My First Month of German Media & the Confusing Comparative Forms

Okay, deep breaths. It’s been a month since I moved to Munich, and honestly, it’s been a whirlwind. The language is… a lot. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t fully grasp just how much I’d be relying on my ability to understand and respond, especially when it comes to simple things like talking about what I want to watch or listen to. And that’s where these vergleichende (comparative forms) have been driving me absolutely bonkers.

Ordering Pizza & the “Etwas” Problem

The other day, I went to Pizza Hut – a definite American comfort food moment – and I wanted to say I wanted a pizza with a little bit more pepperoni. I thought it would be straightforward. I said to the waiter, “Ich möchte eine Pizza mit etwas mehr Salami, bitte.” He looked at me completely bewildered.

“Etwas?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “You mean mehr?”

That’s when it hit me. “Etwas” in this context, was completely wrong! I’d learned it in a phrasebook, thinking it was a useful general word for “some.” Turns out, when you’re asking for more of something, you absolutely have to use mehr.

“Entschuldigung!” I quickly corrected myself. “Ich meine mehr Salami, bitte!” He chuckled, and the rest of the order went smoothly. The lesson: Don’t rely solely on phrasebooks. Observe how native speakers actually talk.

Coffee Shop Conversations & “Nicht So Viel”

Yesterday, I was meeting a colleague, Sarah, at a small coffee shop. I wanted to say I preferred my coffee with a little less sugar. I wanted to say, “Ich trinke meinen Kaffee nicht so viel Zucker.” It felt right, a solid translation.

Sarah tilted her head. “Nicht so viel? But you said you like your coffee strong!”

We had a mini-conversation. I realised nicht so viel implies a lack of something. I needed to use weniger to express that I wanted less. I quickly corrected myself, saying, “Ich möchte meinen Kaffee mit weniger Zucker, bitte.” She laughed and said, “See? You’re getting the hang of it!”

It’s frustrating, but seeing these little nuances in action is actually helping.

Describing TV Shows – “Mein Lieblingsfilm ist besser als…”

I’m trying to tell my new flatmates what I like to watch, and this is where the comparative forms get really tricky. I wanted to say, “Mein Lieblingsfilm ist besser als dieser Horrorfilm.” (My favourite film is better than this horror film).

My friend, Thomas, stared at me. “But besser means ‘better,’ not ‘than.’ You need als!”

He was right, of course. The correct sentence is: “Mein Lieblingsfilm ist besser als dieser Horrorfilm.” It’s so simple, but I keep getting tripped up. I’m starting to catch myself instinctively using besser als in all situations, which is embarrassing.

Key Takeaways (and a Reminder for You!)

Here’s what I’m learning – and what might help you:

• “Mehr” is Your Friend: When asking for more of something (food, coffee, etc.), always use mehr. It’s a huge giveaway that you’re a learner!
• “Weniger” is for Decreasing Amounts: Use weniger when you want to express that you want less of something.
• “Als” is Crucial for Comparisons: Remember to use als when making comparisons – “besser als,” “älter als,” “teurer als.”
• Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes: Seriously, I’ve made so many! Everyone does. It’s okay to stumble. The important thing is that I’m learning from them.

Next Steps: Practice, Practice, Practice!

I’m planning on starting a little journal where I write down conversations I have, and I’m going to specifically focus on using the comparative forms correctly. I’m also going to try to watch German TV shows and movies – subtitles are okay for now – just to get a better feel for how native speakers actually express themselves.

I know this is going to be a long process, but I’m determined to get better at communicating in German, and mastering these comparative forms is a key part of that. Viel Glück (Good luck) to me – and to you, if you’re tackling German! Ich werde weitermachen! (I will keep going!)