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FORTGANG INSTITUT GERMAN A1

German for Your
Everyday Life.

A more natural way to learn the language of daily life.

Discover German everyday-life vocabulary with English translations, practical example sentences and useful expressions for real conversations. Learn how to talk about your daily routine, family, morning activities, appointments, shopping and everyday habits — with a structured introduction designed for German A1 beginners.

A1 Beginner Friendly German–English Vocabulary Practical Example Sentences Real-Life Communication

Build your German step by step, from essential everyday words to the expressions you need to communicate with confidence.

A GUIDE TO EVERYDAY GERMAN

Your Learning Journey

Learn German for everyday life through a carefully structured collection of beginner-friendly lessons. Explore essential vocabulary, understand German words with English translations, and practise the expressions used in daily routines and real-life conversations.

How to use this guide: Start with the essential words, read each German example aloud, and finish with the exercises. Revisit unfamiliar vocabulary as you build confidence with everyday German.

01 · THE ESSENTIALS

Essential German Vocabulary for Everyday Life

Start learning German everyday-life vocabulary with words you can use from your first conversations. This A1 German vocabulary list covers common objects, places, people and activities, with English meanings, noun articles, plural forms and simple example sentences. Learn a little at a time and practise using each new word in a complete sentence.

A quick German grammar tip: German nouns begin with a capital letter. Learn each noun together with its article — der, die or das — and remember its plural form whenever possible.

1. Everyday Objects and Essentials

These common German words describe objects you may use at home, carry with you or need throughout the day.

GermanPluralEnglish
das Handydie Handysmobile phone
der Schlüsseldie Schlüsselkey
die Taschedie Taschenbag
das Buchdie Bücherbook
die Uhrdie Uhrenclock; watch
die Brilledie Brillenglasses
das Geld—money (usually uncountable)
der Ausweisdie AusweiseID card
die Flaschedie Flaschenbottle
das Ticketdie Ticketsticket

Ich habe mein Handy und meinen Schlüssel.

I have my mobile phone and my key.

2. Places in Everyday Life

Learn the German names of familiar places so you can describe where you live, where you are going and where you do everyday activities.

GermanPluralEnglish
das Hausdie Häuserhouse
die Wohnungdie Wohnungenapartment
der Supermarktdie Supermärktesupermarket
die Schuledie Schulenschool
der Bahnhofdie Bahnhöfetrain station
die Apothekedie Apothekenpharmacy
der Parkdie Parkspark
das Bürodie Bürosoffice
die Straßedie Straßenstreet
das Geschäftdie Geschäfteshop; business

Ich gehe heute zum Supermarkt.

I am going to the supermarket today.

3. People and Everyday Relationships

These beginner German words help you talk about people in your life, family members and the people you meet each day.

GermanPluralEnglish
der Menschdie Menschenperson; human being
die Familiedie Familienfamily
der Freunddie Freundemale friend
die Freundindie Freundinnenfemale friend; girlfriend
das Kinddie Kinderchild
der Nachbardie Nachbarnmale neighbour
die Nachbarindie Nachbarinnenfemale neighbour
der Kollegedie Kollegenmale colleague
die Kollegindie Kolleginnenfemale colleague
der Gastdie Gästeguest

Meine Familie wohnt in einer großen Stadt.

My family lives in a large city.

4. Everyday Activities and Things to Do

These common expressions help you describe what you do during a normal day, from household tasks to shopping and meeting friends.

einkaufen
to shop; to buy groceries
Ich kaufe heute ein. — I am shopping today.
kochen
to cook
Ich koche das Abendessen. — I am cooking dinner.
putzen
to clean
Ich putze mein Zimmer. — I clean my room.
aufräumen
to tidy up
Ich räume die Küche auf. — I tidy up the kitchen.
telefonieren
to make a phone call
Ich telefoniere mit meiner Mutter. — I talk to my mother on the phone.
warten
to wait
Ich warte auf den Bus. — I am waiting for the bus.
besuchen
to visit
Ich besuche einen Freund. — I am visiting a friend.
spazieren gehen
to go for a walk
Wir gehen im Park spazieren. — We are going for a walk in the park.

Learn smarter: remember the whole phrase

Instead of memorising a German word in isolation, combine it with a useful sentence. For example, learn der Schlüssel together with Wo ist mein Schlüssel? (Where is my key?) This helps you practise vocabulary, grammar and word order at the same time.

