German Essential Words & Phrases

Vocabulary flashcards for essential German greetings, survival phrases, core verbs, articles, and pronouns.

Guten Tag

Hello / Good day. The standard polite greeting used from morning until late afternoon.

Bitte

Please / You're welcome. Highly versatile word. Used to say please, here you go, or you're welcome.

Danke

Thank you. Add 'schön' (Danke schön) to make it a warmer 'Thank you very much'.

Entschuldigung

Excuse me / Sorry. Used to get someone's attention politely or to apologize for minor bumps.

Auf Wiedersehen

Goodbye. Literal meaning: 'Until we see each other again.' Standard formal farewell.

Guten Morgen

Good morning. Used specifically in the early morning hours, typically up until midday.

Sprechen Sie Englisch?

Do you speak English? Formal way to ask. Essential for travelers needing assistance.

Ich verstehe nicht

I don't understand. Use this cleanly when you are lost or vocabulary moves too fast.

Wo ist…?

Where is…? Combine with nouns, e.g., 'Wo ist die Toilette?' (Where is the restroom?)

Wie viel kostet das?

How much does that cost? Indispensable phrase for shopping at markets, stores, or cafes.

Hilfe!

Help! An urgent exclamation used exclusively in emergencies.

Ja / Nein

Yes / No. The absolute core foundations of affirmative and negative answers.

sein

to be. Present forms: ich bin (I am), du bist (you are), er/sie/es ist (he/she/it is).

haben

to have. Present forms: ich habe (I have), du hast (you have), er/sie/es hat (he/she/it has).

werden

to become. Also functions as the auxiliary verb to form the future tense in German.

können

to be able to / can. Modal verb showing ability: ich kann (I can), du kannst (you can).

machen

to do / to make. Highly practical verb used for creating things or performing activities.

gehen

to go / to walk. Used for physical movement or expressing how things are going (Wie geht's?).

der / die / das

the (masc. / fem. / neuter). German grammatical genders. Crucial to memorize along with each noun.

ich / du

I / you (informal, singular). Pronouns for talking about yourself or speaking directly to a friend.

wir

we. First-person plural personal pronoun used for groups including yourself.

Sie

you (formal, sing./plural). Always capitalized. Used with strangers, authority figures, and colleagues.

ein / eine

a / an (masc. & neuter / fem.). Indefinite articles used when introducing non-specific items.

es

it. Third-person singular neuter pronoun matching neuter ('das') nouns.

The photo (singular)

Das Foto

The photos (plural)

Die Fotos

The jacket

Die Jacke

The jackets

Die Jacken

The radio

Das Radio

The T-shirt

Das T-shirt

Nearby

In der Nahe

Exactly

Genau

The clothing

Die Kleidung

Happy, content, satisfied

Zufrieden

A bit more

Noch etwas

Vegetables

Gemuse

Spicy

Scharf

Recommend

Empfehlen

Popular

Beliebt

The calendar

Der Kalender

The computer

Der computer

The computers

Die Computer

the poster

Das Poster

The posters

Die Poster

The classroom

Das Klassenzimmer

The classrooms

Die Klassenzimmer

The history

Die Geschichte

The books

Die Bucher

The pen

Der stift

The pens

Die Stifte

The problem

Das Problem

Das Flugzeug

The plane

Die Flugzeuge

The planes

The suitcase

Der Koffer

The suitcases

Die Koffer

The car

Das auto

The cars

Die autos

Ready

Bereit

Finished/done

Fertig

Rich

Reich

Shirt

Hemd

The carrot

Die Karotte

The carrots

Die Karotten

The flight

Der Flug

The flightnumber

Die Flugnummer

The plane

Das Flugzeug

The planes

Die Flugzeuge

The flights

Die Fluge