Edward Swick

Article / Updated 01-13-2020

When traveling in German-speaking countries, you'll find that German words and phrases you use most frequently will be common German greetings (Grüße). The words and phrases will quickly become second nature because you use them day in and day out with everyone you come across. As you'd expect, you should use a polite greeting when you run into someone you know or want to know. But in most German-speaking countries it's considered good manners to greet everyone. So, whether you're speaking to a clerk, a waiter, or just bumping into someone on the street, you should still take the time to say a polite Guten Tag before you proceed. Saying hello The most common ways to greet someone in German are Hallo (Hello) Grüß Gott (Hello [in Southern Germany]) Guten Morgen (Good morning) Guten Tag (Hello, Good afternoon) Guten Abend (Good evening) Although people in Germany usually prefer to greet non-family members with handshakes instead of the cheek kissing that is customary in most of Europe, cheek kissing is still a common type of greeting in many German-speaking countries. However, the rules regarding the number of kisses to give and knowing when and who to kiss change from place to place. The good news is that when you meet someone for the first time, you can usually just shake hands. Then just watch how other people interact. You'll quickly recognize the pattern. Saying bye-bye There are also many ways to say goodbye. Auf Wiedersehen (Goodbye) Tschüs (Goodbye [Informal]) Auf Wiederhören (Goodbye [on the telephone]) Bis spatter (See you later) Bis bald (See you soon) Bis morgen (See you tomorrow) Bis Freitag (See you on Friday) Alles Gute (All the best) Viel Glück (Good luck) Machs gut (Take care [S]) Asking and responding to "How are you?" How are you? How's it going? How many times a day do we hear or say these brief greetings at the beginning of our conversations? So many times, in fact, that half the time, we don't even pay attention. These pleasantries (Nettigkeiten) are common in German-speaking countries as well. The most common ways to ask how someone is doing are: Wie geht's? (How's it going?) Geht es Ihnen gut? (Are you well?) Wie geht es dir? (How are you? [Informal]) Wie geht es Ihnen? (How are you? [Formal]) As you'd expect, when someone asks you how you're doing, there are many possible responses. Gut, danke. (I'm fine, thank you.) Es geht mir sehr gut. (I'm very well.) Ziemlich gut. (I'm rather well.) Nicht schlecht. (Not bad.) Viel besser. (Much better.) Nicht gut. (Not well.) Once you've said that you're fine, or good, or so-so, it is customary to ask how the other person is doing. You can do this easily by saying Und dir? (And you? [Informal]) or Und Ihnen? (And you? [Formal]).

Article / Updated 01-13-2020

Whether you're on a short visit to a German-speaking country or planning to live there, knowing how to order food in German is essential. Eating out can be a lot of fun, especially if you know some basic restaurant vocabulary. Speisekarte (shpy-ze-kâr-tê) (menu [F]) Rechnung (rêH-nûng) (check [F]) Trinkgeld (trîngk-gêld) n (tip [N]) Quittung (kvî-tûngk) (receipt [F]) In German-speaking countries, as in most of the rest of the world, there are three main Mahlzeiten (meals) of the day: Frühstück (fruu-shtuuk) [n] (breakfast), Mittagessen (mî-tahgk-êsn) [n] (lunch), and Abendessen (ah-bnt-êsn) [n] (dinner). To tell someone you're hungry in German, say Ich bin hungrig. (I’m hungry). If you want to ask somebody if he or she is hungry, you say Sie sind hungrig (Are you hungry?). To order something, say ich mˆchte . . . (I would like . . .) and then add the food (Essen) you want. The following list might help. Fleisch (meat) Schweinefleisch (pork) Hähnchen/Huhn (chicken) Fisch (fish) Eier (eggs) Gemüse (vegetables) Obst (fruit) Nachtisch (dessert) Butter (butter) Kuchen (cake) Suppe (soup) Brot (bread) You might want to use the following adjectives to describe to your der Kellner/die Kellnerin [M/F] (waiter/waitress) how you want the food prepared. heiß (warm; hot) kalt (cold) klein (small; short) groß (big; tall; large) To tell someone you're thirsty in German, say Ich habe Durst. When you want to ask somebody whether he or she is thirsty, you say Sie sind durstig (Are you thirsty?). The following are some of the most common drinks you'll want to order in German. Bier (beer) [N] (beer) Kaffee (kâ-fê) [M] (coffee) Milch (mîlH) [F] (milk) Tee (the) [M] (tea) Wein (vyn) [M] (wine) Mineralwasser (Mîn-eh-rahl-vahs-ser) (mineral water) Wasser (vahs-ser) (water) The following phrases might help you when you're eating at a restaurant. Ich habe einen Tisch reserviert. (I’ve reserved a table.) Ich möchte bitte etwas Wasser. (I would like some water please.) Haben Sie ein Tagesmenü? (What is today's special?) Ich hätte gern ein Glas Milch. (I'd like a glass of milk.) Zwei Spiegeleier mit Brot, bitte. (Two fried eggs with bread, please.) Noch etwas Tee bitte. (A little more tea, please.) Bedienung! (Waiter!) Ich möchte etwas Kaffee. (I'd like some coffee.)

