Bitte, bitte gib mir nur ein Wort
Please give me just one word – "Nur ein Wort" by Wir sind Helden
Words are powerful, and sometimes just a single word – the right word, at the right time, from the right person – can make all the difference in our lives or the lives of those around us.
In “Nur ein Wort” (“Just one word”), German pop rock band Wir sind Helden (“We are heroes”) sings about wanting just one such word – in this case, a word to confirm mutual feelings and the possibility of a romantic future.
While playfully conveying frustration over a love interest’s silence, the song utilizes clever wordplay and gives us the chance to review the imperative verb form in German.
Oh, Bitte gib mir nur ein “Oh”
Oh, please just give me an “Oh”
Bitte gib mir nur ein “Oh”
Please just give me an “Oh”
Bitte gib mir nur ein
Please just give me one
Bitte, bitte gib mir nur ein Wort
Please, please just give me one word
In German, the imperative is the verb form used to give orders, requests, or instructions directly to another person (or group of people):
Bitte warten Sie hier.
Please wait here.Hilf mir, bitte!
Help me, please!Bitte gib mir nur ein Wort!
Please give me just one word!
Because there are multiple ways to refer to others in the second person in German – informally or formally, singular or plural – there are also multiple ways to form the imperative.
For a singular informal imperative expression, generally used for family, friends, children, or someone one already knows well, the imperative verb is formed by dropping the “st” from the end of the verb’s “du” form (second person informal singular).
This means that for the verb “geben” (to give), we start with the verb’s du form “gibst”, drop the “st”, and are left with “gib” for the verb’s imperative form.
Gib mir nur ein Wort!
Give me just one word!
For a plural informal imperative expression – used when talking to a group of two or more people informally – we can use the verb’s regular second person plural “ihr” form in present tense:
Bleibt bitte hier!
Please stay here!
Formal imperative expressions, both singular and plural – used with superiors, strangers, or acquaintances in situations requiring extra respect and politeness – simply use the verb in third person plural present tense, which is most often just the infinitive form of the verb. However, the formal “Sie” is usually present as well. Here’s an example of this often heard in doctor’s offices in Germany:
Nehmen Sie Platz, bitte!
Please take a seat!
The imperative form of a verb usually comes at the beginning of a sentence, as seen in the examples above. However, it may also be preceded by a person’s name or a “bitte” (please), as seen in the song “Nur ein Wort”.
Bitte gib mir nur ein Wort!
Please give me just one word!
You can find more detailed information about the informal and formal imperative in German at Deutsche Welle.
And for some extra language practice: the German music magazine Diffus has just written a feature on the enduring popularity of “Nur ein Wort” (now 18 years old!), if you’d like to check it out!
Here are a few additional words from “Nur ein Wort” to add to your vocabulary list:
sehen – to see
denken – to think
fühlen – to feel
wollen – to want
hören – to hear
das Wörterbuch – the dictionary
leihen – to borrow / to lend
schreien – to scream
geben – to give
das Wort – the word
nur – only / just
verrückt – crazy
schweigen – to be silent
das Zelt – the tent
die Welt – the world
tief – deep
das Wasser – the water
die Welle / die Wellen – the wave / the waves