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Image: Bernd Wüstneck/dpa/picture allianceImage: Bernd Wüstneck/dpa/picture alliance

German language

German is the first language of almost 100 million people worldwide and the most widely spoken native language in the European Union. Proof of proficiency in German is a prerequisite for getting German citizenship.

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All Content on this topic

German doctor talking to a patient

German doctor talking to a patient

Germany's health care system has a language problem

Germany is a multilingual society, but access to health care is often frustrating for people who don't speak German.

Dulaj Madhushan in front of a yellow bus on a Berlin street

Dulaj Madhushan in front of a yellow bus on a Berlin street

Do immigrants have to learn German in Germany?

There's a gap between Germany's need for skilled labor and the experiences of many immigrants trying to integrate.

A cafe sign in Germany

A cafe sign in Germany

German language body enshrines 'idiot's apostrophe'

Traditionally, apostrophes have not been used to indicate possession in German-speaking countries.

The German language institute in Tehran, Iran

The German language institute in Tehran, Iran

Iran orders closure of German language institute in Tehran

The closure of the language school comes after the closure of an Islamic Center in Hamburg in July.

Three teenaged girls hold up gold medals that they are wearing around their necks and certificates of German language knowledge

Three teenaged girls hold up gold medals that they are wearing around their necks and certificates of German language knowledge

Going for gold in largest German-language competition

The teenagers participating in the Internationale Deutscholympiade have a common passion: the German language.

A woman originally from India holds up her new German passport, smiling

A woman originally from India holds up her new German passport, smiling

Germany's citizenship law changes take effect

Germany's much-anticipated citizenship reform has come into force. DW outlines the key changes.

Why more and more Southeast Asians want to learn German

Germany is tapping growing numbers of the region's skilled labor to work in sectors facing severe worker shortages.

Meet the Germans | Shabnam Surita

Meet the Germans | Shabnam Surita

A survivor's guide to the German language

In this episode, Shabnam shares her German language survival tips, from useful "little words" to pronunciation tricks.

young woman holding small Germany, UK and US flags

young woman holding small Germany, UK and US flags

English language use gets a boost in Germany

From courts to classrooms to politics, Germany is embracing the English language. The linguistic jump comes at a price.

A poster shows a child with his hand in front of his mouth and includes the slogans 'Give our children back their language!' and 'one is not equal to three'

A poster shows a child with his hand in front of his mouth and includes the slogans 'Give our children back their language!' and 'one is not equal to three'

German classes used as a weapon in Polish election campaign

Poland's German minority is angered by the government's decision to slash German language classes for its community.

A mix of apples, pears, grapes and nuts.

A mix of apples, pears, grapes and nuts.

6 'fruity' German expressions

You'll probably need to bite the sour apple to learn German properly! Discover expressions to tickle your taste buds.

Three people running through a park, wearing black shorts and t-shirts.

Three people running through a park, wearing black shorts and t-shirts.

German expressions to run away from it all

Sometimes, we just want to escape from the challenges of life. Learn German expressions with "running."

Children laughing in a car.

Children laughing in a car.

Popular German idioms involving children

What do Germans mean then when they say, "We'll rock that child" or "the child has fallen into the well"?

Deutschland, München | Protest der Gruppe Letzten Generation

Deutschland, München | Protest der Gruppe Letzten Generation

Germany: 'Climate terrorists' chosen as 'non-word' of 2022

The jury explained the term "climate terrorists" shifted and diffused the focus of the debate around the climate crisis.

People jumping up in the air in front of a sunset.

People jumping up in the air in front of a sunset.

German expressions to inspire hope

You might find it hard to learn German, but don't give up! As one expression goes: Hope dies last.

Woman and man sitting in front of sunset.

Woman and man sitting in front of sunset.

German expressions with 'sun'

Sunlight and being outdoors usually give us a real boost. We look at German idioms using the word "sun."

Close-up of a person holding a tape measure

Close-up of a person holding a tape measure

Size matters: German idioms, big and small

The German language has all sorts of creative phrases related to size. Learn some here to impress your friends!

A person reading at a table made to look like pages of a manuscript, surrounded by an audience. In front of the table, there's a pillar with the word 'Literatur'.

A person reading at a table made to look like pages of a manuscript, surrounded by an audience. In front of the table, there's a pillar with the word 'Literatur'.

Diversity at German-language authors' 'talent show'

Each year, the winner of the prestigious Ingeborg Bachmann Prize is chosen among authors reading a 25-minute text on TV.

Symbolbild zu viele Fragen

Symbolbild zu viele Fragen

German idioms that refer to foreign nations

How Germans describe an affluent lifestyle or pointless actions — and a typical sarcastic response.

Jumble of large wooden letters in a bowl

Jumble of large wooden letters in a bowl

'Kaiser' to 'cheese': Etymology of German words

Latin, Greek and French, among other languages, influenced German.

A close-up image of a flame burning a white candle.

A close-up image of a flame burning a white candle.

German expressions with 'fire'

May 4 marks International Firefighters' Day: Learn some German expressions involving fire.

A person holds a small model of the globe in their hand

A person holds a small model of the globe in their hand

German expressions using 'earth'

To honor Earth Day on April 22, here are a few "down-to-earth" idioms from the German language.

Gerhard Schröder und Wladimir Putin stand next to one another as Putin smiles.

Gerhard Schröder und Wladimir Putin stand next to one another as Putin smiles.

German term 'Putinversteher' goes international

Used to describe Putin sympathizers, "Putinversteher" now has its own English Wikipedia page. What does it refer to?

water with air bubbles creating a wave.

water with air bubbles creating a wave.

