German · Hausordnung / Ruhezeit
A neighbour reminds you that it is your turn to clean the stairs this week: what to say in German
A neighbour reminds you that it is your turn to clean the stairs this week.
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How it's done. In many buildings the residents take turns cleaning the stairs (Treppenhausreinigung, in the south Kehrwoche); the rota hangs in the stairwell, and if you cannot do it, arrange something with a neighbour.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Diese Woche sind Sie mit dem Treppenhaus dran. Das steht auf dem Plan im Flur.DEE-zeh VOH-kheh zeent zee meet dem TREH-payn-khows drahn. Dahs shtet owf dem plahn eem floor.
It's your turn for the stairwell this week. It says so on the rota in the hall.
They might also say:
Laut Plan müssen Sie diese Woche das Treppenhaus reinigen.
Lowt plahn MYOO-sayn zee DEE-zeh VOH-kheh dahs TREH-payn-khows RIGH-nee-gayn.
According to the rota you have to clean the stairwell this week.
YOU REPLY
Entschuldigung, das wusste ich nicht. Was muss ich genau machen?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, dahs VOOS-teh eekh neekht. Vahs moos eekh geh-NOW MAH-khayn?
Sorry, I didn't know that. What exactly do I have to do?
THEY SAY
Sie müssen die Treppe fegen und feucht wischen. Das machen alle Mieter abwechselnd.Zee MYOO-sayn dee TREH-peh FEH-gayn oont foykht VEE-shayn. Dahs MAH-khayn AH-leh MEE-tuh AH-bvek-selnt.
You have to sweep the stairs and mop them. All tenants do it in turn.
They might also say:
Fegen und wischen, einmal pro Woche. Das machen alle abwechselnd.
FEH-gayn oont VEE-shayn, IGHN-muhl proh VOH-kheh. Dahs MAH-khayn AH-leh AH-bvek-selnt.
Sweeping and mopping, once a week. Everybody does it in turn.
2
YOU REPLY
Wo finde ich Besen und Eimer?
Voh FEEN-deh eekh BEH-zayn oont IGH-muh?
Where do I find a broom and a bucket?
THEY SAY
Im Keller, in dem Raum neben den Briefkästen.Eem KEH-luh, een dem rowm NEH-bayn dayn BREEF-kes-tayn.
In the cellar, in the room next to the letterboxes.
3
YOU FINISH
Vielen Dank für die Erklärung. Ich mache es morgen früh.
FEE-layn dahnk fyoor dee ehr-KLEH-roong. Eekh MAH-kheh es MOR-gayn fryoo.
Thank you very much for the explanation. I'll do it tomorrow morning.
THEY SAY
Gern. Bis Sonntag sollte alles fertig sein.Gehrn. Bees ZOHN-tuhk ZOL-teh AH-les FEHR-teekh zighn.
You're welcome. Everything should be done by Sunday.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Woche
VOH-kheh
noun
week
sind
zeent
verb
are
Treppenhaus
TREH-payn-khows
noun
stairwell
dran
drahn
adverb
next, my turn
steht
shtet
verb
stands
Plan
plahn
noun
plan, schedule
51 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
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