Have you ever heard about the Italian people using their hands, feet, and all the other parts of their body while they’re talking? Your answer is: Yes?

No worries if you haven’t heard this about German people. The only reason for this is that we’re not that expressive with our body gestures and body language like other nations are. But have you heard about German eye contact? They like to keep eye contact at all times.

Here’s a little side story to help you visualize nonverbal communication in German:

My grandparents travelled in Africa for three months in 2012. Does that sound odd? It gets better! My grandparents don’t speak any French or English at all. All they know is German.

After they came back home, I was impressed and asked them how they expressed themselves to the locals. The dry answer my grandmother gave was: ‘Boy, with our hands and feet.’ This is a common German idiom.

All I want to show you is that body language is such a significant part of our daily life. When you master the common expressions in German, your interaction with locals will improve immediately.

Body language isn’t often covered by German language teachers. Learning some basic principles and gestures will help you right from the start. Maybe some of these postures are already familiar with you if you’re coming from a neighboring country.

I hope I made my point clear and that now you know why body gestures in learning German
are important for your progress. Here we prepared for you some of the most common German gestures in as simple a way as possible.

However, if you’re interested in improving your speaking skills, here’s a helpful vocabulary list.

In the meantime, let’s get on to learning common body language and gestures in Germany!

Table of Contents

1. Zählen
2. Greetings
3. Positive Gestures
4. Negative Gestures
5. Other Gestures
6. Why are Germans Heartless and Why is Eye Contact Important?
7. How GermanPod101.com can Help You Learn Faster

1. Zählen

There are different ways of doing this. This is just the way we in Germany do it, and it’s one of the most common hand signs in German.

Here’s a helpful lesson for counting in German.

2. Greetings

When learning body language in Germany, it’s vital that you know about greetings. These German body gestures will help you say “hello” like a native, without even saying a word.

1- Die Hand geben

Okay everybody, let’s get prepared for the handshake in Germany. I know people from other countries find this part about the German culture a bit boring, but it is how it is. We’re a nation of hand-shakers. This might sound a bit awkward to people from South America, France, or any other country that are used to giving hugs for greetings.

But we just don’t do it in general. Even when you’ve known a person for a long time, you’re not going to just fall into their arms as a greeting.

2- Bussi Bussi

3- Hallo

If you’re ready to dive a bit deeper into how to say “hello” in German and introduce yourself, take a look at this video. Or if you’re looking for another approach to underline your gestures with words, take a look at all German words for greetings.

Greetings are not everything, though, so you may want to brush up on how to say goodbye in German as well.

3. Positive Gestures

1- Daumen hoch

2- Daumendrücken

4. Negative Gestures

1- Jemandem den Vogel zeigen

2- Waving your hand in front of your face.

3- Daumen runter

4- Forearm Jerk

5. Other Gestures

1- Augenlied herunterziehen

2- Ach

3- Tja

6. Why are Germans Heartless and Why is Eye Contact Important?

1- Are Germans Heartless?

Maybe they’re not. There are some stereotypes out there about Germans that are true, but we’re not heartless at all. Though we do value things like order, privacy, and punctuality which can give the impression of being “heartless.”

Since we value privacy, it might seem like we don’t love the people around us, but that’s not true. We just don’t express ourselves as other nations do and we respect the privacy of others.

Those are important facts when dealing with a German. But no worries, no person from Germany will dislike you if you give him a nice and warm hug.

2- German Eye Contact

In Germany, it’s considered polite to maintain eye contact almost all the time while talking to another person. This is especially important during business meetings. Eye contact is a sign of attentiveness, and you don’t need to be afraid of threatening someone with this. It’s better to maintain eye contact than to overdo it with too many body gestures with German locals.

Here are some hard facts when it comes to eye contact with a German:

• It’s expected and respected.
• It demonstrates attention and awareness.
• It’s a part of proper etiquette.

And now a really important fact:

DO use eye contact while toasting in Germany. Or else you’ll have bad luck for the next seven years of your life.

7. How GermanPod101.com can Help You Learn Faster

When learning a language, especially when you’re at the beginning of this journey, people always say “Go to the country where they speak the language and you’ll master it.”

In my experience, this is good advice. But once you’re there and you start listening to the locals and you ask yourself if they even speak the same language that you’re trying to learn, this feels a bit tough. Here’s when body language comes into play, as it helps you understand the context and anticipate which words might have been used.

Whether you’re just up for a holiday in Germany, or are ready to dive completely into the German language and its nuances, the body gestures we showed you here are just the tip of the iceberg and there’s so much more to discover.

To get started, GermanPod101.com has a lot of free resources that you can use to practice and improve your grammar skills.

With our MyTeacher app, you can get one-on-one practice that perfectly fits your individual needs. With your private teacher, you’ll level up fast.

That said, we wish you the best of luck as you continue learning German and the many facets of its culture. We hope that you learned a lot about German body language and gestures. Be sure to keep practicing with GermanPod101.com! Start with a bonus, and download your FREE cheat sheet – How to Improve Your German Skills! (Logged-In Member Only)

German slang and German internet words can be tough to understand. But no worries, as we’ll guide you through some of the most used expressions and words, so that you can impress your German friends with some stuff that will make you sound like a native speaker. Just to show you a quick example of how hard it can be to understand German slang, take a look:

Der Lauch ist heute auf keinstem am Start.

Literally, this means something like:
“This leek will not be at the start for sure.”

Let’s break this down for you. Der Lauch is used these days to describe a skinny person who doesn’t lift weights, and lifting weights is getting really popular nowadays in Germany. Auf keinstem is a short version of the expression auf keinen Fall and means “under no circumstance.” And finally, am Start just means that he won’t join the group for an event or other plans they might have.

So here you have a sentence that consists almost exclusively of German slang. And you won’t just hear this in a text message, but also in a normal conversation.

Can you imagine yourself in a situation where someone’s saying this in a group chat or amid a group of people, and you’re just staring around with question marks over your head?

As you can see, learning German slang can make you much more fluent in the language. You never know just when it’ll come in handy!

That said, you may also want to see part one of our German slang series and refresh your knowledge of German idioms. When you’re ready, we’ll go over more useful German text message slang below!

Table of Contents

1. About German Internet Slang
2. German Texting Shortcuts
3. Slang Outside of Texting and Internet
4. Youth Speech
5. How GermanPod101.com Can Help You Learn More German Slang

1. About German Internet Slang

Nowadays, the world wide web is becoming more important for nearly all aspects of our lives. This is also true when you’re learning a language and when it comes down to communicating with people. And the communication between people online is much different than it is in a spoken conversation.

Maybe, if you’re an intermediate or advanced speaker, you already have some friends or even colleagues from Germany, and keeping in contact with them has never been easier than today with the help of social media. However, in comments, text messages, and tags, you might find it difficult to keep up on a subject.

To keep you up-to-date, we’ll provide you with some free resources. Maybe you want to improve your speaking skills quickly, or improve your knowledge on any other subject you can imagine.

The German texting style has changed a bit over time and we’ve now arrived at a point where we’re using something that you can call Kurzdeutsch (short German). This simply shows that we’re now using shortened expressions in text messages instead of using full sentences. So we cut out verbs or pronouns which aren’t always necessary, and that can bring learners into trouble when they’ve just started out learning the language with all its specifications. But internet slang, to a native German, is simple and standard.

Here, we hope to alleviate some of your fears and frustrations regarding German internet slang phrases! So without further ado, our guide to German text message slang and how to text in German.

2. German Texting Shortcuts

1- BD (Bis dann)

First on our German internet slang list is BD. When saying goodbye with the intention of meeting again later that day, you can use Bis dann. If you’re referring to meeting again on another day, it may be better to use Bis bald.

Meaning:
See you. / See you later.
CUL8R

Example:
Wir sehen uns später, BD.
We meet each other later, CUL8R.

2- LOL (Laughing Out Loud)

Yes, like everywhere else in the world, we also use “lol” in German. I’m sure you all know what it means.

Meaning:
Laughing Out Loud.

Example:
Er ist die Treppe heruntergefallen, LOL.
He fell down the stairs, LOL.

3- ILD (Ich liebe dich)

The sound of love is beautiful in every language, and yes, even in German.

Meaning:
I love you.

Example:
Ich wünsche dir einen schönen Tag, ILD.
I wish you a good day, love you.

4- HDL and HDGDL (Hab Dich Lieb and Hab Dich Ganz Doll Lieb)

This is still a shortcut from the old days when text messaging was born in Germany. Today it might sound a bit odd and old school, but some people still use it.

Meaning:
I like you. / I love you.
I like you a lot. / I love you a lot.

Example:
Du bist meine beste Freundin, HDGDL.
You are my best friend, I love you.

5- IDA (Ich Dich Auch)

This is used as a quick response to the shortcuts we learned in the numbers 3 and 4 above.

Meaning:
I like you, too. / I love you, too. / Me too.

Example:
Du bist auch meine beste Freundin, IDA.
You are my best friend too, love you too.

6- kA (keine Ahnung)

You know the situation when you have no idea what to answer. When this happens, you can just type kA and the other person knows that he or she might better ask someone else.

Meaning:
No idea. / I have no clue.

Example:
Ich habe kA wie das funktioniert.
I have no clue how that works.

7- SuFu (SuchFunktion)

This is commonly used in groups on Facebook or other social media. This is often used by admins who want to suggest to you that it’s better to use the search bar than to open an old subject again.

Meaning:
Search function.

Example:
Bitte benutzt die SuFu.
Please, use the search function.

8- WE (WochenEnde)

This is just a shortcut for “weekend.” You can also type this out, but using the abbreviation offers you a quick way of asking what a person is going to do during their free time over the weekend.

Meaning:
Weekend.

Example:
Was machst du am WE?
What are you doing on the weekend?

9- WD (Wieder da)

With this slang, you let someone know that you’re back from an activity.

Meaning:
I’m back.

Example:
Ich war kurz auf Toilette, WD.
I just went to the toilet, back again.

10- AFK and BTK (Weg von der Tastatur / Zurück an der Tastatur)

This is often used by gamers and in the computer scene. Often, gamers are in a chat with their teammates and go for a quick round to the bathroom, and let them know that they’re away from the keyboard or that they’re back to the keyboard.

Meaning:
Away from keyboard. / Back to keyboard.

Example:

• Ich bin afk.
  I am afka (away from keyboard).
• Ich bin btk.
  I am btk (back to keyboard).

11- XOXO (Umarmung und Küsschen)

Like LOL, all the world is using this slang already. You know what it means.

Meaning:
Hugs and kisses.

Example:
Wir sehen uns morgen XOXO.
We will see each other tomorrow, XOXO.

12- Vlt. and Vllt (Vielleicht)

The word vielleicht is used often in the German language. But to be fair, the word itself isn’t really easy to type on a keyboard and in nine out of ten cases you’re making mistakes. So instead, everybody just types “vlt.” And that’s it.

Meaning:
Maybe.

Example:
Hast du vlt. Heute Abend Zeit?
Do you might have some time tonight?

13- Y (Warum)

Meaning:
Why?

Example:
Y hat dich dein Freund verlassen?
Why did your boyfriend break up with you?

14- HDF (Halt die Fresse)

Not a really nice statement, but we wanted to mention it here, as you might come across it. Nowadays, hate speech and bad words are common on social media and the rest of the WWW, so you might stumble across a person who doesn’t agree with you.

Meaning:
Shut up. / Shut your mouth.

Example:
Du bist ein Idiot, HDF.
You are an idiot, shut your mouth.

3. Slang Outside of Texting and Internet

1- Alter

This expression is the short version of Alter Schwede which translates to “old Swedish” and is widely used to express surprise, to greet someone, or even as an interjection. By the way, from some German youth groups, you’ll hear this expression a lot.

Meaning:
Dude.

Example:
Alter! Das sind deine neuen Schuhe?
Dude, those are your new shoes?