Article / Updated 01-13-2020

Learning the proper way to make introductions in German can help you get off to the right start. The German language tends to be a bit more formal than American English. Consequently, introductions in German follow more of a pattern than they sometimes do in the United States. Don't worry, it’s not complicated — just good manners. Introducing yourself First impressions are important — they can start a friendship and set the tone for your entire meeting. Start with a greeting. The simplest greeting is Hallo or Guten Tag, which means Hello or Good Day. If you're in Southern Germany, they say Grüß Gott instead. Introduce yourself. The two most common ways to introduce yourself are to say Ich heiße Name (My name is Name) or Ich bin Name (I'm Name). Because the Germans are more socially formal, they follow a strict sense of etiquette at work. In business settings, introductions are only made by those in authority. So, if someone starts working at an office, her boss would be the one to introduce her to the other people in the office. Since you are meeting the person for the first time, you should use the more formal form of you to ask their name. Sie, which is formal “you,” is polite and can be used when speaking with a new acquaintance, elder, or person in a high office. With friends, family, and children, use informal du (you). Ihr is the plural of du. Wie heißt du? (What’s your name? [Informal]) Wie heißen Sie? (What’s your name? [Formal]) After they tell you their name you should express pleasure. Common ways to express this are: Sehr angenehm. (Nice to meet you!) Es freut mich Sie kennen zu lernen. (It's a pleasure to meet you.) (Singular/Formal) Introducing other people The second most common type of introduction is to introduce someone else, such as your spouse, child, or friend. The following phrases are typical of introducing someone else. Kann ich meine Frau, Fabienne einführen? (May I introduce my wife, Fabienne?). Das ist mein Freund, James. (This is my friend, James.) Where are you from? Don't need to stop at basic introductions; you could also take this opportunity to talk about where each of you is from. To tell them where you're from, say Ich komme aus den USA. (I’m from the United States.) To ask where the person is from, you can say: Woher kommst du? (Where are you from? [Informal]) Woher kommen Sie? (Where are you from? [Formal]) Aus welcher Stadt kommst du? (What city are you from?) If you want to talk about where you live on the other hand, you can use the verb wohnen, which mean to live: Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?) Ich wohne in Bremen. (I live in Bremen.)

