German · A2 · Everyday language
Little Reasons Explained in German
Explain how your baby's everyday needs shape what you do together. Use deshalb (“that is why” or “therefore”) to connect a reason with its consequence.
What you'll learn
- Describe everyday baby needs in simple German.
- Use deshalb to explain what happens because of a need.
- Place the conjugated verb directly after deshalb when deshalb starts the sentence.
German phrases for little reasons explained
Du hast Hunger. Deshalb wärme ich deine Milch auf.
You are hungry. That is why I am warming your milk.
German uses Hunger haben (“to have hunger”). Aufwärmen is separable: wärme … auf.
Deine Windel ist nass. Deshalb wechsle ich sie.
Your nappy is wet. That is why I am changing it.
Sie means “it” here and refers to the feminine noun die Windel.
Du bist müde. Deshalb gehen wir nach Hause.
You are tired. That is why we are going home.
Nach Hause means “home” when describing movement towards home.
Draußen ist es kalt. Deshalb brauchst du eine Mütze.
It is cold outside. That is why you need a hat.
Eine Mütze is a cap or warm hat, a natural choice for a baby in cold weather.
Dein Zahn tut weh. Deshalb bekommst du einen Beißring.
Your tooth hurts. That is why you are getting a teething ring.
Wehtun means “to hurt” and separates into tut … weh. Bekommen means “to get” or “to receive”.
Die Sonne scheint hell. Deshalb sitzen wir im Schatten.
The sun is bright. That is why we are sitting in the shade.
Die Sonne scheint hell literally means “The sun is shining brightly”. Im Schatten means “in the shade”.
Deine Hände sind schmutzig. Deshalb wasche ich sie.
Your hands are dirty. That is why I am washing them.
Sie means “them” here and refers to the plural noun Hände.
Du schläfst. Deshalb spreche ich leise.
You are asleep. That is why I am speaking quietly.
Du schläfst naturally expresses “You are asleep”. Leise means “quietly” here.
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
deshalb
that is why; therefore
Introduces a consequence of the reason just given.
die Milch
milk
Deine Milch means “your milk”.
die Windel
nappy; diaper
Plural: die Windeln. Eine Windel wechseln means “to change a nappy”.
müde
tired
Use with sein: Du bist müde.
die Mütze
cap; warm hat
Plural: die Mützen.
der Zahn
tooth
Plural: die Zähne.
der Beißring
teething ring
Plural: die Beißringe.
der Schatten
shade; shadow
Im Schatten means “in the shade”; im combines in and dem.
die Hand
hand
Plural: die Hände.
Reason first, consequence second
Give the reason in one sentence. Start the next sentence with deshalb to explain the result. Deshalb introduces the consequence, not the reason.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Reason | Subject + conjugated verb + description | Du bist müde. |
| Consequence | Deshalb + conjugated verb + subject + rest | Deshalb gehen wir nach Hause. |
Verb position after deshalb
When deshalb comes first, the finite verb—the verb conjugated for the subject—comes second. The subject follows the verb. Do not use the English order “deshalb + subject + verb”.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| With ich | Deshalb + verb + ich | Deshalb spreche ich leise. |
| With du | Deshalb + verb + du | Deshalb brauchst du eine Mütze. |
| With wir | Deshalb + verb + wir | Deshalb sitzen wir im Schatten. |
Separable verbs and actions happening now
With a separable verb, the conjugated part stays in second position and the prefix goes at the end. German normally uses the simple present for actions that English describes with “am/is/are …-ing”.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Separable verb | aufwärmen → wärme … auf | Deshalb wärme ich deine Milch auf. |
| Present action | ich wasche = I wash / I am washing | Deshalb wasche ich sie. |
More examples
Deine Milch ist kalt. Deshalb wärme ich sie auf.
Your milk is cold. That is why I am warming it up.
Sie refers to die Milch. The prefix auf stays at the end.
Du bist müde. Deshalb spreche ich leise.
You are tired. That is why I am speaking quietly.
Spreche comes directly after deshalb, followed by ich.