2- Moin

Here we just have another way to say hello in German slang. This is widely used everywhere, and by all age groups. So with this slang, you’re set up perfectly. Natively it refers to a way of saying “good morning” in German slang from the south.

Meaning:
Hey. / Hi.

Example:
Moin, was geht ab?
Hey, what is going on?

There are many more ways to say hello in German.

3- Krass

If you’re looking for a German slang word to describe almost everything, then you’ve found it. It can be used to describe things in a good way as well as in a bad one. Mostly, you’ll use this word as an adjective for a situation or a thing.

Meaning:
Cool! / Sweet! / Awesome!

Example:
Krass, wie gut der Junge Fußball spielt.
What?! It’s impressive how good this guy plays football.

4- Assi

Technically, this is a short version of the word asozial which means “antisocial.” It can be used for a person who lives on the street, and is uneducated and unemployed, or as an adjective for something of poor quality. But more so, it’s used around friends in a funny way. For example, you can use it if a friend does something that you think wasn’t appropriate.

Meaning:
Chav.

Example:

• Hör auf meine Pommes zu essen, du Assi.
  Stop eating my fries, you chav.
• Der Typ ist echt assi.
  This guy is really chavvy.

5- Hammer

This is the German word for “hammer” but it’s also used when you want to describe something that’s amazing, awesome, or beautiful.

Meaning:
Doozy. / Cool.

Example:
Wow, es ist echt der Hammer, wie gut die Frau tanzen kann.
Wow, it’s really cool how this woman can dance.

6- Geil

This one is a bit more difficult because the direct translation is “horny,” and you can use it to express this, but it’s more often used like the word Hammer. If you think something is great, describe it with geil.

Meaning:
Amazing. / Great. / Brilliant.

Example:
Ich habe einen geiles Auto gesehen.
I saw an amazing car.

7- Bescheuert

Meaning:
Dumb. / Stupid.

Example:
Das ist total bescheuert.
This is completely dumb.

8- Jein

This is a mix of the words ja which means “yes” and the word nein which means “no.” We always use this word when something isn’t clear and you can’t decide whether to say yes or no.

Meaning:
Yes and no.

Example:

• Bist du immer noch mit deiner Freundin zusammen?
  Jein.
• Are you still together with your girlfriend?
  Yes and no.

4. Youth Speech

The way young people talk today is so different in Germany than from other generations. On Wikipedia, there’s actually a really good article about the German youth speech.

1- I bim’s

This comes from a social media trend in Germany. Some people make jokes about the German language and change them in their own way. From Ich bin es they made I bim’s. If you speak this quickly and with some accent, it sounds almost the same.

Meaning:
Ich bin’s.

Example:
I bim’s ein Baum
Look, I am a tree.

2- Ehrenmann

Meaning:
Man of honor.

Example:
Du hast mir geholfen, du bist ein echter Ehrenmann.
You helped me out, you are a real man of honor.

3- Lauch

As we already explained above in the beginning of this article, a Lauch is a person who looks fairly skinny and doesn’t lift weights. As lifting weights is getting quite popular nowadays in Germany, you’ll hear this word often.

Meaning:
Skinny guy.

Example:
Er ist so dünn, dieser Lauch.
He is such a skinny guy.

4- Babo

Meaning:
Boss. / Leader.

Example:
Er ist ein echter Babo in seinem Viertel.
He is a real boss in his hood.

5- Beef

Meaning:
Dispute. / Argument.

Example:
Er und sein Freund haben gerade beef.
He and his friend are having an argument right now.

5. How GermanPod101.com Can Help You Learn More German Slang

Here, we listed for you almost 30 German slang expressions that we’re using in our daily life, especially the youth and when texting in general. We hope you’re now ready to impress some of your German friends with what you’ve learned here, and that you found our translations of German internet slang to English helpful.

Remember that these expressions can be easily adapted from every German learner from every level. At GermanPod101.com, we provide free special classes and lessons for beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced students.

If you want to get a bit more serious with learning German, then we can offer you a private teacher who specializes in helping you learn based on your needs and your goals regarding the German language.

For now, keep on practicing this German internet slang of 2019. You’ll sound like a native before you know it.

There are some untranslatable German words that need to be explained.

To be fair guys, the English language is quite easy to learn. This comes from the general structure of your language. For example, compared to many other languages you don’t have genders, there is just ‘the’. Also, the conjugation of verbs follows some easy rules compared to other languages like French or Spanish. There are more good examples, but let’s focus on German now.

In fact, the German language is much more complex than English, and several other languages. But, despite this fact, in German we only have around 300.000 to 500.000 words in our dictionaries and in the English language there are up to 800.000. So congratulations, you win. (But this isn’t the only interesting fact about Germany.)

Even though your vocabulary is so much bigger than in German, we are using words in our daily life that have no proper translation. And you can get excited because we will show you some really strong words that will make you sound more German than some native speakers, which is great if you’re planning to travel there!

We want to show you 10 words that you should know when learning German. There is no proper translation to English, but we will make sure you will understand what they mean.

And, the best for you out of this, those words are actually used in the daily language between native German speakers, so let’s get right to it, though some of those words can be hard to listen to in daily life.

Table of Contents

1. German Untranslatable Words List
2. Bonus: Are there untranslatable English words?
3. Conclusion

Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

1. German Untranslatable Words List

1- Kindergarten

Literal Translation:

Children’s garden

Meaning:

Kindergarten is a form of preschool educational approach that is based on activities like singing, playing, drawing and interaction and is the transition period in Germany between home and school.

Example:

A mother or father is preparing their 1 to 6-year-old child in the morning before going to work with a sandwich and a small bag with new clothes. On the way to work the parent is dropping off their child in the kindergarten along with other parents and kids. He or she will get back after work to pick up her son or daughter.

Usage In A Sentence:

A quick note before we continue that sentence patterns are an important aspect of the German language, so you may want to brush up before continuing.

Onkel fragt: “Franz, gehst du gerne in den Kindergarten?” Franz antwortet: “Ja Onkel, ich gehe gerne in den Kindergarten!” (Franz is here the name of the kid) – Uncle asks: ‘Franz, do you like going to the kindergarten?’ and Franz answers ‘Yes, uncle I like going to the kindergarten!’

This form of pre-school education is well known in a lot of countries and usually, they even use the German word to describe it. Did you know that kindergarten has a long history?

2- Geborgenheit

Literal Translation:

Secureness, security

Meaning:

This refers to a state a person is in as well as having a feeling or sense of security and well-being.

Example:

You are sitting on the couch with your husband, your wife or even with your family in your home where you always feel comfortable. You have this deep feeling of security, protection, peace, trust. This is when you feel ‘geborgen’ which literally means secure.

Usage In A Sentence:

Mit seinem Partner zu Hause fühlt sie sich geborgen – With her partner at home she feels secure.

The feeling of ‘Geborgenheit’ means just so much more in the German language than you can describe in one word in English. When it all comes together from protection, happiness, warmth, love, trust, peace and comfort, just then you can get into this state. It really is a strong word.

3- Sturmfrei

Literal Translation:

Storm free

Meaning:

Having the house or apartment to oneself, caused by the absence of parents or flatmates.

Example:

Your parents are away for a couple of days doing a vacation trip and you are alone at home, then you have ‘sturmfrei’.

Usage In A Sentence:

Meine Eltern sind über das Wochenende nicht zu Hause, ich habe sturmfrei. – My parents are not at home over the weekend, I have ‘sturmfrei’.

A suiting English equivalent would be the saying, ‘When the cat’s away, the mice will play’. This refers a bit to making a home party when the parents are not at home. Well, sometimes this might be the case, but in Germany young people just enjoy to be alone at home without their parents, at least for a while.

4- Ohrwurm

Literal Translation:

Earworm

Meaning:

It might sound a bit strange, but and ‘Ohrwurm’ is nothing else than the situation when you have a song stuck in your head.

Example:

You are having a road trip with your friends and in the radio comes to a song that you know really good and you like it. The song is finished and in the next couple of hours, you can still sing the lyrics of it over and over again.

Usage In A Sentence:

Ich liebe dieses Lied, es ist ein echter Ohrwurm”. – I love this song, it gets stuck in my head.

By the way, to fix this issue and you would like that this song gets out of your head, just hear the song completely from the beginning to the end, because this usually happens, when you listen to a song and don’t finish it.

5- Dreikäsehoch

Literal Translation:

Three cheese high

Meaning:

This actually has nothing to do with cheese or food. It refers to a child that is not really tall, that has literally the same height like three wheels of cheese stack on top of each other. Ok, there we have the connection to cheese. To be fair, everybody likes cheese.

Example:

A kid is playing with his uncles and aunties on a family meeting and it gets a bit wild. Maybe the kid says something that he shouldn’t have said, so the uncle or aunt will call him a cheeky ‘Dreikäsehoch’.

Usage In A Sentence:

Sei nicht so frech, du Dreikäsehoch – Don’t be so cheeky, you three cheese high.

Usually, this word is just used when a kid has a bad behaviour or is a bit cheeky (or should I say cheesy) towards adults.

6- Wanderlust

Literal Translation:

Hiking lust/hiking desire

Meaning:

It describes a strong desire to travel and leave your comfort zone that usually is your home.

Example:

There is no real situation when using this word. It more refers to a deep desire that you feel when you are closed at home and you know you should be out there exploring the world, experiencing new cultures and cities while meeting new and awesome people all over the world.

Usage In A Sentence:

Die Wanderlust überkommt mich. – The hiking desire is establishing inside of me.

This has gotten quite popular around the younger generation all over the world. People use it as hashtags on their Instagram posts and even a movie is now called after this old German word which is filled with history and passion.

7- Fernweh

Literal Translation:

Distance pain

Meaning:

This literally just is the opposite of homesickness and something similar to ‘Wanderlust’.

Example:

You are coming back from a long holiday and you arriving with your plane at the airport, grabbing your suitcase. Then suddenly, you look out the window of the airport and see how planes taking off and a feeling inside of you that wants to go back to the beach or mountains where you just came back from

Usage In A Sentence:

Ich habe Fernweh. – I have distance pain.

‘Fernweh’ is actually something very similar to ‘Wanderlust*, but you need to differentiate here a bit. While ‘Wanderlust’ is the desire to be in a place away from home and exploring new things and feel the experience, with ‘Fernweh’ you are more thinking about a specific place where you have been already.

8- Fingerspitzengefühl

Literal Translation:

Fingertip-feeling

Meaning:

When someone has a great awareness of situations and is good at dealing with people and reading their needs. When having an appropriate and tactful sense for situations.

Example:

You know motorbike races on big tracks with high speed? The driver sometimes looks so concentrated and they navigate those powerful machines around the corner, where other people would struggle to get a car around.

Those drivers have such a good feeling for gas and brake of their bike that you could say in German they have the right fingertip-feeling for the bike.

Usage In A Sentence:

Er hat ein echtes Fingerspitzengefühl beim Verkaufen von Autos. – He has a real fingertip feeling when it comes to selling cars.

Often this term is used for describing how people deal with other people, but it is much more than that. If you are going after a certain hobby or work that requires a calm hand or precision you also can have this ability.

It can be really hard to pronounce the word. But luckily for you, there are resources you can use to get some help with this.

9- Fremdschämen

Literal Translation:

Be ashamed for a stranger

Meaning:

To be ashamed of someone else’s behalf.

Example:

Imagine you made a new friend and you want to hang out at home with him/her for a bit and present him/her to your parents. Your parents come home and they try to be really ‘cool’ with your friend and they are doing things that are just not appropriate for someone with their age. Then you are ashamed about the behalf of your parents.

Usage In A Sentence:

Ich muss mich für meine Eltern fremdschämen – I need to be ashamed about my parents.

This can happen quite often to yourself and it makes you feel bad, but let’s be honest. It can be really funny seeing a situation when someones else is in it and I am sure everybody of us experienced this before.