German water idioms on World Water Day

Water imagery plays a role in many quirky everyday German phrases. Do you know what it means to be "built near water"?

Man holding a red glowing heart on his palm

Man holding a red glowing heart on his palm

Carry it on the tongue: German 'heart' idioms

What is lying on your heart? Or more alarmingly, why has your heart slipped into your pants?

A woman holding German, American and UK flags

A woman holding German, American and UK flags

'Boostern' is Germany's 2021 'anglicism' of the year

The English loan word deemed to have had "a positive influence" on the German vocabulary in 2021 was all about vaccines.

A blue and gold clock in Prague.

A blue and gold clock in Prague.

German expressions using time

The German language is rich in idioms to reflect on an abstract concept that has turned concrete during the pandemic.

A policeman patrols a section of the Greek-Turkish border

A policeman patrols a section of the Greek-Turkish border

'Pushback' is Germany's 'non-word' of 2021

The term, which describes forcing migrants and refugees away from a border, has won Germany's infamous language prize.

RT Deutsch banner in Berlin

RT Deutsch banner in Berlin

Russia's German-language RT channel goes off air

German regulators said the channel did not have a license to operate, halting its broadcasting days after its launch.

YouTube again blocks German-language RT channel

This is the third German-language YouTube channel run by RT to be blocked.

Goethe-Institut sign on a building

Goethe-Institut sign on a building

Goethe-Institut marks its 70th anniversary

For Goethe-Institut President Carola Lentz, the cultural institution's history is marked by permanent reinvention.

Three language students from Ghana dressed in traditional robes are walking along the street with their German host family in Murnau, Bavaria, in 1969.

Three language students from Ghana dressed in traditional robes are walking along the street with their German host family in Murnau, Bavaria, in 1969.

Goethe-Institut: Celebrating 70 years

Germany's emissary for language and culture was founded on August 9, 1951.

Rachel Stewart sits on stairs by desks in what appears to be a lecture hall and smiles

Rachel Stewart sits on stairs by desks in what appears to be a lecture hall and smiles

English words the Germans use wrongly: Part 2

Rachel Stewart is back with more English words that have been given a new meaning in Germany.

BdT Deutschland Sturm über Norddeutschland

BdT Deutschland Sturm über Norddeutschland

Are you through the wind? German nature idioms

German has many idioms referring to natural and weather phenomena. Grease that lighting and beware the eaves in rain!

Two cooks testing food during a cooking competition

Two cooks testing food during a cooking competition

13 German idioms about food and cooking

"Love goes through the stomach": German is rich in idioms revolving around food and cooking.

Black and white photo of three men on a wooden bridge, 1900

Black and white photo of three men on a wooden bridge, 1900

Yiddish words still common in German language

The German language uses about 120 terms that are originally Yiddish, but the words often have a negative connotation.

Yellow, blue, pink and white letter beads with the word 'Sprache' in the center

Yellow, blue, pink and white letter beads with the word 'Sprache' in the center

How to combine German and English

The German language is riddled with all sorts of Anglicisms that can be confusing at times, says DW's Louisa Schaefer.

A pile of books in a library.

A pile of books in a library.

20 books longlisted for German Book Prize

The prestigious literary award recognizes the year's best novel in the German language.

Salz

Salz

The German language's saltiest expressions

Salt is essential to life — no wonder it's trickled into the language. Oversalting has a special meaning in German...

Symbolbild Denglisch | Tastatur

Symbolbild Denglisch | Tastatur

How to speak Denglish like a true German

Germans have a tendency to weave English words into their sentences. Here's how to fit into the conversation like a pro.

Historical photo of a German police officer in front of a bookstore that has been damaged.

Historical photo of a German police officer in front of a bookstore that has been damaged.

Forgotten Nazi-era novel becomes bestseller

"The Passenger" became a success in the UK 82 years after it was first published. Here's how the novel was uncovered.

Jugendsprache

Jugendsprache

500 years of youth slang in Germany

While some youth language may come and go, other "cool" terms date back hundreds of years.

Boots hanging from electric cable

Boots hanging from electric cable

German idioms involving shoes

Are you "fit as a sneaker" or a "house-shoe hero"? Here are some shoe sayings you can try on for size!

A bunch of anti-stress balls with smiley faces on them.

A bunch of anti-stress balls with smiley faces on them.

German idioms about happiness, joy and luck

With all the challenges and misfortune during the pandemic, who couldn't use a little more cheer?

Themen: Glücklich sein Symbolbild

Themen: Glücklich sein Symbolbild

'You forge your own happiness': 11 German maxims

The German language is rich in idioms about happiness, joy and good fortune.

The word 'Corona' spelled with Scrabble letters

The word 'Corona' spelled with Scrabble letters

1,200 new German terms coined during pandemic

With its numerous new words inspired by COVID-19, the German language creatively reflects developments of the past year.

Piles of chairs from a closed beer garden

Piles of chairs from a closed beer garden

Virus bomber and corona hair: The Germans' creative pandemic language

Ever since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis a year ago, people in Germany have been using new words.

Tomaten auf den Augen (Symbolbild)

Tomaten auf den Augen (Symbolbild)

From head to toe: German idioms based on body parts

Where stones drop from hearts and people live on big feet.

Jogger jumping across stones with sun coming up in background.

Jogger jumping across stones with sun coming up in background.

German expressions to get you 'running'

German is full of expressions related to the word "Laufen," which can mean both running and walking. Learn some!

Demonstration «Querdenken» in Leipzig

Demonstration «Querdenken» in Leipzig

2 German 'non-words of the year' for 2020

Two German "non-word of the year" were chosen for 2020: "Corona dictatorship" and "return sponsorships."