C2 · 34 words
Weather forecasting in German
How a forecast states what has not happened yet, and how sure it is.
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From these 34 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
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A forecast is a statement about something that has not happened yet, and most of this vocabulary exists to say how sure that statement is: örtlich, gebietsweise, die Eintrittswahrscheinlichkeit. One word is older than any model. Die Wetterwarte is a staffed weather station, and die Warte on its own is a lookout, a tower or high place from which somebody keeps watch. The verb behind it, warten, first meant to look out for something; waiting is what looking out becomes when the thing is slow to arrive. English kept the watching sense: “ward” goes back to the same Germanic root, as does the “-ward” of “steward”. The noun survives in die Sternwarte, an observatory, and in the figurative von hoher Warte aus, from a lofty vantage point. A weather station is, in the oldest sense, a place for watching the sky.
The words
Verb (3)
sich verlagernto shift, to move (of a weather system)VerbC2
Reflexive; regular.
sich abschwächento weaken, to die downVerbC1
Separable and reflexive: schwächt sich ab.
sich einregnento set in (of rain)VerbC2
Only impersonal and reflexive, with es: es regnet sich ein, es hat sich eingeregnet.
Noun (24)
Grammar for these: The three genders · The plural
der Wetterdienstweather serviceNounC1
Plural: die Wetterdienste.
die Wetterwarteweather station (staffed)NounC2
Plural: die Wetterwarten. Die Warte is a lookout.
die Modellrechnungmodel computation (output of a forecast model)NounC2
Plural: die Modellrechnungen.
die Ensemblevorhersageensemble forecastNounC2
Plural: die Ensemblevorhersagen.
die VorhersagbarkeitpredictabilityNounC2
No plural.
der Vorhersagezeitraumforecast periodNounC2
Plural: die Vorhersagezeiträume.
die Kürzestfristvorhersagenowcast (forecast for the next few hours)NounC2
Plural: die Kürzestfristvorhersagen.
die Mittelfristvorhersagemedium-range forecastNounC2
Plural: die Mittelfristvorhersagen.
die NachhersagehindcastNounC2
Plural: die Nachhersagen. Formed as the mirror image of Vorhersage.
die Eintrittswahrscheinlichkeitlikelihood of occurrenceNounC2
Plural: die Eintrittswahrscheinlichkeiten.
die Treffsicherheitaccuracy (of a forecast or an aim)NounC2
No plural.
die Wetterlageweather situationNounC1
Plural: die Wetterlagen.
die Zyklonedepression, low-pressure system (technical)NounC2
Plural: die Zyklonen. The textbook term; the everyday word is das Tief.
der Zyklontropical cycloneNounC2
Plural: die Zyklone, spelt exactly like the feminine singular die Zyklone.
die Wetterküchebreeding ground of the weather (figurative)NounC2
Plural rare: die Wetterküchen.
das Regengebietarea of rainNounC1
Plural: die Regengebiete.
die Schauerneigungtendency to showersNounC2
No plural.
der Landregensteady soaking rain (over a wide area)NounC2
Plural rare: die Landregen.
die Auflockerungbreak in the cloudNounC2
Plural: die Auflockerungen.
die Schneefallgrenzesnow line (height at which snow falls)NounC2
Plural: die Schneefallgrenzen.
die Glätteslippery conditions, icy roadsNounC1
No plural. Das Glatteis is the sheet of ice itself.
die gefühlte Temperaturfeels-like temperatureNounC1
Plural: die gefühlten Temperaturen.
der SiebenschläferSeven Sleepers’ Day (27 June); edible dormouseNounC2
Plural (the animal): die Siebenschläfer. The day is short for der Siebenschläfertag.
die Bauernregelpiece of weather lore, country sayingNounC2
Plural: die Bauernregeln.
Adjective (3)
Grammar for these: Adjectives after sein · Comparative and superlative
ergiebigheavy and prolonged (of rain); productiveAdjectiveC2
In warnings: ergiebiger Dauerregen. Elsewhere it means rich or productive: eine ergiebige Quelle.
vereinzeltisolated, sporadicAdjectiveC1
wechselhaftchangeable (of the weather)AdjectiveC1
Adverb (3)
strichweisein narrow bands, here and thereAdverbC2
Forecast language: rain along strips, not over a whole area.
gebietsweisein some areasAdverbC1
örtlichlocally, in a few placesAdverbC1
Forecast scale: örtlich (a few spots), gebietsweise (parts of the region), verbreitet (widespread).
Phrase (1)
wenn Petrus mitspieltweather permitting (jocular)PhraseC2
Saint Peter, keeper of the keys of heaven, is jokingly in charge of the weather.
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This list belongs to Nature, animals and weather — 45 lists and 1 684 words that can also be practised as a whole.