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The 500 most common words in German 🇩🇪

German words ranked by how often they appear, each with its translation and an example sentence. Press the speaker to hear a word.

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1seinverbto be
2werdenverbwill, to be going , forms the future tense
3habenverbto have
4mitadverbamong, denotes a belonging of a person or a thing to a group
5nichtadverbnot, non-
6aufadverbopen
7diespronounAlternative form of dieses
8auchadverbalso, too, as well
9könnenverbto be able , to have the possibility of, can.
10siepronounshe
11wirpronounwe
12ihrpronounyou, ye
13wieadverbhow
14ausadverbout
15aberadverbagain
16nachadverbafter, behind, later, next to
17nuradverbonly, just, merely, simply
18manpronounone, you
19nochadverbstill, yet
20Siepronounyou
21durchadverbduring, throughout, through
22müssenverbto have to , must, to be obliged , to need .
23keinpronounno, not a, not one, not any
24waspronounwhat
25anderadjectiveSee anderer.
26gebenverbto give
27sollenverbshould, to be obligated , ought, shall
28Jahrnounyear
29mehrpronounsomething more
30dannadverbthen, after that
31gutadjectivegood
32vielpronounmuch, a lot
33neuadjectivenew
34meinpronoungenitive of ich
35kommenverbto come, to arrive
36machenverbto make, produce, create
37erstadverbfirst, at first
38wollenadjectivewool, woolen, woollen
39gehenverbto go, to walk
40großadjectivebig, large, large-scale
41schonadverbalready
42immeradverbalways
43weitadjectivewide
44wiederadverbIndicates that the action taking place has happened before. again
45hieradverbhere, in this place, refers to an environment one is currently in, or to something within reach
46unserpronoungenitive of wir
47ganzadjectiveentire, whole, complete
48dochadverbafter all, yet, however, nevertheless
49sehenverbto see, to have sight
50sagenverbto say
51sehradverbvery
52lassenverbto allow, to permit, to let
53Menschnounhuman, human being, man
54findenverbto find, to discover
55Zeitnountime
56stehenverbto stand
57dennadverbthen, ever, but, now
58selbstadverbeven
59alsoadverbthen, thus, so, hence
60ohneadverbwithout
61nunadverbnow, at this moment
62deutschadjectiveGerman
63Kindnounkid, child
64jetztadverbnow
65etwaspronounsomething
66stellenverbto put, to place, to position such that it stands upright
67Tagnounday
68nehmenverbto take
69hochadjectivehigh, tall
70Fraunounwoman
71bleibenverbto remain
72wissenverbto know, to be aware of
73heuteadverbtoday
74eigenadjectiveown, peculiar or private to someone, idiosyncratic, proper or proprietary
75Fragenounquestion
76Landnouncountry
77kleinadjectivesmall, little, tiny, wee, small-scale
78liegenverbto lie
79solchpronounsuch
80beidepronounboth
81wenigadjectivelittle, few
82dazuadverbin addition to it, in addition, besides
83maladverbtimes
84Ihrpronounyou
85altadjectiveold
86nichtspronounnothing
87zeigenverbto show, make see
88bereitsadverbalready
89dürfenverbto be allowed , to be permitted , may
90bringenverbto bring, to fetch, to take, to convey, to bear
91Fallnounfall, drop
92tunverbTo do .
93haltenverbto hold
94Seitenounside
95führenverbto lead
96jedochadverbhowever, yet, nevertheless
97einmaladverbonce, one time
98wichtigadjectiveimportant, relevant, significant, weighty
99einfachadjectiveeasy
100mögenverbto like
101werpronounwho
102langadjectivelong, lengthy
103dortadverbthere, yonder
104Weltnounworld
105Mannnounman, male human being
106Teilnounpart, piece
107Arbeitnountoil, regularly performed work, regularly pursued economic activity, labor, job, employment, occupation
108politischadjectivepolitical
109gleichadjectiveequal
110Problemnounproblem
111sprechenverbto speak
112schreibenverbto write, to write out
113natürlichadjectivenatural, normal
114möglichadjectivepossible
115spätadjectivelate
116Uhrnounhours, o'clock
117starkadjectivestrong
118geradeadjectiveeven
119setzenverbto set, to put
120zwaradverbSignals a following contrary clause, which is usually introduced with aber , stressing that the speaker is aware of the contradiction, but that it does not invalidate the statement.
