Deutsch · German
Learn German vocabulary
der/die/das, long compound words and a clear system.
Every German noun has a masculine, feminine or neuter article (der, die, das), and it is often not predictable from the word itself, so learning each noun with its article is the safest approach.
Compound words are everywhere: two or three words fuse into one long word. Once you start recognizing the parts, long words shrink in your eyes. Nouns are capitalized in writing.
What to know
- Learn nouns with der/die/das.
- Break compound words into parts.
- Nouns are always capitalized.
Study tips
- Treat the article as part of the word.
- Split long words and guess the meaning.
- Turn on audio to learn pronunciation. See also Learn German: where to start with vocabulary, articles and compound words.
Where is it spoken?
German is official in Germany and Austria, is one of Switzerland's four national languages, is official in Liechtenstein and Luxembourg and is spoken by a community in Belgium.
Pronunciation and spelling notes
"ch" has two sounds ("ich" and "Bach"), "z" sounds like "ts", "w" like "v", and "v" like "f" in many words. The vowels "ä, ö, ü" and the letter "ß" matter in writing. Final consonants harden: "Hund" ends like a "t".
Which languages help?
It shares Germanic roots with Dutch, Swedish and English; knowing English helps a lot with basic words.
A roadmap for your first week
In week one, learn greetings, numbers, family and food words together with der/die/das. Treat each noun as one unit: "das Haus", not just "Haus". If you meet a few long words, do not worry; in the coming weeks you will get used to splitting them into parts.
Common mistakes
- Learning nouns without articles; gender is often not predictable from the word.
- Skipping the plural: not noting forms like "der Tisch, die Tische" together with the noun.
- Learning separable verbs (aufstehen: "Ich stehe um sieben auf") without seeing them in a sentence.
A small sample word list
| German | English |
|---|---|
| hallo | hello |
| danke | thank you |
| bitte | please |
| das Wasser | water |
| das Haus | house |
| der Freund | friend |
| ja | yes |
| nein | no |
| gut | good |
| heute | today |
This list is our own; it is not an official list and only gives a feel for the first steps in this language.
Resources for this language
- German everyday life words: 30 words with example sentences
- German food and drink words: 30 words with example sentences
- German travel words: 30 words with example sentences
- Learn German: where to start with vocabulary, articles and compound words
Studying German in Frigya
When you add German in Frigya, you choose a separate level (A1–C2) and daily word goal for it. In Discover you meet new words and in Learn you reinforce them with spaced repetition; you can listen to words and example sentences. You can start without an account.
Frequently asked questions
Why are German nouns capitalised?
Is there a rule for der/die/das?
In Frigya you choose a separate level (A1–C2) and daily word goal for this language. For details see the levels guide.
Learn this language in Frigya
Try it without an account. If you like it, link your progress to one.
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