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How to Say ‘My tongue is tied!’ in German

Meine Zunge ist verknotet!

migh-neh TSOONG-eh ist fair-KNOH-tet

[migh-neh TSOONG-eh ist fair-KNOH-tet]

Phrase Breakdown

Meine Zunge

migh-neh TSOONG-eh

My tongue

'Zunge' is feminine, so it takes 'meine'. Start it with 'ts', and say 'ng' as in English 'sing', without a hard g.

Example

Meine Zunge tut weh.

My tongue hurts.

Words in this phrase

Meine

[migh-neh]

Belonging to or associated with the speaker.

Example

Ich mache meine Runden jeden Morgen.

I do my rounds every morning.

Zunge

[TSOONG-eh]

tongue

The body part in your mouth used for tasting and speaking; feminine noun.

Example

Ich habe mir auf die Zunge gebissen.

I bit my tongue.

ist verknotet!

ist fair-KNOH-tet

is tied in a knot!

'verknotet' means 'knotted', a fun way to say a tongue twister is too hard. 'v' sounds like 'f', and you pronounce the 'k' before the 'n'.

Example

Das Seil ist verknotet.

The rope is knotted.

Words in this phrase

ist

[ist]

A form of the verb 'sein' used for singular subjects.

Example

Für viele Bewerber Ist ein gutes Teamklima entscheidend.

For many applicants, a good team climate is crucial.

verknotet

[fair-KNOH-tet]

knotted, tied in knots

Past participle of 'verknoten'; describes something tangled in a knot.

Example

Das Seil ist verknotet.

The rope is knotted.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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