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GERMAN LANGUAGE

Germany’s digital vaccine pass to be rolled out ‘step by step’ from Thursday

Germany is to begin rolling out its digital vaccine certificate and new Covid health app this week. Here's what we know so far.

Published: 9 June 2021 16:58 CEST
Germany's digital vaccine pass to be rolled out 'step by step' from Thursday
A woman receiving her vaccine in Stuttgart on Monday. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Marijan Murat

“The digital vaccination pass will now be rolled out step by step and will be available in the apps,” a spokesman from the German Health Ministry said. Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) is to give more details on Thursday, he added. 

The certificate is intended to allow fully vaccinated people to prove their immunity via a smartphone without always having to carry their yellow vaccination book with them. This could be useful when visiting restaurants or cultural events where proof of vaccination is required.

The existing Corona Warning app can be used for the digital pass, and a separate app is also to be offered (more on that below). Starting in July, people with Germany’s digital pass will also be able to use it for cross-border travel as part of the EU-wide ‘Covid health pass’ scheme.

People who have not been fully vaccinated will also be able to upload proof of negative Covid tests or recovery from Covid onto the apps. 

READ ALSO: German pharmacies to start offering digital vaccine certificates from next week

What do we know so far?

Anyone who has been fully inoculated against coronavirus, tests negatively for Covid-19 or has recovered from an infection can upload it to the new ‘CovApp’ with a QR code. 

However, proof of being fully vaccinated can also be loaded on to Germany’s existing Corona Warning app, that was set up to warn people when they’ve come into contact with someone who has Covid-19.

Experts estimate that the Corona-Warn app is actively used by around 25 million people. People can already log their Covid test results onto the app. 

READ ALSO: Germany’s coronavirus warning app to show ‘vaccine passport’ in future

Germany has been trialling the new digital vaccination certificate in test centres over the past few weeks. Some people receiving their jabs are being given a certificate with a QR code that can be scanned with their smartphone onto an app. That will be rolled out nationwide over the coming weeks. 

From next Monday people who have already been vaccinated can visit certain pharmacies with proof of their inoculation and request the digital certificate with the QR code. 

READ ALSO:

Germany is also considering other ways of getting the digital certificate out to people who’ve already been vaccinated. That could involve people requesting it from the doctor where they received the jab, or centres may send the certificate out at a later date. We expect more details on this soon. 

Those who don’t have a smartphone can also use the print out of the digital vaccination certificate as proof. The digital pass is not mandatory, however, and people can still use their paper vaccination booklet as proof if they don’t want to opt in to the digital scheme.

Just under 19 million people have been fully vaccinated in Germany so far. 

Countries in the EU have been developing their own procedures for the Covid health app. The aim is to enable restriction-free travel within the EU from the beginning of the summer season on July 1st. 

The European Parliament on Wednesday announced its authorisation of the use of digital Covid certificates within the EU. They say it is up to member states to apply the rules.

READ ALSO: A million Europeans obtain EU Covid health pass ahead of vote

Vocabulary

Digital vaccination pass – (der) digitale Impfpass 

Fully vaccinated (people) – vollständig Geimpfte 

Immunisation – (die) Immunisierung 

Proof of vaccination (der) Impfnachweis 

We’re aiming to help our readers improve their German by translating vocabulary from some of our news stories. Did you find this article useful? Let us know.

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GERMAN LANGUAGE

‘Umpf’: Six noises to help you sound like a German

You may think fancy vocab is the only way to impress your friends in German, but these quirky noises could actually be the key to sounding like a local.

Published: 24 April 2024 17:23 CEST
Updated: 28 April 2024 08:39 CEST
'Umpf': Six noises to help you sound like a German

For most German-language learners, it’s a familiar scenario: you kick off your language journey with textbooks and courses and eventually start to get comfortable with the tricky grammar and vocabulary.

But as soon as you start talking to a native speaker, you’ll probably hear several words you’ve never heard before – and even a few confusing noises that are hard to decipher.

These funny sounds – which are usually described as discourse markers by linguists – can be used to express anything from exhaustion to surprise, or even to check whether the person you’re talking to is listening.

If you want to sound like a native, it’s worth getting familiar with these quirky noises and trying to incorporate them in your everyday speech.

The good news is that they’re a lot more fun to use than the tricky words you learn in language schools.

