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| Ihre 10 Minuten Englisch pro Woche |
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Dear email,
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This week, I’ve been listening to Home Work, the autobiography of the actress Julie Andrews. It’s a fun story, but I was struck by something that, coincidentally, turns up twice in this newsletter.
When Andrews won an Academy Award for Mary Poppins, she hid the Oscar in her attic, not wanting to be thought a show-off. This self-deprecatory behaviour is very British and permeates many aspects of our lives. Listen to our English, Please! podcast on humour and you’ll find out that it’s part of our comedic tradition.
Self-deprecatory statements are also present in our work life. If I said, “Here’s a little presentation I just threw together,” it might mean that I’ve spent weeks preparing it. In “What people say versus what people mean” we show you how to navigate this behaviour.
That’s the end of my very modest little contribution to this newsletter. Do join my co-host Judith Gilbert next week for more interesting stories from around the English-speaking world.
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Inez Sharp
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Editor-in-chief, Spotlight
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struck: I was ∼ by sth.: mir fiel etw. auf | coincidentally: zufälligerweise | turn up: auftauchen | attic: Dachboden | show-off: Angeber(in) | self-deprecatory: sich selbst herabwürdigend | permeate sth.: etw. durchdringen | versus: im Vergleich zu | navigate sth.: hier: mit etw. zurechtkommen | modest: bescheiden | co-host: Co-Moderator(in)
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Word of the Week
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extra
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Did you know...? “Extra” means “additional”. But it’s also slang for “dramatic” or “excessive”. You could use the word to describe someone who’s trying too hard to get attention. “I’m going to die if I don’t eat something soon,” they might say. And you can reply, “Oh, don’t be so extra!”
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© Illustration: Georg Lechner
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Ihr Gutschein für Spotlight
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Sie erhalten die erste Ausgabe unseres Abonnements gratis
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Language
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Get it right!
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There are some mistakes that German-speakers commonly make in English. They’re usually quite simple to correct – you just need to realize that you’re making them! Have a go at this small quiz to test yourself! Fill in the gaps to translate the German sentences into English.
1. Wir sind mit dem Zug gekommen.
We came _____________ train.
2. Der Herr am Empfang gab mir einige Informationen.
The person at reception gave me some _____________.
3. Das mache ich bis Freitag fertig.
I’ll finish it _____________ Friday.
4. Meine Mutter ist so sensibel.
My mother is so _____________.
5. Wie viele Personen sind eingeladen?
How _____________ have been invited?
6. Ist das die aktuelle Version oder eine alte?
Is this the _____________ version, or an old one?
7. Lass uns Pause machen!
Let’s _____________ a break!
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© Illustration: Georg Lechner
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Answers:
1. We came by train./We came on the train.
2. The receptionist gave me some information. (“Information” is an uncountable noun)
3. I’ll finish it by Friday. (Use “by” – not “until” – with deadlines)
4. My mother is so sensitive. (“sensible” = vernünftig)
5. How many people have been invited? (“Persons” is used only
in formal contexts.).
6. Is this the current/latest/up-to-date version, or an old one? (“actual” = tatsächlich)
7. Let’s take/have a break!
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Podcast
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Is British humour different from American humor?
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In American English, “humor” is spelled without the “u”. But spelling’s not the only difference between British humour and American humor! In the latest episode of our podcast English, please!, Mae McCreary from the US, Inez Sharp and Nadia Lawrence from England and Owen Connors from Ireland discuss what makes them – and their compatriots – laugh.
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spelling: Rechtschreibung | compatriots: Landsleute
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© Image: Akiromaru via Canva.com
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Iconic Products
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Lava lamp
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Isn’t it like watching a campfire? The lava lamp has been hypnotizing us for more than 60 years. But the lava “formula” remains a secret to this day. Find out more about the iconic light source!
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campfire: Lagerfeuer | formula: Formel, Zusammensetzung | source: Quelle
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© GIF: pixabay via Canva.com
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Best cases
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Five countries, five champions
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From microchips to high-speed trains: many countries have discovered a specific niche for themselves on the global market. We’ve taken a closer look at five of these nations – and explain what’s behind their success.
As a special gift, our newsletter subscribers can read the online version of the article for free – but only for a week!
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subscriber: Abonnent(in)
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© Image: Shutterstock.com
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Anzeige
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In 7 Tagen zu besseren Texten
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Im E-Mail-Kurs der ZEIT Akademie verrät Ihnen die ZEIT- und Bestseller-Autorin Heike Faller, wie Sie bessere Texte schreiben – egal ob Buch, Rede, E-Mail oder Geburtstagskarte.
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Communication
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What people say versus what they mean
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Many English speakers like to choose their words carefully, particularly in the workplace or other business settings. The statements they make aren’t necessarily lies – just a way of softening a cold, hard truth. Here’s our short guide to what people sometimes say versus what they really mean.
They say: “I’ll keep it in mind.”
They mean: “Your suggestion is ridiculous.”
People often say this to be polite, even when they have no intention of taking your advice.
They say: “Could you do this when you get a minute?”
They mean: “Please, do this today!”
This phrase doesn’t mean you can take as much time as you like. It refers to something the speaker considers important, so you should find time to get started on it straight away.
They say: “I might join you later.”
They mean: “I will not join you later.”
Imagine you’re going for an after-work drink with a few colleagues. If someone says “I might join you later,” you can be pretty sure that person simply wanted to avoid saying no.
They say: “We’re in a bit of a pickle.”
They mean: “This is a complete disaster!”
British people in particular have a fondness for understatement. Even when things go terribly wrong, they may appear to downplay the seriousness of the situation. Internally, they feel as bad as everyone else but may not wish to show their feelings.
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versus: im Vergleich zu | setting: hier: Situation, Umfeld | keep sth. in mind: an etw. denken, etw. berücksichtigen | ridiculous: lächerlich | straight away (UK): sofort, gleich | pickle: be in a ~: in der Klemme sitzen | fondness: Vorliebe | understatement: Untertreibung | downplay sth.: etw. herunterspielen, verharmlosen | internally: innerlich
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© Illustration: Georg Lechner
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Im aktuellen Magazin
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Find the mistake!
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How to avoid typical errors in English | Seattle: a trip along the Pacific Northwest | Bradford 2025: UK City of Culture | Iconic product: Lava lamp
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Quiz
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Gen Z slang
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Take our quiz to see if you can flex your knowledge of Gen Z slang. Not sure what “flex” means? We explain all!
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© Image: Shutterstock.com
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From the ZEIT SPRACHEN App
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Party time!
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The weekend’s just around the corner, so let’s party! We’re still a bit hungover from yesterday’s World Party Day (an occasion that reminds us to celebrate festivities as they come), but we’ve still managed to put together a playlist to help you learn the right party vocabulary!
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hungover: verkatert | occasion: Anlass
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Ihnen gefällt „ZEIT für Englisch“?
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Teilen Sie diesen Newsletter ...
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... mit Freundinnen oder Freunden, die ihr Englisch verbessern wollen! Kopieren Sie dazu den Link zur Anmeldeseite und schicken ihn per WhatsApp oder E-Mail weiter.
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Mitarbeit: Dennis Draber, Judith Gilbert, Susanne Krause, Nadia Lawrence, Mae McCreary, Richard Mote, Rachel Preece, Inez Sharp.
Sie haben diesen Newsletter zurzeit an die Adresse
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