Der Geschmack des Kaffees erinnert mich an Urlaub.

Der Geschmack des Kaffees erinnert mich an Urlaub.
The taste of the coffee reminds me of vacation.

Breakdown of Der Geschmack des Kaffees erinnert mich an Urlaub.

der Kaffee
the coffee
mich
me
der Urlaub
the vacation
der Geschmack
the taste
erinnern an
to remind of
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Questions & Answers about Der Geschmack des Kaffees erinnert mich an Urlaub.

Why is there des before Kaffees, and why does Kaffee add an -s at the end?

In German, to express “the taste of the coffee,” you use the genitive case:

  • des is the genitive singular masculine article
  • Masculine and neuter nouns typically add -s (or -es) in the genitive singular, so Kaffee → Kaffees
Can I instead say Der Geschmack von Kaffee erinnert mich an Urlaub?

Yes. Using von + dative is very common (especially in speech) as an alternative to the genitive:

  • Der Geschmack von Kaffee erinnert mich an Urlaub.
    Both versions are correct; the genitive version sounds a bit more formal or literary.
Why is it mich and not mir?

The verb erinnern in its transitive sense (“to remind someone of something”) takes an accusative object for the person being reminded:

  • jemanden an etwas erinnern → “to remind someone (acc.) of something”
    So you need mich (accusative), not mir (dative).
Why do we use an Urlaub? Could it be auf Urlaub or another preposition?

With erinnern (non-reflexive), you always use an + accusative to introduce what you’re reminded of:

  • etwas erinnert mich an etwas
    Auf Urlaub means “on vacation,” which doesn’t convey “reminds me of vacation.”
Why is there no article before Urlaub here?

Urlaub is treated as an uncountable, abstract concept (“vacation” in general). German often omits the article with generic or mass nouns. If you meant a specific trip, you’d include an article or adjective:

  • an den Urlaub (a particular vacation)
  • an meinen letzten Urlaub (to my last vacation)
What’s the word order in Der Geschmack des Kaffees erinnert mich an Urlaub?

The sentence follows the standard S-V-O-PP pattern in German main clauses:

  1. Subject: Der Geschmack
  2. Genitive attribute: des Kaffees
  3. Verb (2nd position): erinnert
  4. Direct object (acc.): mich
  5. Prepositional object (an + acc.): an Urlaub
Is there a more colloquial way to express “reminds me of vacation”?

Yes. You can say:

  • Der Kaffee schmeckt wie Urlaub.
    Here schmeckt means “tastes,” and wie introduces the comparison: “The coffee tastes like vacation.”
If I want to refer to my vacation, how would I change the sentence?

Add a possessive adjective for specificity:

  • Der Geschmack des Kaffees erinnert mich an meinen Urlaub.
  • Or even more natural: … an meinen letzten Urlaub.
Can Urlaub be plural (like “vacations”) in German?

It’s uncommon but possible in informal speech:

  • zwei Urlaube → “two vacations”
    However, German usually treats Urlaub as a mass noun in the singular when speaking generally.