Die Wohnungssuche
A young professional finds a promising apartment in Munich, but the viewing reveals that the rent is not the only price to pay.
Today's learning
- 2-minute story
- Native narration
- 5 useful words
- 4 comprehension questions
- B1 German
Pre-Reading Vocabulary
Review these key words and phrasing examples before you begin reading.
Your German story — tap highlighted words when you need help
Seit Wochen sucht Lea eine neue in München. Die Mieten sind hoch, und viele Wohnungen sind schon weg, bevor man sie überhaupt kann. Dann endlich bekommt Lea eine Nachricht: eine in Schwabing, , Altbau. Der Preis ist fast fair. Die Wohnung sieht auf den Fotos toll aus, und Lea freut sich richtig auf . „Das könnte ja endlich was werden“, denkt sie. Am Samstag steht Lea pünktlich vor dem Haus. Es ist ein wunderschöner Altbau mit hohen Fenstern und einem Vorgarten. öffnet die Tür — ein älterer Herr mit einer freundlichen Stimme. Doch hinter ihm steht noch jemand: die aktuelle , Frau Berger. Die Wohnung ist wirklich schön — hohe Decken, , ein helles Bad. Lea kann ihr Glück kaum fassen. Doch dann mischt sich Frau Berger ein. „ möchte ich gar nicht “, sagt sie leise. „Der Vermieter sagt, die Familie seines Sohnes braucht die Wohnung.“ Lea ist . Sie fragt den Vermieter: „Wird Frau Berger gekündigt, oder zieht sie freiwillig aus?“ Der Vermieter räuspert sich. „Also, Frau Berger hat einen Vertrag. Der läuft aus, und dann brauchen wir die Wohnung selbst. Das ist doch ganz normal.“ Lea nickt, aber sie fühlt sich . Die Wohnung ist perfekt, doch die Situation mit Frau Berger stimmt sie . Was, wenn ihr das auch passiert? Auf der Straße ruft Lea ihre Freundin an. „Die Wohnung ist toll, aber läuft da was schief. Soll ich die trotzdem nehmen?“ Ihre Freundin überlegt kurz. „Wenn du ein schlechtes Gefühl hast, lass es lieber. In München kommt noch eine andere Wohnung — vielleicht sogar eine ohne .“
Show full English translation
For weeks Lea has been looking for a new apartment in Munich. The rents are high, and many apartments are already gone before you can even view them. Then finally Lea gets a message: a two-room apartment in Schwabing, balcony, old building. The price is almost fair. The apartment looks great in the photos, and Lea is really looking forward to the viewing. "This could finally be something," she thinks. On Saturday Lea arrives punctually in front of the building. It's a beautiful old building with tall windows and a front garden. The landlord opens the door — an older gentleman with a friendly voice. But behind him stands someone else: the current tenant, Mrs. Berger. The apartment is really beautiful — high ceilings, parquet flooring, a bright bathroom. Lea can hardly believe her luck. But then Mrs. Berger steps in. "Actually I don't want to move out at all," she says quietly. "The landlord says his son's family needs the apartment." Lea is confused. She asks the landlord: "Is Mrs. Berger being evicted, or is she moving out voluntarily?" The landlord clears his throat. "Well, Mrs. Berger has a fixed-term contract. It's expiring, and then we need the apartment ourselves. That's quite normal." Lea nods, but she feels uncomfortable. The apartment is perfect, yet the situation with Mrs. Berger makes her thoughtful. What if that happens to her too? On the street Lea calls her friend. "The apartment is great, but somehow something's off there. Should I take it anyway?" Her friend thinks briefly. "If you have a bad feeling, better leave it. In Munich another apartment will come — maybe even one without drama."
Vocabulary recap
Reading Comprehension Exercise
B1 German Reading Comprehension Exercises
1. Why is Lea hesitant about the apartment?
Correct: The current tenant is being evicted under unclear circumstances
Mrs. Berger reveals she doesn't want to move out and has a fixed-term contract that is expiring — Lea feels uncomfortable about how the landlord is handling it.
2. What does the landlord say about Mrs. Berger's situation?
Correct: She has a fixed-term contract that is expiring
The landlord explains that Mrs. Berger has a befristeten Vertrag (fixed-term contract) that is running out, which is legal but leaves the tenant without security.
