German Vocabulary Lists

A vocabulary list is a focused group of related German words you can browse, study and turn into flashcards. In these lists, nouns come with their article and plural form, verbs with their conjugations, and adjectives with comparative and superlative forms, synonyms and antonyms. Most words also include an example sentence with an English translation, so you see how a word behaves in a real German sentence rather than in isolation.

The built-in lists are organized the way learners actually study. The Goethe lists follow the official exam levels, from the A1 vocabulary list for beginners up to B1 nouns, verbs and adjectives. The verb lists cover the most common German verbs, including separable verbs and past tense forms. The thematic lists group everyday vocabulary by topic: food, shopping, restaurants, home, travel and work.

If you are just starting out, begin with the most common German words: the top 50 nouns and top 50 verbs cover a large share of everyday speech. Learning basic German words in meaningful clusters like these is far more effective than memorizing alphabetical lists.

What makes word lists different from fixed flashcard decks is that you can build your own. Create a custom category for the exact words you need, whether that is the vocabulary from your textbook chapter, your job, or your trip to Berlin, and add words to it as you go.

The lists are free to browse on phone, tablet or desktop. Lists marked as a preview (the Goethe A2 and B1 vocabulary) show a sample on the web, with the complete set in the iOS app. For active vocabulary practice, pair the lists with our German vocabulary flashcards or the interactive German games.