In everyday German, modal particles —short words like doch, mal, schon, and eben — are everywhere. They might seem small, but they add layers of tone, emotion, and meaning to spoken German. For learners, modal particles can feel elusive—to understand and use them well is a major step toward sounding more natural in conversation. In…
Modal verbs in German are small but mighty. They help you express concepts such as permission, ability, necessity, or desire. You’ll hear them in everyday conversations, and using them correctly will take your German to the next level. In this guide, we’ll walk through what modal verbs are, how to structure sentences with them, and…
Whether you’re just starting out or polishing your fluency, learning German verbs is key to speaking with confidence. This page is your one-stop guide to German verb types—from the simple to the sneaky. Explore the categories below to dive into regular verbs, irregular troublemakers, and those tricky separable prefixes. 1. Regular German Verbs Predictable. Reliable….
Learning German can be challenging, especially when you encounter verbs that split apart in sentences. These are known as separable verbs, and understanding them is crucial for mastering German sentence structure. In this guide, we’ll demystify German separable verbs, provide a list of the most common ones, and answer frequently asked questions to help you…
German is full of colorful expressions — and if you translate them literally, they sound totally bonkers! Like… ‘He only understands train station?’ German idioms are figurative phrases that Germans use in daily speech. Today, we’re breaking down 15 German idioms you’ll actually hear, what they literally mean, and what they’re really saying. What Is…
Ever think ‘Chef’ in German means chef? Or that ‘Gift’ is a nice present? Or that you can get a good workout in at the Gymnasium? Think again! Today we’re diving into the wild world of German false friends — those sneaky words that look familiar but mean something completely different. You’ll learn 20 of…
Did you know that there are only 200 irregular verbs in German? Today, we’re going to tackle irregular German verbs. But don’t worry: I’ve developed a simple technique to help you master them quickly and efficiently. Grouping Irregular German Verbs by Vowel Change Patterns Irregular verbs are not as irregular as you might think. Most…
Learning to conjugate German verbs in the present tense is one of the first leaps you’ll take in improving your language fluency. The German present tense is highly useful and versatile in written and spoken German. The Präsens is also easy to learn since it merges what would be two separate tenses in English into…
The German tenses may seem like one of the hardest aspects of learning the language. But did you know that German only has six tenses while English has 12? With a clear overview of how the German tenses work and what the rules are, you’ll find them easier to learn than you thought. The six…
Das Wetter is an ideal topic for making small talk in German. Here you can practice German words and phrases to talk about the weather and seasons. You can play the video to listen along. Repeat the German weather phrases as you hear them. What are the seasons in German? The seasons in German take…