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

When making plans, appointments, and travel arrangements in German-speaking countries, you need to be able to state dates and other calendar terms in, well, German. Understanding the days of the week, the months of the year, and how to tell time in German can help you to avoid confusion. Calendar terms The German calendar week begins with Monday unless otherwise stated. The German days of the week (Tage der Woche), which are all masculine, are Montag (mohn-tahgk) (Monday) Dienstag (deens-tahgk) (Tuesday) Mittwoch (mît-vôH) (Wednesday) Donnerstag (dônrs-tahgk) (Thursday) Freitag (fry-tâgk) (Friday) Samstag (zâmss-tahgk) (Saturday) Sonntag (zôn-tahgk) (Sunday) There are actually two different words for Saturday depending on where you happen to be. In Austria, Switzerland and most of Germany, it is Samstag. However, in eastern German and in parts of northern German, they say Sonnabend (zôn-ah-bênt) (literally: Sunday eve.) In German, the months of the year (Monaten des Jahres) look almost the same as English. Januar (January) Februar (February) März (mêrts) (March) April (April) Mai (my) (May) Juni (yoo-nee) (June) Juli (yoo-lee) (July) August (August) September (zêp-têm-ber) (September) Oktober (ôk-toh-ber) (October) November (November) Dezember (deh-tsêm-ber) (December) When giving a date in German, you state the number as an ordinal, just like English. The numbers from 0 to 19 end in –te to form ordinals like zehnte (10th). Note that there are three irregular formations: erste (1st), dritte (3rd), and siebte (7th). The numbers from 20 and higher end in –ste, like zwanzigste (20th). You can use the following phrases when discussing dates in German. der zweite Februar (February 2nd) der dreiundzwanzigste Juli (July 23rd) der erste November (November 1st) Welchen Tag haben wir heute? (What day is today?) Heute ist Freitag. (Today is Friday.) Der Wievielte ist heute? (What's today's date?) Heute ist der dritte Mai. (Today is the third of May.) Telling time The time of day can be described in general terms or specific times. You can use the following words to describe the general time of day. der Morgen (morning) der Nachmittag (afternoon) der Abend (evening) die Nacht (night) der Tag (day) der Mittag (noon) die Mitternacht (midnight) heute (today) gestern (yesterday) morgen (tomorrow) When you want to know a specific time of day, you can ask Wie viel Uhr ist es? (What time is it?). There is no a.m. or p.m. in German. They use a 24-hour clock, so, 4 p.m. would be seize heures (16 hours). To express time between the hours, use the following terms to break things down. die Zeit (time) die Stunde(n) (hour) die Minute(n) (minute) die Sekunde(n) (second) halb (half) Viertel (quarter) Nach (after [as in Es ist zehn nach zwei (It's ten after two)]) Vor (before [as in Zehn vor elf (It's ten til 11)]) When expressing the exact time, use Uhr for the English "O'clock." You can use the following phrases as a guide when talking about time in German. Wissen Sie, wie viel Uhr es ist? (Do you know what time it is?) Wie viel Uhr ist es? (What time is it?) Es ist ein Uhr. (It's 1 a.m.) Es ist Viertel nach vier. (It's 4:15 a.m.) Es ist siebzehn Uhr dreißig. (It's 5:30 p.m.) Es ist dreiundzwanzig Uhr fünfundvierzig. (It's 11:45 p.m.) Haben Sie ein paar Minuten Zeit? (Do you have a couple of minutes to spare?) Um wie viel Uhr fahren Sie ab? (What time do you leave?) In zwei Stunden. (In two hours.) Es ist früh. (It's early.) Du kommst aber spät. (You're really late.)

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Making small talk in German is just the same as in English. Touch on familiar topics like jobs, sports, children — just say it in German! Small talk describes the brief conversations that you have with people you don't know well. Small talk is where friendships are made. If you know how to make small talk in German you'll be able to "break the ice" and get to know some of the people you meet during your trip. Small talk generally consists of greetings and introductions and descriptions of personal information and interests. If you are able to hold your own in each of these areas, you'll be able to handle most small talk situations. Greetings and introductions Although German people are often more formal than folks in the United States, you usually don't need to wait around to be introduced to someone. Take the initiative to walk up to someone and say hello. The most common ways to greet someone is to simply say hello (Hallo or Guten Tag). If you're in Southern Germany, the most common hello is Grüß Gott. Next, just introduce yourself and ask the other person their name. The following phrases are all you need to get a conversation started. Ich heiße . . . (My name is . . .) Wie heißen Sie? (What’s your name? [Formal]) Kann ich meine Frau, Fabienne einführen? (May I introduce my wife, Fabienne?). Greetings and introductions are usually accompanied by a Wie geht es Ihnen? (How are you? [Formal]) There are many possible responses, but the most common would be to say Gut, danke. (I'm fine, thank you.) or Nicht schlecht. (Not bad.) Because the German's are more socially formal, they follow a strict sense of etiquette at work. In business settings, introductions are only made by those in authority. So, if you’re at an office, let the boss make the introductions to the other people in the office. Personal information After the necessary introductions, small talk is really just a question of sharing information about yourself and asking the other person questions. The following phrases will come in handy when you're chitchatting with someone new. When giving your occupation in German, there’s no need to use the word a (ein, eine) as in “I am a doctor.” Instead, just say Ich bin Arzt (I’m a doctor) or Ich bin Lehrerin (I’m a teacher), for example. Ich komme aus . . . (I am from . . .) Ich komme aus Österreich. (I'm from Austria.) Woher kommen Sie? (Where are you from?) Was bist du von Beruf? (What is your profession?) Wie alt bist du? (How old are you?) Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?) Ich bin Student /Studentin. [M/F] (I’m a student.) Ich bin Lehrerin [F] (I’m a teacher.) Personal interests Many friendships are forged on the bond of common interests. You can use the following phrases to compare interests when making small talk. Was machen Sie in Ihrer Freizeit? [Formal] (What do you do for fun?) Ich spiele Golf. (I play golf.) Ich spiele Fußball. (I play soccer.) Ich spiele Tennis. (I play tennis.) Ich sammle Briefmarken. (I collect stamps.) Ich wandere gern. (I like hiking.) Ich treibe viel Sport. (I play a lot of sports.) Ich koche gern. (I like to cook.)

