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Illustration of the A2 German word “der Rücken”, which translates to “back”. A blissful warthog rubs its broad itchy back against a rough tree trunk, one leg thumping, eyes rolled back in pure scratchy relief.
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Rücken is one of the A2 words in the free course — with this picture, the audio, and spaced repetition.

derRücken

back

/ˈʁʏkn̩/

Examples — Rücken in a sentence

Mein Rücken tut mir weh vom Sport.

My back hurts from sports.

Er trägt den Rucksack auf dem Rücken.

He carries the backpack on his back.

How to remember it

A ROOK chess piece is always looking INto the board, with its BACK facing the player.

More A2 words

Illustration of the A2 German word “Ruh dich aus!”, which translates to “Get some rest!”. A sleepy badger sinks blissfully deep into an enormous overstuffed armchair, eyes drooping shut and stubby limbs going completely limp, a tiny contented smile on its face.
Ruh dich aus!

/ʁuː dɪç aʊ̯s/

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Get some rest!

Examples

Du siehst müde aus. Ruh dich aus!

You look tired. Get some rest!

Nach der Wanderung müssen wir uns ausruhen. Ruh dich aus!

After the hike we have to rest. Get some rest!

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Illustration of the A2 German word “ruhen”, which translates to “to rest”. A giant, cozy bear hibernating inside a hollowed-out clock, with the pendulum gently swinging to the rhythm of his calm breath.
ruhen

/ˈʁuːən/

to rest

Principal parts

ruhen, ruhte, hat geruht

ich ruhe
du ruhst
er/sie/es ruht
wir ruhen
ihr ruht
sie/Sie ruhen

Examples

Du solltest dich nach der Arbeit ruhen.

You should rest after work.

Der Patient muss sich jetzt viel ruhen.

The patient must rest a lot now.

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Illustration of the A2 German word “schlucken”, which translates to “to swallow”. A wide-eyed pelican gulps down an enormous fish whole, a huge comical lump bulging all the way down its long throat, eyes watering.
schlucken

/ˈʃlʊkn̩/

to swallow

Principal parts

schlucken, schluckte, hat geschluckt

ich schlucke
du schluckst
er/sie/es schluckt
wir schlucken
ihr schluckt
sie/Sie schlucken

Examples

Bitte schlucke die Tablette mit Wasser.

Please swallow the tablet with water.

Er konnte das große Stück nicht schlucken.

He couldn't swallow the large piece.

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Illustration of the A2 German word “Schmerzen haben”, which translates to “to have pain”. A gorilla grimaces and hops on one foot, clutching a throbbing stubbed toe, face scrunched in agony as pain-stars burst around it.
Schmerzen haben

/ˈʃmɛʁt͡sn̩ ˈhaːbn̩/

to have pain

Examples

Ich habe starke Schmerzen im Rücken.

I have strong pain in my back.

Hattest du gestern Schmerzen im Knie?

Did you have pain in your knee yesterday?

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Illustration of the A2 German word “die Schulter”, which translates to “shoulder”. A sturdy ox flexes one enormous shoulder with a proud grin while a tiny acrobat mouse balances triumphantly atop the bulging, boulder-sized muscle.
die Schulter

/ˈʃʊltɐ/

shoulder

Examples

Sie hat Schmerzen in der rechten Schulter.

She has pain in her right shoulder.

Er legte seine Hand auf ihre Schulter.

He put his hand on her shoulder.

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Illustration of the A2 German word “sich ausruhen”, which translates to “to rest, to relax”. A person lying in a hammock woven from soft moonbeams, suspended between two fluffy clouds drifting through a sunset sky.
sich ausruhen

/ˈaʊ̯sˌʁuːən/

to rest, to relax

Principal parts

sich ausruhen, ruhte sich aus, hat sich ausgeruht

ich ruhe mich aus
du ruhst dich aus
er/sie/es ruht sich aus
wir ruhen uns aus
ihr ruht euch aus
sie/Sie ruhen sich aus

Examples

Ich muss mich nach der Wanderung ausruhen.

I have to rest after the hike.

Ruh dich gut aus!

Get good rest!

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Ruh dich aus! — Get some rest!

Ruh dich aus!ruhenschluckenSchmerzen habenSchultersich ausruhenAll German word pages

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