subject and as the accusative reflexive object (green in the examples below). The person with whom they are starting/ending the relationship (FE Partner_2) is realized in a prepositional phrase (pink) with either dative or accusative, depending on the preposition. When the Partners of the relationship are realized in one phrase (e.g. "meine Eltern," "my parents"; "das Liebespaar," "lovers"), the prepositional phrase can often be omitted. These constructions are often significantly different than their English equivalents. 
 
ReflexiveVerbPrepositionEnglish
sichbefreundenmit(dat.)to befriend, to make friends with

Ich habe mich mit Manni befreundet.

I befriended Manni.

Die Studenten befreunden sich.

The students befriend one another.

sichscheiden lassenvon (dat.) to divorce

Frieda lässt sich von ihrem Mann scheiden. 

Frieda is divorcing her husband.

Meine Eltern haben sich scheiden lassen.

My parents got a divorce.
sichtrennen von (dat.)to separate from 

Lena trennt sich von ihrer Partnerin.  

Lena is separating from her partner.  

Sabine und Jan trennen sich. 

Sabine and Jan are separating.

 sichverlieben in (akk.)to fall in love with 

Elias verliebt sich in eine schöne junge Frau.  

Elias is falling in love with a pretty young woman.

Die zwei schüchternen Teenager verliebten sich sofort ineinander. 

The two shy teenagers fell in love with each other immediately.

sichverlobenmit (dat.)to get engaged to

Nach einem Jahr hat Mila sich mit ihrem Freundverlobt.

 After a year, Mila got engaged to her boyfriend.

Das Liebespaar verlobte sich im Juni.

 The couple got engaged in June.

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Templates with Frame Elements:

  1. PARTNER_1 befeundet sich mit PARTNER_2.
  2. PARTNERS befreunden sich.
  1. PARTNER_1 befriends PARTNER_2.
  2. PARTNERS befriend each other.
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Details:

to befriend

Germans use this inseparable-prefix verb as English speakers use the phrase "to become friends with." For example, "Ich habe mich mit meinen Arbeitskollegen befreundet." ("I became friends with my colleagues at work."). See also "befreundet sein" ("to be friends").

Note: In certain contexts, "befreunden" can mean "to familiarize (yourself with something)" or "get comfortable with."

Die Studenten haben sich im Seminar befreundet. / The students became friends in the course.