Category: Essential German Vocabulary

This is a Thesaurus, not a dictionary! As in English, German words often have more than one meaning or take on a different meaning in various contexts. For example, the German adjective böse can mean all of the following: angry, mad, mean, bad, evil, naughty, wicked, nasty, terrible. The German […]

Schwer or schwierig? This mistake is so common even among Germans that many don’t realize they interchange these two adjectives when they actually shouldn’t. The most obvious reason is that these two words sound so much alike. Another is the meaning and the associations that people make with these two […]

Both of machen and tun can mean “to do” in English, but they are also used in many idiomatic German expressions that are best learned as vocabulary. Depending on how it is used, the verb machen can mean: do, equal, give, last, make, matter, take and several other things in English.The verb tun is also used in colloquial […]

Talking about the weather with dative expressions We all like to talk about the weather. Here, you’ll learn how to do so in German, which means you’ll also have to adjust to how most of the world outside the U.S. measures things like barometric pressure and temperatures. There are even […]

When you want to get around in a German-speaking country, you’ll need to know some basic travel vocabulary. In this lesson, you’ll learn the German names for common places like the bank, hotel, and school.   You’ll also find out how to ask and respond to the question, “Where are […]

Discussing your profession in German requires a new list of vocabulary. Whether your job is as an architect, a doctor, a taxi driver, or if you’re still a student, there are many occupational words to learn in German. You can begin with the simple question, “Was sind Sie von Beruf?” […]

When you go shopping in Germany, Austria, or German Switzerland, you’ll find a number of German words very useful. This lesson includes the basic vocabulary you need to find the stores you’re looking for, talk to the salesperson, and have an enjoyable shopping spree.     Shopping Phrases and Pronunciation […]

The German verb machen is a very common regular verb with the basic meaning of “to make” or “to do.” It gets plenty of mileage all by itself, but by adding the prefix aus-, machen turns into something even more interesting — and takes on many more meanings. (It can […]

Ein Sprichwort, a saying or a proverb, can be a fun way to learn and remember new vocabulary in German. The following sayings, proverbs, and idiomatic expressions  (Redewendungen) are our favorites.  Some of the following expressions here are more common than others. Many works with Germany’s love affair with its […]

He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me!…So you’re in love. Or perhaps you just like someone. Anyhow, however your heart beats, here you’ll find phrases that all relate to ‘I love you’ in German. If you want to leave an everlasting impression I have a suggestion for […]