A1 German Vocabulary · Daily Life

Daily Routines in German: Describe Your Day

Learn how to talk about your daily routine in German, from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night. These beginner-friendly German phrases include English translations, useful time expressions and common verbs for everyday conversations.

1. A Typical Day in German

Use these A1 German sentences to describe what you do throughout the day. The times are examples—you can change them to match your own routine.

01 / MORNING Um 6:30 Uhr

Ich wache um halb sieben auf.

I wake up at half past six.

Dann stehe ich auf.

Then I get up.

Ich dusche und ziehe mich an.

I shower and get dressed.

02 / BREAKFAST Um 7:00 Uhr

Ich frühstücke um sieben Uhr.

I have breakfast at seven o’clock.

Ich trinke einen Kaffee.

I drink a coffee.

Ich esse ein Brot mit Käse.

I eat bread with cheese.

03 / WORK OR STUDY Um 8:00 Uhr

Ich gehe zur Arbeit.

I go to work.

Ich fahre mit dem Bus zur Arbeit.

I travel to work by bus.

Der Unterricht beginnt um neun Uhr.

The lesson starts at nine o’clock.

04 / AFTERNOON Um 13:00 Uhr

Ich esse zu Mittag.

I have lunch.

Am Nachmittag komme ich nach Hause.

In the afternoon, I come home.

Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben.

I do my homework.

05 / EVENING Um 19:00 Uhr

Ich koche das Abendessen.

I cook dinner.

Ich esse mit meiner Familie.

I eat with my family.

Danach sehe ich fern.

After that, I watch television.

06 / NIGHT Um 22:00 Uhr

Ich putze meine Zähne.

I brush my teeth.

Ich gehe ins Bett.

I go to bed.

Ich schlafe um zehn Uhr.

I go to sleep at ten o’clock.

2. Common German Verbs for Daily Routines

These verbs are useful when talking about your morning routine, workday, studies and evening activities.

German verb or phrase English meaning Example sentence
aufwachen to wake up Ich wache früh auf.
aufstehen to get up Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf.
sich waschen to wash oneself Ich wasche mich.
sich anziehen to get dressed Ich ziehe mich an.
frühstücken to have breakfast Ich frühstücke zu Hause.
arbeiten to work Ich arbeite von neun bis fünf.
lernen to study / learn Ich lerne Deutsch.
einkaufen to shop Ich kaufe am Abend ein.
kochen to cook Ich koche das Abendessen.
sich ausruhen to rest Ich ruhe mich aus.
fernsehen to watch television Ich sehe am Abend fern.
ins Bett gehen to go to bed Ich gehe um zehn Uhr ins Bett.

3. Time Expressions for Your Tagesablauf

Tagesablauf means “daily routine” or “daily schedule.” Add these expressions to make your German sentences more specific.

German English Example
am Morgen in the morning Am Morgen trinke ich Tee.
am Vormittag in the late morning / before noon Am Vormittag lerne ich Deutsch.
am Mittag at midday Am Mittag esse ich zu Hause.
am Nachmittag in the afternoon Am Nachmittag arbeite ich.
am Abend in the evening Am Abend lese ich ein Buch.
in der Nacht at night In der Nacht schlafe ich.
jeden Tag every day Ich lerne jeden Tag Deutsch.
danach after that Danach gehe ich zur Arbeit.
zuerst first Zuerst dusche ich.
später later Später treffe ich einen Freund.

4. Grammar Tip: German Separable Verbs

Some common routine verbs are separable verbs. In a simple present-tense sentence, the prefix often moves to the end.

aufstehen → Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf.

I get up at seven o’clock.

aufwachen → Ich wache früh auf.

I wake up early.

einkaufen → Ich kaufe am Samstag ein.

I shop on Saturday.

fernsehen → Ich sehe am Abend fern.

I watch television in the evening.

Remember: with a conjugated separable verb in a main clause, the verb part comes near the beginning and the prefix goes to the end. Practise each verb in a complete sentence rather than memorising the infinitive alone.

5. Build Your Own Daily Routine

Use this simple A1 pattern to write five to eight sentences about your day.

Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf.

I get up at seven o’clock.

Dann frühstücke ich.

Then I have breakfast.

Um acht Uhr gehe ich zur Arbeit.

I go to work at eight o’clock.

Am Abend lerne ich Deutsch.

