Asking About Record Warp at a German Flea Market
Learn to inspect vinyl at a German flea market and ask in informal German whether a record is warped and whether it still sounds good.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
At a German flea market you often find crates of vinyl, and the seller is usually standing right there. Before you buy, you want to check the record itself and ask two practical questions: whether the disc is warped and whether it still plays well. This lesson gives you the exact informal German you need for that moment. You will learn to point at the record, describe what you see, and ask the seller directly. The language is casual but knowledgeable, the way regular record buyers talk. You do not need long sentences; short, clear questions work best when you are crouching over a crate.
By the end, you can…
- ask a seller whether a record is warped.
- ask whether a record still sounds good.
- point out a visible bend or wobble on a record.
- understand a short answer about condition and decide whether to keep looking.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ist die Platte verzogen?
Is the record warped?
ist dee PLAH-tuh fair-TSOH-gn
The core question. Platte is the everyday word for a record; verzogen means bent or warped out of shape.
Klingt sie noch gut?
Does it still sound good?
klingt zee nokh goot
Use sie because Platte is feminine. This asks about sound quality, not visual condition.
Die hat einen Höhenschlag.
This one has a vertical wobble.
dee hat EYE-nen HUR-uhn-shlahk
Höhenschlag is the common term for a record that is not flat and moves up and down as it spins.
Kann ich die mal auflegen?
Can I put it on for a moment?
kan ikh dee mahl OWF-lay-gn
Asks permission to play the record. Only use this if the seller has a player available.
Und die hier?
And this one here?
unt dee heer
A short follow-up while holding up another record. Very natural in a crate-digging conversation.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
German questions often start with the verb, so Ist die Platte verzogen? needs no extra word for 'is'. The same shape works with other adjectives: Ist die Platte sauber? (Is the record clean?) or Ist die Platte okay? (Is the record okay?). Keep the feminine die Platte and the pronoun sie: Klingt sie noch gut? If you talk about mehrere Platten (several records), switch to the plural: Sind die Platten verzogen? and Klingen sie noch gut?
When to use it
Use these questions when you are already holding a record and the seller is nearby. Point at the edge of the disc and ask Ist die Platte verzogen? if you see a bend. Ask Klingt sie noch gut? when the surface looks worn but you cannot judge the sound. If the seller answers with a short comment like Ja, ein bisschen or Nein, die ist top, you can follow up with Und die hier? while lifting the next record. This keeps the exchange friendly and quick, which fits a busy flea market.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Entschuldigung, ist die Platte verzogen?
Excuse me, is the record warped?ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, ist dee PLAH-tuh fair-TSOH-gnDie hat einen kleinen Höhenschlag, aber sie läuft.
It has a small vertical wobble, but it plays.dee hat EYE-nen KLY-nen HUR-uhn-shlahk, AH-buh zee loyftOkay. Klingt sie noch gut?
Okay. Does it still sound good?oh-KAY. klingt zee nokh gootJa, kaum Knistern. Und die hier ist top.
Yes, hardly any crackle. And this one here is great.yah, kowm KNIS-tun. unt dee heer ist topA little context goes a long way
German flea markets often mix professional dealers and private sellers, so a short, direct question is normal and not rude. Calling a record Platte is standard among buyers; Schallplatte is the full word and sounds slightly more formal. If a seller says die ist top or die läuft, that is casual praise, not a guarantee. Ask about condition yourself rather than assuming a return policy.
One thing to watch for
Using the English word order and asking Ist verzogen die Platte?
Try this instead: In a German yes/no question, the verb comes first, then the subject: Ist die Platte verzogen? The same order applies to Klingt sie noch gut? Keep the verb in first position.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You see a bend in a record and want to ask the seller about it. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Ist die Platte verzogen?
This directly asks whether the record is warped. You could also say Die hat einen Höhenschlag if you want to point out the wobble yourself.
2The record looks worn but you want to know about the sound. What question fits?
Show a sample answer
Klingt sie noch gut?
This asks about sound quality. Use sie because Platte is feminine. If you are holding several records, ask Klingen sie noch gut?
3The seller says Die hat einen kleinen Höhenschlag. What did they tell you?
Show a sample answer
The record has a small vertical wobble.
Höhenschlag describes a record that is not flat and moves up and down. A seller might add aber sie läuft, meaning it still plays.
Point at the record, ask Ist die Platte verzogen? for warp and Klingt sie noch gut? for sound, and keep the verb first in German questions.
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