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A1

German Words for A1

Master the essential vocabulary for Goethe-Zertifikat A1

801

Total Words

280

words

2026

Updated

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280 of the 801 A1 words — the most frequent ones

Ordered by how often they occur in real language use. Meaning, plural and an example sentence for each.

Showing 280 of 280

WordMeaning
derThe small word placed before a masculine noun like “man”, “day”, or “car”.
undAnd
inIn, inside something
dasA word used before neuter nouns like car, child, or book.
mitWith, together
zuTo, in direction of
vonFrom; of/belonging to
aufOn, on top of a surface
fürFor, for the benefit of
einThe number 1, used for example with 1 meter or 1 kilo.
esIt
sichThis 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.
nichtSaid when something is false or when saying no.
auchAlso
sieShe
seinTo be; to exist; to have a state
anAt
beiAt/Near; at someone's place
erHe
nachTo (place); after (time)
ausFrom
habenTo have; to possess
wieHow, asks about manner
werdenLater, a child becomes a man or a woman.
umAround, at
alleAll
könnenCan; to be able to
vorIn front of; before (time)
aberBut
nochStill, yet
überOver, above
soSo
oderOr
wirWe
nurOnly
gebenTo give
ichI
mehrYou say this when a number gets bigger.
manOne
bisUntil, up to a point in time or place
gegenAgainst
das JahrJahreA period of twelve months.
müssenMust; to have to
sagenTo say, to make words with the mouth
durchThrough
kommenTo come; to arrive
wasWhat, asks about a thing
unterUnder, lower than something else
gehenTo go; to walk
machenTo make; to do
stehenTo stand
wollenTo want
zweiTwo, the number 2
schonAlready
dannThen
seitSince
der EuroEuroEuro
gutGood; of high quality
der MenschMenschenhuman being, person
immerAlways, at all times, without exception
ihrYou
die UhrUhrenWatch/Clock, shows time, on arm or wall
abFrom a point in time or place, not before.
sollenshould, ought to
dieserThis
daThere
jetztNow, at this moment
sehenTo see; to perceive with eyes
weitWide, loose
zwischenBetween
bleibento stay, to remain
lautLoud
dreiThree, the number 3
hierHere
die PolizeiPolice
der DeutscheDeutschenA person from the country whose capital is Berlin; for a woman, you say die Deutsche.
sehrVery
die ZeitZeitenTime, hours, days, years; when something happens
findenTo find
der MannMännerMan, an adult male person; husband
das DeutschlandGermany — a country in Europe.
liegenTo lie
weiterYou say this when something doesn't stop.
die FrauFrauenWoman, an adult female person; wife
das EndeEndenEnd
bringenTo bring
dennBecause, for
ohneWithout, not with
unsus
werWho, asks about a person
dortThere
malonce
lebento live
die WocheWochenWeek, seven days, from Monday to Sunday
das LandLänderCountry; countryside
der TagTageIt has many hours, from morning to night.
heuteToday, on this day
erklärenTo explain
die StadtStädteCity, a large place with many people
ihnUsed for a man that is already known — the object form of 'he'.
das KindKinderChild, a young person, son or daughter
spielenTo play; to engage in a game
andereSomething that is not the same as this one.
nehmenTo take
das DeutschGerman, the language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland
alsoSo, therefore
sprechenTo speak; to talk
allesEverything
das LebenThe time a person has in the world.
ihmhim
treffenTo meet
keinA word meaning “not a” or “not any”.
die ArbeitArbeitenWork, job
haltenTo hold; to stop
vierFour, the number 4
heißento be called
die FrageFragenQuestion, when you want to know something
woWhere, asks about a place
tunto do
wissenTo know (a fact)
einmalOnce
der TeilTeileIt belongs to a book or text, but it's not all of it.
erstefirst
arbeitenTo work; to have a job
diesThis — similar to saying “that” or “this here”.
einfachSimple, easy
spätLate
der PlatzPlätzeSquare, place
zurückBack
die StraßeStraßenStreet, a path for cars and pedestrians
wichtigImportant
neuNew; recently made or bought
geradeRight now
der JungeJungenA male child, not yet an adult.
fünfFive, the number 5
schnellFast; quick
das ThemaThementheme
die WeltWeltenWorld
oftOften, many times, frequently
schreibenTo write; to put words on paper
die FamilieFamilienFamily, parents and children together
bekommenTo get
späterlater
kurzShort
laufenTo run, to go fast
die StelleStellenposition, job
das AutoAutosCar, a vehicle with four wheels
jaYes
der OrtOrtePlace
gehörenTo belong
großBig; large; tall
nichtsNothing
bekanntFamous, well-known
fahrenTo drive, to go
beginnenTo begin, to start
fragenTo ask, to want to know something
das ProblemProblemeThis makes life difficult for a person.
hörenTo hear; to perceive with ears
ihnenthem
kostenTo cost
der SonntagSonntageSunday, the seventh day of the week