I study German in the evening.

Um zehn Uhr gehe ich ins Bett.

I go to bed at ten o’clock.

A1 German Grammar & Vocabulary

Common German Verbs for Everyday Life

Verbs are the building blocks of German sentences. Learn these essential German verbs with English meanings and example sentences to talk about your routine, family, work, studies and everyday activities. This A1 vocabulary guide introduces regular verbs, irregular verbs and separable verbs in practical contexts.

1. Essential Verbs for Beginners

Start with these frequently used verbs. Learn the infinitive, its meaning and one complete sentence that shows how it works.

People & Identity

sein

to be

Ich bin Student.

I am a student.

Possession

haben

to have

Ich habe eine Tasche.

I have a bag.

Movement

gehen

to go / walk

Ich gehe nach Hause.

I am going home.

Transport

fahren

to travel / drive / ride

Ich fahre mit dem Bus.

I travel by bus.

Communication

sprechen

to speak

Ich spreche Deutsch.

I speak German.

Learning

lernen

to learn / study

Ich lerne jeden Tag.

I study every day.

Food & Drink

essen

to eat

Wir essen zusammen.

We eat together.

Food & Drink

trinken

to drink

Ich trinke Wasser.

I drink water.

Daily Activities

machen

to do / make

Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben.

I do my homework.

Work & Study

arbeiten

to work

Mein Vater arbeitet heute.

My father is working today.

Daily Activities

schlafen

to sleep

Das Kind schläft.

The child is sleeping.

Communication

fragen

to ask

Ich frage den Lehrer.

I ask the teacher.

2. German Verb Conjugation in the Present Tense

In German, the verb ending often changes depending on the subject. Compare the forms of lernen (to learn).

Subject Verb form Example English
ich lerne Ich lerne Deutsch. I learn German.
du lernst Du lernst Deutsch. You learn German.
er / sie / es lernt Sie lernt Deutsch. She learns German.
wir lernen Wir lernen Deutsch. We learn German.
ihr lernt Ihr lernt Deutsch. You all learn German.
sie / Sie lernen Sie lernen Deutsch. They learn German / You learn German (formal).

A useful beginner rule: many regular German verbs use the endings -e, -st, -t, -en, -t, -en in the present tense.

Some common verbs, including sein, haben and fahren, have forms you should learn separately.

3. Important Irregular Verbs

These verbs are especially useful in daily conversations. Notice how some change their vowel in the du and er/sie/es forms.

Infinitive ich du er / sie / es Meaning
sein bin bist ist to be
haben habe hast hat to have
fahren fahre fährst fährt to travel / drive
lesen lese liest liest to read
sehen sehe siehst sieht to see
essen esse isst isst to eat
sprechen spreche sprichst spricht to speak
schlafen schlafe schläfst schläft to sleep

4. Separable Verbs in Everyday German

Some German verbs contain a prefix that separates in a main clause. The conjugated verb appears near the beginning, while the prefix moves to the end of the sentence.

Wake up

aufwachen

to wake up

Ich wache um sechs Uhr auf.

I wake up at six o’clock.

Get up

aufstehen

to get up

Er steht früh auf.

He gets up early.

Go shopping

einkaufen

to shop

Wir kaufen am Samstag ein.

We shop on Saturday.

Call back

zurückrufen

to call back

Ich rufe dich später zurück.

I will call you back later.

Clean up

aufräumen

to tidy up

Ich räume mein Zimmer auf.

I tidy up my room.

Start

anfangen

to begin

Der Film fängt um acht Uhr an.

The film starts at eight o’clock.

5. Build Longer Sentences with Everyday Verbs

You can make your German more natural by adding a time, a place or another piece of information to a simple sentence.

Simple: Ich lerne Deutsch.

With time: Ich lerne jeden Abend Deutsch.

With place: Ich lerne jeden Abend zu Hause Deutsch.

With a reason: Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Deutschland arbeiten möchte.

The final example introduces a subordinate clause with weil. Focus on the first three patterns when you are just starting A1.

A1 German Vocabulary · Time & Planning

Time, Days & Appointments in German

Learn how to tell the time in German, name the days of the week, say dates, and make appointments. These practical A1 German phrases help you talk about your schedule, arrange meetings, and understand everyday plans.

1. Asking and Telling the Time

The most useful question is Wie spät ist es? (What time is it?). You can also ask Wie viel Uhr ist es? Both are common ways to ask for the time.

