Skip to main content
Goethe-Zertifikat B1 · word list

Goethe-Zertifikat B1 word list: the 500 most frequent words

Every word with its article, plural and an example sentence. 421 of them are on the official Goethe-Zertifikat B1 word list.

nunGoethe B1

Now

Nun bin ich fertig. Now I'm done.

bereitsGoethe B1

Already

Ich bin bereits fertig. I am already done.

damitGoethe B1

So that, in order that

Ich lerne, damit ich die Prüfung bestehe. I study so that I pass the exam.

vieleGoethe B1

Many

Viele Leute kommen. Many people come.

dieWareGoethe B1
die Waren

goods; a product that is sold or bought

Wir liefern Ihnen die Ware direkt ins Haus. We deliver the goods directly to your home.

etwaGoethe B1

Approximately, not exact, but close to the right number.

Die Fahrt dauert etwa zwei Stunden. The trip takes about two hours.

währendGoethe B1

During, while

Während des Films habe ich geschlafen. I slept during the movie.

sondernGoethe B1

But rather

Nicht rot, sondern blau. Not red, but blue.

obGoethe B1

Whether, if

Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt. I do not know whether he comes.

dazu

To it

Dazu sage ich nichts. I say nothing to that.

dieMillionGoethe B1
die Millionen

a very large number: 1,000,000

Diese Stadt hat mehr als eine Million Einwohner. This city has more than a million inhabitants.

jedochGoethe B1

However

Es ist teuer, jedoch sehr gut. It is expensive, however very good.

führenGoethe B1

to lead

Ich möchte das Team führen. I want to lead the team.

dasUnternehmen
die Unternehmen

Company, enterprise

Das Unternehmen hat 500 Mitarbeiter. The company has 500 employees.

allerdingsGoethe B1

However, though

Das Essen ist gut, allerdings teuer. The food is good, however expensive.

sich treffen

To meet

Er möchte sich heute Abend mit alten Freunden treffen. He wants to meet up with old friends tonight.

dieMacht
die Mächte

power

Macht kann missbraucht werden. Power can be abused.

sorgenGoethe B1

to worry, to care for

Ich sorge mich um dich. I worry about you.

geltenGoethe B1

To be valid, to apply

Diese Regel gilt für alle. This rule applies to everyone.

vor allem

Above all

Vor allem brauchen wir Zeit. Above all, we need time.

davon

Of it

Davon habe ich gehört. I've heard of that.

ursprünglichGoethe B1

originally, at first

Ursprünglich wollten wir nach Rom fahren, aber wir änderten unsere Pläne. Originally we wanted to go to Rome, but we changed our plans.

dieFolgeGoethe B1
die Folgen

Consequence, result

Die Folgen waren schwerwiegend. The consequences were serious.

derFallGoethe B1
die Fälle

A particular situation or event.

In diesem Fall müssen wir schnell reagieren. In this case, we have to react quickly.

stattGoethe B1

Instead of

Statt Kaffee trinke ich Tee. Instead of coffee, I drink tea.

zwarGoethe B1

Indeed

Zwar ist es teuer, aber... It is expensive, but...

darauf

On it

Darauf achte ich. I pay attention to that.

dieUkraineGoethe B1
—

a country in Eastern Europe

Seine Familie kommt ursprünglich aus der Ukraine. His family originally comes from Ukraine.

folgenGoethe B1

to follow

Folge mir auf Instagram. Follow me on Instagram.

erhaltenGoethe B1

To receive

Ich habe Ihre Nachricht erhalten. I received your message.

dieAngabeGoethe B1
die Angaben

a piece of information you provide, e.g. on a form

Bitte machen Sie hier eine Angabe zu Ihrem Beruf. Please state your profession here.

insgesamtGoethe B1

Overall, in total

Insgesamt war es ein guter Tag. Overall, it was a good day.

ebenfallsGoethe B1

Likewise

Ebenfalls danke. Likewise, thank you.

dieParteiGoethe B1
die Parteien

a group of people with the same political goals

Ich habe diese Partei bei der Wahl nicht gewählt. I did not vote for this party in the election.

wohlGoethe B1

probably, that is what one assumes

Das wird wohl etwas länger dauern als geplant. That will probably take a bit longer than planned.

betonen

To emphasize, to stress

Sie betonte die Wichtigkeit der Bildung. She emphasized the importance of education.

fordernGoethe B1

To demand

Die Arbeiter fordern höhere Löhne. The workers demand higher wages.

nahGoethe B1

near, close

Das ist ganz nah. That is very close.

trotzGoethe B1

Despite, in spite of

Trotz des Regens gehe ich spazieren. Despite the rain, I go for a walk.

zunächstGoethe B1

First, initially

Zunächst müssen wir planen. First, we must plan.

Showing 40 of 500

Ready to Test Your German?

Take a Goethe mock exam. AI grades your writing within minutes.
View Pricing

Goethe-Zertifikat B1 exam guide as PDF

Format · strategy for every part · sample questions with answers

2220Words in our bank
500Words on this page
2026Updated

Why practice with ScoreUp Pro

  • Mock exams in the official Goethe-Zertifikat format — the same parts, item counts and timing as the real exam
  • Writing graded by AI against the official criteria, with feedback in your language
  • Reading and listening scored instantly, every answer explained
  • 3 exam sections free, no card needed. Practice stays free.
See the exam format

Frequently Asked Questions

How many words do I need for Goethe B1?

The Goethe B1 level requires approximately 2,400 words. This includes all vocabulary from A1 and A2 levels plus around 1,000 new B1 words covering topics like education, media, environment, relationships, and professional life.

Is there an official Goethe B1 word list?

Yes. The Goethe-Institut publishes an official word list for the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 as a free PDF. It covers about 2,400 words. Frequent groups such as numbers, currencies and countries come first, followed by an alphabetical list whose example sentences show typical contexts and meanings. Unlike the A2 list, it marks standard variants from Austria and Switzerland. Exam texts can contain words that are not on the list; you do not need them to solve the tasks.

Where can I download the Goethe B1 vocabulary PDF?

Download it for free from the B1 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 500 most frequent B1 words with articles, plurals and example sentences, also as a PDF with a free account. Our full 2,220-word list is in the app.

What topics are covered in Goethe B1 vocabulary?

B1 vocabulary covers more abstract and complex topics including education and career (Bildung, Beruf), media and technology (Medien), society and politics (Gesellschaft), environment and sustainability (Umwelt), emotions and feelings (Gefühle), relationships (Beziehungen), and housing (Wohnung).

How is B1 vocabulary different from A2?

B1 vocabulary includes more abstract concepts, compound nouns, and reflexive verbs. You will learn words for expressing opinions, discussing current events, describing emotions in detail, and handling more complex everyday situations like renting apartments or discussing career goals.

How long does it take to reach B1 level German?

Reaching B1 level typically requires 350-400 hours of study from absolute beginner level. If you already have A2 certification, expect an additional 150-200 hours of focused study to reach B1. Regular practice with native content accelerates vocabulary acquisition.

What is the best way to learn B1 German vocabulary?

At B1 level, immersion becomes crucial. Read German news articles, watch TV shows, and listen to podcasts. Focus on learning words in context through example sentences. Practice expressing your opinions on topics like environment, politics, and relationships using new vocabulary.