10- Erklärungsnot

Literal Translation:

Explanation misery

Meaning:

The state of having quickly explained yourself.

Example:

Everybody of us surely can remember this situation when your teacher asked for the homework and you didn’t prepare anything.

You need to come up with an excuse quickly and everything that drops in your mind is ‘my dog ate my homework’. The word ‘Erklärungsnot’ exactly matches this emergency situation where you need a little lie or excuse.

Usage In A Sentence:

Er ist in Erklärungsnot gekommen. – He came under pressure for failing to give an explanation.

2. Bonus: Are there untranslatable English words?

But not only in German we have words, that you can not translate properly into English. From English to German it is also hard to translate some words. Some examples for you:

• Pimp
• Spam
• Bromance
• Googly
• Facepalm

3. Conclusion

Finally, it’s time to say thank you for your patience and interest in this. You learned 10 untranslatable words of the German language.

If you are interested in something even funnier, why not take a look at the 5 longest German words? Can you pronounce them or even find out what they mean?

Are you ready to learn the German language? Here at GermanPod101, we made it our passion to help other people learning this fascinating language. There’s plethora of reasons you should continue your pursuit of German mastery!

If you want to find out more and get more into detail with German, check out the resources we provided in this article. Until then, all the best without 10 untranslatable German words.

Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

So how exactly do you say “My name is,” in German? And more importantly, why should you know this?

If you travel, you’re probably going to end up making small talk at some point. And if you’re studying another language and traveling to the place where they speak that language, this is going to happen a lot. It’s happened to me many, many times.

I’ve been very lucky to travel a lot, to countries all over the world. It turns out that no matter where you go, you’re going to find people who are interested in your story. Especially in Germany, because there aren’t tons of foreigners who end up speaking German at a high level.

They want to know who you are, where you’re from, and why you’re learning their language. Natural questions, really. Funnily enough, they usually tend to ask the questions in the same ways. It’s almost like a script.

Fortunately, I’ve rattled off this script so many times that I can do it in my sleep. And each time you do it, you get better and sound more impressive to the next person who asks you.

So let’s take a look at these questions. I’ve broken them down into six handy main topics, and inside each one I’ve included a couple of different questions that I’ve been asked.

You’ll learn how to introduce yourself, say where you come from, describe your job, your hobbies, and your family, say what you’re doing in Germany, and finally say what motivates you to learn German in the first place. So essentially, you’ll learn all you need to know about talking about yourself in German.

I’m going to use informal German here for most cases, just because that’s what I usually experience as a younger man. It’s very likely that, depending on who you are and where you go, you’ll be addressed mostly with Sie instead of du.

So let’s get on with it! Learn all about introducing yourself in the German language with GermanPod101.com!

Table of Contents

1. Who are You?
2. Where are You From?
3. How’s the Family?
4. What are You Doing Here?
5. What Do You Like to Do?
6. Why are You Learning German?
7. Conclusion

1. Who are You?

• Who are you?
  (Wer bist du?)

Okay, nobody’s actually going to ask that. Not in those words, anyway. That’s far too blunt and direct, even for a people famous for their directness.

Instead they’ll start with something much simpler.

• What’s your name?
  (Wie heißt du?)

Literally they’re saying “What do you call?” which makes zero sense when translated, but it helps more to think of it like “What do you call yourself?”

The answer is a piece of cake. Here’s some easy German to introduce yourself:

• My name is Yassir.
  (Ich heisse Yassir.)

Another common way to introduce yourself in German is:

• I’m Yassir.
  (Ich bin Yassir.)

When it comes to personal information, you should know how to talk about your age. It’s not something that’s likely to come up in conversation, but if it appears on a form or in a more formal setting, then you’ll be prepared.

The question comes in this form:

• How old are you?
  (Wie alt bist du?)

It’s easy to see how close the German language can be to English. And the answer is a real piece of cake.

• I’m twenty-six years old.
  (Ich bin sechsundzwanzig Jahre alt.)

With that out of the way, people usually start asking about your life. Below is some information on more phrases to introduce yourself in German.

2. Where are You From?

Where are you from?
Woher kommst du?

Note that in German we have to ask (and usually answer) in the form, “Where do you come from.” There are two really common ways to answer:

• I come from Russia.
  Ich komme aus Russland.
• I’m an American.
  Ich bin Amerikaner.

The second one’s a little bit more formal and distant—and thus may not be the best way to introduce yourself in German—but it’ll save you if you panic and forget that the preposition for “come from” is aus and not one of German’s many other prepositions.

Perhaps your interlocutor is familiar with your home country, and asks:

• Which city in Spain?
  Welche Stadt in Spanien?
• Bilbao. Have you been there?
  Bilbao. Warst du schon da?

And from that point, your conversation is on a roll.

Some people—many people, really—have moved cities or even countries as they’ve gotten older. If that’s the case for you, you can use the verb wohnen, meaning “to live in.”

• I live in Munich now.
  Jetzt wohne ich in München.

Here it’s easy to see that adding the word jetzt, meaning “now,” causes the verb to jump in front of the subject. That sort of syntax stuff is pretty easy to pick up through examples, so keep on reading this article for more!

Lots of Germans have traveled around Europe or even the world. If you’re talking to someone who’s done lots of traveling before, they’ve almost certainly had to answer these questions too. It’s a nice change for them to be asking!

3. How’s the Family?

How’s the family?
Wie ist deine familie?

Actually, Germans don’t tend to bring up this question. If you’re chatting about other things and your family comes up, however, then it may be a good idea to be familiar with these phrases.

Perhaps you mentioned something about fighting with your sisters when you were younger. In that case, you may be asked something like:

• Do you have a lot of siblings?
  Hast du viele Geschwister?

This is an excellent opening for you to say something in the neighborhood of:

• Yeah, I have a brother and two sisters.
  Ja, ich habe einen Bruder und zwei Schwestern.

From there it’s pretty easy to adopt other small-talk or introduction phrases to describe your family members as well.

• My mother is a lawyer.
  Meine Mutter ist Juristin.
• My sister lives in Hungary.
  Meine Schwester wohnt in Ungarn.

4. What are You Doing Here?

What are you doing here?
Was machst du hier?

Again, that’s a pretty literal translation and not something you’re likely to hear in a hostel or in a train car.

Germans are polite! They’re going to ask politely about what brought you to such-and-such a place and what you’re doing there.

Let’s assume here that you’re on a vacation in a German-speaking country. It’s just as likely that you’re there on business or that you live there, but as there’s just so much for a tourist to see in Germany it only makes sense to orient the guide in that direction.

Why You’re Here

You should probably respond with a little about the trip that you’re on. How long you’re traveling for, how long you’re staying in that city, and what you’d like to see.

• I’m here on vacation.
  Ich bin hier im Urlaub.
• I’m just here for a couple of days.
  Ich bin nur für ein paar Tage hier.

Conversations take two people. For that reason you should definitely know how to ask a couple of questions.

Of course, when they’re asking you different things, you can simply flip the same question around on them by asking Und du? Literally “And you?”

But what if you have a new question? As an example, let’s say you’re asking for recommendations.

• What should I see here? / What should I see in (Basel)?
  Was soll ich hier sehen? / Was soll ich in (Basel) sehen?

That’s perfect to keep the conversation going and maybe even find out about some cool local trips.

Once you’ve finished discussing the joys of travel, the conversation may turn back to you. And it’ll become even more handy to know some words to describe yourself in German, particularly your career.

• What do you do for a living?
  Was machst du beruflich?

Actually, if you’re relatively young-looking, a lot of Germans will start with the question bist du noch Student/Studentin? This means “Are you still a student?” A question like that just goes to show how much Germans value education and how many people take advantage of the university system there.

It’s pretty simple to answer this question, though there’s something that can trip you up if you try to overthink it.

Normally in German the structure for talking about what you are is the same as in English, word-for-word.

• I am a man.
  Ich bin ein Mann.

But when it comes to jobs, that article ein/eine is dropped entirely.

• I am a writer.
  Ich bin Schriftsteller.

Remember that virtually every job title in German has a male and female version. Women answering this question should say Ich bin Schriftstellerin—and pretty much all female job titles end in -in.

If you don’t have a nice and simple job title, you can just say where you work. In German we use the preposition bei for saying you work at so-and-so company.

• I work at Google.
  Ich arbeite bei Google.

Now let’s move on to hobbies.

5. What Do You Like to Do?

What do you like to do?
Was machen sie gerne?

Something tells me that you’re interested in both travel and languages. I dunno, just a hunch.

• I enjoy learning languages.
  Ich lerne gern Sprachen.

Without a doubt, you’ll get people asking about just how far you’ve taken that interest.

• So how many languages do you know?
  Also wie viele Sprachen kannst du?

Even if you’re not too proud of your pronunciation or grammar, you can and should include German on the list. If it’s clear that your speaking partner is being patient with you because of your low level, it’s better to be a little humble with your answer.

• I speak English, Polish, Arabic, and a little German.
  Ich spreche Englisch, Polnisch, Arabisch, und ein bisschen Deutsch.

You may sometimes see others’ language ability described with the verb beherrschen.

• She speaks six languages fluently.
  Sie beherrscht sechs Sprachen fliessend.

That’s a pretty formal verb and it also implies a great mastery over the languages. You might use it on a resume or to talk about other people, but it’s a bit presumptuous to use it to describe yourself.

Perhaps you’re not a linguist and have other interests in life. Strange as that may be, in that case you can talk about your hobbies or your interests.

• I like going to art museums.
  Ich besuche Kunstmuseen gern.

This structure is a fantastically easy way to describe something that you like to do in German. Just say that thing—“I go to museums”—and add the word gern to express the idea that doing so is enjoyable.

There’s another way that you can say this, and that’s by using the verb mögen, or “to like,” combined with the noun form of the activity. Easier shown than said:

• I like photography.
  Ich mag Photographie.

6. Why are You Learning German?

Why are you learning German?
Warum lernst du Deutsch?

Ahhh, the big question. Why would you learn this language? I mean, enough Germans speak English that it’s a good sign of your ability if this question was asked in German!

And this is where guides can’t take you all the way. Every person’s history with German is going to be different.

Lucky for you, there’s no wrong answer to this question. Many Germans feel that more people should learn German, and many others are simply surprised and pleased that someone would do so.

Perhaps you’re learning because your family members were ethnically German or spoke the language at home.

• My mother came from Austria.
  Meine Mutter kam aus Österreich.

Maybe you’re really interested in European history or enjoy traveling around.

• I really like German art history.
  Ich mag die deutsche Kunstgeschichte sehr gern.

Or it could be that you have a fascination with German music or film.

• I find the music of Brahms absolutely breathtaking.
  Ich finde die Musik von Brahms absolut atemberaubend.

All of these are valid answers!

One of the classic questions when talking about languages is how much time you’ve spent on it. Most people take classes for many years and often never really get to a good level. They’re simply curious how long you’ve been into it to get to the level that you’re at.

Here’s a typical way this conversation could play out.

• How long have you been learning German?
  Wie lange lernst du schon Deutsch?
• A little longer than… (a year, a month…)
  Ein bisschen mehr als… (ein Jahr, ein Monat…)
• Then you already speak very well!
  Dafür sprichst du sehr gut!

The word dafür there literally means “for that.” It’s kind of like saying “in that case” or “taking that into account…” Those phrases can sometimes sound a bit rude in English, but not so in German. It’s a pure compliment.

7. Conclusion

Talking about yourself is just one tiny bit of knowing a foreign language, but it’s something you’ll need to do at any level.

Hopefully this article has shown you a couple of reasons why it doesn’t have to be anything to worry about!

On the whole, German speakers are kind and patient when it comes to speaking with learners of their language. I’ve had nothing but excellent experiences traveling in and around three different German-speaking countries.

So whenever you’re ready to take the plunge and move into conversational German, be ready to talk about yourself! And let GermanPod101.com help you along every step of the way by visiting our site and using our effective resources, including free vocab lists and our MyTeacher app!

