German for Shared Buildings: Clarifying a Notice on the Noticeboard
Learn polite German phrases to ask about a notice on the building noticeboard, including how to clarify wording and ask staff for help.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In a German-speaking shared building, the Schwarzes Brett (noticeboard) often displays Aushänge (notices) about cleaning schedules, waste separation, or house rules. If you don't understand a notice, you need polite questions to ask a neighbor or building staff. This lesson teaches you to clarify the wording using the verb klären and the pattern 'Können Sie mir den Aushang am Schwarzen Brett erklären?' You'll practice asking for explanations, checking specific details, and confirming understanding—all in standard polite German.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone to explain a notice on the building noticeboard.
- clarify specific words or details in a German notice.
- politely ask building staff for help with a notice.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Können Sie mir den Aushang am Schwarzen Brett erklären?
Can you explain the notice on the noticeboard to me?
KUHN-en zee meer dane OWS-hahng ahm SHVAR-tsen BRET air-KLAY-ren
Polite standard question to ask a neighbor or staff member. Use when you need a general explanation.
Ich verstehe diesen Aushang nicht ganz. Können Sie mir helfen?
I don't quite understand this notice. Can you help me?
ikh fair-SHTAY-e DEE-zen OWS-hahng nikht gahnts. KUHN-en zee meer HEL-fen
Use when you understand parts but need clarification. Softens the request with 'nicht ganz'.
Was bedeutet das Wort ... in diesem Aushang?
What does the word ... in this notice mean?
vahs be-DOY-tet dahs vort ... in DEE-zem OWS-hahng
Ask about a specific word. Replace ... with the word you don't know.
Könnten Sie mir das genauer erklären?
Could you explain that more precisely?
KUN-ten zee meer dahs ge-NOW-er air-KLAY-ren
Polite request for more detail. 'Könnten' is more polite than 'können'.
Ich möchte das gerne klären. Haben Sie kurz Zeit?
I'd like to clarify this. Do you have a moment?
ikh MURKH-te dahs GAIR-ne KLAY-ren. HAH-ben zee koorts tsyte
Use 'klären' to show you want to resolve confusion. 'kurz Zeit' asks for a brief moment.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 'Können Sie mir ... erklären?' (Can you explain ... to me?). It works with any object: 'den Aushang' (the notice), 'das Wort' (the word), 'den Satz' (the sentence). For more politeness, use 'Könnten Sie mir ... erklären?' The verb 'klären' (to clarify) is often used when you want to resolve a misunderstanding: 'Ich möchte das klären.' (I'd like to clarify that.) Note that 'erklären' takes the accusative case: 'den Aushang', not 'dem Aushang'.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you encounter a written notice you don't fully understand. If you're asking a neighbor, a simple 'Können Sie mir das erklären?' is fine. If you're asking building staff (Hausverwaltung), keep it polite: 'Entschuldigung, könnten Sie mir den Aushang am Schwarzen Brett erklären?' If you only need one word clarified, point to it and ask: 'Was bedeutet das hier?' If the notice concerns policies or costs, the Hausverwaltung is usually the right contact; for questions about the content itself, the person who wrote the notice can often help most.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Entschuldigung, können Sie mir den Aushang am Schwarzen Brett erklären?
Excuse me, can you explain the notice on the noticeboard to me?ent-SHOOL-dee-goong, KUHN-en zee meer dane OWS-hahng ahm SHVAR-tsen BRET air-KLAY-renJa, gerne. Es geht um die Mülltrennung. Was ist unklar?
Yes, gladly. It's about waste separation. What is unclear?yah, GAIR-ne. es gayt oom dee MUL-tren-noong. vahs ist OON-klahrWas bedeutet 'Biomüll' genau? Und wann wird er abgeholt?
What does 'organic waste' mean exactly? And when is it collected?vahs be-DOY-tet BEE-oh-mul ge-NOW? oont vahn veert air AHP-ge-holtBiomüll sind Essensreste. Die Abholung ist mittwochs. Steht alles im Aushang.
Organic waste is food scraps. Collection is on Wednesdays. It's all in the notice.BEE-oh-mul zint ES-sens-res-te. dee AHP-hoh-loong ist MIT-vokhs. shtayt AHL-les im OWS-hahngA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, notices on the Schwarzes Brett are often official and may use formal language. When asking for clarification, use 'Sie' with neighbors you don't know well and with building staff. Direct questions are acceptable, but adding 'Entschuldigung' or 'Könnten Sie' softens the request. Avoid touching or removing notices without permission.
One thing to watch for
Using 'erklären' with the dative case: 'Können Sie mir dem Aushang erklären?'
Try this instead: The verb 'erklären' takes the accusative object: 'Können Sie mir den Aushang erklären?' The person (mir) is dative, but the thing explained is accusative.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you politely ask a neighbor to explain the notice on the noticeboard?
Show a sample answer
Können Sie mir den Aushang am Schwarzen Brett erklären?
This uses the polite 'Sie' form and the accusative 'den Aushang'. 'Könnten Sie' would be even more polite.
2You see a word you don't know in a notice. What question can you ask?
Show a sample answer
Was bedeutet das Wort ... in diesem Aushang?
This asks for the meaning of a specific word. You can also point and say 'Was bedeutet das hier?'
3How do you say 'I would like to clarify that' using the verb 'klären'?
Show a sample answer
Ich möchte das gerne klären.
This uses 'klären' to express the desire to resolve confusion. 'Ich möchte das klären' is also correct.
To clarify a notice, use 'Können Sie mir den Aushang erklären?' and ask about specific words with 'Was bedeutet ...?' Keep it polite with 'Sie' and 'Könnten Sie'.
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