In episode 19 you learned how to start a conversation in Luxembourgish.

In this episode, you will learn a) the secret to becoming more fluent and improving your Luxembourgish; b) how to keep a conversation going, without running out of things to say!

Let’s start with the secret to becoming more fluent and improving your Luxembourgish: this is so simple: you might be surprised: ASK MORE QUESTIONS

And we will at the end of the episode practice with two example conversations – an informal one using the du-form and a formal one using the Dir-form. 

Are you ready to learn this secret and master an everyday conversation?

Bass du prett? Da lass!

Most of the topics of small talk conversations include an observation followed by a question. This is the best way to get people talking about themselves.

Talking about your next holidays

The holidays are always an interesting topic. Usually people like talking about their next holidays. Here are some useful phrases to start a conversation about that topic. An easy and straightforward question:

• Wouhi gees du dëst Joer an d’Vakanz? – Where are you (informal) going on holidays this year?

But if you want something more original, try this:

• Endlech! Déi nächst Woch ass Schoulvakanz. Hutt dir schonn eppes vir? Finally! Next week is school holidays. Do you (plural) have already something planned?
• Ech fueren, wéi ëmmer, am Februar an de Wantersport. An du? Gees du och am Wanter an d’Vakanz? – I go, as always, in February in the winter sports. What about you (informal)? Do you go as well on holidays in winter?

Here’s an example of how NOT to have an Luxembourgish conversation:

• War däi Weekend flott? – Did you have a nice weekend?
• Jo. An däin? – Yes. And how was yours?
• Majo, och flott. – Well, nice as well.

Unfortunately, the conversation stops here because there’s no natural way to continue it. This is OK if you only want to have a quick conversation (for example, if you are quickly passing a co-worker in the hallway). But how can you have a longer conversation in Luxembourgish?

2 KEYS to continuing a conversation in Luxembourgish

1 Ask questions that start with the question words Wat, Wéini, Wou, Firwat and Wéi. Try to avoid yes/no questions.

2 In your answers, give one or two details that will help continue the conversation. You don’t need to talk for a long time.

Example of Luxembourgish Conversations

Here are two example conversations – an informal one using the du-form and a formal one using the Dir-form. 

Notice how each person adds one or two details, and then there is a follow-up question about the details. 

Moien! An, wéi war däi Weekend?

Zimmlech flott! E Samschdeg ware mir bei Frënn agelueden an e Sonndeg war ech mat menge Kanner an de Kino.

Flott. Wat sidd dir da kucke gaang?

Den EMOJI!

An? Wéi war en?

De Kanner huet de Film natierlech gutt gefall. An du? Wat hues du de Weekend gemaach?

Net esou vill. E Samschdeg sinn ech doheem bliwwen a sonndes moies ginn ech jo ëmmer lafen.

Ah sou? Wéi laang leefs du dann? 

Normalerweis tëscht 45 Minutten an eng Stonn.

Leefs du eleng?

Jo, leider. Hues de Loscht eng Kéier matzekommen?”

Oh nee, dat ass net menges. Ech gi just gär schwammen.

A wouhi gees du da schwammen?

…

Hello! And, how was your weekend?

Quite nice! On Saturday we were invited at some friends and on Sunday I went with my kids to the cinema.

Nice. Which movie have you been watching?

EMOJI

And? How was it?

Of course, the children liked the movie. And how about you? What have you done last Weekend?

Not sou much. I stayed at home on Saturday and on Sunday mornings I always go running.

Oh, really? How long do you run?

Usually between 45 minutes and one hour.

Do you run alone?

Yes unfortunately. Would like to come with me once?

Oh no, that is not my cup of tea. I just like to go swimming.

And where do you go swimming? 

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