Example 01

Es ist sieben Uhr.

It is seven o’clock. — 7:00

Es ist acht Uhr zehn.

It is eight ten. — 8:10

Example 02

Es ist halb neun.

It is half past eight. — 8:30

Es ist Viertel nach neun.

It is quarter past nine. — 9:15

Example 03

Es ist Viertel vor zehn.

It is quarter to ten. — 9:45

Es ist zehn vor elf.

It is ten to eleven. — 10:50

Example 04

Um wie viel Uhr beginnt der Kurs?

At what time does the course begin?

Der Kurs beginnt um neun Uhr.

The course begins at nine o’clock.

Remember: German “halb” works differently from English.

halb neun = 8:30, meaning halfway to nine.

When giving a scheduled time, use um: Der Termin ist um zehn Uhr. (The appointment is at ten o’clock.)

2. Digital Time and the 24-Hour Clock

In timetables, appointments and official schedules, German commonly uses the 24-hour clock. Reading the hour and minutes separately is a useful beginner strategy.

Time German English
06:00 sechs Uhr six o’clock in the morning
08:15 acht Uhr fünfzehn eight fifteen
12:30 zwölf Uhr dreißig twelve thirty
14:00 vierzehn Uhr two o’clock in the afternoon
17:45 siebzehn Uhr fünfundvierzig five forty-five in the afternoon
20:10 zwanzig Uhr zehn eight ten in the evening

3. Days of the Week in German

Days of the week are masculine nouns in German, so they are used with der when an article is needed. To say “on Monday,” use am Montag.

German English Example sentence
der Montag Monday Am Montag arbeite ich.
der Dienstag Tuesday Am Dienstag lerne ich Deutsch.
der Mittwoch Wednesday Am Mittwoch habe ich einen Termin.
der Donnerstag Thursday Am Donnerstag gehe ich einkaufen.
der Freitag Friday Am Freitag treffe ich Freunde.
der Samstag Saturday Am Samstag schlafe ich länger.
der Sonntag Sunday Am Sonntag bin ich zu Hause.

Useful expressions: heute (today), morgen (tomorrow), gestern (yesterday), jeden Tag (every day), am Wochenende (at the weekend), and unter der Woche (during the week).

4. Months, Dates and Birthdays

German dates commonly use an ordinal number followed by the month. For example, der erste Mai means “the first of May.”

German month English German month English
Januar January Juli July
Februar February August August
März March September September
April April Oktober October
Mai May November November
Juni June Dezember December
Ask the date

Welches Datum ist heute?

What is today's date?

Heute ist der fünfte Mai.

Today is the fifth of May.

Ask about a birthday

Wann hast du Geburtstag?

When is your birthday?

Ich habe am zehnten Juni Geburtstag.

My birthday is on the tenth of June.

5. Making Appointments in German

Use these polite and practical expressions when arranging a meeting, booking an appointment or asking whether someone is available.

German phrase English meaning
Hast du am Montag Zeit? Are you free on Monday?
Haben Sie morgen Zeit? Are you available tomorrow? (formal)
Ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren. I would like to make an appointment.
Passt dir zehn Uhr? Does ten o’clock suit you?
Ja, das passt mir. Yes, that works for me.
Leider habe ich keine Zeit. Unfortunately, I don't have time.
Können wir den Termin verschieben? Can we reschedule the appointment?
Bis morgen! See you tomorrow!

6. A Short German Appointment Dialogue

Anna
Hast du am Dienstag Zeit? Are you free on Tuesday?
Ben
Ja. Um wie viel Uhr? Yes. At what time?
Anna
Treffen wir uns um fünf Uhr? Shall we meet at five o’clock?
Ben
Ja, das passt mir gut. Yes, that works well for me.
Anna
Super. Bis Dienstag! Great. See you on Tuesday!

7. Important Grammar: “am” and “um”

Use AM for days and parts of the day:

am Montag — on Monday

am Morgen — in the morning

Use UM for clock times:

um acht Uhr — at eight o’clock

Combine them when needed:

Am Montag um acht Uhr habe ich einen Termin.

I have an appointment on Monday at eight o’clock.

A1 German Vocabulary · Family & Home

Family & Everyday Activities in German

Learn how to talk about your family in German, introduce relatives, describe relationships and explain what you do at home. This A1 German vocabulary lesson includes English translations, everyday verbs, useful example sentences and a short family conversation.