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Speaking German at work and school doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you’re looking for a job in a German-speaking country or just need to talk with coworkers there, you'll need to know some key words and phrases to help ease your way. Equipment and supplies Use the following words to describe typical office equipment and supplies. der Füller (pen) der Bleistift (pencil) der Schreibtisch (desk) der Stuhl (chair) der Computer (computer) der Bildschirm (screen) die Tastatur (keyboard) die Maus (mouse) das Heft (notebook) die Website (Web site) die E-Mail (e-mail) das Telefon (telephone) das Dokument (document) die Akten (files) Scheduling meetings You’ll need to know the following words when scheduling meetings (Sitzungen). das Vorstellungsgespräch (interview) die Tagesordnung (agenda) das Protokoll (minutes) Terminkalender (appointment book) Termin (appointment) der Vorsitzende (M)/die Vorsitzende (F) chairperson Colleagues and teams There are many ways to refer to other people you work with. Whether you refer to your coworkers (Mitarbeiter) by their department or their job titles, the following words will come in handy in most business settings. der Verkauf (sales) das Marketing (marketing) die Finanzabteilung (finance) die Buchhaltung (accounting) die Personalabteilung (human resources) die Rechtsabteilung (legal) die Forschungs- und Entwicklungsabteilung (research and development) die technische Unterstützung (technical support) der Generaldirektor/die Generaldirektorin (chief executive officer [M/F]) der Finanzleiter/die Finanzleiterin (chief financial officer [M/F]) der Manager/die Managerin (manager [M/F]) der Bürovorsteher/die Bürovorsteherin (supervisor [M/F]) Useful phrases Try putting some of these terms together into some phrases that might come in handy at the office. Der Drucker funktioniert nicht. (The printer isn’t working.) Schicken Sie mir eine E-Mail. (Send me an e-mail. [Formal]) Kann ich einen Füller und einen Notizblock borgen? (May I borrow a pen and notepad?) Können Sie den Anrufbeantworter reparieren? (Can you fix the answering machine? [Formal])

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Traveling is expensive, so it's crucial to have a good understanding of German phrases for money and banking. While in a German-speaking country, the best way to ensure that you get the most for your money is to be familiar with these common financial terms. das Geld (money) die Bank (bank) der Wechselkurs (exchange rate) Leitungsübertragung (wire transfer) der Reisescheck (traveler's checks) wechseln (to change) Each country has their own monetary system. Most German-speaking countries use the Euro. Regardless of which currency they use it is almost always best to exchange your American dollars for the local currency. In fact, exchanging money is the most common banking need for travelers. In the following conversation, a traveler exchanges her American money for Euros. Jane: Was ist der heutige Wechselkurs? (What’s the exchange rate today?) Banker: Der heutige Wechselkurs ist 1 Euro für 1.23 $. (Today’s exchange rate is 1 euro for $1.23.) Jane: Ich möchte hundert Dollar wechseln. (I would like to exchange $100.) The following phrases will give you a guideline to follow when forming your own questions about other banking needs while staying in a German-speaking countries. Ich möchte Reiseschecks kaufen. (I would like to buy traveler’s checks.) Ich möchte diese Reiseschecks einlösen. (I would like to cash these traveler’s checks.) Ich möchte dies in Euro wechseln. (I would like to exchange this for Euros.) Hier ist mein Ausweis. (Here's my identification.)