die MinuteMinutenMinute, 60 seconds
der FreitagFreitageFriday, the fifth day of the week
die StundeStundenHour, 60 minutes
möglichPossible
brauchenTo need; to require
klarEasy to understand, without any problem.
der SamstagSamstageSaturday, the sixth day of the week
zehnTen, the number 10
das BerlinBerlin is a big city in Germany.
welcheWhich
duYou
gewinnenTo win
das BildBilderPicture, image
langLong
das HausHäuserHouse, a building where people live
schwerHeavy, difficult
wenigThis is not much.
der Blickdie BlickeA view — looking far, often at something beautiful.
die SeiteSeitenPage
das GeldMoney
beideBoth — used for two people or things together, not only one.
besserbesserebetter
der AnfangAnfängeBeginning, start
suchenTo search, to look for
warumWhy, asks about the reason
zusammenTogether
der OktoberOctober
das EuropaA continent with many countries, for example Germany.
sechsSix, the number 6
der SeptemberSeptember
der MontagMontageMonday, the first day of the week
der MittwochMittwocheWednesday, the third day of the week
nieNever, at no time
helfenTo help, to support someone
der JuniJune
der MonatMonateMonth, about 30 days, January to December
feiernTo celebrate
das BeispielBeispieleExample
der DienstagDienstageTuesday, the second day of the week
zahlento pay
der DonnerstagDonnerstageThursday, the fourth day of the week
der NovemberNovember
der PreisPreisePrice
das GesprächGesprächeConversation, talk
schließenTo close
das ErgebnisErgebnisseResult
der JuliJuly
stellenTo put or place something somewhere.
der MaiMay
die MitteMittenmiddle
der NameNamenName, what you are called
die NachtNächteNight
vielleichtMaybe, perhaps
gleichSoon, after a very short time.
der SommerSommerSummer
der AugustAugust
der DezemberDecember
die GruppeGruppengroup
die SchuleSchulenSchool, a building for learning
der AbendAbendeEvening
der Gastdie GästeA man or a woman you like to have at home.
der JanuarJanuary
der MärzMarch
der VereinVereineThis is a group for sports or a hobby.
das AngebotAngeboteOffer, sale
der AprilApril
bedeutenTo mean
leichtNot hard to understand or do.
weißWhite, the lightest color, like snow
achtEight, the number 8
der FebruarFebruary
freuento be happy, to look forward to
der Beamtedie BeamtenA person who works at the counter (official).
richtigRight; correct
das WochenendeWochenendenWeekend
alleinAlone
die WohnungWohnungenApartment, flat
siebenSeven, the number 7
das AlterHow many years a person has already lived.
sofortImmediately
der RaumRäumeThis is a part of a house or a school.
die InformationInformationenInformation
das WasserWater, a clear liquid for drinking
die MutterMütterMother, the woman who gave birth to a child
das DatumDatendate
dürfenMay — allowed to do something, not forbidden.
kennenTo know (a person/thing)
der PlanPläneA map of a city or of streets.
sitzenTo sit
die HandHändeHand, the part at the end of the arm with fingers
wartenTo wait
hochReaching far upward; tall or high.
der JugendlicheJugendlichenteenager, adolescent
die JugendlicheJugendlichenteenager, adolescent
baldSoon
der KundeKundenA person who buys something in a shop.
unserOur
zweiteThis is number two.
die LösungLösungenSolution
der Filmdie FilmeIt plays at the cinema or on television.
holenTo fetch, to get
meinMy
der Fahrerdie FahrerThe man who drives a car or a bus.
der VaterVäterFather, the man who has a child
die Aufgabedie AufgabenA piece of work done at school or at a job.
altOld; not young
der MomentMomenteThis is the word for a very short time.
bittenTo ask, to request
nächsteThis comes right after this one.
öffnenTo open
der DankA word you say when someone does something good for you.
linksLeft
letzteThe one at the end, after everything else.
das FotoFotosPhoto
das BadBäderBathroom, a room with bathtub or shower
lesenTo read; to understand written text
früherearlier, formerly
die FirmaFirmenCompany, firm
die HilfeSomething good you do for a person who needs it.

Frequently Asked Questions about Goethe A1 Vocabulary

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

The Goethe A1 exam requires approximately 600-800 active vocabulary words. This list covers the essential words across all required topics including personal information, family, numbers, days, food, housing, daily routines, colors, body parts, and professions.

What topics are covered in Goethe A1 vocabulary?

Goethe A1 vocabulary covers 10 essential topics: Personal Information (name, address), Family Members, Numbers (0-1000), 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, absolutely! German nouns always have a gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) which determines 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.

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