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How to Say ‘I've been living in Berlin for a year.’ in German

Ich wohne seit einem Jahr in Berlin.

ikh VOH-neh zyte EYE-nem yahr in bair-LEEN

[ikh VOH-neh zyte EYE-nem yahr in bair-LEEN]

💬 Usage Tip: With seit, German uses the present tense for something still going on, where English says "I've been living". Saying ich habe gewohnt would imply you've moved away.

Phrase Breakdown

Ich wohne

ikh VOH-neh

I live

The present tense is used for ongoing situations.

Example

Ich wohne hier.

I live here.

Words in this phrase

Ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

wohne

[VOH-neh]

live (reside)

Form of 'wohnen': to live somewhere, have your home there.

Example

Ich wohne in einer kleinen Wohnung.

I live in a small apartment.

seit einem Jahr

zyte EYE-nem yahr

for a year

This time phrase comes before the place.

Example

Seit einem Jahr arbeite ich hier.

I've worked here for a year.

Words in this phrase

seit

[zyte]

since / for

Used with time expressions to show duration from the past until now.

Example

Seit zwei Jahren arbeite ich in Berlin.

I have been working in Berlin for two years.

einem

[EYE-nem]

one / a

Dative form of 'ein', needed here after 'seit'.

Example

Ich warte seit einem Monat.

I've been waiting for a month.

Jahr

[yahr]

year

A neuter noun for a period of twelve months.

Example

Das Jahr war sehr schön.

The year was very nice.

in Berlin.

in bair-LEEN

in Berlin.

The place comes last. Stress ber-LIN.

Example

Wir sind in Berlin.

We are in Berlin.

Words in this phrase

[in]

Expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else.

Example

Das Haus steht in Trümmern.

The house is in ruins.

Berlin

[bair-LEEN]

Berlin

The capital city of Germany.

Example

Ich wohne in Berlin.

I live in Berlin.

Guides for German learners

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