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

By mastering the basics of polite conversation, you can put yourself and the person you're talking with at ease. You'll find that there are many words and phrases that come up in most everyday conversations. Everyone should take the time to learn these common conversational words and phrases in German before traveling. Being polite are just as important in German-speaking countries as they are in America. The following words and phrases cover most of the pleasantries required for polite conversation. After all, learning to say the expressions of common courtesy before traveling to a German-speaking country is just good manners. Courteous phrases ja (yes) nein (no) bitte (please) danke. (Thank you.) Bitte schön. (You’re welcome.) Kein problem. (No problem.) Entschuldigung! (Excuse me; sorry) natürlich (of course) richtig (correct) Vielen Dank. (Thank you very much.) Nein, danke. (No, thank you.) Es tut mir leid. (I'm sorry.) Verzeihen Sie. (Forgive me.) Personal pronouns Once you've mastered the common pleasantries, the next important thing to learn is how to refer to people. The most common way we refer to people is by using personal pronouns. In German, the pronouns (you and they) are complicated by gender and formality. You'll use slightly different variations of these words depending on to whom you are referring and how well you know them. ich (I) er (he) sie (she) es (it) wir (we) du (you [singular/informal]) ihr (you [plural/informal]) Sie (you [singular, plural, and formal]) sie (they) Sie, which is formal “you,” is polite and can be used when speaking with a new acquaintance, elder, or person in a high office. With friends, family, and children, use informal du (you). References to people When meeting people in German-speaking countries, be sure to use the appropriate formal title. A man would be called Herr, which is the same as Mr. or Sir. A woman is called Frau whether she is married or not. It is also helpful to know the correct vocabulary term for referring to people based on their age, gender, or relationship to you. der Mann (man; husband) die Frau (woman; wife) der Junge (boy) das Mädchen (girl) die Familie (family) das Kind (child) der Vater (father) die Mutter (mother) der Sohn (son) die Tochter (daughter) der Bruder (brother) die Schwester (sister) der Freund [M]; die Freundin [F] (friend) The gender of a noun determines the article you use with it. With masculine (M) nouns, you use ein (a; an) or der (the). With feminine (F) nouns, you use eine (a; an) or die (the). With neuter (N) nouns, you use ein (a; an) or das (the). Phrases for travelers There are some phrases that are particularly helpful to international travelers. Below are several phrases that might come in handy during your stay in a German-speaking country. Entschuldigung! (Excuse me. [as in may I have your attention].) Nichts, danke. (Nothing, thanks.) Sprechen Sie Englisch? (Do you speak English?) Ich spreche Englisch. (I speak English.) Ich spreche nicht viel Deutsch. (I don't speak much German.) Können Sie das übersetzen? (Can you translate that for me?) Ich verstehe nicht. (I don't understand.) Bitte wiederholen Sie! (Will you please repeat that?) Können Sie langsamer sprechen? (Could you speak slower?) Was brauchen Sie? (What do you need?) Ich brauche Auskunft. (I need some information.) Ich brauche Hilfe. (I need some help.) Ich habe mich verlaufen. (I'm lost.) Wohin gehen Sie? (Where are you going?) Ich weiß nicht. (I don't know.) Ich gehe zum Park. (I‘m going to the park.) Das Museum ist nicht offen. (The museum isn't open.) Kein Mensch versteht es. (No one understands it.) Darf ich mir einen Stadtplan ansehen? (May I see a map?) Did you know that most of the people in German-speaking countries have learned at least a little English? When you travel to their country, they expect you to have done the same. If you're able to demonstrate that you've learned basic words and phrases, most people will be more willing to help you.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Traveling in German-speaking countries can be confusing if you can't read the signs or understand the instructions you're given. Learning a few useful travel-related words and phrases in German before you begin traveling can save you time and reduce your frustration level. Here are a few general travel-related terms that everyone should know before making the big trip. Reisepass (passport) der Koffer [m] (suitcase) der Rucksack (backpack) das Gepäck (baggage) flugschein [m] (airplane ticket Zoll [m] (customs) die Fahrkarte (ticket) die Reservierung (reservation) Making or changing travel arrangements While traveling in a German-speaking country, you often need to make or change your travel arrangements. Whether you are scheduling a flight or a train trip, the following words can help you with the reservation and ticket-buying process. Rückfahrkarte (round trip ticket) einfache Fahrkarte (one-way ticket) Platz(Sitz) (seat) Bahnhof (train station) der Zug (train) S-Bahn [f] (local train) der Flug [m] (flight) Flughafen (airport) The following phrases are some of the most common questions that you might need to ask when making travel arrangements in German-speaking countries. Ich möchte eine Fahrkarte reservieren. (I would like to reserve a ticket.) Wir möchten zwei Flugtickets nach New York kaufen. (We want to buy two plane tickets to New York.) Wie viel kostet die Fahrkarte? (How much does the ticket cost?) Gibt es eine Studenten-ermäßigung? (Is there a discount for students?) Wir möchten bar bezahlen. (We want to pay cash.) Dieses ist mein Handgepäck. (This is my carry-on bag.) Wann kommen wir in Berlin an? (When do we arrive in Berlin?) Dealing with the hotel Although many of the larger hotels in German-speaking countries have English-speaking staff, you rarely find that in the smaller hotels and in the smaller towns. The following words can help you when booking a hotel. Dusche [f] (shower) Einzelzimmer [n] (single room) Klimaanlage [f] (air conditioning) Rezeption [f] (reception desk) Schlüssel [m] (key) das Bett (bed) die Betttücher (sheets) das Kissen (pillow) The following phrases can help you make or change your hotel reservations. Welches Hotel ist am billigsten? (Which hotel is the cheapest?) Wie weit ist das Hotel vom Bahnhof entfernt? (How far is the hotel from the train station?) Haben Sie noch ein Zimmer frei? (Are there rooms available?) Bis wann muss man sich abmelden? (What time is checkout?) Ich möchte ein Zimmer mit Dusche. (I'd like a room with a shower.) Ich möchte ein Einzelbett. (I'd like a single bed.) Kann ich bitte noch eine Decke haben? (Can I have another blanket, please?) Herein! (Come in!) Other travel words When talking about traveling in German-speaking countries, it helps to know the right verbs to express what you want to do. The following are common German travel-related verbs. reservieren (to reserve) absagen (to cancel) ankommen (to arrive) mieten (to rent) abfahren (to leave) bezahlen (to pay) abholen (to pick up someone [from the airport])

