My German Fitness Journey: Reflexive Verbs & Time Expressions

Okay, so here I am, almost six months in Berlin, and honestly, getting my fitness on is a massive thing. Before I moved, I thought I’d be fine, just going to the gym and following some YouTube videos. Turns out, actually talking about it in German is a whole different ballgame. And let me tell you, understanding the language has made everything better – from figuring out the equipment to actually motivating myself and chatting with people. Today, I want to focus on two things that have tripped me up the most: reflexive verbs and those pesky time expressions when talking about sports.

The Struggle with “mich” – Reflexive Verbs in Fitness Conversations

I spent the first few weeks at my Fitnessstudio, “PowerUp,” just staring blankly at the instructors. They’d say things like, “Du solltest dich aufwärmen!” (You should warm up!) and I’d just nod, completely lost. I realized “mich” was the key. It’s a reflexive pronoun and it always goes before the verb. It’s basically saying “I” am doing something to myself.

Here’s a breakdown:

• mich warm machen: (to warm up myself) – I actually said this the other day when I was struggling to get my muscles going before my run. It felt so much more natural than just saying “Ich warm machen!”
• mich dehnen: (to stretch myself) – I’ve definitely messed this one up. I nearly asked, “Wie dehne ich?” (How do I stretch?), which is completely wrong. It’s “Wie dehne ich mich?” (How do I stretch myself?).
• mich auspowern: (to exhaust myself) – After a particularly brutal HIIT class, I admitted to my trainer, Martin, “Ich bin mich total auspowern!” (I’m completely exhausted myself!). He laughed and said, “Ja, das ist gut! Das bedeutet, du hast hart gearbeitet!” (Yes, that’s good! That means you’ve worked hard!).

The biggest mistake I kept making was forgetting the “mich.” It felt awkward at first, but the more I hear people use it, the more natural it becomes.

Time Expressions – “Jeden Tag,” “Am Wochenende,” and the Confusion

Then there are the time expressions. Simple, right? Wrong. They’re surprisingly tricky. I’ve had some seriously awkward moments.

For example, I tried to tell my running buddy, Thomas, that I went running every day. I blurted out, “Ich gehe jeden Tag joggen!” (I go every day jogging!). He looked at me strangely and said, “Nein, nein! Du gehst jeden Tag joggen!” (No, no! You go every day jogging!). It’s not “I go”, it’s “I go every day”. The emphasis is on the frequency.

Here are a few others I’ve struggled with:

• Am Wochenende: (On the weekend) – I asked my instructor, Frau Schmidt, if I could come to the Spinning class on Saturday, and I nearly said, “Ich fahre am Wochenende.” (I ride on the weekend). She quickly corrected me.
• Jeden Tag: (Every day) – As we’ve discussed, crucial for talking about routines.
• Manchmal: (Sometimes) – I used this one correctly for the first time just last week when I explained to Martin that I only go to the gym sometimes.

Real-Life Scenarios & Mistakes

The other day, I was struggling with a particularly challenging exercise on the rowing machine. I was completely red in the face and sweating! I desperately wanted to ask for help, so I said, “Kannst du mir helfen, mich zu überwinden?” (Can you help me to overcome myself?). Martin burst out laughing and explained that I needed to say, “Kannst du mir helfen, das Ding zu verstehen?” (Can you help me understand this thing?). It was a brilliant reminder that sometimes, literal translations aren’t quite right.

There was also the time I tried to compliment someone’s form during a group fitness class. I wanted to say, “Du machst dich gut!” (You’re doing well!), but I accidentally said, “Du machst dich gut!” to the guy next to me. He just stared at me, completely bewildered. I quickly realized my mistake and mumbled an apology.

My Progress & Tips for You

Honestly, it’s been a rollercoaster. There are days when I feel like I’m finally getting the hang of it, and then there are days when I’m completely lost. But I’m learning, and I’m definitely improving.

Here are a few tips that have helped me:

• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes: Seriously, everyone makes them! Martin is incredibly patient and encourages me to try.
• Listen carefully: Pay attention to how native speakers use these verbs and time expressions.
• Write it down: I keep a little notebook and jot down new phrases and corrections.
• Ask! Don’t be afraid to ask someone to repeat themselves or to explain something. Most people are happy to help.

Ich glaube an dich! (I believe in you!) – You can do this! Just keep practicing, and soon you’ll be confidently discussing your workouts in German. Now, off to PowerUp for my next session! Bis bald! (See you soon!)