Basic German Words for Indian Students to Learn
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Dive into German for your studies in Germany! This guide equips Indian students with essential German words, phrases & resources to excel in academics & daily life. Learn greetings, numbers, & effective strategies to master the language.
Studying in Germany is a popular option for many Indian students who want good education and international experience. A stable economy, free education across public universities in Germany and the availability of popular courses make Germany a favourite among Indian students looking to study abroad
But moving to a new country is not just about studies. One big challenge is the language. Even though many universities in Germany teach in English, students still need some basic German for daily life. Knowing simple German words and phrases can make things like shopping, traveling, and meeting people much easier. This article will help Indian students learn the German language to make their life in Germany smoother and more comfortable.
- Why Learn German?
- German Words: Guide for Indian Students in Germany
- German Words: Building Your German Vocabulary
- German Words: Top 5 Steps to Learn the German Language
Why Learn German?
In this section, we are going to be discussing the importance of learning the German language for Indian students looking to study in Germany.
- Knowledge of the German language will allow students access to a larger number of courses (taught both in German and/or English) and educational institutions (public & private universities) as opposed to students who are only well versed in the English language. As they would have to choose from a limited number of courses that are taught in English.
- Whether you are planning to study in a public university or private university it is important and highly advisable to know the German language. Knowledge of the German language will help students settle down and participate in day-to-day activities without feeling the odd one out. They will be able to interact with the locals, foster friendships and feel at home away from home.
- Above all, knowing the German language will allow candidates to have an upper hand when it comes to German part-time work options, post-study work options in Germany and building a career in Germany as opposed to a candidate who is not well versed in the German language.
- Knowledge of the German language will also help Indian students to take up work in their home country. Be it working as a language trainer, language expert, translator or simply working in the German embassy. Knowing the German language or any foreign language is a matter of pride and has more benefits than one can account for.
German Words: Guide for Indian Students in Germany
In this section, we are going to talk all about German words. This would include German alphabets, basic greetings and phrases in German and German numbers.
German Words: Introduction to the German Alphabet
Similar to the English alphabets the German alphabets have a total of 30 letters.
| English Alphabets |
German Pronunciation |
English Alphabets |
German Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A |
ah |
N |
en |
| B |
bay |
O |
oh |
| C |
tsay |
P |
pay |
| D |
day |
Q |
koo |
| E |
ay |
R |
air |
| F |
eff |
S |
es |
| G |
gay |
T |
tay |
| H |
hah |
U |
ooh |
| I |
eeh |
V |
fow |
| J |
yot |
W |
vay |
| K |
kah |
X |
iks |
| L |
ell |
Y |
oopsilohn |
| M |
em |
Z |
tset |
Along with the 26 alphabets above, the German alphabet has four letters that don’t exist in English, Ä, Ö, Ü and (ß). The first three are called “Umlaute”. Umlaute are accents or two dots that are placed above the vowel. This transforms the vowel into another independent vowel. And unique to the German language, the "ß", also called "Eszett" (sz) or "scharfes S" (sharp s) is not an Ulaut and is only used in the middle of words, so there is no upper case form of it and is pronounced as a sharp ‘s’-sound and can be replaced by writing “ss”.
