My German Fitness Journey: Talking About Sport & Reflexive Verbs

Okay, so here I am, almost six months into living in Berlin. It’s… an adjustment. The bureaucracy alone could write a novel! But, honestly, one of the best things about moving here has been trying to get into a proper routine, and that’s inevitably led me into the world of German sports and exercise. And, let’s be honest, figuring out how to talk about it has been a massive challenge.

The Initial Confusion – “Ich treibe Sport?”

The first few weeks, I kept asking people, “Ich treibe Sport?” with this completely earnest, slightly bewildered look on my face. I’d see people jogging in the park, going to the gym, or doing yoga, and I’d approach them, brimming with enthusiasm. “Ich treibe Sport! Wie oft?” (I do sport! How often?). Most people would just stare at me, a little politely confused. Then, one day, my colleague, Klaus, explained it to me.

“Ach, Alice,” he said, laughing, “’Ich treibe Sport’ is… well, it’s a bit formal. And a little odd. You don’t do sport, you practice it.” He quickly corrected me with, “Besser ist ‘Ich mache Sport’.” (Better is ‘Ich mache Sport’ – I do sport). The difference felt huge! It’s like the difference between saying “I paint” versus “I practice painting.”

“Mache” vs. “Treibe”: Real-Life Examples

Let’s look at some practical examples. I started going to a small, local gym called “Fitnesshaus Müller.” I wanted to ask about a membership, so I said, “Entschuldigen Sie, ich möchte wissen, wie viel es kostet, um hier Sport zu machen.” (Excuse me, I would like to know how much it costs to do sport here). The receptionist, Frau Schmidt, smiled and said, “Es kostet 45 Euro im Monat. Sie können auch Yoga-Kurse machen, wenn Sie möchten.” (It costs 45 Euros a month. You can also do yoga classes, if you want).

Later, I told Klaus I was feeling exhausted. I said, “Ich habe heute Morgen viel Sport gemacht.” (I did a lot of sport this morning). It sounded so much more natural than saying “Ich habe Sport getrieben.”

Reflexive Verbs – The Key to Describing My Routine

This whole experience highlighted the importance of reflexive verbs in German. They’re everywhere when you’re talking about activities you do yourself. Let’s look at some common ones related to fitness:

• sich bewegen (to move, exercise) – “Ich bewege mich jeden Tag 30 Minuten.” (I move for 30 minutes every day.)
• sich treiben lassen (to let oneself be carried away, to enjoy something) – “Ich lasse mich gerne beim Yoga treiben.” (I like to let myself be carried away by yoga.) – This is less common now I know the better phrasing!
• sich vorbereiten (to prepare oneself) – “Ich bereite mich für den Marathon vor.” (I prepare myself for the marathon).
• sich entspannen (to relax) – “Ich entspanne mich nach dem Training.” (I relax after training).

My First Gym Class – A Hilarious Mix-Up

Last week, I finally went to a Zumba class. It was… intense! I was trying to follow the instructor, a really energetic woman named Sofia, and I kept shouting out, “Ich treibe Zumba!” which, of course, got a few confused looks. Sofia eventually corrected me with a huge smile: “Nein, Alice, du machst Zumba!” (No, Alice, you do Zumba!). I felt so foolish, but also kind of proud that I’d even managed to understand and attempt to participate.

Asking About Others’ Habits – Common Phrases

Learning to ask about other people’s habits is crucial. Here are a few phrases I’ve picked up:

• “Wie oft machst du Sport?” (How often do you do sport?)
• “Was machst du normalerweise am Wochenende?” (What do you normally do on the weekend?)
• “Wie bewegst du dich?” (How do you move/exercise?)

Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes!

Honestly, I still mess up a lot. I’ve accidentally used “treiben” when I should be using “machen.” But you know what? People are incredibly patient and helpful. The important thing is that I’m trying, and I’m slowly learning to navigate these little grammatical nuances. And, besides, it’s a good excuse to keep moving! “Los geht’s!” (Let’s go!)

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I hope this article helps you with the German Language, especially when it comes to discussing sports and exercise habits!