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How to Say ‘I'm planning a dinner for about twenty people.’ in German

Ich plane ein Abendessen für etwa zwanzig Personen.

ikh PLAH-neh ine fyr ET-vah TSVAHN-tsikh per-ZOH-nen

[ikh PLAH-neh ine fyr ET-vah TSVAHN-tsikh per-ZOH-nen]

Phrase Breakdown

Ich plane ein Abendessen

ikh PLAH-neh ine

I'm planning a dinner

'Plane' comes from 'planen' (to plan). 'Abendessen' (dinner) is stressed on the first syllable: 'AH-bent-essen'.

Example

Ich plane ein Abendessen mit Freunden.

I'm planning a dinner with friends.

Words in this phrase

Ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

plane

[PLAH-neh]

am planning

First person form of 'planen', to plan or organise something.

Example

Ich plane eine Feier.

I am planning a party.

ein

[ine]

a; an

The article used before the masculine noun "Schuss."

Example

In „Wow, was für ein Schuss!“ steht „ein“ vor „Schuss“.

In "Wow, what a shot!", "ein" comes before "Schuss."

Abendessen

für etwa zwanzig Personen.

fyr ET-vah TSVAHN-tsikh per-ZOH-nen

for about twenty people.

This gives the approximate number of guests. 'Zwanzig' starts with 'ts'.

Example

Wir brauchen Platz für etwa zwanzig Personen.

We need space for about twenty people.

Words in this phrase

für

[fyr]

for

A preposition indicating purpose or destination.

Example

Das ist für dich.

This is for you.

etwa

[ET-vah]

about, approximately

Used to give a rough number or estimate.

Example

Wir kommen etwa um acht Uhr.

We'll arrive at about eight o'clock.

zwanzig

[TSVAHN-tsikh]

twenty

The number 20; used for time and quantity.

Example

In zwanzig Minuten ist das Team bereit.

In twenty minutes the team is ready.

Personen

[per-ZOH-nen]

people

Plural of 'Person'; used when counting guests.

Example

Der Tisch ist für acht Personen.

The table is for eight people.

Guides for German learners

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