What’s more, they’re an easy way to add some natural flair and personality to your German.

READ ALSO: What are the different levels in German and how do I reach them?

Tja

Hearing this word can be confusing for foreigners, because it may sound an awful lot like “ja”, or yes.

But rather than being an affirmative response to a question, ‘tja’ is often used ahead of a contradiction or as an expression of scepticism, similar to the English word “well”.

You may also hear “tja”, or even “ja”, simply used as filler words for the speaker to buy time to think about what they’re saying. For example, if a stranger asks you if the next train to Dresden leaves from Platform 3, you may respond with “Ja… nein”, if you aren’t quite sure of the answer.

Another key meaning of ‘tja’ is best summed by a meme that defines it as a the typical German response to the apocalypse, nuclear war, alien attack or having no bread in the house.

When something catastrophic has happened – like the apolocalypse or an empty bread shelf – it can be taken to mean either “I told you so” or “sh*t happens”, casting an ironic light over the gloomy situation.

Here’s how you pronounce it.

Hä

This is a word you won’t read in the German textbooks, but “hä” is a sure-fire way to sound more German in your conversations.

Much like the English “huh?”, you can use “hä?” to express surprise or incomprehension. If a friend from your German course tells you they actually enjoy learning German grammar, then a disbelieving “hä?” is probably an apt response.

In a more banal context, if you haven’t quite understood what somebody’s said, a gentle “hä?” could stand in for the more polite and formal, “wie bitte?”.

A word of warning, though: “hä?” is viewed as very informal and can even be construed as rude in certain situations, so be sure to only use it among people you’re very friendly and familiar with.

Here’s how you pronounce it.

READ ALSO: German word of the day – Hä?

Ne

Whether you’re a fan of German podcasts or have a few German friends who enjoy to speak at length about the world, you’ve probably come across ‘ne’ at some point or other.

It’s generally used at the end of sentences to check that the other person is listening and has understood, similar to the English “right?” or “you know?”.

For that reason, it often has a high inflection, as if you’re asking a question – though you don’t necessarily expect a response.

So next time you embark on a long rant in German, try interjecting a “ne?” or two. This can add variety to your tone and at the very least ensure the other person hasn’t fallen asleep halfway through.

Here’s how it’s pronounced.

Auwa

When a German child trips and falls over at the Spielplatz, the first thing they may shout is, “Auwaaaaa!” before calling on their parents to come and comfort them.

But it’s not just the little ones who use this noise to express pain in Germany – adults will also emit an occasional “auwa!” if they accidentally stub their toe.

A sad teddy bear with broken arm

A sad teddy bear with a broken arm. “Auwa” is the most German way to respond to a painful accident. Photo: Photo by Trym Nilsen on Unsplash

An alternative to “auwa” is the more English-style “auch!”, which is pronounced the same as “ouch!” but spelled differently. This can also be used to respond to a comment that stings a little, as a good-natured way of letting someone know your feelings were hurt.

Here’s how “auwa” is pronounced.

Puh

Though hearing this word may bring some toilet humour to mind, “puh” has less to do with bodily functions than you might expect.

It’s actually more similar to the English word “phew”, which is used to express tiredness or relief.

One scenario you might use “puh” is after running to the bus stop to catch the last bus home. Once you sprint through the doors and sink into your seat, you may let out an exhausted “puh!” to show your relief at having made it.

Before you forget the more childish connotations entirely though, it’s worth knowing you can also use “puh” when encountering something disgusting.

If it’s your turn to take out the Biomüll and the rotten vegetables are starting to emit a foul odour, you might say, “Puh! Es stinkt!” (Ew! It stinks!”), before hurrying to the bins as fast as you can. 

Here’s how it’s pronounced.

READ ALSO: 12 colourful German expressions that’ll add swagger to your language skills 

Uff / Umpf

If you’ve ever eaten an entire bowl of Käsespätzle, you probably know the sensation of feeling so full you’re about to burst.

For precisely this situation, you’ll need to know “umpf” or “uff”. Both of these words neatly sum up that feeling of being stuffed to the brim with food – but not necessarily in a bad way.

A bit like “oof!” in English, “uff” and “umpf” are ways of showing that you’re both sated and a little bit sleepy after a big meal. With Germany’s very hearty cuisine, they’re both expressions that you’ll need in your life fairly often.

Here’s how “uff” is pronounced.

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