Skip to main content

Chapter 7: Household Activities

Introduction​

Household activities are an essential part of daily life, and knowing how to talk about them in German helps you communicate clearly about chores, routines, and home management. Whether you want to explain what you do at home, ask for help, or describe your schedule, vocabulary and grammar related to household activities are vital.

Why is this important?

  • Talk about your daily routine and responsibilities
  • Understand instructions or requests related to chores
  • Socialize and share experiences about home life
  • Manage tasks effectively in a German-speaking environment

Vocabulary for (Hausarbeiten)​

GermanEnglishExample Sentence (German)Example Sentence (English)
putzento cleanIch putze jeden Samstag die Wohnung.I clean the apartment every Saturday.
saugen (Staubsaugen)to vacuumEr saugt das Wohnzimmer.He vacuums the living room.
waschento wash (clothes/dishes)Sie wäscht die Wäsche.She is washing the laundry.
abwaschen / spülento wash dishesKannst du bitte das Geschirr abwaschen?Can you please wash the dishes?
aufräumento tidy upWir räumen das Kinderzimmer auf.We tidy up the children's room.
kochento cookHeute koche ich das Abendessen.Today I am cooking dinner.
bügelnto ironMeine Mutter bügelt die Hemden.My mother irons the shirts.
staubsaugento vacuumIch staubsauge das Wohnzimmer.I vacuum the living room.
den Müll rausbringento take out the trashBringst du bitte den Müll raus?Can you take out the trash, please?
gießento water (plants)Ich gieße die Blumen jeden Morgen.I water the flowers every morning.
Fenster putzento clean windowsAm Wochenende putze ich die Fenster.I clean the windows on weekends.
staubento dustSie staubt die Möbel ab.She dusts the furniture.
die Wäsche aufhängento hang up laundryNach dem Waschen hänge ich die Wäsche auf.After washing, I hang up the laundry.
den Tisch deckento set the tableKannst du den Tisch decken?Can you set the table?
abstaubento dust offIch staube die Regale ab.I dust off the shelves.

Theory & Grammar​

Verbs and Their Prefixes​

Many household activity verbs use separable prefixes:

  • auf- in aufräumen (to tidy up)
  • ab- in abwaschen (to wash dishes)
  • an- in anmachen (to turn on)

In present tense sentences, the prefix separates and goes to the end:
Ich räume das Zimmer auf.
Er wäscht das Geschirr ab.

Imperative Forms​

To give instructions or requests:

  • Du-Form: Räum das Zimmer auf! (Tidy up the room!)
  • Sie-Form: Räumen Sie das Zimmer auf! (Please tidy up the room!)

You can express ability, necessity, or desire with modal verbs like können (can), müssen (must), and wollen (want):

  • Ich muss die Wäsche waschen. (I have to wash the laundry.)
  • Kannst du den Müll rausbringen? (Can you take out the trash?)

Usage & Context​

  • Daily routines: Describe chores you do regularly or plan to do.
  • Household help: Ask or offer to help with cleaning or cooking.
  • Instructions: Follow or give directions for tasks around the house.
  • Social situations: Talk about how you manage household responsibilities.

Practical Examples​

Dialogue 1: Planning chores​

Anna: Was machst du heute zu Hause?
Tom: Ich sauge und räume das Wohnzimmer auf. Und du?
Anna: Ich wasche die Wäsche und koche das Abendessen.

Dialogue 2: Asking for help​

Lisa: Kannst du bitte den Müll rausbringen?
Mark: Ja, kein Problem.

Paragraph example:​

Hausarbeiten gehören zum Alltag. Man muss regelmäßig putzen, die Wäsche waschen und das Geschirr abwaschen. Einige Leute mögen kochen, andere nicht. Wichtig ist, dass jeder im Haushalt mithelfen kann. Manchmal benutze ich den Staubsauger, um den Boden sauber zu machen, und ich gieße die Pflanzen jeden Tag.

Exercises​

1. Fill in the blanks:​

  1. Ich _______ (to vacuum) das Wohnzimmer.
  2. Kannst du bitte den _______ (trash) rausbringen?
  3. Wir _______ (to cook) heute Abend Spaghetti.
  4. Sie _______ (to wash) die Wäsche.
  5. Ich _______ (to tidy up) mein Zimmer.

2. Translate into German:​

  1. I am washing the dishes.
  2. He irons the shirts.
  3. We have to clean the windows.
  4. Can you water the plants?
  5. She is setting the table.

3. Sentence building:​

Use these words to build sentences:

  • Müll rausbringen / du / musst
  • Fenster putzen / ich / am Wochenende / will
  • Tisch decken / bitte / du
  • Wäsche waschen / wir / heute

Flashcards​

QuestionAnswer
How do you say "to vacuum" in German?staubsaugen
Translate "I cook dinner."Ich koche das Abendessen.
What is the verb for "to iron"?bügeln
How do you say "to take out the trash"?den Müll rausbringen
Translate "She tidies up her room."Sie räumt ihr Zimmer auf.

Workbook (Printable Summary)​

Key Vocabulary: putzen, saugen, waschen, abwaschen, aufräumen, kochen, bügeln, den Müll rausbringen, gießen, Fenster putzen, stauben, Wäsche aufhängen, den Tisch decken.

Grammar Points:

  • Separable prefix verbs in household activities
  • Imperative forms for instructions
  • Modal verbs with chores

Practice Tasks:

  • Write 5 sentences describing what household chores you do.
  • Translate 3 sentences about household activities.
  • Practice giving commands using imperative forms.

Multimedia Resources​

Speaking Help​

  • Practice describing your daily chores aloud.
  • Role-play conversations asking for or offering help with household tasks.
  • Use modal verbs to express what you have to or want to do.
  • Give commands or instructions in imperative form.

Cultural Notes​

  • In German-speaking countries, household responsibilities are often shared among family members or roommates.
  • Clear communication about chores is common to avoid misunderstandings.
  • Using polite forms (bitte, könnten Sie) when asking for help is typical.

Review Section​

Quiz:​

  1. How do you say "to wash dishes" in German?
  2. What is the separable prefix in aufräumen?
  3. Translate: I have to vacuum the floor.
  4. How do you form an imperative to tell someone to clean?
  5. What is the German word for "to iron"?

Key Takeaways:​

  • Household verbs often have separable prefixes that move to the end of the sentence.
  • Use imperative forms for commands and polite requests.
  • Modal verbs help express obligation and ability related to chores.
  • Practice vocabulary actively in context to build fluency.