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Know how to ask for help in German before you have an actual emergency. By learning a few simple German words and phrases for emergencies, you can save valuable time in a crisis. The simplest way to ask for assistance is Hilfe! (Hîl-fê) which means Help! You can also use the phrase Können Sie mir helfen? (Can you help me!) Of course, you might need different kinds of help depending on the situation. If you are experiencing a legal emergency of some kind, you want to ask for the police, which is Polizei in German and pronounced (pô-lî-tsy). The following phrases might also come in handy. Ich bin gerade bestohlen worden. (I’ve just been robbed.) Bitte rufen Sie die Polizei! (Please call the police.) Wo ist das amerikanische Konsulat? (Where is the American consulate?) Most emergencies that happen in foreign countries, however, are medical. The most efficient way to get the help you need is to know how to ask for the right kind of help and to be able to explain what's wrong. The following vocabulary words can help you get to the right person to assist you. To ask for a doctor say der Arzt (M)/die Ärztin (F). To ask for a hospital say das Krankenhaus. To get medicine as for die Apotheke. To ask for a nurse say Krankenschwester. Once you are able to talk to the right person, you can use the following words to explain what's wrong. Notfall (emergency) unfall (accident) krank (sick) die Schmerzen (pain) die Gesundheit (health) das Aspirin (aspirin) das Medikament (medicine) die Kopfschmerzen (headache) die Magenschmerzen (stomachache) die Verletzung (injury) Schmerz (pain) die Infektion (infection) The following phrases might come in handy during an emergency. Bitte helfen Sie! (Please help!) Was ist passiert? (What happened?) Ich weiß nicht. (I don't know.) Ich kann nicht atmen. (I can't breathe.) Sie braucht einen Arzt. (She needs a doctor.) Wo gibt es hier ein Telefon? (Where is a telephone?) Wo gibt es hier ein Krankenhaus? (Where is a hospital?)