121nahadjectivenear , close, nearby
122etwaadverbapproximately
123Endenounend, finish
124Artnounkind, sort, type )
125allerdingsadverbbut, however
126wirklichadjectivereal
127denkenverbto think
128kurzadjectiveshort, brief
129Grundnounground, land
130wohladverbpossibly, probably, as I was told guess + clause)
131Wegnounpath, trail, track
132dafüradverbfor that, for it
133geltenverbto be valid, to count, to hold true
134erhaltenverbto receive
135Herrnounman, gentleman
136verschiedenadjectivedeceased
137Wortnounword as an isolated unit
138heißenverbto have a name, to be named, to be called, but implying that one “owns” this name, not necessarily that one goes by it
139Beispielnounexample
140jungadjectiveyoung
141daraufadverbafter
142meistadjectivesuperlative degree of viel , most
143eigentlichadverbactually
144schnelladjectivequick, fast
145bestehenverbto succeed, to pass
146gehörenverbto belong to, be the property of
147zurückadverbback, backward, backwards, to the rear.
148garadjectivecooked, done
149Hausnounhouse
150Bildnounimage, picture, painting, photo
151genauadjectiveexact
152davonadverbfrom it, from that, therefrom, off it, off that
153fastadverbalmost, nearly
154Themanountopic, subject, issue
155beginnenverbto begin, to commence, to be started
156Entwicklungnounevolution
157Stadtnouncity
158bekommenverbto receive, to get
159sogaradverbeven, actually, in fact
160Staatnouncountry, state
161oftadverboften
162Rechtnouna right, privilege
163versuchenverbto try, attempt
164besondersadverbespecially, particularly
165deshalbadverbtherefore, for that , because of that
166Geschichtenounhistory
167scheinenverbto shine, to gleam
168Buchnounbook
169richtigadjectivecorrect, accurate, right
170spielenverb) to play
171Gottnoungod
172Möglichkeitnounpossibility, likelihood
173Informationnouna piece of information, information, intelligence
174fallenverbto fall, to drop
175sozialadjectivesocial
176glaubenverbto believe something
177Leutenounpeople , folk , peeps , guys
178Bereichnounarea, realm, range, scope
179Formnounshape
180Zielnountarget
181brauchenverbto need, to be in need of, to require
182fragenverbto ask
183Gesellschaftnouncompany
184schönadjectivebeautiful, lovely, pretty, handsome
185erreichenverbto reach, to catch, to accomplish
186öffentlichadjectivepublic
187Handnounhand
188internationaladjectiveinternational
189lebenverbto live, to be alive
190deutlichadjectivearticulate, clear
191Personnounperson, individual
192klaradjectiveclear, transparent, bright
193erklärenverbto explain , to make clear
194Wochenounweek
195verstehenverbto understand
196europäischadjectiveEuropean
197Namenounname
198Prozentnounpercent
199Gruppenoungroup
200bietenverbto offer, to present
201gemeinsamadjectivecommon, mutual, shared
202nieadverbnever, never at all
203arbeitenverbto work
204meinenverbto opine, to think, to believe, to suppose
205fahrenverbto go at speed
206rechtadjectiveright
207schaffenverbto create, to produce, to make, to cause, to establish
208sicheradjectivesafe, secure
209schweradjectiveheavy, weighty
210Sinnnounsense
211bestimmtadjectivecertain
212vielleichtadverbperhaps, maybe
213gegenüberadverbon the opposite side
214warumadverbwhy, for what reason
215darüberadverbabove, above it/this/that
216daheradverbfrom there
217kaumadverbbarely, hardly
218nennenverbto name
219zusammenadverbtogether, jointly
220kennenverbto know, to be acquainted with, to be familiar with
221einzelnadjectivesingle, lone
222suchenverbto search, to look for
223erscheinenverbto appear
224Augenouneye
225treffenverbto meet, to encounter
226folgendadjectivefollowing, subsequent
227freiadjectivefree, unenslaved, unimprisoned
228entsprechendadjectivecorresponding
229Monatnounmonth
230leichtadjectivelight
231Geldnounmoney
232schließlichadverbin the end, finally, eventually
233hinadverbUsed to denote direction away from the speaker.