3. What does Lea's friend advise her?
Correct: Leave it and wait for another apartment without drama
Lea's friend says if Lea has a bad feeling about it, she should wait — another apartment without drama will come eventually.
4. Warum ist Lea unsicher, ob sie die Wohnung nehmen soll?
Correct: Die aktuelle Mieterin will nicht ausziehen
Lea fühlt sich unwohl, weil Frau Berger eigentlich gar nicht ausziehen möchte und der Vermieter sie mit einem befristeten Vertrag loswerden will.
Nailed the quiz? Start your own story in MeloLingua →
Patterns to reuse
Modal particles for nuance — 'ja', 'doch', 'eigentlich'
„Das könnte ja endlich was werden.“
"This could finally be something."
Modal particles soften statements and add attitude — they're hard to translate directly.
[Subject] [verb] ja/doch/eigentlich [rest]
- Das ist ja schön!
- Das geht doch nicht.
- Eigentlich möchte ich bleiben.
'Ja' signals shared knowledge, 'doch' contradicts an assumption, 'eigentlich' expresses a reservation. They don't change the literal meaning but change the tone entirely.
Expressing doubt with 'Was, wenn...'
Was, wenn ihr das auch passiert?
What if that happens to her too?
Use 'Was, wenn...' to express worried hypotheticals.
Was, wenn [condition]?
- Was, wenn der Vertrag ausläuft?
- Was, wenn ich die Wohnung nicht bekomme?
This construction is common in spoken German to express uncertainty or fear about a possible future event.
Polite refusal — 'Lass es lieber'
Lass es lieber.
Better leave it.
Used in informal speech to advise against something without being harsh.
Lass/Lassen Sie es lieber
- Lass das lieber sein
- Lassen Sie es lieber bleiben
This phrase softens a refusal or negative advice. It suggests restraint rather than commanding it.
Translator's Note
"The Munich housing market is notoriously competitive. Fixed-term rental contracts (befristete Mietverträge) are a controversial tool landlords use to bypass tenant protection laws. This story touches on the ethical gray area: a beautiful apartment that comes at the cost of someone else's displacement — a very real dilemma in German cities today."
Story complete
You just understood 270 German words.
- 5 new expressions
- 2 grammar patterns
- B1 level unlocked
Ready for tomorrow's story? Hear it, shadow the narrator, and lock these words into memory in MeloLingua.
Start learning German with storiesOne story. The whole practice loop.
Reading this story for free is just the first rep. The MeloLingua app turns the same story into a full practice loop — understand every word, speak it back, build sentences, and keep stories coming that match what you actually care about.
Understand every sentence instantly
Know exactly why each word works
Train your ear with native audio
Speak like a native while reading
Turn what you read into what you can say
Never forget today's vocabulary
Read stories about your real life
Feel yourself improve every day
Result
Make stories about your life
Most language apps hand everyone the same content. MeloLingua lets you create stories around the things you actually enjoy — so staying consistent stops feeling like homework.
- “I love space and cooking”Your story
A chef opens the first restaurant on Mars.
- “I like football and history”Your story
A young striker time-travels to play the legendary teams.
- “I enjoy surfing and travel”Your story
A surfer hunts secret waves across the world.
- “I like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and sci-fi”Your story
An astronaut enters the first intergalactic grappling tournament.
Read it. Listen to it. Speak it back. The more it sounds like your world, the easier it is to keep going.
Generate your first storyMake it yours
Your next German story is one tap away
Turn today's read into a daily habit — personalized scenes, native audio, tap-to-translate vocabulary, and speaking drills matched to what you just understood.
Keep reading on-site
Der neue Mitbewohner
Today a new roommate moves into the apartment. His name is Tom and he comes from Munich. Tom has two large suitcases and a guitar. "Hello, I'm Tom. Nice to meet you!" he says.
Open story →
Ein Besuch im Pergamonmuseum
Felix wanders through the Pergamon Museum, savoring history's whispers and leaving with a deeper respect for the silent stories of artifacts.
Open story →
Im Biergarten
Es ist Freitagabend und Felix trifft seine Freunde im Biergarten. Die Luft duftet nach frisch gebackenem Brot und die Sonne scheint warm durch die Blätter des Kastanienbaums.
Open story →