Author: Yassir Sahnoun is a HubSpot certified content strategist, copywriter and polyglot who works with language learning companies. He helps companies attract sales using content strategy, copywriting, blogging, email marketing & more.

We know from experience that learning a new language can be time-consuming, hard, and sometimes frustrating. But with German movies, this won’t be the case. For this reason, we always suggest that our learners make the process fun by doing something they like—and everybody likes to watch a good movie. So why not combine watching a movie with learning a new language? Even experts say that watching movies and series is a great way to improve language skills quickly.

When looking for a good movie to watch, remember that fantastic movies extend beyond Hollywood. To drive this point home, consider that Oscars are even awarded to the best movie from a foreign country—and Germany won this prize more than once so far. But even on platforms like Netflix, you can find in-country produced German movies from multiple genres: drama, crime, comedy, sci-fi, cooking, nature, and many more.

Learning with fun and a purpose is the best combination for any beginner, intermediate, or advanced student. At GermanPod101, we give you a complete guide to the best German movies in 2019. Here are some tips to improve your pronunciation while watching movies in German.

Table of Contents

1. How to Study German with Movies
2. List of German Movies
3. How GermanPod101 Can Help You Master German with Movies

1. How to Study German with Movies

1- What are the Benefits of Learning with Movies and TV Shows?

Interested in the German movies box office,but not sure how you can benefit from watching a movie in German to boost your language skills? We made a list for you:

• You’re learning better and faster if you actually enjoy the way you’re learning. So if you like watching movies, then German movies to learn German are perfect for you.
• It’s easier to understand vocabulary in the context of a situation that’s visually presented, with subtitles (and especially a combination of the two). We prepared for you some special vocabulary lists to keep in mind while watching a German movie.
• You can get a feel for the right pronunciation and proper word stress much quicker.
• You see daily language, sentence structure, and body gestures within real-life examples.
• Learning with something we’re emotionally connected to is more practical.

2- How to Make Watching More Efficient

But don’t make the mistake of just turning on your TV and watching a movie in German. Prepare yourself to get the most out of the time you’re putting into watching the movie with these easy hints:

• Prepare some basic vocabulary around the subject of the movie. If you’re watching a movie about a couple that’s falling in love, then you might want to learn some Valentine’s Day vocabulary.
• Read a review and a short description of the movie to get used to the situation you’ll face.
• Take a look at our special listening skills before you start watching.
• Activate subtitles. When watching a German movie with German speech, use German subtitles. This will help you to learn how words are spoken and written at the same time. (Though you can also watch German movies with English subtitles to begin with.)
• Enjoy the movie!

Here are the most common German vocabulary that you may find in the movies.

2. List of German Movies

Here you’ll find our list of the top ten German movies. Obviously, this isn’t a complete list of movies produced in Germany, just our favorites that we think will entertain you. On Wikipedia, you can get a more advanced list, and IMDB even offers a rated list.

If you’re not sure where to watch when looking for movies in learning German, consider these options:

• ARD and ZDF: The media libraries of these two leading German channels are free. Make sure to use a VPN.
• Netflix: You already know what Netflix is and how to use it. You can find good German movies on NetFlix.
• YouTube: Yes, when looking for German movies, YouTube has some you can find (but rather old ones, as this could be copyright infringement).
• DVD: Just order everything on Amazon that you’ve ever desired.

1- Sonnenallee

Sun Avenue

When it comes to comedy German movies, this is a good choice.

Sonnenallee is a comedy film from the year 1999 about life in East Berlin, the communist party of the divided German nation in the late 70s. Sonnenallee itself is a street in Berlin that was intersected by the border.

The movie is about the pop culture and pop music in East Berlin. It shows the absurdity of everyday life in East Germany under the socialist government. The movie was well-received by the German audience, especially by those who grew up in the GDR.

You’ll probably notice while going through our list that in German movies, history is a common theme in many!

• Popular quote: Ich lebe in der DDR. Ansonsten hab ich keine Probleme.
• Translation: I live in the GDR. Apart from that, I do not have any problems.

  Suggested level of student: Intermediate

2- Good Bye Lenin

Good Bye Lenin

The movie Good Bye Lenin, released in 2003, is a tragicomedy film that features some of the most famous German actors, including Daniel Brühl. This is another story that takes place in East Germany, and centers on the socialist state of the GDR. But this time, the story takes place in 1990, right after the reunion of the two German nations.

A mother falls into a coma in 1989, and when she wakes up, her beloved East Germany isn’t there anymore. Her son tries to protect her from a fatal shock by concealing the fall of the Berlin Wall.

• Popular quote: Euch Ossis kann man aber auch nichts Recht machen. Hauptsache ihr habt immer irgendwas zu meckern.
• Translation: It is impossible to please you Eastern Germans. The most important thing for you is that you always have a reason to gripe about something.

  Suggested level of student: Advanced

3- Das Leben der Anderen

The Life of Others

This Oscar-winning drama was released in 2006 and takes place, once again, in socialist East Germany in the year 1984.

Here, an agent of the secret police called Stasi conducts surveillance on a free writer and his lover, and finds himself emotionally touched by the couple’s lives. This is a must-watch for any movie-lover.

• Popular quote: Bei Verhören arbeiten Sie mit Feinden des Sozialismus—vergessen Sie das nie!
• Translation: When interrogating, you are working with enemies of socialism—never forget this!

  Suggested level of student: Advanced

4- Der Untergang

Downfall

This historical drama, released in 2004, features the last days of the Nazi regime around the person Adolf Hitler in his bunker. It’s set during the battle of Berlin in WWII. This movie is based on the book from his former secretary Traudl Junge, and other accounts during this time. The movie not only shows the person Hitler as bad and evil, but also plays with the human side of Adolf Hitler.

• Popular quote: Das ist unerhört! Der Russe steht 12 Kilometer vorm Stadtkern und ich erfahre das sozusagen auf Nachfrage.
• Translation: That’s unheard of. The Russian is 12 kilometers from the city center and I find out about it on demand.

  Suggested level of student: Beginner

5- Das Experiment

The Experiment

This is one of my personal favorite German films of all time.

This German thriller (not quite a German movie horror) was released in 2001 and shows a social experiment in which twenty male participants are hired to play either prisoners or guards. The ten prisoners have to follow the orders and the guards have to establish order without using violence. This results in an interesting experiment about humanity, leadership, social difficulties, and more. You’ll be emotionally touched by this movie—and shocked at the same time.

• Popular quote: Ach ja und Herr Strafvollzugsbeamter, da wär’ noch was: Sie riechen streng!
• Translation: Oh yes, Mr. Prison Official, there would be something else: You smell strong!

  Suggested level of student: Intermediate

6- Sophie Scholl – Die letzten Tage

Sophie Scholl – The Final Days

This historical drama from 2005 is about the last days of Sophie Scholl who was a part of the White Rose, a non-violent anti-Nazi resistance group.

With her brother Hans, she and their group make leaflets showing the crimes of the Nazi regime and deploy them illegally in the University of Munich. She was found guilty and executed on the same day.

• Popular quote: Heute hängt ihr uns, morgen werdet ihr es sein.
• Translation: Today you hang us, and tomorrow it will be you.

  Suggested level of student: Beginner

7- Die wilden Kerle

The Wild Boys

Here we have not just one movie, but five.

A group of friends form a football team and have their own pitch. A group of older and stronger kids take their field and a rivalry forms. These movies have a special character and aren’t formed only around the subject of football. They also show the process of growing up as a boy (and as a girl), basic relationships, family problems, and the importance of a childlike nature.

• Popular quote: Alles ist gut, solange du wild bist.
• Translation: Everything is good as long as you are wild.

  Suggested level of student: Beginner

8- Der Baader Meinhof Komplex

The Baader Meinhof Complex

This play is about a German left-oriented terrorist organization from the 60s and 70s called The Red Army Faction. They organized bombings, robberies, and even assassinations. The movie was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.

• Popular quote: Ich kann keine Kommunisten leiden.
• Translation: I do not like any communist.

Suggested level of student: Intermediate

9- Keinohrhasen

No Ear Rabbits

This movie, released in 2007, features the famous German actor Til Schweiger playing a press reporter who was sentenced to eight months, but instead chooses to work 300 hours in a daycare center with children. He’s not a family person at all, and fairly free with women. There he meets Anna, who is an old classmate from Ludo. She has unfinished business with him and the film walks a good borderline between love and comedy.

• Popular quote: Es ist purer Egoismus wenn du den ganzen Tag zu Hause frustriert rumsitzt und von jemandem erwartest, dass er dich permanent glücklich macht.
• Translation: It’s pure egoism if you are sitting the whole day frustrated at home expecting someone to make you happy permanently.

  Suggested level of student: Intermediate

10- Deutschland: Ein Sommermärchen

Germany: A Summer’s Tale

This documentary film accompanies the German national football team during their preparations, and during the World Cup in their own country in 2006.

It starts at the bootcamp in Sardinia and follow the team through to third place in the playoffs against the national team from Portugal. It does a great job of showing how the excitement that national teams have to play a World Cup in their own country, while also covering topics of sportsmanship and the professional football world.

• Popular quote: Heute brennt hier der Baum! Heute brennt hier der Baum!
• Translation: Today the tree is burning here! Today the tree is burning here!

  Suggested level of student: Intermediate

3. How GermanPod101 Can Help You Master German with Movies

You got a glimpse of ten German movies you should watch in 2019. By now, you should know how German movies with subtitles can help you to improve your German language skills and why movies in learning German make the learning process more efficient. .

What do you think your favorite German movie will be from our list? Drop us a comment to let us know.

To prepare you a bit before getting into German movies, GermanPod101.com has a lot of free resources on different subjects, as well as free courses for beginner-, intermediate-, and advanced-level students.

But if this doesn’t boost your German fast enough, we can offer you a private teacher service that specializes in your personal needs and the goals you have for your German language learning.

Know that your hard work and practice will pay off, and someday you’ll be speaking German like a true native!

Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

Father’s Day, celebrated in most countries around the world, is a special day set aside to honor one’s father (or father-figure). There’s something about the love and care of a father that’s unmatched by anything else, so it’s important to show appreciation and gratitude to them on this day.

In Germany, this is called Vatertag, and you’ll soon find that celebrations in Germany are pretty unique compared to celebrations elsewhere. At GermanPod101.com, we hope to make learning about Vatertag in Germany fun, and provide you with great insight into German culture. For in knowing a country’s culture, you can master the language in context of the bigger picture.

Let’s get started, and delve into Vatertag Deutschland (“Father’s Day Germany”)!

1. What is Father’s Day in Germany?

Father’s Day (Vatertag in Germany) was introduced as a special day for honoring fathers. It doesn’t always have the same calendar date because of Easter, which is movable.

The tradition of Father’s Day comes from the United States. There, the Father’s Day was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd. Her father had fought in the American Civil War, so in 1910 she called for a movement to honor fathers. Then, via the USA, this day to honor fathers also came to Germany.

2. When is Father’s Day in Germany?

The date of Father’s Day varies each year, though it’s always celebrated on Ascension Day, interestingly enough. For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years.

• 2019: May 30
• 2020: May 21
• 2021: May 13
• 2022: May 26
• 2023: May 18
• 2024: May 9
• 2025: May 29
• 2026: May 14
• 2027: May 6
• 2028: May 25

3. Reading Practice: Unique Father’s Day Celebrations

How do Germans celebrate Father’s Day? You might be surprised. 😉 Read the German text below to find out, and find the English translation directly below it.

—

Am Vatertag findet in manchen Regionen in Deutschland die sogenannte Herrenpartie statt, an der, wie der Name schon vermuten lässt, traditionell nur Männer verschiedenen Alters gemeinsam etwas unternehmen. Dies können zum Beispiel Wanderungen oder auch Ausflüge mit der Pferdekutsche oder auf dem Wasser sein. Während oder als Abschluss des Tages kehren die Teilnehmenden oft in Gaststätten ein.