234lesenverbto read
235tragenverbto carry, to bear , to wear
236Weisenounway, manner
237Systemnounsystem
238Regierungnoungovernment , administration
239Euronouneuro
240entwickelnverbto develop, to gain
241alleinadjectivealone
242Parteinounpolitical party
243Stundenounhour
244handelnverbto act, to take action
245ebenadjectiveflat, smooth, even
246Familienounfamily
247Interessenouninterest
248Schulenounschool , department/institute at a college or university, art movement, followers of a particular doctrine)
249eheradverbrather, somewhat, quite
250einzigadjectiveonly, sole
251Ergebnisnounresult, outcome, conclusion, finding, fruit, consequence, upshot, answer
252hörenverbto hear through the ear)
253Stellenounplace, stead, location, position, lieu
254allgemeinadjectivegeneral , universal
255legenverbto lay, to put, to place, to position, so that it afterwards lies as opposed to being gesetzt, gestellt
256Aufgabenountask, duty, job, chore, responsibility, business, office
257Textnountext
258frühadjectiveearly
259Millionnounmillion
260Mitgliednounmember
261Beitragnouncontribution
262entstehenverbto come into being, to arise, to be produced
263Kriegnounwar, warfare
264direktadjectivedirect, straight, without deviation or interruption
265volladjectivefull, filled
266überhauptadverboverall, in general
267laufenverbto walk, to jog, to run
268folgenverbto follow
269Filmnounfilm
270Erfahrungnounexperience, event through which empirical knowledge is gained
271Anfangnounstart, beginning, origin
272tretenverbto step, to walk
273Vaternounfather
274bisheradverbso far, until now, as yet
275erkennenverbto recognize, perceive
276daranadverbon it, on that
277mehrerepronounmultiple, several, more than one, a number of
278verlierenverbto lose
279Sachenounmatter, affair, case, question, issue
280Kommentarnouncomment
281Politiknounpolitics
282festadjectivefirm, compact, hard
283schlechtadjectivebad, evil, wicked
284langeadverblong, for a long time
285rundadjectiveround, rounded, similar as in English, especially:
286zunächstadverbfirst, first of all, in the first place, to begin with, initially
287obenadverbabove
288Folgenounsequence
289helfenverbto help , to assist, to aid
290Kraftnounpower, force, strength
291bedeutenverbto imply, to mean, to signify, to indicate, to spell, to betoken
292außerdemadverbin addition, furthermore, besides
293Mutternounmother
294Programmnounprogram
295Rollenounroll, reel, spool
296hinteradverbover, to some place fairly nearby
297ziehenverbto pull , to drag
298Freundnounfriend
299tatsächlichadjectiveactual, real, factual
300Situationnounsituation, circumstances
301Projektnounproject
302Zahlnounnumber, numeral, figure
303ebensoadverbequally, as much
304persönlichadjectivepersonal
305Punktnoundot
306Spielnouna game
307Internetnouninternet
308Bedeutungnounmeaning, sense
309liebadjectivelovable, dear, darling, sweet, good-hearted, kind
310dadurchadverbthrough it, through that
311Hilfenounhelp, aid
312ebenfallsadverbalso, likewise, as well
313Datumnoundate, datum
314Dingnounthing
315nämlichadjectivesame, either the same object or sometimes just the same type of object
316innerhalbadverbwithin, inside
317insbesondereadverbin particular, particularly
318Ortnounplace, location, point, position
319Zukunftnounfuture or futurity
320Raumnounspace
321lernenverbto learn
322völligadjectivecomplete, total, utter
323unterschiedlichadjectivedifferent, differing, varying
324Entscheidungnoundecision
325andersadverbdifferent, differently
326Kirchenounchurch
327offenadjectiveopen
328häufigadjectivefrequent
329Sprachenounlanguage
330Gesetznounlaw, legal act, bill, statute
331leideradverbunfortunately
332Antwortnounanswer
333Platznounsquare, plaza, piazza
334damalsadverbat that time , at the time, then
335Musiknounmusic
336notwendigadjectivenecessary, essential, indispensable + accusative)
337Rahmennounframe, scope
338fordernverbto demand, ask
339Elternnounparents
340Jahrhundertnouna century
341Wertnounvalue
342ähnlichadjectivesimilar , alike, resembling
343manchpronounmany a, many, some
344Zusammenhangnouncoherence, cohesion
345befindenverbto occupy a place, to be located, to be situated
346enthaltenverbto contain, comprise, include
347Volknounpeople, nation, folk, tribe, race
348erwartenverbto expect, to consider likely
349gewinnenverbto win, to be victorious
350Blicknounglance, look
351Liebenounlove
352Universitätnoununiversity
353Werknounwork, achievement
354Meinungnounopinion
355wesentlichadjectivesignificant
356nutzenverbto make use of, to deploy, to exploit, to harness, to take
357schließenverbto shut, to close, to shut down
358Ideenounidea
359bekanntadjectiveknown, familiar + accusative)
360Malnountime
361darinadverbin it, in that, therein
362Erfolgnounsuccess
363gesamtadjectivetotal, whole, entire, overall, big
364Todnoundeath
365Kopfnounhead
366gewißadjectiveFormerly standard spelling of gewiss which was deprecated in the spelling reform of 1996.
