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Goethe-Zertifikat A1 · word list

Goethe-Zertifikat A1 word list: the 280 most frequent words

Every word with its article, plural and an example sentence. 274 of them are on the official Goethe-Zertifikat A1 word list.

derGoethe A1

The small word placed before a masculine noun like “man”, “day”, or “car”.

Der Mann kommt aus Berlin. The man comes from Berlin.

undGoethe A1

And

Ich und du. You and I.

inGoethe A1

In, inside something

Ich bin in der Schule. I am in school.

dasGoethe A1

A word used before neuter nouns like car, child, or book.

Das ist mein Buch. That is my book.

mitGoethe A1

With, together

Ich gehe mit meinem Freund. I go with my friend.

zuGoethe A1

To, in direction of

Ich gehe zu meiner Freundin. I go to my friend's place.

vonGoethe A1

From; of/belonging to

Ich komme von der Arbeit. I come from work.

aufGoethe A1

On, on top of a surface

Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. The book is on the table.

fürGoethe A1

For, for the benefit of

Das Geschenk ist für dich. The gift is for you.

einGoethe A1

The number 1, used for example with 1 meter or 1 kilo.

Der Tisch ist ein Meter breit. The table is one meter wide.

esGoethe A1

It

Es ist kalt. It is cold.

sichGoethe A1

This word is used with certain verbs to show that the action refers back to the same person, for example to wash or to be happy.

Er freut sich über das Geschenk. He is happy about the gift.

nichtGoethe A1

Said when something is false or when saying no.

Das stimmt nicht. That's not right.

auchGoethe A1

Also

Ich auch. Me too.

sieGoethe A1

She

Sie ist schön. She is beautiful.

seinGoethe A1

To be; to exist; to have a state

Ich bin müde. I am tired.

anGoethe A1

At

An der Wand. At the wall.

beiGoethe A1

At/Near; at someone's place

Ich bin bei meiner Mutter. I am at my mother's place.

erGoethe A1

He

Er ist groß. He is tall.

nachGoethe A1

To (place); after (time)

Ich fahre nach Berlin. I go to Berlin.

ausGoethe A1

From

Aus Deutschland. From Germany.

habenGoethe A1

To have; to possess

Ich habe ein Auto. I have a car.

wieGoethe A1

How, asks about manner

Wie geht es dir? How are you?

werdenGoethe A1

Later, a child becomes a man or a woman.

Ich werde bald Arzt. I'm going to be a doctor soon.

umGoethe A1

Around, at

Um 8 Uhr. At 8 oclock.

alleGoethe A1

All

Alle sind gekommen. Everyone came.

könnenGoethe A1

Can; to be able to

Ich kann schwimmen. I can swim.

vorGoethe A1

In front of; before (time)

Ich stehe vor der Tür. I stand in front of the door.

aberGoethe A1

But

Ich möchte, aber ich kann nicht. I want to, but I cannot.

nochGoethe A1

Still, yet

Ich arbeite noch. I am still working.

überGoethe A1

Over, above

Die Lampe hängt über dem Tisch. The lamp hangs over the table.

soGoethe A1

So

Mach es so. Do it like this.

oderGoethe A1

Or

Kaffee oder Tee? Coffee or tea?

wirGoethe A1

We

Wir sind Freunde. We are friends.

nurGoethe A1

Only

Ich habe nur einen. I have only one.

gebenGoethe A1

To give

Ich gebe dir das Buch. I give you the book.

ichGoethe A1

I

Ich bin hier. I am here.

mehrGoethe A1

You say this when a number gets bigger.

Ich möchte noch mehr Wasser, bitte. I would like some more water, please.

manGoethe A1

One

Man sagt das oft. One often says that.

bisGoethe A1

Until, up to a point in time or place

Bis morgen! See you tomorrow!

Showing 40 of 280

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801Words in our bank
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2026Updated

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Frequently asked questions about Goethe A1 vocabulary

How many words do I need to know for Goethe A1?

The official Goethe A1 word list covers about 650 words, about half of them for active use. This page shows the 280 most frequent A1 words from our 801-word bank; the full list is in the app.

Is there an official Goethe A1 word list?

Yes. The Goethe-Institut publishes an official word list for the Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 as a free PDF. It covers about 650 words, and the Goethe-Institut expects you to use about half of them actively. The list opens with the A1 topic areas and 13 word groups, such as numbers, days and months, followed by an alphabetical list with example sentences. The youth exam, Fit in Deutsch 1, has its own separate list.

Where can I download the Goethe A1 vocabulary PDF?

Download it for free from the A1 exam training page (Prüfungstraining) on goethe.de, next to the free practice tests; no login is needed. The Goethe-Institut calls the list a reference for the level and says it is less suited to drilling vocabulary. This page gives you the 280 most frequent A1 words with articles, plurals and example sentences, also as a PDF with a free account. Our full 801-word list is in the app.

What topics are covered in Goethe A1 vocabulary?

Goethe A1 vocabulary covers 10 essential topics: personal information (name, address), family members, numbers (0–1,000), days of the week, food and drinks, housing and furniture, daily activities, colors, body parts, and common professions. Each topic is essential for basic everyday communication.

Should I learn German articles (der, die, das) with vocabulary?

Yes. Every German noun has a gender (masculine, feminine or neuter), and the gender decides the article. Learning the article with each noun is crucial because it affects adjective endings, pronouns, and grammar throughout the language. This list includes articles with every noun.

How long does it take to learn Goethe A1 vocabulary?

With consistent daily practice of 15–30 minutes, most learners can cover the A1 vocabulary in 2–3 months. Using spaced repetition, flashcards, and practicing with example sentences helps improve retention. Focus on 10–15 new words per day for sustainable progress.

What is the best way to memorize German vocabulary?

The most effective methods include: learning words in context with example sentences, using spaced repetition systems (SRS), practicing pronunciation by listening and repeating, grouping words by topic, and using the words in your own sentences. This list provides examples for every word to help with contextual learning.