Essential German Vocabulary for Everyday Use90

German is a widely spoken language with over 100 million native speakers. Whether you're planning a trip to Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, or simply want to expand your linguistic horizons, learning some basic German vocabulary is essential. To help you get started, here's a comprehensive list of popular German words and phrases that will serve you well in everyday situations.

Greetings

Hallo - Hello
Guten Tag - Good day
Guten Morgen - Good morning
Guten Abend - Good evening
Auf Wiedersehen - Goodbye

Introductions

Mein Name ist... - My name is...
Wie heißt du? - What's your name?
Ich komme aus... - I come from...
Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen - Nice to meet you

Essential Phrases

Bitte - Please
Danke - Thank you
Ja - Yes
Nein - No
Entschuldigung - Excuse me

Asking for Directions

Wo ist... - Where is...?
Wie komme ich nach... - How do I get to...?
Geradeaus - Straight ahead
Rechts - Right
Links - Left

Ordering Food and Drinks

Ich hätte gerne... - I would like...
Die Speisekarte, bitte - The menu, please
Ein Bier, bitte - A beer, please
Eine Tasse Kaffee - A cup of coffee
Die Rechnung, bitte - The bill, please

Shopping

Wie viel kostet das? - How much does it cost?
Ich möchte das kaufen - I would like to buy this
Haben Sie... - Do you have...?
Bargeld - Cash
Kreditkarte - Credit card

Numbers

eins - one
zwei - two
drei - three
vier - four
fünf - five

Days of the Week

Montag - Monday
Dienstag - Tuesday
Mittwoch - Wednesday
Donnerstag - Thursday
Freitag - Friday

Months

Januar - January
Februar - February
März - March
April - April
Mai - May
Juni - June
Juli - July
August - August
September - September
Oktober - October
November - November
Dezember - December

Emergencies

Hilfe! - Help!
Polizei - Police
Feuerwehr - Fire department
Rettungswagen - Ambulance

Additional Tips* Practice regularly to improve your pronunciation and fluency.
* Immerse yourself in German culture by listening to music, watching movies, and reading books in German.
* Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes when learning a new language.
* Use a dictionary or translation app to help you with unfamiliar words and phrases.
* Find a language partner or take a German class for additional support and motivation.

2025-02-22

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