367aktuelladjectivecurrent, currently in action, live
368sitzenverbto sit, to perch
369sonstadverbotherwise
370zusätzlichadjectiveadditional, extra, supplementary
371Begriffnounterm, word
372bildenverbto form, to train
373jemandpronounsomeone, somebody
374gleichzeitigadjectivesimultaneous, concurrent, coincident, concomitant
375SeptembernounSeptember
376entscheidenverb) to decide, to make a decision
377baldadverbsoon, near in time
378Kampfnounfight, struggle
379endlichadjectivefinite, limited
380OktobernounOctober
381unterstützenverbto support, to assist, to help, to aid
382Lagenounlocation, position
383insgesamtadverboverall, altogether, in total, all in all, by and large, on the whole
384Preisnounprice
385fühlenverbto feel
386berichtenverbto relate, to tell, to give an account of
387Wassernounwater
388Regelnounrule
389Straßenounstreet, road
390tiefadjectivedeep
391lautadjectiveloud, noisy
392Inhaltnouncontent
393Mittelnounagent, appliance
394niemandpronounnobody, no one
395geringadjectivelittle, low
396sofortadverbimmediately, at once
397übernehmenverbto take over
398ändernverbto change, to alter
399Schrittnounstep, footstep
400rufenverbto call out, to shout, to cry, to shriek
401erfahrenverbto find out, learn, to come to know
402Beziehungnounrelation, relationship, connection
403dagegenadverbagainst it, against that
404falschadjectivefalse, unfactual, untrue
405menschlichadjectivehuman, manlike
406verwendenverbto use, to employ, to apply
407reinadjectivepure, clear, plain
408Richtungnoundirection
409steigenverbto ascend, to climb, to rise
410technischadjectivetechnical
411Bewegungnounmotion
412Gedankenounthought
413danachadverbafter it, after that, thereafter , afterwards
414hinausadverbout
415MainounMay
416Mediumnounmedia, medium
417Berichtnounreport, account, news story
418Diskussionnoundiscussion, debate
419dienenverbto serve in public office or the military
420erzählenverbto tell, to narrate, to recount
421Verhältnisnounrelation, ratio
422zumindestadverbat least
423Autornounauthor
424Organisationnounorganization, organisation
425Kundenouncustomer, patron, client
426nationaladjectivenational
427Machtnounpower, authority
428Stimmenounvoice , call of an animal
429Verfügungnoundisposal, disposition
430Minutenounminute
431Gefühlnounfeeling
432wirtschaftlichadjectiveeconomical
433Grenzenounborder
434wirkenverbto function, to be effective, to work
435Angstnounfear, fright, anxiety
436gelingenverbto turn out well, to work out, to go smoothly, to succeed, to come off
437Maßnahmenounmeasure
438Leistungnounperformance, accomplishment
439Gesprächnounconversation, chat
440positivadjectivepositive
441inzwischenadverbmeanwhile, in the meantime, now, by now, since
442Schülernounpupil, student, schoolboy
443darstellenverbto depict, represent
444ergebenverbto yield, produce
445darumadverbaround it, around that
446ProzeßnounFormerly standard spelling of Prozess which was deprecated in the spelling reform of 1996.
447schlagenverbto beat, to hit, to knock, to strike, to punch, to hammer, to pound
448Wahlnounchoice, selection
449heradverbhither, to this place, to here, to me/us
450verlassenverbto leave, to abandon, to depart, to forsake
451dennochadverbanyhow, however
452JuninounJune
453bittenverbto ask, to beg, to plead, to request
454NovembernounNovember
455genugpronounenough, an adequate number or amount
456Marktnounmarket
457privatadjectiveprivate
458bezeichnenverbto name , to call, to designate, to denote
459Arztnoundoctor, physician
460Nachtnounnight
461wählenverbto choose, to select
462modernverbto rot, to molder
463Ausgabenounedition, issue
464Kulturnounculture
465Körpernounbody
466geschehenverbto occur, to happen
467fehlenverbto lack
468erinnernverb+ accusative) to remind
469einsetzenverbto put in, set in, insert
470amerikanischadjectiveAmerican
471erfolgreichadjectivesuccessful
472zudemadverbmoreover, furthermore
473Herznounheart
474Bevölkerungnounpopulation
475Lösungnounsolution
476Gebietnounarea, region
477weiterhinadverbstill
478Bandnountape, ribbon
479bevoradverbbefore
480Sicherheitnouncertainty
481Chancenounchance
482FirmanounA company, a business.
483Kostennouncosts
484Mitarbeiternounperson who works, together with others, in a particular business or institution, employee
485gesellschaftlichadjectivesocial
486wissenschaftlichadjectivescientific
487Gefahrnoundanger, hazard, peril, risk
488wobeiadverbduring what
489betrachtenverbto look at, to consider, to behold
490wartenverbto wait
491Angebotnounoffer, proposition
492seltenadjectiverare, infrequent, uncommon, scarce
493erfolgenverbto happen, occur, take place
494durchausadverbabsolutely, fully, entirely
495AprilnounApril
496Wirtschaftnouneconomy
497beispielsweiseadverbfor example
498gerneadverbAlternative form of gern.
499JulinounJuly
500somitadverbtherefore, hence, thus

German frequency word lists

Most common verbs

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