Learning German can feel like a mountain at first—so many words, pronunciations, and grammar rules! Don’t worry. By the end of this guide, you’ll know 100 essential German words to get started, plus practical tips, exercises, and fun ways to remember them. Imagine you’re on a little German adventure—you’ve got your map (these words) and your guide (me!).

How to Use This List 📝

Here’s the trick: don’t try to memorize all 100 words at once. Break them into small groups, practice with real-life examples, and use our mini exercises along the way. Think of it like planting seeds—slowly, they’ll grow into a forest of German vocabulary in your mind.

1. Greetings & Basic Phrases 👋

These are your first tools for conversation. Imagine meeting a German friend for the first time:

  • Hallo – Hello

    • Hallo! Wie geht’s? → Hello! How are you?

  • Guten Morgen – Good morning

    • Guten Morgen! Hast du gut geschlafen? → Good morning! Did you sleep well?

  • Guten Abend – Good evening

    • Guten Abend! Schön, dich zu sehen. → Good evening! Nice to see you.

  • Tschüss – Bye

    • Tschüss! Bis morgen! → Bye! See you tomorrow!

  • Bitte – Please / You’re welcome

    • Kannst du mir bitte helfen? → Can you help me, please?

  • Danke – Thank you

    • Danke für deine Hilfe. → Thank you for your help.

Exercise: Tomorrow, greet five friends or family members in German. Mix “Hallo,” “Guten Morgen,” and “Guten Abend.”

2. Numbers & Time ⏰

Numbers are everywhere—shopping, telling time, or counting items.

  • eins – one

  • zwei – two

  • drei – three

  • vier – four

  • fünf – five

  • sechs – six

  • sieben – seven

  • acht – eight

  • neun – nine

  • zehn – ten

Example:

  • Ich habe zwei Katzen. → I have two cats.

  • Es ist sieben Uhr. → It is seven o’clock.

Tip: Use your fingers to count in German. It’s visual and helps memorization.

3. Everyday Essentials 🗝️

These words pop up in almost every conversation.

  • Ja – Yes

  • Nein – No

  • Vielleicht – Maybe

  • Entschuldigung – Excuse me / Sorry

  • Ich – I

  • Du – You (informal)

  • Sie – You (formal)

  • Wir – We

  • Sie – They

Example:

  • Ich heiße Anna. Und du? → My name is Anna. And you?

  • Entschuldigung, wo ist die Toilette? → Excuse me, where is the bathroom?

Exercise: Introduce yourself in German. Say your name, where you’re from, and ask a simple question.

4. Food & Drink 🍎☕

Eating is fun, and talking about food is a great way to practice.

  • Brot – Bread

  • Wasser – Water

  • Milch – Milk

  • Kaffee – Coffee

  • Tee – Tea

  • Apfel – Apple

  • Käse – Cheese

Example:

  • Ich möchte einen Apfel und ein Glas Wasser. → I would like an apple and a glass of water.

Tip: Make a mini shopping list in German next time you go to the store.

5. Places & Directions 🏠🛤️

Navigating a new city becomes easier with these words.

  • Haus – House

  • Schule – School

  • Bahnhof – Train station

  • Straße – Street

  • links – Left

  • rechts – Right

  • geradeaus – Straight ahead

Example:

  • Geh geradeaus und dann rechts. → Go straight and then turn right.

Exercise: Practice giving directions to a friend or imagine walking through a German city.

6. Common Verbs 🏃‍♂️

Verbs are action words. Start small and build gradually.

  • sein – to be

  • haben – to have

  • gehen – to go

  • kommen – to come

  • essen – to eat

  • trinken – to drink

  • sprechen – to speak

Example:

  • Ich bin müde. → I am tired.

  • Wir sprechen Deutsch. → We speak German.

Tip: Form simple sentences using “ich” (I) + verb. Example: Ich esse Brot.

7. Colors & Adjectives 🎨

Describing things makes your German richer.

  • rot – red

  • blau – blue

  • grün – green

  • schön – beautiful

  • klein – small

  • groß – big

Example:

  • Das Auto ist rot. → The car is red.

  • Mein Hund ist groß. → My dog is big.

Exercise: Describe three objects in your room using colors and sizes in German.

8. Family & People 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Talking about family comes up in conversation often.

  • Mutter – Mother

  • Vater – Father

  • Bruder – Brother

  • Schwester – Sister

  • Freund – Friend (male)

  • Freundin – Friend (female)

Example:

  • Meine Schwester heißt Anna. → My sister’s name is Anna.

Tip: Draw a mini family tree and label everyone in German.

9. Days, Months & Weather ☀️🌧️

Perfect for talking about schedules and small talk.

  • Montag – Monday

  • Dienstag – Tuesday

  • Januar – January

  • Februar – February

  • Sonne – Sun

  • Regen – Rain

Example:

  • Am Montag gehe ich zur Schule. → On Monday I go to school.

  • Heute ist sonnig. → Today is sunny.

10. Quick Survival Phrases 🆘

These are must-knows for daily situations.

  • Wie viel kostet das? – How much does it cost?

  • Ich verstehe nicht. – I don’t understand.

  • Können Sie helfen? – Can you help?

  • Wo ist…? – Where is…?

  • Ich brauche… – I need…

Example:

  • Können Sie mir helfen? Ich habe mich verlaufen. → Can you help me? I am lost.

Mini Quiz: Test Yourself ✅

  1. How do you say “Thank you” in German?

  2. What is the German word for “water”?

  3. Translate: I am tired.

  4. What is “friend” for a female in German?

  5. How do you ask “Where is the bathroom?”

Answers: 1. Danke, 2. Wasser, 3. Ich bin müde, 4. Freundin, 5. Wo ist die Toilette?

Tips for Memorization 💡

  • Flashcards: Write German on one side, English on the other.

  • Association: Link words to images or personal experiences.

  • Repetition: Practice a few words daily instead of all 100 at once.

  • Speak aloud: Use your words in sentences or conversations—even simple ones.

Conclusion 🎯

Congratulations! You now have 100 German words in your beginner toolkit. Don’t rush—practice a little each day. Language learning is like exercising a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it gets.

For next steps, check out guides on German verbs for beginners, common German phrases, and simple German grammar tips. Keep practicing, stay curious, and soon you’ll notice German appearing everywhere around you!