German words for recording a room’s condition

The idea

In this set, “der Fleck” (stain or mark), “die Oberfläche” (surface), “der Kratzer” (scratch), “die Fuge” (joint or gap), “der Belag” (covering), “die Verfärbung” (discoloration) are taught in one sense each. Learn each noun with its article and the meaning used in this task. The plural column shows a useful plural for that sense; a dash marks a mass noun, nominalized action or form without an ordinary count plural here. Some words have additional meanings outside this scene.

Patterns to compare

German term	Plural in this use	Meaning
der Fleck	die Flecken	stain or mark
die Oberfläche	die Oberflächen	surface
der Kratzer	die Kratzer	scratch
die Fuge	die Fugen	joint or gap
der Belag	die Beläge	covering
die Verfärbung	die Verfärbungen	discoloration

Examples

• Der Fleck liegt direkt unter dem Fensterbrett.The stain is directly below the windowsill.
• Die Oberfläche der Tür fühlt sich rau an.The surface of the door feels rough.
• Auf dem Boden sind zwei lange Kratzer zu sehen.Two long scratches can be seen on the floor.
• Die Fuge zwischen den Fliesen ist hier dunkler.The joint between the tiles is darker here.
• Der Belag ist an der Türschwelle locker.The floor covering is loose at the threshold.
• Die Verfärbung betrifft nur die obere Ecke.The discoloration affects only the upper corner.

Watch out

Do not use “der Fleck” and “die Oberfläche” as interchangeable labels: here they mean stain or mark and surface. Name the feature you actually mean, and use the examples to separate it from neighboring terms.

Try it yourself

1. Welcher Begriff bedeutet „stain or mark“? Nenne auch den Artikel.

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   der Fleck

   der Fleck means stain or mark in this set. Keep the article with the noun.

2. Welcher Plural ist für „die Oberfläche“ angegeben? Erkläre gegebenenfalls den Strich.

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   die Oberflächen

   die Oberflächen. This is the plural form listed for this sense; the plural article is die.

3. Write in German: The floor covering is loose at the threshold.

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   Der Belag ist an der Türschwelle locker.

   Der Belag ist an der Türschwelle locker. — The floor covering is loose at the threshold. This example places the word in a complete practical statement or question.

Use it today

Describe one real situation with recording a room’s condition in three German sentences, using “der Fleck”, “die Oberfläche” and “der Kratzer” with their articles. Then use one of them in the plural (“die Flecken”).