Basic shapes: Discussing the shape of elements in a chart
Get Full LessonPractice pronunciation and master this lesson with smart-repetition via the PrettyFluent App
Key Phrases
Hast du kurz Zeit?
Do you have a moment?
Was bedeuten die Formen?
What do the shapes mean?
Jetzt verstehe ich es.
Now I understand it.
Skills You'll Learn
Asking for explanations
Nach Erklärungen fragen
Describing charts and shapes
Diagramme und Formen beschreiben
Expressing understanding
Verständnis ausdrücken
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you're at work in an office. You want a coworker to explain a chart you don't understand.
Hallo, hast du kurz Zeit?
Hi, do you have a minute?
Klar, was gibt's?
Sure, what's up?
Ich verstehe das Diagramm nicht. Was bedeuten die Formen?
I don't understand the chart. What do the shapes mean?
Die Kreise sind unsere Kunden in Berlin.
The circles are our customers in Berlin.
Und die Quadrate?
And the squares?
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Hallo
HAH-loh
Hello
Hast du kurz Zeit?
hahst doo koorts tsayt
Do you have a moment?
💬 kurz literally means "short". Adding it makes a request sound small and easy to say yes to, as in Kannst du kurz helfen? "Can you help for a sec?"
See breakdown →Hallo, hast du kurz Zeit?
HAH-loh hahst doo koorts tsayt
Hi, do you have a minute?
🇩🇪 Many German offices, especially younger or international ones, use du between colleagues. In a more traditional workplace, you would ask Haben Sie kurz Zeit? instead.
See breakdown →Klar
klahr
Sure
🇩🇪 Klar is a relaxed, friendly yes among colleagues and friends. With a boss or a client, Natürlich "of course" sounds more polished.
See breakdown →Was gibt's?
vahs gipts
What's up?
💬 gibt's is short for gibt es, which comes from es gibt "there is". You'll hear the same shortcut in Wie geht's? "How's it going?"
See breakdown →Klar, was gibt's?
klahr vahs gipts
Sure, what's up?
Ich verstehe
ikh fer-SHTAY-uh
I understand
Das Diagramm
dahs dee-ah-GRAHM
The chart
Ich verstehe das Diagramm nicht.
ikh fer-SHTAY-uh dahs dee-ah-GRAHM nicht
I don't understand the chart.
💬 nicht goes after the thing you don't understand and lands at the very end. Swap in other things: Ich verstehe die Frage nicht "I don't understand the question."
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
Get PrettyFluent for smart practice & lasting retention
Guides for German learners
More from "Basic shapes"
Similar German Lessons
Basic Phrases
Basic phrases for learners
Pitching a creative idea
Working in events and photo video production
Industry terminology
Working in events and photo video production
Briefing the team before a shoot
Working in events and photo video production
Expressions
Basic expressions
Greeting someone and apologizing for being late
Basic expressions
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Lessons for Your Situation
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Berlin bureaucracy requires real German. This app got me from zero to handling my Anmeldung appointment in three weeks. My coworkers couldn’t believe it.”
Emma L., 27, UX Researcher
“Relocated to Munich with my family. The everyday scenarios — grocery shopping, doctor visits, school meetings — are exactly what we needed to settle in.”
Marcus J., 40, Engineer
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer