German · A2 · Everyday language
Cuddles Through Changes in German
Use gentle everyday contrasts to talk with your child about changing feelings and plans. German trotzdem means “even so” or “nevertheless” and introduces something unexpected.
What you'll learn
- Use trotzdem to connect two contrasting ideas.
- Put the finite verb directly after trotzdem when it starts the second main clause.
- Talk warmly about play, rest, comfort and trying again.
German phrases for cuddles through changes
Du bist müde; trotzdem möchtest du spielen.
You're tired; even so, you want to play.
Möchtest expresses “want” gently. After trotzdem, use möchtest du, not du möchtest.
Es regnet; trotzdem machen wir einen kurzen Spaziergang mit dem Kinderwagen.
It's raining; even so, we're going for a short pram walk.
Einen Spaziergang machen means “to go for a walk.” Mit dem Kinderwagen means “with the pram.”
Dein Zahn tut weh; trotzdem lächelst du.
Your tooth hurts; even so, you're smiling.
Dein Zahn tut weh means “your tooth hurts.” Lächelst comes directly after trotzdem.
Das Badewasser ist warm; trotzdem möchtest du nicht in die Wanne steigen.
The bath is warm; even so, you don't want to get in.
Badewasser makes clear that the bathwater is warm. In die Wanne steigen means “to get into the bath.”
Dein Teddy ist in der Nähe; trotzdem möchtest du mit mir kuscheln.
Your teddy is nearby; even so, you want a cuddle with me.
Mit mir kuscheln is a natural way to say “have a cuddle with me.”
Du hast ein langes Nickerchen gemacht; trotzdem bist du wieder müde.
You had a long nap; even so, you're tired again.
Ein Nickerchen machen means “to have a nap.” Hast … gemacht describes a completed nap.
Du hast den Löffel fallen lassen; trotzdem möchtest du es noch einmal versuchen.
You dropped the spoon; even so, you want to try again.
Learn hast … fallen lassen as a chunk meaning “dropped.” Noch einmal versuchen means “to try again.”
Draußen ist es laut; trotzdem schläfst du friedlich.
It's noisy outside; even so, you're sleeping peacefully.
German uses the present tense schläfst for both “you sleep” and “you're sleeping.”
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
trotzdem
even so; nevertheless
Links a situation with an unexpected action or result.
der Kinderwagen
pram; pushchair
After mit, use the dative: mit dem Kinderwagen.
wehtun
to hurt
A separable verb: Dein Zahn tut weh.
in der Nähe
nearby
A useful fixed phrase for saying that someone or something is close.
kuscheln
to cuddle; to snuggle
Use mit to say who you cuddle with: mit mir, “with me.”
das Nickerchen
nap
Use with machen: ein Nickerchen machen.
noch einmal
again; once more
Useful when gently encouraging another attempt.
friedlich
peacefully; peaceful
Schläfst du friedlich means “you sleep peacefully” when it follows trotzdem.
Starting a contrasting main clause with trotzdem
Trotzdem introduces something unexpected despite the first situation. It starts a main clause, not a subordinate clause. When trotzdem comes first, the finite verb—the verb showing person and tense—comes directly after it, followed by the subject.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pattern | Situation; trotzdem + finite verb + subject + rest. | Du bist müde; trotzdem möchtest du spielen. |
| With sein | trotzdem + bist + du + rest | Du hast ein langes Nickerchen gemacht; trotzdem bist du wieder müde. |
| With an action verb | trotzdem + lächelst + du | Dein Zahn tut weh; trotzdem lächelst du. |
| With wir | trotzdem + machen + wir + rest | Es regnet; trotzdem machen wir einen kurzen Spaziergang mit dem Kinderwagen. |
Using möchtest with another verb
Möchtest is a gentle way to express wanting something. It is the finite verb, so it comes directly after trotzdem. The action verb stays in the infinitive at the end.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Wanting to play | trotzdem + möchtest + du + infinitive | Trotzdem möchtest du spielen. |
| Wanting a cuddle | trotzdem + möchtest + du + extra information + infinitive | Trotzdem möchtest du mit mir kuscheln. |
More examples
Du bist müde. Trotzdem möchtest du spielen.
You're tired. Even so, you want to play.
You can use a full stop instead of a semicolon. The word order stays the same.
Draußen ist es laut. Trotzdem schläfst du friedlich.
It's noisy outside. Even so, you're sleeping peacefully.
Trotzdem comes first, schläfst comes second, and du follows the verb.