After English, German is the most widely spoken language of the European Union, and is spoken by over 229 million people worldwide. German is an official language of numerous countries— including Austria, Belgium, Germany, parts of Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Poland, and Switzerland. Knowing the German language becomes an asset for personal growth, but also a valuable asset in the business world.
Learning basic German can sometimes have a reputation for being a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be. If you know how to speak English, you already have a considerable leg up when learning to speak basic German . German and English are considered linguistic siblings as they are both Germanic languages originating from the same mother tongue. And, interestingly, 80 of the 100 most common words in English are Germanic in origin.
So whether you want to learn basic German for vacation, business, or because you are intrigued with their infamously long, compound words, you can start off by familiarizing yourself with some of these basic German words and phrases.
- Guten Tag = Good day
- Hallo = Hello
- Auf Wiedersehen = Goodbye
- Ja = Yes
- Nein = No
- Bitte = Please
- Danke = Thanks, Thank you
- Entschuldigung = Sorry
- Gesundheit = Bless you (after someone sneezes)
- Ja = Yes
- Nein = No
- Wer? = Who?
- Was? = What?
- Warum? = Why?
- Woher? = Where?
And when you’re ready to learn German, Rosetta Stone is here to help!
Learn Basic German Words and Phrases
Research on learning a new language shows that your ability to learn is mostly a matter of practice. And your confidence is built through speaking, and contextualizing. This type of learning is precisely how Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion® methodology is structured. Our approach will effectively teach you how to use the German language in everyday life, beyond just the basic German words.
Many people unfortunately hesitate to take on a new language because they are concerned with the large time commitment of such an endeavor. Or they believe that learning a language is costly. We want you to put those common misconceptions aside. Rosetta Stone makes learning basic German convenient to fit into your everyday life, and at a fraction of the cost of a classroom course.
The age-old expression that “practice makes perfect” is even more relevant when learning a new language. In fact, practice and pronunciation are the two most important aspects of learning a new language. With Rosetta Stone’s brief, 10 minute lessons, you will fit practice into your daily routine with ease. And with Rosetta Stone’s award-winning mobile app which is included with your subscription, daily practice is even more convenient.
The other critical component is pronunciation. In order to develop the skills to accurately pronounce German, you will need real-time feedback on your pronunciation efforts. We help you perfect your pronunciation with our patented TruAccent™ speech-recognition engine. Your voice will be compared to native speakers and you will receive real-time feedback necessary to adjust and fine-tune your accent on the spot. TruAccent is a powerful tool for helping you learn and speak basic German with confidence.
Try Our Award-Winning App
Surround yourself with German whenever, wherever with the Rosetta Stone app .
Download a unit and knock it out on the train or a flight. Select a 5-10 minute lesson and sneak it in while you wait in line or for your ride to show up. And explore dynamic features, like Seek and Speak, where you can point at an object in the real world and get a translation.
The best part? You don’t have to choose between app or desktop. Both come with your subscription and sync, so you can switch between devices seamlessly.