Manche Männer gestalten ihre sogenannte Herrenpartie mit einem Fahrraderlebnis besonderer Art: Ein geräumiges Fahrrad bietet bis zu 16 Personen Platz und ermöglicht durch die Integration eines Fasses in der Mitte des Fahrrades das Biertrinken während der Fahrt.

—

On Father’s Day, the so-called “gentlemen’s party” takes place in some German regions. As the name suggests, only men of a different age are allowed to take part in this traditional event. It could be a walk, or an outing on horse-drawn carriages or on the beach. During or at the end of the day, the participants often stop at restaurants.

On Father’s Day, some families go out for family trips or go on vacation together on an extended weekend. The Friday after Father’s Day is a so-called bridge day, means it is a school holiday for children as well. Many fathers or parents go out with their children to the zoo or for a picnic, for example.

Some men arrange to have a special bicycle experience for their “gentlemen’s party”: a spacious bike that offers up to sixteen seats and makes it possible for the riders, through the incorporation of a barrel in the middle of the bike, to drink beer while riding.

4. A Shared Holiday

On which public holiday is Father’s Day celebrated every year in Germany?

The holiday is called the Ascension Day. The Solemnity of the Catholic Church is always forty days after Easter, so between April 30 and June 3. Since the 1930s, Ascension Day has been observed as a public holiday in Germany.

5. Useful Vocabulary for Father’s Day in Germany

Here’s some vocabulary you should know for Father’s Day in Germany!

• Sonntag — Sunday
• Sohn — Son
• Geschenk — Present
• Tochter — Daughter
• Lieben — Love
• Vater — Father
• Abendessen — Dinner
• Grußkarte — Greeting card
• Feiern — Celebrate
• Geschenkgutschein — Gift certificate
• Vatertag — Father’s Day

To hear each vocabulary word pronounced, check out our German Father’s Day vocabulary list. Here, you’ll find each word for accompanied by an audio file of its pronunciation.

Conclusion

What do Father’s Day celebrations look like in your country? Are they similar or very different from Vatertag (Germany’s Father’s Day)? Let us know in the comments; we always love to hear from you!

If you want to learn more about German culture and holidays, and of course the German language, visit us at GermanPod101.com! We offer learning tools for every student, ensuring that every student can master German—at their own pace, and in a way that’s both fun and informative. Check out our free vocabulary lists, insightful blog posts, and online community forum to get started! By upgrading to a Premium Plus account, you can also take advantage of our MyTeacher program, and learn German one-on-one with your own personal teacher.

Feeling determined? Your hard work will soon be well worth it, and soon you’ll be speaking German like a native!

Until next time, Glücklicher Vatertag (“Happy Father’s Day” in German)!

Learning a language from home can be stressful and frustrating, but with the help of German TV Shows, you can improve in less time than you imagined. Language learners and experts alike say that watching movies and series is a great way to improve your language skills. And the good thing about this is that you can do it by watching the type of movies or TV shows that you actually like.

Each country produces TV shows in the genres of drama, crime, comedy, sci-fi, cooking, nature, and many more. Germany is certainly no different, with plenty of good German TV shows for language-learning.

By watching television shows or movies in German, you’re allowing yourself to learn while having a lot more fun, and this is a big advantage for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. Here at GermanPod101, we give you a complete guide to the best German TV shows. German television has so much to offer!

Table of Contents

1. How to Study German with TV Shows
2. Watch German TV Shows on Netflix and Co.
3. List of German TV Shows
4. How GermanPod101.com Can Help You Master German with TV Shows

1. How to Study German with TV Shows

1- What are the Benefits of Learning with Movies and Series?

The benefits of watching TV shows in a foreign language should be quite obvious. If not, here’s a list of some of the benefits watching German television series offers:

• It’s fun and efficient at the same time. You’re learning better and faster if you like the way you learn.
• It’s easier to understand new vocabulary with situational context, subtitles, visuals, and any combination of these. (Keep in mind that we have vocabulary lists for all subjects.)
• You get a feel for pronunciation and word stress.
• You can practice sentence structure and daily language, as well as special body gestures.
• We learn faster and more efficiently when emotions are involved.

2- How do You Make Watching More Efficient?

You shouldn’t just turn on a German TV show and start watching. First, you should prepare yourself for learning to get the most effective outcome from your invested time. Here are some hints on how to do this:

• Prepare some basic vocabulary about the subject the TV show covers. For example, if you’re watching a TV show about love and drama, you might want to learn some vocabulary for Valentine’s Day beforehand.
  Inform yourself about the TV show by reading a one-page description.
• You might also want to take a look at how to improve your listening skills before starting.
• Activate subtitles in the language you’re learning. For example, if you’re watching a German TV show, activate German subtitles. This helps you to see how a word is written and spoken at the same time.
• Just enjoy it. Make yourself comfortable with a glass of your favorite drink and some popcorn.

2. Watch German TV Shows on Netflix and Co.

You have different options for watching German TV shows from your home country. Here are some of the best ways to access German television shows.

• Satellite TV: You can get a subscription to Sky Germany and watch many TV shows on demand. This would be at an additional cost to you, but hell, it’s worth it.
• Netflix: You can get a subscription to Netflix and this is definitely our choice. You get a great value as well as a nice array of German TV shows to watch. Make sure to use a VPN, because Netflix localizes its content by country.
• ARD / ZDF: These two channels are the two big public channels in Germany. You can access the ARD and ZDF media library (Mediathek) only from Germany. So you should use a VPN here as well.
• Other streaming services: Other German channels also have online content available.
• YouTube: You can find some other German series on YouTube as well. German TV shows on YouTube are especially good for seeing television shows from the past.
• DVD: Of course you can just go to eBay or Amazon and order the DVD boxes from every German TV show you would like to see.

As you can see, there are several options for finding German TV shows online.

3. List of German TV Shows

We prepared a list for you with the eleven best German TV shows. Note that this list isn’t complete, but we chose German TV shows with English subtitles because their language is easy to understand and you’ll get a glimpse of what kind of shows German people watch. On Wikipedia, you can find a big overview of each, and on IMDB you can get a list of the 50 best shows in Germany.

In our list, you’ll get a short description of the subject the TV show covers, a popular quote from it alongside the English translation, and our suggestion for who should watch the series: beginner, intermediate, or advanced students. So, let’s get a glimpse of popular TV series in Germany.

1- Tatort (Crime Scene)

If you’re a fan of CSI and other crime shows from the US, then you might like Tatort as well. This TV show has been around since the 70s and is still running. It changes its location to different German cities and covers realistic cases, without the Hollywood style. It just feels more real than other crime shows. With the show’s special characters for each city, it has a funny but still serious enough tone.

Popular quote: Am liebsten sind mir die Menschen, die ich nicht kennenlerne.
Translation: “My favorite people are the ones that I do not meet.”

Suggested level of student: Advanced

2- Berlin Tag und Nacht (Berlin Day and Night)

Berlin Tag und Nacht (“Berlin Day and Night”) is a so-called Seifenoper (“soap opera”) that plays in the German capital Berlin. It shows different people from Berlin, from teenagers to adults, living their lives and dealing with everyday problems. Don’t expect too much quality from this TV show, due to its unprofessional actors and style. But somehow, the audience in Germany loves it. (When it comes to German TV shows, drama is pretty well-received.)

Popular quote: Kriegste wat nich mit?
Translation: “Do you not getting something?”

Suggested level of student: Intermediate

3- Verbotene Liebe (Forbidden Love)

Here’s another soap opera which was made in 1995 and played until 2015. As the name suggests, it’s all about love and relationships. But here, the story mainly revolves around families of the high society and it does well in showing the differences between rich and average people.

Popular quote: Wenn es um Liebe geht, kann man drei Dinge tun: leugnen, akzeptieren oder weglaufen. In meinem Fall wäre weglaufen das Richtige—aber sind wir auf der Welt, um das Richtige zu tun?
Translation: “When it comes to love, you have three options: deny, accept, and run away. In my case run away would be the right choice—but aren’t we alive to do the right thing?”

Suggested level of student: Intermediate

4- Der letzte Bulle (The Last Cop)

This story takes place in the area around the city Essen and in parts of Cologne, where the main character and policeman Mick wakes up from a coma after 20 years and realizes that a lot of things have changed.

Popular quote: Sach ma’, seh ich aus wie mit dem Hammer getauft?
Translation: “Tell me, do I look like I was christened with a hammer?”

Suggested level of student: Advanced

5- Alarm für Cobra 11 – Die Autobahnpolizei (Alarm for Cobra 11 – The Highway Police)

This TV show describes the police operations of two policemen from a special department that’s responsible for the German highway—the Autobahnpolizei. Together, the two policemen build the Cobra 11.

Popular quote: Nicht Python, sondern Cobra 11. Das solltest du dir vorübergehend merken.
Translation: “Not Python, it’s Cobra 11. You should remember that temporarily.”

Suggested level of student: Intermediate

6- Die Sendung mit der Maus (The Program with the Mouse)

This is one of the most successful TV shows for kids in German TV. In every episode, it features a combination of short animations with a mouse and a small blue elephant, which don’t have any dialogue, and a short knowledge film about different subjects such as the production of a hammer. It has a educational character and is well-recommended for beginners.

Popular quote: Lach- und Sachgeschichten
Translation: “Laugh and fact stories”

Suggested level of student: Beginner

7- Stromberg (Stromberg)

Stromberg, which is the name of the TV show and the main character, is a comedy series that features the ordinary life of a boss of an insurance company called Capitol Versicherung AG. This TV show has a lot of sarcastic and ironic content, and shows strange behavior in dealing with people. It’s just hilarious to watch, and German TV shows with comedy are fantastic for learning.

Popular quote: Was dem an Grips fehlt, das gleicht er durch Blödheit wieder aus.
Translation: “His lack of nous he compensates with stupidity.”

Suggested level of student: Advanced

8- GZSZ – Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten (GTBT – Good Times Bad Times)

Again, we have a soap opera on our list. Apparently, German people do love soap operas. It features the lives of different ordinary people and deals with subjects such as the highs and lows in the process of becoming an adult, personality changes, how to deal with love in your life, and also political subjects. It’s one of the most popular TV shows for teenagers in Germany.

Popular quote: Man, mit dem Kleid meiner Oma kann ich den ganzen Saal schmücken.
Translation: “Man, with the dress of my grandmother you can decorate the whole hall.”

Suggested level of student: Intermediate

9- Löwenzahn (Dandelion)

This is, by far, one of the best kids’ TV shows for educational purposes ever made in German TV. Unfortunately, there are no new episodes, but it’s well worth it to watch the classics. Every episode shows a story about the character Peter Lustig who lives in a blue mobile home. During the story, you can learn something about a lot of subjects. One special aspect of this TV show is that the main character interacts with you, the viewer. It’s hard to describe—better just watch it.

Popular quote: Ihr seid ja immer noch da! Abschalten!
Translation: “You are still there! Switch off!”

Suggested level of student: Beginner

10- Schlag den Raab (Beat the Raab)

This German TV show features one of the most popular German persons, Stefan Raab, in a game show. He’s playing fifteen different games against a candidate who has the possibility to win 500.000 €. If the candidate doesn’t win, then in the next episode the next candidate plays for 1 million €.

Popular quote: Barbie wird 45—oder wie Frauen sagen: 29.
Translation: “Barbie turns 45—but how a woman would say: 29.”

Suggested level of student: Advanced

11- Germany’s Next Topmodel (Germany’s Next Topmodel)

This is a casting show to find the next top model of Germany. It’s produced by the famous German model Heidi Klum and is an adaption of the American TV show.

Popular quote: Es ist schöner, wenn du in die Kamera schaust.
Translation: “It looks better if you would look into the camera.”

