Categories
Confusing Words

Thank, think, thinking

Though different words, thank, think, and thinking sound similar in Pennsylvania Dutch. How do you keep them straight?

To Thank

To thank someone, say thanks, and to be thankful are all different words. See the examples below.

To Thank (v) = danka
(ex: Miah danka een fa awl sei shayni promises.)

Thanks = denki (notice the spelling change)
(ex: Miah sawwa denki fa awl eiyah haddi eahvet.)

Thankful (adj) = dankboah (always used with a form of sei)
(ex: Miah sinn so dankboah fa alles es du gedu hosht.)

To Think

To Think (v) = denka
(ex: Vella denka veyyich da future.)

  • Think (v) = (ich) denk (also used in commands)
    (ex: Denk veyyich dei nochbah.)

Thinking

Thinking, as in the way a person thinks. This is a noun, not a verb.

Thinking (n) = denkes
(ex: Di veld iahra denkes is letz!)

Categories
Confusing Words

Need, Must, and Should

Need / Braucha

Braucha is used when someone needs something (item, “product”).

? Tip: Can you buy it, gain it, or possess it?

Examples

  • Miah braucha ess-sach.
  • Miah braucha encouragement.
  • Ich brauch en pen.

Missa and Sedda

Both missa (must) and sedda (should) are used when someone needs to do something.

? Tip: Are you talking about an action that needs to be done?

Examples (missa/must)

  • See muss zu da shtoah gay.
  • Si missa gay breddicha.
  • Eah hott missa sei haus butza.

Examples (sedda/should)

  • Miah sedda gay si encouragement gevva.
  • Eah sett sei hoah sheahra.

Note: braucha, missa, and sedda are the unchanged verbs (infinitive form). Like any other verb, they will need to be changed based on who is doing it.