B1 · 43 words
Looking for a flat in German
An advert, a viewing, a deposit and a contract — the vocabulary of the hardest fortnight of moving to a German city.
German flat adverts are written in abbreviations and the abbreviations are the point: 3 ZKB, 78 m², KM 950 + NK 200, KT 3 MM means three rooms with a kitchen and a bathroom, seventy-eight square metres, nine hundred and fifty cold rent plus two hundred service charges, deposit three months' rent. Two words carry most of the money. Die Kaltmiete is the rent itself; die Warmmiete adds heating and service charges, and the difference is often two hundred euros a month. And die Kaution, the deposit, is legally capped at three months' cold rent and has to be paid into a separate account.
The words
Verb (6)
besichtigento view, to look roundVerbB1
Inseparable: no ge- in the participle.
einziehento move inVerbB1
Separable, with "sein".
ausziehento move outVerbB1
Separable, with "sein" in this sense.
renovierento redecorate, to renovateVerbB1
No ge- in the participle.
streichento paint (a wall)VerbB1
streichen – strich – gestrichen. Also means to delete.
übergebento hand overVerbB1
Forms: übergibt, übergab, übergeben. sich übergeben: to be sick, to vomit.
Noun (34)
die Wohnungssucheflat huntingNounB1
No plural.
der VermieterlandlordNounB1
Plural: die Vermieter. Feminine: die Vermieterin.
der MietertenantNounB1
Plural: die Mieter.
der Mietvertragtenancy agreementNounB1
Plural: die Mietverträge.
die KautiondepositNounB1
Plural: die Kautionen. Capped by law at three months' cold rent.
die Kaltmietebasic rentNounB1
Plural: die Kaltmieten. The rent without heating or service charges.
die Nebenkostenservice chargesNounB1
Plural only. Abbreviated NK in adverts.
die Warmmietetotal rentNounB1
Plural: die Warmmieten.
die BesichtigungviewingNounB1
Plural: die Besichtigungen.
der Maklerestate agentNounB1
Plural: die Makler.
die Provisioncommission, agent's feeNounB1
Plural: die Provisionen.
der Quadratmetersquare metreNounB1
Written m² in adverts. Stays singular after a number.
das Stockwerkfloor, storeyNounB1
Plural: die Stockwerke. Also "der Stock" and "die Etage".
das Erdgeschossground floorNounB1
Plural: die Erdgeschosse. The first floor above it is "der erste Stock".
der AufzugliftNounA2
Plural: die Aufzüge. Also "der Fahrstuhl".
die Wohngemeinschaftshared flatNounB1
Plural: die Wohngemeinschaften. Universally abbreviated to "WG".
der Umzughouse moveNounB1
Plural: die Umzüge. Also a parade.
die HeizungheatingNounA2
Plural: die Heizungen. Also a radiator.
der StromelectricityNounB1
No plural in this sense. Also means a current or a large river.
der Hausmeistercaretaker, janitorNounB1
Plural: die Hausmeister.
die Hausordnunghouse rulesNounB1
Plural: die Hausordnungen. Legally binding as part of the tenancy.
die Nebenkostenabrechnungservice charge statementNounB1
Plural: die Nebenkostenabrechnungen. A compound of three parts.
der Grundrissfloor planNounB1
Plural: die Grundrisse.
die Zusageacceptance, yesNounB1
Plural: die Zusagen. The verb is "zusagen".
die Absagerejection, noNounB1
Plural: die Absagen.
die Bewerbungsmappeapplication folderNounB1
Plural: die Bewerbungsmappen. Landlords in tight markets expect payslips and a credit report.
die Schufa-Auskunftcredit reportNounB1
Plural: die Schufa-Auskünfte. Named after the credit agency.
der Vormieterprevious tenantNounB1
Plural: die Vormieter. Buying the fitted kitchen from them is common.
die Ablösepayment for fittings left behindNounB1
Plural: die Ablösen. Often negotiable, sometimes not legal.
die Kündigungsfristnotice periodNounB1
Plural: die Kündigungsfristen.
der Nachmietersuccessor tenantNounB1
Plural: die Nachmieter.
die Genossenschafthousing cooperativeNounB1
Plural: die Genossenschaften.
der Neubaunew buildingNounB1
Plural: die Neubauten. The opposite is der Altbau.
der Kaufpreispurchase priceNounB1
Plural: die Kaufpreise.
Adjective (3)
möbliertfurnishedAdjectiveB1
unbefristetopen-ended, permanentAdjectiveB1
The opposite is "befristet", fixed-term.
bezahlbaraffordableAdjectiveB1
The -bar suffix corresponds to English -able.
This list belongs to Home and housing — 19 lists and 738 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
From these 43 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.