Do I need to know German? (2024)

FAQs

How many German words do I need to know? ›

In order to feel comfortable speaking German, you really only need to learn about 3,000 words. In contrast, being fluent in German is defined as understanding 10,000+ words.

How many words do you need to be fluent in German? Once you know around 10,000 words in German, you will be considered fluent.

It's the Most Widely Spoken Native Language in Europe

For centuries the language served as a lingua franca (a common language which unifies different peoples) in large parts of the European continent. It continues to serve this purpose as an important second language in central and Eastern Europe.

No, but requirements depends on the specific university and program you're interested in. The answer is no because many programs are offered in English, but German proficiency may be required for some courses. It's possible for certain programs, but knowing German enhances your overall experience and daily life.

Someone holding C2 level would have an active vocabulary of 10,000 and a passive vocabulary of around 20,000. That's in line with what information shows is the average for a native speaker to know.

In simple terms, you can become fluent in 10–12 months if you follow the most successful strategies and remain persistent in your approach. In this post, I'll walk you through each of the steps you need to achieve fluency in German one by one.

According to The Economist, knowing how to speak German will offer the highest reward in bonuses compared to learning how to speak Spanish or French. In addition, German companies account for 700,000 jobs in the United States, which presents great chances for those looking for opportunities in America.

At Duolingo, we're developing our courses to get you to a level called B2, at which you can get a job in the language you're studying. Reaching that kind of proficiency requires dedication, varied practice opportunities, and a lot of time.

The most common challenge is, of course, the language barrier. While many Germans speak English, knowledge of German is often a prerequisite for many jobs. This can be a significant hurdle for those who do not speak the language.

Can I live in Germany as an international student without speaking German? Since many people in Germany (especially in major cities) speak English to a high level, and you'll likely have the option to study in English, you should be able to get by as an international student with just a basic level of German.

Is German still a useful language? ›

Today, German is one of the major languages of the world. It is the most spoken native language within the European Union. German is also widely taught as a foreign language, especially in continental Europe (where it is the third most taught foreign language after English and French), and in the United States.

About 40% of German and English vocabulary are very similar to each other, which makes German one of the easiest languages to learn for native English speakers. So, basically, if you already know English, it should be a piece of cake for you to learn German.

It's generally considered that reaching B2 is having basic fluency. You'll have a vocabulary of about 4000 words. In fact, the standard requirements at German universities are levels B2 to C1, so if it is enough to get you into a German-speaking university, it is enough to be able to communicate.

If you are preparing for the Goethe Institut's B1 exam, you must learn at least another thousand words. That's a total of 2,400 words. We have experienced trainers for B1 level German.

The official German A1 vocabulary includes, according to the German Goethe Institut, 650 words, which might sound like bad news for a beginner. Wow, that's too many, you may think.

If you want to reach C1 level of proficiency in German, you'll need an active vocabulary of at least 5,000 words. Don't worry, our advanced German vocabulary lists are not that long.