How to complain in German

Useful German Word of the Day: “sich beschweren” – This German expression means “to complain” and is noteworthy because it is reflexive (meaning, it needs the “sich/mich/dich,” etc., meaning “oneself/myself/yourself” etc.):

“Ich beschwere mich über das Essen.” – “I complain / I am complaining about the food.”
“Er beschwert sich immer.” – “He always complains / He’s always complaining.”
“Du hast dich über die Musik beschwert.” – “You complained about the music.”

Illogically, the word literally means “to burden oneself” or “to make oneself heavier”, which is bizarre since venting a complaint should really have the opposite effect…


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