Start Smart. Speak Fast. Learn What You’ll Actually Use.
Let’s be honest:
Not every German word in your beginner book is worth memorizing on Day 1.
Do you really need to know Papagei (parrot) before you can say “Excuse me” or “I need help”?
If you’re just starting German, this is your no-fluff, survival word list — 50 essential words and phrases that will help you speak, understand, and survive your first real conversations.
Let’s go from Hallo to Hilfe! — fast.
👋 Greetings & Essentials (Start Here)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Hallo | Hello |
| Guten Tag | Good day |
| Guten Morgen | Good morning |
| Tschüss | Bye |
| Ja | Yes |
| Nein | No |
| Bitte | Please / You’re welcome |
| Danke | Thank you |
| Entschuldigung | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Hilfe! | Help! |
🎯 Use these 10 daily — they’re your social Swiss Army knife.
🧑🤝🧑 People, Pronouns, & Politeness
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| Du | You (informal) |
| Sie | You (formal) |
| Wir | We |
| Mein(e) | My |
| Ihr(e) | Your (formal) |
| Mann | Man |
| Frau | Woman |
| Kind | Child |
| Name | Name |
🎯 These help you talk about yourself and others — fast.
🏠 Places & Directions
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Wo | Where |
| Hier | Here |
| Da / Dort | There |
| Straße | Street |
| Bahnhof | Train station |
| Toilette | Bathroom |
| Hotel | Hotel |
| Supermarkt | Supermarket |
| Haus | House / Home |
| links / rechts | Left / right |
🎯 These words help you ask for or give directions (and find the bathroom 🧻).
🍽️ Food, Drink, and Ordering
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Wasser | Water |
| Brot | Bread |
| Kaffee | Coffee |
| Bier | Beer |
| Essen | Food / to eat |
| Trinken | To drink |
| Ich möchte | I would like |
| Zahlen | To pay |
| Rechnung | Bill / check |
| Menü | Menu |
🎯 Learn these before your first restaurant visit — they’re lifesavers.
🧠 Verbs That Keep You Talking
| German | English |
|---|---|
| sein | To be |
| haben | To have |
| gehen | To go |
| kommen | To come |
| machen | To do / make |
| sprechen | To speak |
| verstehen | To understand |
| brauchen | To need |
| wissen | To know |
| können | Can / be able to |
🎯 These are the power verbs of beginner German. Learn them early, use them often.
💬 Real-World Phrases Using These Words
- Ich heiße Anna. = My name is Anna.
- Wo ist die Toilette? = Where is the bathroom?
- Ich möchte bezahlen. = I would like to pay.
- Ich habe Hunger. = I’m hungry.
- Ich verstehe nicht. = I don’t understand.
- Können Sie bitte helfen? = Can you help, please?
✅ Combine your 50 words into real, useful chunks. That’s how fluency begins.
🧾 Final Thought: Learn What You’ll Actually Use
Too many learners waste time on vocab that won’t help them for months.
Start instead with the first 50 words that unlock real-life situations — ordering food, introducing yourself, asking for directions, or saying “no, thank you” with confidence.
This isn’t “learn German perfectly.” This is “start speaking German today.”
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