Suggested level of student: Intermediate

4. How GermanPod101.com Can Help You Master German with TV Shows

In this article, we showed you eleven of the best and most popular German TV shows. By now, you should know how watching German TV shows in the German language with German subtitles can help you. You should also have a good idea of what to expect from popular German TV shows.

Have you chosen the next TV show that you’ll watch? Let us know which one it will be and why you chose it.

To get started, GermanPod101.com has a lot of free resources about several subjects, as well as free courses for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students.

And if that free stuff isn’t enough for you and you want to boost yourself to the next level quickly, then we can offer you a private teacher who specializes on your needs and your goals with the German language.

So you’re ready to move to Germany with the Germany job seeker visa? You’re ready to finally work in Germany? This is a country that has so many different sides to show, and so many different accents, cultures, and landscapes. It reaches from the Baltic Sea and flatlands in the north to the Alps with Bavarian culture, to the forests and lakes in the south.

In between, you have many big cities such as the capital Berlin, the finance and logistics centre of Europe Frankfurt, one of the biggest city complexes named Ruhrpott in the west, and the fastest growing city in Germany: Leipzig.

When moving to a new country, you’ll have an explosion of feelings. On the one hand, you’re excited to meet new people, get to know the culture, and achieve mastery of the new language. On the other hand, you need to find a job and you need to get through the headache of dealing with a new working culture (Arbeitskultur).

So, is it easy to get a job in Germany?

In this guide, we’ll show you the whole process of finding a job in Germany. We begin with the requirements, what jobs to look for, where to look for positions, and even cover the German work culture.

Are you ready? Let’s get straight to it and prepare for your time in Germany, so that you can find jobs in Germany in 2019.

Start with a bonus, and download the Business Words & Phrases PDF for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

Without further ado, here’s our guide on how to find a job in Germany.

Table of Contents

1. Requirements and Paperwork
2. Which Job Fits Your Needs? — Job Types
3. Where to Look for a Job
4. Why Will You Love Working in Germany?
5. The Job Market in Germany
6. How GermanPod101.com will Help You Get a Job in Germany

1. Requirements and Paperwork

One thing you should know upfront: Germany is the country of bureaucracy (Land der Bürokratie). So, get prepared to do some paperwork (papierarbeit) as long as you stay in Germany. Before applying for a job, you need all your papers and your visa ready. Don’t be afraid; we’ll show you how to easily set up your stay in Germany.

First: Everyone who’s from a country in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland doesn’t need a visa as long as they have an ID card or a valid passport. But, you need to register an address in Germany to work.

1- The German Job Seeker Visa

Jobs in Germany for foreigners start with a job seeker visa. The job seeker visa is a long-term residency permit that allows you to stay in Germany for six months looking for a job. With this visa, you’re not allowed to work immediately, but to look for a job. If you find a job during this period, then you’ll be given the Germany work visa or a work permit to work and live there.

There are some requirements you need to fulfill in order to obtain the visa. For example, you have to have a Bachelors or Master degree and at least five years of experience in your field of study. To see all the requirements, take a look at the official visa website.

2- Do I Need a Visa? — Visa Types and Requirements

There are more than 15 different visa types for foreigners and the one you need strongly depends on which country you’re from. So please, take a look on the official website and find out if you need a visa and which visa type fits your needs.

As already said, it strongly depends on how high your expertise is in your field of studies (studienfach), and what degree you’re holding. When looking for a job in Germany, most people need to apply for a residence permit before entering the country. When the job is highly qualified, it will be easier for you to obtain the visa. But to be sure, check out Expatica.com.

2. Which Job Fits Your Needs? — Job Types

In such a developed country like Germany, obviously, you can choose just about any career you can think of. So in the end, everything comes down to your personal preferences (persönliche Vorliebe) and of course your level of German. It’s not always necessary to be fluent, but let’s face it, speaking German will be a big advantage.

1- Jobs for German Beginners

If you’re a complete beginner in German, finding a professional position will be harder for you. So you need to get a bit creative and lucky as well. Most companies will expect you to be at least a little fluent with your German. For complete foreigner-friendly jobs, take a look at the section below. There, we’ll tell you a little about how to find a job in Germany if you don’t speak German.

We at GermanPod101 offer you a wide range of free resources, lessons, and starting guides for your German learning experience. Before thinking about moving to Germany for work, work even harder on your German skills. Our MyTeacher service will boost your level of German even faster.

2- Jobs for German Intermediate Learners

Your chances of finding a job in Germany are already higher when you have at least basic German skills and can speak about all the subjects that you’re interested in. Your search for a job will go much faster when you know how to properly express yourself.

Most employers will test your German skills during the job interview and will be happy when you show that you can communicate. They might ask you for certificates such as Goethe B1. But either way, you’ll have a good chance at the job with your intermediate knowledge of the language.

3- Jobs for Fluent German Speakers

You’ll be treated like a native speaker when searching for a job if you already speak German at a fluent level. You don’t even have to be on a native level with your German; fluent is just enough.

You can be picky when looking for positions. Apply like you would in your home country, just to the jobs that you like and that fit your professional skills.

Some of the companies you’re applying to might ask you for a proof of fluency. Some certificates you can show are Goethe C1 and TestDaF.

Even fluent speakers can improve their German language skills day by day with our helpful bonus classes.

4- Foreigner-Friendly Jobs

Apart from professional and common jobs, you can get a bit more creative with your job search and prepare yourself for some jobs that not everybody is doing. You can find some English speaking jobs in Germany if you take this path. When it comes to these jobs, your native language can greatly benefit you, as can an intermediate level of English.

Language Teaching (Sprachen unterrichten)

This is probably the most obvious option. It doesn’t necessarily need to be English that you’re teaching; it could be any other language. Some spontaneous ideas are French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese.

For some teaching jobs, go to the the following websites:

• ESLemployment
• TotalESL
• ESL Café
• TESall

You can look for jobs just about anywhere. You can look for positions as a professional teaching staff member (professioneller Sprachlehrer) at an international company, teach school children from primary to high school, you can teach at universities, you can do private tutoring, and anything else that comes to your mind.

When looking for this kind of job, if you do it as a freelancer or even as a full-time worker, companies might ask you for a certificate such as TEFL.

Tourism Industry

This might be even more obvious than teaching your mother tongue (muttersprache) to Germans. But surely in cities and popular tourist spots, such as in the south, you can get hired by a company specializing in tourism. Having a degree in closely related studies will be even better for you.

This may be a good source of English speaking jobs in Germany, but even when working in the tourism industry, you should get used to a bit of German and improve your language skills daily.

Jobs here range from being a tour guide or working with a travel agency, (Reisebüro) to being a receptionist in a hotel or hostel. Even working in a restaurant or bar in a tourist spot could be a great opportunity for some quick money.

5- Volunteering in Germany

If you don’t want to go to all the trouble of looking for a professional job and fulfilling all the requirements to get a working visa (arbeitsvisum), just think about going to Germany as a tourist or on a working holiday visa. Do you want to know what your options are?

The answer is volunteering (freiwilligenarbeit). It certainly won’t make you rich, but your life experience, your spirit, and your view of life might change in this way. And maybe you’ll be able to make some good contacts for your future life and get into a professional position during this time.

Volunteering is quite easy to understand. You offer some of your time for accommodation (unterkunft) and in the best case, even food. Don’t worry; the person you’ll work for won’t rip you off and the workload isn’t overwhelming.

There’s a large variety of jobs in this field: field work, renovating houses, working on farms or in hostels, walking dogs, and taking care of other animals. You can find interesting alternatives on:

• Workaway: This is a volunteering service, where families and companies offer their home. It offers a premium membership service, where you can apply to any position. They are paid annually, so this won’t be costly for you.
• HelpX: HelpX is similar to Workaway. You can find interesting positions on both websites. The interface of HelpX could be a bit better, but the service itself is great.
• WWOOFing: Woofing is a big platform if you love nature and would like to work on farms. Its speciality is organic farming.

3. Where to Look for a Job

Now we’re coming to the interesting part. Where do you actually apply and look for jobs, on the web and offline? We collected some helpful websites for you. Note that there are more options, but these are the most common ones.

1- General Job Search Engine

1. Official Website

• Bundesagentur für Arbeit: This is the official national agency for employment, and probably the biggest and first resource you can use to find a job. There are offices in nearly every city and town in Germany. You can find practically everything here. But real quality jobs you’ll most certainly not find on this platform.

2. German Favorites

• Stepstone
• Regio-Jobanzeiger
• Stellenanzeigen.de
• Jobware

You can use these sites to search for any kind of job and you’ll find a wide range of jobs. You can find jobs in the medical service, information technology, and chemistry sector there, as well as smaller part-time jobs and head positions. Just browse around these websites and they can keep you busy for weeks.

3. Search Engines

These platforms will always have some positions to offer you. Firms from all around the world in every sector are publishing here. Keep in mind that for jobs in Germany, Indeed is a good place to start.

• Indeed
• Gigajob
• stellenonline.de

2- Specialized Directories

• GetInIT: Want to get into the IT sector? This is the right place for you.
• Jobvector: This is for everybody in the science, medicine, and engineering studies field.
• YourFirm: This one is great if you’re looking for a job in a middle-sized company.

3- Recruitment Agencies

A quick hint from us. Just use these agencies if you really have some special skills to offer or some degrees that not everybody can show. Because if you don’t have those, the agency will most likely not help you find a job.

If you’re getting really specific with your job search, just type into Google “Personalagentur” + your specific niche that you’re interested in.

4- Expat Portals and Communities

Of course, there are some pages that just specialize in listing jobs for English speakers and foreigners:

• Michael Page
• E Financial Careers
• GoAbroad
• Overseasjobs

Also keep in mind that finding people who have the same goal as you isn’t that hard. Just a quick search on Facebook showed us that there are two major groups for foreigners who are looking for jobs in Germany.

• Job Seeker Visa Group
• Job opportunities

5- Networking

Yes, like in any other country, it’s good to focus on networking in Germany. With networking, you’ll have a better possibility of finding a job. After going over all the other examples and websites above, we’ve finally come to the way that 90% of German people find their jobs. This may be, in fact, the best way to find a job in Germany.

Networking.
Networking.
NETWORKING.

Okay, I know you’re thinking, “How am I supposed to do networking if I don’t have any contacts in Germany?”

Fortunately, there are websites that focus just on that, on networking:

• LinkedIn
• Xing

Get yourself a profile and show yourself to the recruiters (Personaler) out there. You can use their built-in job portals and apply to jobs easily and directly from your already-built profile.

And remember, you can also do networking offline. Go out, go to companies, present yourself. Make contact on Facebook, in the park, in a café. Just anywhere!

4. Why Will You Love Working in Germany?

Working in such a developed country as Germany has benefits. Just to name a few, you’ll get health insurance, many days off, a straightforward but easy-going work culture, access to events, and much more. Let’s jump right into it.

1. Health Insurance (Krankenversicherung)

When you’re employed, you’re automatically in the German health care system. It covers things such as hospital stays, dental care, doctor visits, eyeglasses, and more. You’re automatically in this system and a small part from your salary will be used for this.

2. Pension Insurance

This is an insurance for your old days once you’re retired from your working life. This ensures that you can maintain a certain standard when you’re over 67 years old, and the outcome is around 67% of your average net income from your working life.

3. Unemployment Insurance

If you’ve worked at least one year in Germany, then you’re qualified to receive funds from the state in the case that you lose your job. In case you become unemployed, you’ll receive around 65% of your last income for the next 12 months.

4. Average Working Hours and Paid Holidays

On average, Germans work around 35 hours per week. That’s much less than the standard in other countries such as the UK with 44 hours. You’ll have at least 20 days of holiday, plus public holidays.

However, this information depends on the region where you live. Usually, in professional positions, you’ll have more holidays. (This is usually 25-30.)

Just to name a few more benefits:

• Help for new parents
• Reasonable housing costs
• Cheap transport
• Accident insurance
• Growing minimum wage

5. The Job Market in Germany

Did you know that the German economy is bigger than the whole economy of South America combined? That’s pretty impressive, isn’t it?