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German Words: Basic Greetings and Phrases in German and their English meaning
| Germany |
English |
|---|---|
| Guten Morgen |
Good morning |
| Guten Tag |
Good day |
| Guten Abend |
Good evening |
| Hallo |
Hello |
| Tach |
Hello |
| Moin, moin |
Hello (Northern Germany) |
| Servus |
Hello (Southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland) |
| Guten Tag Frau/Herr Meier (formal) |
Hello Ms./Mr. Meier |
| Ich heiße… |
My name is… |
| Wie heißen Sie? (formal) Wie heißt du? (informal) |
What is your name? |
| Ich komme aus…Indien/den USA/der Türkei |
I’m from…India/the United States/Turkey |
| Woher kommen Sie? (formal) Woher kommst Du? (informal) |
Where do you come from? |
| Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen (formal) Freut mich, dich/euch kennenzulernen (informal) |
It’s a pleasure to meet you |
| Ich bin zum ersten Mal hier |
This is my first time here |
| Ich bleibe…über das Wochenende/für ein paar Tage/eine Woche |
I’m staying…over the weekend/for a few days/a week |
| Wie lange bleiben Sie? (formal) Wie lange bleibst du? (informal) |
How long are you staying? |
| Was sind Ihre Hobbies? (formal) Was sind deine Hobbies? (informal) |
What are your hobbies? |
| Was machen Sie heute noch? (formal) Was machst Du heute? (informal) |
What are your plans for the rest of the day? |
| Entschuldigen Sie bitte… (formal) Entschuldige bitte… (informal) Entschuldigung…. (neutral) |
Excuse me, please… |
| Ich habe eine Frage. |
I have a question. |
| Können Sie mir helfen? (formal) Kannst du mir helfen? (informal) |
Can you help me? |
| Sprechen Sie English? (formal) Sprichst du Englisch? (informal) |
Do you speak English? |
| Ich spreche ein wenig Deutsch |
I speak a little German. |
| Einen Moment, bitte. |
One moment, please. |
| Nein, danke. |
No, thank you. |
| Ja, bitte! or Gerne! |
Yes, please! |
| Vielen Dank! |
Thank you! |
| Ich weiß es nicht or Keine Ahnung |
I don’t know / No clue |
German Numbers 1 to 10
| Numeral | German number | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | eins | ainzh (rhymes with eye) |
| 2 | zwei | tsvai |
| 3 | drei | drai |
| 4 | vier | feer |
| 5 | fünf | foonf |
| 6 | sechs | zehks |
| 7 | sieben | ZEE-ben |
| 8 | acht | ahkt |
| 9 | neun | noin |
| 10 | zehn | tsehn |
German Words: Building Your German Vocabulary
We have just introduced you to the tip of the German language by providing you with a handful of German Words. The next question would be the best resources from where you can learn the German language in India.
Goethe-Institut - the cultural organization of the Federal Republic of Germany is responsible for promoting the German language outside of Germany. The Goethe-Institut has set up multiple Goethe Instituts (institutions) and Goethe Centers for students who are looking to learn the German language in India.
Candidates can also look at learning the German language from Indian universities and colleges. Students can take up a German course as a diploma, or a certificate course and pursue the foreign language as a full-time programme across universities in India. Popular universities providing German courses include Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University (DU), IGNOU - Indira Gandhi National Open University, and Amity University, Noida among many others.
Candidates can also opt for online free apps including Duolingo and Babbel. Both these apps require candidates looking to learn the language to create a profile and learn their language of choice. The online learning apps would need the candidate to provide their reason for learning the German language which could be learning German for education, Learning German for tourism or simply Learning German as a hobby and the preparatory material would be tailor-made as per their response.
German Words: Top 5 Steps to Learn the German Language
Here are the top 5 ways for Indian students looking to learn German for studies in Germany:
- Start with Online Resources: There are many free and affordable online resources available in India to learn German basics. Platforms like Duolingo, Memrise, and the Goethe-Institut's online offerings provide a gamified and structured approach to build vocabulary and grammar.
- Enroll in Online or Offline German Courses: Numerous institutes in India offer German language courses. Consider online options for flexibility or classroom learning for a more interactive experience. Look for courses aligned with the Goethe-Institut's framework (A1 to C2) to ensure you reach the required proficiency level.
- Find a Language Partner: Look for a German native speaker willing to exchange language practice. This could be through online platforms or local language exchange groups. This approach helps with conversation skills and cultural understanding.
- Immerse Yourself in German Media: Once you have a basic foundation, surround yourself with German. Watch movies and shows with German subtitles, listen to German music, and read German news or articles. This naturally improves listening comprehension and vocabulary.
- Consider Studying German in Germany: If possible, consider taking an intensive German language course in Germany itself. This offers complete immersion in the language and culture, accelerating your learning and boosting your confidence for university life.
Indian students looking for assistance with admissions to German universities can get in touch with our Shiksha Counselling Services. Candidates can get in touch with us with their queries in the comments section below.
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