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German, explained for real life

Clear guides to German grammar, words and everyday situations, with examples you can use today. For adults learning German from A1 to C1.

Levels and examsThe DTZ from 1 November 2026: what changes in the examFrom 1 November 2026 the DTZ asks for at least A2 in the weaker written part. What changes, who it affects and how to prepare the writing and reading.A2B1 5 min read

Latest

Der, die, dasWhy is das Mädchen neuter? German gender surprises explainedWhy is Mädchen neuter in German? The small ending -chen, the history behind it, es or sie for a girl, and other German nouns whose gender surprises learners.A1A2 5 min read

Everyday GermanAlso, na ja, genau: German filler words that make you sound naturalGerman filler words like also, na ja, genau, halt and eigentlich: what they mean, how Germans use them, and which ones buy you time when you speak.A2B1B2 5 min read

Levels and examsThe A1 German exam: what to expect and how to prepareWhat the A1 German exam (Start Deutsch 1) tests, how the four parts work, what to say in the speaking part and how to prepare in a few weeks.A1 5 min read

Word orderWeil, dass, wenn: why the verb goes to the endIn a German subordinate clause the verb goes to the end. How weil word order works, with modal verbs, the Perfekt and separable verbs.A2B1 5 min read

German for workDu or Sie? When to use formal GermanDu vs Sie explained: when formal German is expected, when du is normal, how to switch from Sie to du, and the forms that go with each.A1A2B1 5 min read

CasesNominative or accusative? Finding the subject and object in GermanNominative vs accusative in German: how to find the subject and the object, why only der changes to den, and which verbs and phrases take the accusative.A1A2 5 min read

Verbs and tensesHaben or sein in the Perfekt? The simple ruleHaben or sein in the Perfekt: most verbs take haben, verbs of moving and changing take sein. The rule, the exceptions and the verbs to learn first.A1A2 4 min read

Learning GermanSpaced repetition for German: a simple daily routineSpaced repetition makes German words stay. How it works, how often to review, what to put on a flashcard and a daily routine that fits into ten minutes.A1A2B1B2 6 min read

Life in GermanyBooking a doctor's appointment in German: phrases and a sample callHow to book a doctor's appointment in German: what to say on the phone, how to describe symptoms, and the words you meet at the practice.A1A2B1 5 min read

By topic

German articles and noun gender

How to know whether a noun takes der, die or das, the plurals, and the tricks that make articles stick.

The German cases

Nominative, accusative, dative and genitive explained with everyday sentences, plus the prepositions and endings that follow them.

German verbs and tenses

The past, the future, separable and modal verbs, the passive and Konjunktiv II, as Germans actually use them.

German word order and small words

Where the verb goes, how clauses fit together, and the small words like doch, mal and ja that make German sound natural.

How to learn German

Vocabulary that stays, reading at your level, realistic timelines and daily habits for adults learning German.

German for life in Germany

The German you need at the Bürgeramt, the doctor's, a flat viewing, the station and everywhere else in everyday life.

German for work

Emails, meetings, interviews, small talk and polite requests: the German of a working day.

German levels and exams

What A1 to C1 mean, how the Goethe and telc exams work, and how to prepare for each part.

Speaking everyday German

Pronunciation, greetings, filler words and the German people really speak.