We have to consider here that Germany is the biggest player in Europe, and with its central localization in the European Union we became a strong partner for other big nations like the United States and China. We are the world champion of exporting goods.

Another fact that you should know before moving to Germany is that our unemployment rate is on a years-long low. In 2019, we’re facing an unemployment rate of less than 4%, and in some cities like Munich, this number is even less.

And here comes the best fact for you. In Germany, we’re facing a shortage of experts in different professions. These include:

• Mechanical engineers (Maschinenbauingenieur)
• Automotive engineers (Fahrzeugingenieur)
• Electrical and building engineers (Elektro- und Bauingenieur)
• IT specialists (IT-Spezialist)
• Health workers and doctors

Some global players have their headquarters and manufacturing bases in Germany. Just to name a few:

• Volkswagen
• Audi
• BMW
• EON
• Daimler
• Adidas
• MAN
• Siemens

6. How GermanPod101.com will Help You Get a Job in Germany

Wow, finding your way to the end of this article was a journey. But we’re happy that you made it and that you’re not discouraged from finding a job in Germany. We showed you all the benefits you’ll receive as an employee in Germany. Are you ready to apply for your first German jobs and get a flat in Berlin or Munich?

Before going to Germany, make sure that you work on your language skills. For this, we have tons of free vocabulary lists on our website and free lessons for beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced speakers.

Once you’ve found your job or are in the middle of the process, make sure you get the necessary vocabulary right.

Just a quick reminder for our premium service MyTeacher. There, you’ll have access to a personal one-on-one coach who will work just with you to improve your language skills so you’re ready for your first job in Germany. But with GermanPod101.com’s lists and lessons, you’re already set up just enough to start.

What are you waiting for? Whether you’re looking for jobs in Berlin or English speaking jobs in Germany, you now have the resources you need to get it! Good luck!

Do you often feel lonely and sad? Do you long for romance and are willing to do whatever it takes to meet that special person? Speaking another language could revolutionize your love life! So, why wait? Learning how to say ‘love’ in German could be just what you need to find it.

Or perhaps you were lucky, and have found your German partner already. Fantastic! Yet, a cross-cultural relationship comes with unique challenges. Learning how to speak your lover’s language will greatly improve your communication and enhance the relationship. At GermanPod101, our team will teach you all the words, quotes and phrases you need to woo your German lover with excellence! Our tutors provide personal assistance, with plenty of extra material available to make German dating easy for you.

Table of Contents

1. Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date
2. The Most Romantic Ideas for a Date
3. Must-know Valentine’s Day Vocabulary
4. German Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day
5. German Quotes about Love
6. Marriage Proposal Lines
7. 15 Most Common Break-Up Lines
8. Will Falling in Love Help You Learn German Faster?

Start with a bonus, and download the ‘How To be a Good Lover Cheat Sheet’ for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

1. Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date

So, you have met your German love interest. Congratulations! Who knows where this could take you…?! However, the two of you have just met and you’re not ready to say the German word for love just yet. Great, it is better to get to know him/her first. Wow your prospective love by using these German date phrases to set up a spectacular first date.

Would you like to go out to dinner with me?

• Möchtest du mit mir zum Abendessen ausgehen?

The important question! In most cultures, this phrase indicates: ‘I’m romantically interested in you’. Flirting in German is no different, so don’t take your date to Mcdonald’s!

Are you free this weekend?

• Hast du dieses Wochenende Zeit?

This is a preamble to asking your love interest on a date. If you get an immediate ‘Yes’, that’s good news!

Would you like to hang out with me?

• Hättest du Lust, mal etwas zusammen zu unternehmen?

You like her/him, but you’re not sure if there’s chemistry. Ask them to hang out first to see if a dinner date is next.

What time shall we meet tomorrow?

• Um wieviel Uhr sollen wir uns morgen treffen?

Set a time, and be sure to arrive early! Nothing spoils a potential relationship more than a tardy date.

Where shall we meet?

• Wo sollen wir uns treffen?

You can ask this, but also suggest a place.

You look great.

• Du siehst toll aus.

A wonderful ice breaker! This phrase will help them relax a bit – they probably took great care to look their best just for you.

You are so cute.

• Du bist so süß.

If the two of you are getting on really well, this is a fun, flirtatious phrase to use.

What do you think of this place?

• Wie findest du diesen Ort?

This another good conversation starter. Show off your German language skills!

Can I see you again?

• Kann ich dich noch mal sehen?

So the date went really well – don’t waste time! Make sure you will see each other again.

Shall we go somewhere else?

• Sollen wir woanders hingehen?

If the place you meet at is not great, you can suggest going elsewhere. It is also a good question to follow the previous one. Variety is the spice of life!

I know a good place.

• Ich kenne einen tollen Ort.

Use this with the previous question. However, don’t say if you don’t know a good place!

I will drive you home.

• Ich werde dich nach Hause fahren.

If your date doesn’t have transport, this is a polite, considerate offer. However, don’t be offended if she/he turns you down on the first date. Especially a woman might not feel comfortable letting you drive her home when the two of you are still basically strangers.

That was a great evening.

• Das war ein toller Abend.

This is a good phrase to end the evening with.

When can I see you again?

• Wann kann ich dich wiedersehen?

If he/she replied ‘Yes’ to ‘Can I see you again?’, this is the next important question.

I’ll call you.

• Ich werde dich anrufen.

Say this only if you really mean to do it. In many cultures, this could imply that you’re keeping the proverbial backdoor open.

Sneak Peek! Log in to Download this Cheat Sheet!

2. The Most Romantic Ideas for a Date

You learned all the German phrases to make a date – congratulations! Now you have to decide where to meet, which can be tricky. Discuss these options with your lover to gauge whether you like the same things. Check out romantic date ideas in German below!

museum

• Museum

If you’re looking for unique date ideas that are fun but won’t break the bank, museums are the perfect spot! You won’t be running out of things to say in the conversations.

candlelit dinner

• Candle-Light-Dinner

A candlelit dinner is perhaps best to reserve for when the relationship is getting serious. It’s very intimate, and says: “Romance!” It’s a fantastic choice if you’re sure you and your date are in love with each other!

go to the zoo

• In den Zoo gehen.

This is a good choice for shy lovers who want to get the conversation going. Just make sure your date likes zoos, as some people dislike them. Maybe not for the first date, but this is also a great choice if your lover has children – you’ll win his/her adoration for inviting them along!

go for a long walk

• Einen langen Spaziergang machen.

Need to talk about serious stuff, or just want to relax with your date? Walking together is soothing, and a habit you can keep up together always! Just make sure it’s a beautiful walk that’s not too strenuous.

go to the opera

• In die Oper gehen.

This type of date should only be attempted if both of you love the opera. It can be a special treat, followed by a candlelit dinner!

go to the aquarium

• In ein Aquarium gehen.

Going to the aquarium is another good idea if you need topics for conversation, or if you need to impress your lover’s kids! Make sure your date doesn’t have a problem with aquariums.

walk on the beach

• Am Strand spazieren gehen

This can be a very romantic stroll, especially at night! The sea is often associated with romance and beauty.

have a picnic

• ein Picknick machen

If you and your date need to get more comfortable together, this can be a fantastic date. Spending time in nature is soothing and calms the nerves.

cook a meal together

• Zusammen etwas zu Essen kochen

If you want to get an idea of your date’s true character in one go, this is an excellent date! You will quickly see if the two of you can work together in a confined space. If it works, it will be fantastic for the relationship and create a sense of intimacy. If not, you will probably part ways!

have dinner and see a movie

• Abendessen und einen Film schauen

This is traditional date choice works perfectly well. Just make sure you and your date like the same kind of movies!

3. Must-know Valentine’s Day Vocabulary

Expressing your feelings honestly is very important in any relationship all year round. Yet, on Valentine’s Day you really want to shine. Impress your lover this Valentine’s with your excellent vocabulary, and make his/her day! We teach you, in fun, effective ways, the meanings of the words and how to pronounce them. You can also copy the characters and learn how to write ‘I love you’ in German – think how impressed your date will be!

4. German Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day

So, you now have the basic Valentine’s Day vocabulary under your belt. Well done! But, do you know how to say ‘I love you’ in German yet? Or perhaps you are still only friends. So, do you know how to say ‘I like you’ or ‘I have a crush on you’ in German? No? Don’t worry, here are all the love phrases you need to bowl over your German love on this special day!

I love you.

• Ich liebe dich.

Saying ‘I love you’ in German carries the same weight as in all languages. Use this only if you’re sure and sincere about your feelings for your partner/friend.

You mean so much to me.

• Du bedeutest mir sehr viel.

This is a beautiful expression of gratitude that will enhance any relationship! It makes the receiver feel appreciated and their efforts recognized.

Will you be my Valentine?

• Möchtest du mein Valentin sein?

With these words, you are taking your relationship to the next level! Or, if you have been a couple for a while, it shows that you still feel the romance. So, go for it!

You’re so beautiful.

• Sie sind so schön.

If you don’t know how to say ‘You’re pretty’ in German, this is a good substitute, gentlemen!

I think of you as more than a friend.

• Du bist mehr als nur ein Freund für mich.

Say this if you are not yet sure that your romantic feelings are reciprocated. It is also a safe go-to if you’re unsure about the German dating culture.

A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you.

• Hundert Herzen wären zu wenige, um all meine Liebe zu dir zu tragen.

You romantic you…! When your heart overflows with love, this would be the best phrase to use.

Love is just love. It can never be explained.

• Liebe ist nur Liebe. Es kann niemals erklärt werden.

If you fell in love unexpectedly or inexplicably, this one’s for you.

You’re so handsome.

• Du bist so schön.

Ladies, this phrase lets your German love know how much you appreciate his looks! Don’t be shy to use it; men like compliments too.

I’ve got a crush on you.

• Ich bin in dich verknallt.

If you like someone, but you’re unsure about starting a relationship, it would be prudent to say this. It simply means that you like someone very, very much and think they’re amazing.

You make me want to be a better man.

• Du machst mich zu einem besseren Menschen.

Gentlemen, don’t claim this phrase as your own! It hails from the movie ‘As Good as it Gets’, but it is sure to make your German girlfriend feel very special. Let her know that she inspires you!

Let all that you do be done in love.

• Lasse deine Handlungen in der Liebe geschehen.

We hope.

You are my sunshine, my love.

• Du bist mein Sonnenschein, meine Liebe.

A compliment that lets your lover know they bring a special quality to your life. Really nice!

Words can’t describe my love for you.

• Worte können meine Liebe zu dir nicht beschreiben.

Better say this when you’re feeling serious about the relationship! It means that your feelings are very intense.

We were meant to be together.

• Wir waren füreinander bestimmt.

This is a loving affirmation that shows you see a future together, and that you feel a special bond with your partner.

If you were thinking about someone while reading this, you’re definitely in love.

• Solltest du – während du diese Zeilen liest – über jemanden nachdenken, bist du auf jeden Fall verliebt.

Here’s something fun to tease your lover with. And hope he/she was thinking of you!

5. German Quotes about Love

You’re a love champ! You and your German lover are getting along fantastically, your dates are awesome, your Valentine’s Day together was spectacular, and you’re very much in love. Good for you! Here are some beautiful phrases of endearment in German that will remind him/her who is in your thoughts all the time.

6. Marriage Proposal Lines

Wow. Your German lover is indeed the love of your life – congratulations! And may only happiness follow the two of you! In most traditions, the man asks the woman to marry; this is also the German custom. Here are a few sincere and romantic lines that will help you to ask your lady-love for her hand in marriage.

7. 15 Most Common Break-Up Lines

Instead of moving towards marriage or a long-term relationship, you find that the spark is not there for you. That is a pity! But even though breaking up is never easy, continuing a bad or unfulfilling relationship would be even harder. Remember to be kind to the person you are going to say goodbye to; respect and sensitivity cost nothing. Here are some phrases to help you break up gently.

