Episode study · A1
Folge 61: Meine Familie
Selma visits about a wallet in Nico’s bag; Inge learns she is from Syria, with parents, brothers in Hamburg, and grandparents still abroad.
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Episode summary
At the door, Inge tells a visitor not to remove shoes because the hallway is freezing, then calls for Nico. Selma mainly wants her wallet, which she believes she tucked into Nico’s black bag, and she is not asking for a long visit. While they search, Inge asks where Selma is from and whether she is alone in Germany. Selma explains she comes from Syria and has lived here for almost a year, not alone but with her parents. She has two older brothers living in Hamburg, while her grandparents remain in Syria. The brown wallet turns up and is returned with quiet thanks. Family vocabulary, origin questions, and seit for duration sit naturally inside this small lost-and-found visit at the flat.
Key vocabulary
der Flur
Meaning: hallway / corridor
Example: Der Flur ist heute sehr kalt.
das Portemonnaie
Meaning: wallet
Example: Mein Portemonnaie steckt in der schwarzen Tasche.
die Eltern
Meaning: parents
Example: Ich bin mit meinen Eltern in Deutschland.
die Geschwister
Meaning: siblings
Example: Hast du Geschwister?
der Bruder
Meaning: brother
Example: Ich habe zwei ältere Brüder.
die Großeltern
Meaning: grandparents
Example: Meine Großeltern leben noch in Syrien.
die Schuhe
Meaning: shoes
Example: Du musst die Schuhe nicht ausziehen.
ausziehen
Meaning: to take off (clothes/shoes)
Example: Im Flur ziehe ich die Schuhe nicht aus.
leben
Meaning: to live
Example: Meine Brüder leben in Hamburg.
suchen
Meaning: to look for
Example: Ich suche nur mein Portemonnaie.
Grammar & usage focus
Family and origin: woher, seit, and plural people nouns
Woher kommst du? asks for origin; Ich komme aus … answers with a country. Duration so far uses seit: seit fast einem Jahr. Family plurals often look irregular (Brüder, Geschwister, Großeltern) and take plural verbs (leben). Possessives agree: meine Eltern, meine Großeltern. Yes/no tags like …, oder? invite confirmation.
Examples
- Ich komme aus Syrien und lebe seit einem Jahr hier.
- Meine Großeltern leben noch in Syrien.
Comprehension check
Why doesn’t Selma need to take off her shoes?
Show answer: Because the hallway is so cold.
What is Selma looking for, and where does she think it is?
Show answer: Her wallet, which she put in Nico’s black bag.
Where is Selma from, and how long has she lived in Germany?
Show answer: From Syria; almost one year.
Who lives with her in Germany, and where are her brothers?
Show answer: Her parents are with her; two older brothers live in Hamburg.
Where do her grandparents live?
Show answer: Still in Syria.
Tips for shadowing this episode
Map your own family with Ich habe … and Sie leben in …. Practice seit + time for how long you have been in a place. Portemonnaie means wallet in this episode’s dialogue.
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