Skip to main content
Goethe-Zertifikat C2 · word list

Goethe-Zertifikat C2 word list: the 100 most frequent words

Every word with its article, plural and an example sentence, most frequent first.

dieEintracht
—

Harmony, concord

Sie lebten in Eintracht. They lived in harmony.

gereichen

To serve as

Das gereicht ihm zur Ehre. That serves to his honor.

kontingent

Contingent

Die Entwicklung ist kontingent. The development is contingent.

harren

To await, to wait patiently

Sie mussten geduldig harren, bis die Entscheidung fiel. They awaited events.

dasAntlitz
die Antlitze

Countenance, face (literary)

Sein Antlitz war bleich. His countenance was pale.

dieFügung
die Fügungen

Fate, providence

Eine glückliche Fügung. A fortunate twist of fate.

dieReminiszenz
die Reminiszenzen

Reminiscence

Reminiszenzen an alte Zeiten. Reminiscences of old times.

dieErhabenheit
—

Sublimity, grandeur

Die Erhabenheit der Berge. The grandeur of the mountains.

derGram
—

Grief, sorrow

Vom Gram gezeichnet. Marked by grief.

performativ

Performative

Ich verspreche ist ein performativer Sprechakt. I promise is a performative speech act.

schmähen

To revile, to defame

Sie schmähten seinen Namen. They reviled his name.

dasAxiom
die Axiome

Axiom

Das mathematische Axiom bedarf keines Beweises. The mathematical axiom needs no proof.

derHabitus
die Habitus

Habitus

Der Habitus prägt das soziale Verhalten unbewusst. Habitus unconsciously shapes social behavior.

dieKosmologie
die Kosmologien

Cosmology

Die Kosmologie ist wichtig. The cosmology is important.

dieSchwermut
—

Melancholy

Schwermut lag in seinem Blick. Melancholy lay in his gaze.

dieTranszendenz
—

transcendence

Transzendenz übersteigt die Erfahrung. Transcendence exceeds experience.

anmaßend

Presumptuous, arrogant

Sein anmaßendes Verhalten. His presumptuous behavior.

anmuten

To appear, to seem

Die Situation muss allen Beteiligten seltsam anmuten. It seemed strange.

dieAssimilation
die Assimilationen

Assimilation

Die Assimilation wurde lange als Integrationsmodell favorisiert. Assimilation was long favored as an integration model.

dieBehaglichkeit
—

Coziness, comfort

Die Behaglichkeit des Zimmers war wohltuend. The coziness of the room was pleasant.

dezentralisieren

To decentralize

Die Verwaltung wurde dezentralisiert. Administration was decentralized.

ergötzen

To delight

Die Musik ergötzte sie. The music delighted them.

derHedonismus
—

hedonism

Hedonismus betont Vergnügen. Hedonism emphasizes pleasure.

dieImmunologie
die Immunologien

Immunology

Die Immunologie ist wichtig. The immunology is important.

dieJurisdiktion
die Jurisdiktionen

Jurisdiction

Die Jurisdiktion des Gerichts erstreckt sich auf internationale Fälle. The jurisdiction of the court extends to international cases.

kontextualisieren

To contextualize

Die Aussage muss kontextualisiert werden. The statement must be contextualized.

obliegen

To be incumbent upon

Es obliegt ihm zu entscheiden. It is incumbent upon him to decide.

diePhysiologie
die Physiologien

Physiology

Die Physiologie ist wichtig. The physiology is important.

profund

Profound

Eine profunde Analyse ist erforderlich. A profound analysis is required.

sedieren

to sedate

Der Patient wurde sediert. The patient was sedated.

ungestüm

Impetuous, turbulent

Seine ungestüme Art. His impetuous manner.

unsäglich

Unspeakable

Er litt unsäglich. He suffered unspeakably.

verheißen

To promise, to foretell

Das verheißt nichts Gutes. This does not bode well.

abtrünnig

Disloyal, renegade

Er wurde abtrünnig. He became disloyal.

apokalyptisch

apocalyptic

Die Szenen waren apokalyptisch. The scenes were apocalyptic.

derArchetypus
die Archetypen

Archetype

Der Archetypus ist wichtig. The archetype is important.

darben

To suffer want

Sie mussten darben. They had to suffer want.

ehrfürchtig

Reverential

Sie betrachteten das Werk ehrfürchtig. They viewed the work reverentially.

derEuphemismus
die Euphemismen

Euphemism

Entschlafen ist ein Euphemismus für sterben. To pass away is a euphemism for to die.

fahl

Pale, pallid

Ein fahles Gesicht. A pale face.

Showing 40 of 100

Ready to Test Your German?

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

Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom exam guide as PDF

Format · strategy for every part · sample questions with answers

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
236Words in our bank
100Words on this page
2026Updated

Frequently Asked Questions

What vocabulary level is required for Goethe C2?

The Goethe C2 level represents near-native proficiency, requiring approximately 8,000-10,000 words. This includes complete mastery of all previous levels plus highly specialized vocabulary, rare words, regional expressions, and the ability to understand virtually any German text or speech.

What topics are covered in C2 German vocabulary?

C2 vocabulary covers highly specialized and nuanced topics including literary analysis, advanced philosophy, specialized legal terminology, historical linguistics, dialectal variations, rhetorical devices, archaic expressions, and discipline-specific jargon across fields like medicine, law, and academia.

How is C2 vocabulary different from C1?

While C1 provides advanced competency, C2 represents mastery. C2 vocabulary includes rare and literary words, subtle connotations, regional dialects, historical expressions, and the ability to understand humor, irony, and cultural references that even educated native speakers might find challenging.

How long does it take to reach C2 level German?

Reaching C2 level typically requires 1,000-1,200+ hours of total study from beginner, often more. From C1, expect an additional 200-400 hours of intensive study. Most learners at C2 have spent significant time in German-speaking countries or work extensively with German texts and media.

Is C2 German vocabulary necessary for most learners?

C2 is rarely necessary for everyday life or most professional contexts. It is primarily for those pursuing academic careers in German studies, translation/interpretation, journalism in German, or those who want complete mastery of the language. Most learners find C1 sufficient for professional and social purposes.