8. Will Falling in Love help you Learn German faster?

Most people will agree that the above statement is a no-brainer – of course it will! Your body will be flooded with feel-good hormones, which are superb motivators for anything. GermanPod101 is one of the best portals to help help make this a reality, so don’t hesitate to enroll now! Let’s quickly look at the reasons why falling in love will speed up your learning of the German language.

Three Reasons Why Having a Lover will Help you Learn German Faster!

1- Being in a love relationship with your German speaking partner will immerse you in the culture
GermanPod101 uses immersive methods and tools to teach you German, but having a relationship with a native speaker will be a very valuable addition to your learning experience! You will gain exposure to their world, realtime and vividly, which will make the language come alive even more for you. The experience is likely to expand your world-view, which should motivate you to learn German even faster.

2- Having your German romantic partner will mean more opportunity to practice speaking
Nothing beats continuous practice when learning a new language. Your partner will probably be very willing to assist you in this, as your enhanced German language skills will enhance the relationship. Communication is, after all, one of the most important pillars of a good partnership. Also, you will get to impress your lover with the knowledge gained through your studies – a win/win situation!

3- A supportive German lover is likely to make a gentle, patient teacher and study aid!
With his/her heart filled with love and goodwill for you, your German partner is likely to patiently and gently correct your mistakes when you speak. This goes not only for grammar, but also for accent and meaning. With his/her help, you could sound like a native in no time!

Three Reasons Why GermanPod101 helps you learn German Even Faster when you’re In Love

Start with a bonus, and download the ‘How To be a Good Lover Cheat Sheet’ for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

1- All the Resources and Materials Will Help Both of You
Falling in love with a man or woman speaking German is an opportunity for both of you to learn a new language! For this reason, every lesson, transcript, vocabulary list, and resource at GermanPod101 is translated into both English and German. So, while your partner can help you learn German faster, you can potentially also help him/her learn and master English!

2- Lessons Are Designed to Help You Understand and Engage with German Culture
At GermanPod101, our focus is to help our students learn practical vocabulary and phrases used by everyday people in Germany. This means that, from your very first lesson, you can apply what you learn immediately! So, when your German partner wants to go out to a restaurant, play Pokemon Go, or attend just about any social function, you have the vocabulary and phrases necessary to have a great time!

3- Access to Special Resources Dedicated to Romantic German Phrases
You now have access to GermanPod101’s specially-developed sections and tools to teach you love words, phrases, and cultural insights to help you find and attract your German soul mate. A personal tutor will assist you to master these brilliantly – remember to invite him/her to your wedding!

Most everyone is familiar with this day, as it is celebrated nearly everywhere the world. Yet, when exactly is April Fools’ Day? And where did April Fools come from? April Fools’ Day is observed on April 1st every year. This day of jokes and pranks is believed to have stemmed from the 16th-century calendar change in France, when New Year’s Day was moved from April 1 to January 1. This action was taken due to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar.

However, a few people were resistant to the calendar change, so they continued to observe New Year’s Day on April 1st, rather than the new date. They were referred to as the “April Fools”, and others started playing mocking tricks on them. This custom endured, and is practiced to this day around the world!

Table of Contents

1. Top One Million Words You Need to Know for April Fools’ Day
2. German Phrases You Can Use on April Fools’ Day
3. Some of the Coolest April Fools’ Pranks To Play on Anybody
4. How Can GermanPod101 Make Your April Fools’ Day Special?
5. Top 1000 Most Useful Phrases in German – Testing New Technology

1. Top One Million Words You Need to Know for April Fools’ Day

Do you want to know how to say April Fools’ Day in German? Well, there are millions of ways and words, but here are the top one million German words you really need to know! Simply click this link. Here are some of them you will find useful:

1. funny – lustig
2. joke – scherzen
3. sneaky – hinterlistig
4. prankster – Witzbold
5. prank – Streich
6. humor – Humor
7. fool – Depp
8. deceptive – trügerisch
9. surprise – überraschen
10. lie – lügen
11. play a joke – einen Streich spielen

2. German Phrases You Can Use on April Fools’ Day

Don’t limit yourself to practical jokes – use these April Fools’ phrases in German to prank your favorite German friend or colleague!

1. I learned German in 1 month.
   • Ich habe in einem Monat Deutsch gelernt.
2. All classes for today got canceled.
   • Der gesamte Unterricht fällt heute aus.
3. I’m sorry, but I’ve just broken your favorite pair of glasses.
   • Es tut mir leid, aber ich habe gerade deine Lieblingsbrille zerbrochen.
4. Someone has just hit your car.
   • Jemand hat gerade dein Auto angefahren.
5. I’m getting married.
   • Ich heirate.
6. You won a free ticket.
   • Du hast eine Freikarte gewonnen.
7. I saw your car being towed.
   • Ich habe gesehen, wie dein Auto abgeschleppt wurde.
8. They’re giving away free gift cards in front of the building.
   • Sie verteilen kostenlose Geschenkgutscheine vor dem Gebäude.
9. A handsome guy is waiting for you outside.
   • Ein gutaussehender Kerl wartet draußen auf dich.
10. A beautiful lady asked me to give this phone number to you.
    • Eine schöne Dame bat mich, dir diese Telefonnummer zu geben.
11. Can you come downstairs? I have something special for you.
    • Kannst du runter kommen? Ich habe etwas Besonderes für dich.
12. Thank you for your love letter this morning. I never could have guessed your feelings.
    • Vielen Dank für deinen Liebesbrief heute Morgen. Ich hätte deine Gefühle niemals erraten können.

Choose your victims carefully, though; the idea is to get them to laugh with you, not to hurt their feelings or humiliate them in front of others. Be extra careful if you choose to play a prank on your boss – you don’t want to antagonize them with an inappropriate joke.

3. Some of the Coolest April Fools’ Pranks To Play on Anybody

Right, now that you know the top million April Fools’ words in German, let’s look at some super pranks and tricks to play on friends, colleagues and family. Some April Fools ideas never grow old, while new ones are born every year.

Never joke in such a way that it hurts anyone, or humiliates them badly in front of others – the idea is for everybody to laugh and enjoy the fun! Respect is still key, no matter what day of the year it is.

1- Infestation

This trick is so simple, yet so creepy, it’s almost unbelievable. Take black paper, cut out the silhouette of a giant cockroach, a spider or another insect, and stick it inside the lampshade of a table lamp. When the lamp is switched on, it will look like a monstrous insect is sitting inside the lampshade. Or, get a whole lot of realistic-looking plastic insects, and spread them over a colleague’s desk and chair, or, at home, over the kids’ beds etc. Creep-factor: stellar.

2- Which One Doesn’t Fit?

Put the photo of a celebrity or a notorious politician in a frame, and take it to work on April Fools’ Day. Hang the photo on the staff picture wall, and wait. You’ll be surprised how long it can take for people to notice that one picture doesn’t fit.

3- Something Weird in the Restroom

At work, replace the air freshener in the restroom with something noxious like insect killer, oven cleaner or your own odious mixture in a spray bottle. Be sure to cover the bottle’s body so no one suspects a swap.

Or paint a bar of soap with clear nail polish, and leave it at the hand wash basin. It will not lather.

Or, if your workplace’s restroom has partitioned toilets with short doors, arrange jeans or trousers and shoes on all but one of the toilet covers, so it looks like every stall is occupied. Now wait for complaints, and see how long it takes for someone to figure out the April Fools’ Day prank. You’ll probably wish you had a camera inside the restroom. But, unless you don’t mind getting fired, don’t put your own recording device in there!

4- Call Me Funny

Prepare and print out a few posters with the following instructions: Lion Roar Challenge! Call this number – 123-456-7890 – and leave your best lion’s roar as voicemail! Best roarer will be announced April 10 in the cafeteria. Prize: $100. (Lion’s roar is just an example; you can use any animal call, or even a movie character’s unique sound, such as Chewbacca from Star Wars. The weirder, the funnier. Obviously!) Put the posters up in the office where most of the staff is likely to see them. Now wait for the owner of the number to visit you with murderous intent. Have a conciliatory gift ready that’s not a prank.

5- Minty Cookies

This is another simple but hugely effective prank – simply separate iced cookies, scrape off the icing, and replace it with toothpaste. Serve during lunch or tea break at work, or put in your family’s lunch boxes. Be sure to take photos of your victim’s faces when they first bite into your April Fools’ cookies.

6- Wild Shopping

At your local grocer, place a realistic-looking plastic snake or spider among the fresh vegetables. Now wait around the corner for the first yell.

7- The Oldest Trick in the Book

Don’t forget probably the oldest, yet very effective April Fools’ joke in the book – smearing hand cream or Vaseline on a door handle that most staff, family or friends are likely to use. Yuck to the max!

8- Sneeze On Me

Another golden oldie is also gross, yet harmless and utterly satisfying as a prank. Fill a small spray bottle that you can easily conceal with water. Walk past a friend, colleague or one of your kids, and fake a sneeze while simultaneously spraying them with a bit of water. Expect to be called a totally disgusting person. Add a drop of lovely smelling essential oil to the water for extra confusion.

9- Word Play Repairs

Put a fresh leek in the hand wash basin at home or work, and then tell your housemates or colleagues this: “There’s a huge leak in the restroom/bathroom basin, it’s really serious. Please can someone go have a look?!” Expect exasperation and smiles all around. Note that this prank is only likely to work where people understand English well.

10- Scary Face

Print out a very scary face on an A4 sheet of paper, and place it in a colleague’s, or one of your kid’s drawers, so it’s the first thing they see when they open the drawer. You may not be very popular for a while.

11- Wake Up To Madness

Put foamy shaving cream, or real whipped cream on your hand, and wake your kid up by tickling their nose with it. As long as they get the joke, this could be a wonderful and fun way to start April Fools’ Day.

12- Computer Prank

This one’s fabulous, if you have a bit of time to fiddle with a colleague, friend or your kid’s computer. It is most effective on a computer where most of the icons they use are on the desktop background itself (as opposed to on the bottom task bar).

Take and save a screenshot of their desktop with the icons. Set this screenshot as their background image. Now delete all the working icons. When they return to their computer, wait for the curses when no amount of clicking on the icons works.

13- Monster Under the Cup

This one will also work well anywhere people meet. Take a paper cup, and write the following on it in black pen: “Danger! Don’t lift, big spider underneath.” Place it upside-down on prominent flat surface, such as a kitchen counter, a colleague’s desk or a restaurant table. Expect some truly interesting responses.

14- Prank Door

Write in large letters on a large and noticeable piece of paper: PUSH. Tape this notice on a door that should be pulled to open, and watch the hilarious struggle of those clever souls who actually read signs.

4. How Can GermanPod101 Make Your April Fools’ Day Special?

If you happen to visit Germany, or if you work for any German company, knowing the above German prankster phrases can really lighten up your day. Showing you have a sense of humor can go a long way to cement good relationships in any situation. These phrases are at your disposal for free, as well as are these 100 core German words, which you will learn how to pronounce perfectly.

Also, don’t stop at learning April Fools’ phrases in German – bone up your German language skills with these FREE key phrases. Yes, GermanPod101 doesn’t joke when it comes to effective, fun and easy learning.

Now, as a bonus, test our super-learning technology, and learn the Top 1000 most useful phrases in German below! But that’s not all. Read on to learn how you can be eligible for large enrollment discounts at GermanPod101.

5. Top 1000 Most Useful Phrases in German – testing new technology

Help us by being a language guinea pig! Listen to this video above with embedded cutting-edge, frequency-based learning technology that enables you to learn large amounts of data in record time.

• Note: This technology is in beta-phase of development, and we invite your input for fine-tuning.
• To participate: Watch the video for instructions, and leave a comment to rate it. Your comment will make you eligible for large enrollment-fee discounts. To watch the video, please click the play button.

Thank you for helping GermanPod101! We’re serious about making learning German fun.