Episode study · A1

Folge 13: Was machst du hier?

Sebastian asks what Nico is doing here; a two-day welcome, ages, and a fixed lamp follow.

All episodes · Practice this episode

Episode summary

At the shared flat in Wagnergasse, Sebastian meets the newcomer with a direct question: Was machst du hier? Nico summarizes his mess in one breath—bag, phone, and passport are all weg, and Yara’s address is missing too. He answers origin and home again: Ich komme aus Spanien. Ich wohne in Sevilla. Lisa adds that Yara is his aunt and supposedly runs a Fahrradladen locally. Ages come up next: Nico is 22, Sebastian 25, and Nina introduces herself as 23 and also from Germany. When Lisa asks whether Nico can stay two days, the answer is Klar / Kein Problem and a warm Willkommen in der Wagnergasse! A broken lamp becomes a mini success—Nico fixes it—and they offer him something to drink (trinken / ein Getränk), joking about two or three. Present-tense questions about activities, age, and short hospitality phrases dominate the dialogue.

Key vocabulary

Was machst du hier?

Meaning: What are you doing here?

Example: Was machst du hier so früh am Bahnhof?

das Handy (Article: das · Plural: Handys)

Meaning: mobile phone

Example: Mein Handy ist im anderen Raum.

weg

Meaning: gone

Example: Meine Schlüssel sind weg!

alt

Meaning: old / … years old

Example: Ich bin zwanzig Jahre alt.

wohnen

Meaning: to live / stay

Example: Kann er ein paar Tage hier wohnen?

willkommen

Meaning: welcome

Example: Willkommen in unserer Wohnung!

die Lampe (Article: die · Plural: Lampen)

Meaning: lamp

Example: Die Lampe auf dem Schreibtisch ist kaputt.

kaputt

Meaning: broken

Example: Mein Fahrrad ist kaputt.

trinken

Meaning: to drink

Example: Möchtest du etwas trinken?

das Getränk (Article: das · Plural: Getränke)

Meaning: drink / beverage

Example: Welches Getränk möchtest du?

Klar

Meaning: sure / of course

Example: Klar, ich helfe dir gerne.

Danke schön

Meaning: thank you kindly

Example: Danke schön für die Einladung!

Grammar & usage focus

Was machst du hier? and saying your age

Was machst du hier? uses the du-form of machen to ask what someone is doing in a place right now. Age is stated with Ich bin + number + Jahre alt (Jahre is often kept at A1 for clarity). Offers use möchten: Möchtest du etwas trinken?. Short agree words—Klar, Kein Problem—accept a favor without a long sentence.

Examples

  • Was machst du hier? — Ich besuche meine Tante.
  • Ich bin zweiundzwanzig Jahre alt. Und du?

Comprehension check

What question does Sebastian ask Nico first?

Show answer: Was machst du hier?

Which three things does Nico say are gone?

Show answer: His bag, phone, and passport (and Yara’s address too).

How old are Nico, Sebastian, and Nina?

Show answer: 22, 25, and 23.

Can Nico stay for two days?

Show answer: Yes—Klar / Kein Problem; he is welcome at Wagnergasse.

What broken object does Nico fix?

Show answer: The lamp (die Lampe).

Tips for shadowing this episode

Use Was machst du hier? as a friendly (not harsh) check-in when you meet someone in an unexpected place. Chain your bio in three lines: name, age, kommen aus / wohnen in. Learn Möchtest du etwas trinken? as a host phrase you can reuse at any gathering.

Practice this episode

Video © Deutsche Welle (Nicos Weg on YouTube). Echo Deutsch is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Deutsche Welle.

Open the practice player