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Language Librarian

A1 Guide

Welcome to the A1 stage of German learning! This is your starting point—a level that introduces you to the essentials. The A1 level is often referred to as the “survival” stage, where you’ll learn the very basics necessary to navigate everyday situations in German-speaking environments. You’ll focus on common phrases, greetings, and simple sentence structures that will serve as your linguistic toolkit.

At A1, your goal is to establish a strong foundation. You’ll concentrate on learning the alphabet, pronunciation, and some core vocabulary while familiarizing yourself with the fundamental grammar rules that govern the language. The early stages might feel overwhelming, but with consistent practice, you’ll start to recognize patterns and begin to build confidence.

Let’s break down exactly what you need to know and the best strategies to get there.

What You’ll Learn at A1

Vocabulary: Learning Your First Words

The core of A1 German revolves around learning essential vocabulary. By the end of this stage, you should be able to recognize around 500–700 words, including:

  • The German alphabet, including those unique letters like ä, ö, ü, and ß
  • Greetings and Introductions: Words and phrases like Hallo (Hello), Guten Morgen (Good morning), and Wie heißt du? (What’s your name?) will become your staples.
  • Basic Nouns and Articles: Start with high-frequency nouns (Haus (house), Tisch (table), Buch (book)) and master their definite and indefinite articles (der, die, das, ein, eine).
  • Simple Adjectives: Learn to describe your surroundings with words like klein (small), groß (big), neu (new), and alt (old).
  • Numbers, Days, and Time: Being able to count, talk about the date, and tell the time is crucial at this stage.
  • Common Verbs and Phrases: Begin with basic action words such as sein (to be), haben (to have), and gehen (to go), and learn to use them in simple sentences.

Basic Grammar: Setting the Foundation

German grammar is notorious for being tricky, and getting a head start on some fundamental rules will save you confusion later on:

  • Sentence Structure: German follows a distinct Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure, but verb placement changes in subordinate clauses, which you’ll need to master early on. Remember: in questions and commands, the verb comes first!
  • Basic Negation and Questions: Learn to negate sentences using nicht (not) and kein (no) and form simple questions like Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?) or Hast du einen Bruder? (Do you have a brother?).
  • Personal Pronouns: Master the basic pronouns early on: ich (I), du (you), er/sie/es (he/she/it), wir (we), ihr (you all), and sie (they/you formal). Pronouns are fundamental to constructing simple sentences and identifying the subject.
  • Basic Conjugations of sein and haben: These two verbs, sein (to be) and haben (to have), are essential building blocks in German. Learn their present tense conjugations: ich bin, du bist, er ist (I am, you are, he is) and ich habe, du hast, er hat (I have, you have, he has), as they are used in many expressions and compound tenses.
  • Noun Genders: Every noun in German has a gender: masculine (der), feminine (die), or neuter (das). Learning noun genders is critical because they dictate the form of articles and adjectives. Use mnemonic devices to associate gender with imagery or concepts (e.g., visualize “der Tisch” as a strong, sturdy object for masculine).
  • Present Tense Verb Conjugation: Start with regular verbs (spielen: ich spiele, du spielst, er spielt) and a few high-frequency irregular verbs (sein: ich bin, du bist, er ist). Knowing how to correctly use haben and sein will help in various contexts.

Core Skill Progression at A1 Level

Listening and Pronunciation

You should be able to recognize and distinguish basic German sounds and words in slow, clear speech. You will understand the pronunciation of tricky sounds like the “ch” in ich and ach and be comfortable with umlauted vowels such as ä, ö, and ü. You should be able to comprehend and respond to simple questions or phrases about everyday topics, like greetings and directions, when spoken slowly.

Speaking: Forming Simple Sentences

You should be able to introduce yourself, share personal information, and participate in basic dialogues using common phrases like Ich heiße… (My name is…), Ich wohne in… (I live in…), and Ich habe… (I have…). You should also be able to ask and answer basic questions, order food at a restaurant, and manage routine interactions, even if you make some minor mistakes or need to pause occasionally.

Reading and Writing: Understanding and Constructing Basic Texts

You should be able to read and understand short, simple texts such as advertisements, menus, signs, and basic emails. You should be able to comprehend the main idea of elementary content on familiar topics. In writing, you should be able to create short, structured sentences to describe your daily routine, compose brief messages, or write basic requests like Ich möchte einen Tisch reservieren (I would like to reserve a table).

Getting started

Choose One Structured Course

When starting out, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of material and possible starting points. A structured course will sequence skills and vocabulary in a logical order, allowing each lesson to build on previous ones. This helps you master the basics efficiently and get your bearings. At a later stage, you can start piecing together your own resources based on your learning objectives. We recommend Nicos Weg (free). You can find more options in our recommended resources section.

Get a spaced repetition app and make it a habit

Learning something is only the first step. For it to become second nature requires repetition, lots of it. Spaced repetition is the most efficient way to retain information long term. Start with simple vocabulary, but more importantly, build a habit of reviewing your cards every day. Anki (free) is our recommendation here, and you can either make your own decks as you learn or download free decks from their shared decks library.

Immerse yourself

Listen to simple audio, watch youtube in German, read street signs, practice your broken German on anyone you can find. Being surrounded by the language—whether through listening, speaking, reading, or interacting with native speakers—you gain exposure to real-life sentence structures, pronunciation, and cultural nuances. This continuous exposure forces your brain to adapt, creating stronger associations and making new vocabulary and grammar patterns stick more effectively than isolated study methods. Immersion also improves listening comprehension and reduces translation dependence, fostering a more intuitive grasp of the language. We recommend starting with a resource like Pimsleur, or Coffee Break German’s free podcast since they start with simple everyday phrases and build in opportunities for you to speak as well. You can add more from the recommended resources section as you go along.

Speak right away

Yes, we said this in the last point, but we’re repeating this because one of the most common pitfalls is to focus mostly on written materials or apps, perhaps with passively listening to podcasts etc. If you’ve learned to swim or ride a bike, you’ll know that a theoretical understanding does not equate to actually being able to do the skill. Getting in the habit of speaking early will help you internalize the flow of the language. There are way too many people who have passed the B2 exam, yet cannot actually use the language in a conversation. Try to practice with someone you know or join a local language learning group. If you don’t have access to either, you can find conversation partners at iTalki

Some more specific points of emphasis

1. Tackle German Sentence Structure Early

German follows a flexible word order depending on clause type (main vs. subordinate). At the A1 level, begin with simple main clause structures (e.g., Ich gehe nach Hause) and then introduce the Verb-Second rule for questions and statements. Understanding these patterns early on will prevent frustration when you move to more complex structures.

2. Focus on German Noun Genders

The gender of a noun affects the entire sentence structure so it will be essential to immediately and intuitively know which gender you are dealing with before tacking more complex grammatical concepts. Start a habit of memorization with flashcards to start building your vocabulary early.

3. Master at least the nominative and accusative case

Start by recognizing how articles change with each case. For example, der Mann (the man - Nominative) changes to den Mann in Accusative. This concept is easier to grasp with visual aids or color-coded. Exposure to the Dative and Genitive cases is also useful, but mastery can wait until A2.