Expert: Cornelia Neumann - 2/4/2008

Question
Could you please tell me how to say the the following phrases in german:

"where is he"
"The President is on the second floor"

Thank you for the help

Answer
Hello Ryan,

"where is he" - Wo ist er? (pronounced: Vo ist air?)

"The President is on the second floor"- Der Präsident ist im zweiten Stock. Somewhat more formal: Der Präsident befindet sich im zweiten Stock. (more like: His location is on the second floor.)
Pronunciation: Dair presi'dent ist imm tsvaytn shtock./Dair presi'dent be'finndet sich imm tsaytn shtock. --> The apostrophe ('x) means that the syllable immediately following it is the stressed syllable, i.e. not 'president, like in English, but presi'dent. The -ch- in "sich" is pronounced more or less like the soft beginning sound in "hue".

Hope this helps,
Cornelia