1. Family Members in German

German nouns have grammatical gender. Learn each family word with its article to make it easier to use correctly in a sentence.

German Plural English
die Familiedie Familienfamily
die Mutterdie Müttermother
der Vaterdie Väterfather
die Eltern—parents
der Bruderdie Brüderbrother
die Schwesterdie Schwesternsister
der Sohndie Söhneson
die Tochterdie Töchterdaughter
das Kinddie Kinderchild
die Geschwister—siblings
der Großvaterdie Großvätergrandfather
die Großmutterdie Großmüttergrandmother
der Onkeldie Onkeluncle
die Tantedie Tantenaunt
der Cousindie Cousinsmale cousin
die Cousinedie Cousinenfemale cousin
der Ehemanndie Ehemännerhusband
die Ehefraudie Ehefrauenwife

2. Talking About Your Family

Use these simple German sentences to introduce family members and share basic information about your family.

Introducing your family

Das ist meine Familie.

This is my family.

Meine Familie ist groß.

My family is large.

Talking about siblings

Ich habe einen Bruder.

I have a brother.

Ich habe zwei Schwestern.

I have two sisters.

Talking about parents

Meine Eltern wohnen in Berlin.

My parents live in Berlin.

Mein Vater arbeitet im Büro.

My father works in an office.

Talking about children

Ich habe ein Kind.

I have one child.

Meine Tochter ist fünf Jahre alt.

My daughter is five years old.

3. Possessive Words: Mein, Meine, Dein & Deine

Possessive words help you say “my” and “your” in German. In the basic nominative examples below, mein is used with masculine and neuter nouns, while meine is used with feminine nouns and plurals.

German English Example
mein Vater my father Mein Vater ist nett.
meine Mutter my mother Meine Mutter ist freundlich.
mein Kind my child Mein Kind spielt.
meine Eltern my parents Meine Eltern sind zu Hause.
dein Bruder your brother (informal) Ist dein Bruder hier?
deine Schwester your sister (informal) Wie heißt deine Schwester?

Watch the article ending: when you say “I have a brother,” the phrase is Ich habe einen Bruder. Here, einen is the accusative form of ein for a masculine noun.

Compare: Mein Bruder ist hier. (My brother is here.)

4. Everyday Activities at Home

These common verbs help you describe household routines and activities you do with your family.

Cooking

kochen

to cook

Ich koche das Abendessen.

I cook dinner.

Cleaning

putzen

to clean

Ich putze die Küche.

I clean the kitchen.

Tidying up

aufräumen

to tidy up

Wir räumen das Zimmer auf.

We tidy up the room.

Helping

helfen

to help

Ich helfe meiner Mutter.

I help my mother.

Playing

spielen

to play

Die Kinder spielen im Garten.

The children play in the garden.

Reading

lesen

to read

Mein Bruder liest ein Buch.

My brother reads a book.

Visiting

besuchen

to visit

Wir besuchen unsere Großeltern.

We visit our grandparents.

Spending time together

zusammen sein

to be together

Wir sind am Abend zusammen.

We are together in the evening.

5. Useful Questions About Family

German question English meaning Possible answer
Wie heißt deine Mutter? What is your mother's name? Meine Mutter heißt Sara.
Hast du Geschwister? Do you have siblings? Ja, ich habe einen Bruder.
Wie viele Kinder hast du? How many children do you have? Ich habe zwei Kinder.
Wo wohnen deine Eltern? Where do your parents live? Sie wohnen in Hamburg.
Was machst du mit deiner Familie? What do you do with your family? Wir essen zusammen.

6. A Short Conversation About Family

Lena
Hast du Geschwister? Do you have siblings?
Ali
Ja, ich habe einen Bruder und eine Schwester. Yes, I have a brother and a sister.
Lena
Wohnt deine Familie hier? Does your family live here?
Ali
Ja, wir wohnen zusammen in einer Wohnung. Yes, we live together in an apartment.
Lena
Was macht ihr am Abend? What do you do in the evening?
Ali
Wir essen zusammen und sehen fern. We eat together and watch television.

7. Describe Your Own Family

Use this beginner-friendly template to write a short paragraph in German. Replace the details with information you are comfortable sharing.

Meine Familie

Meine Familie ist groß/klein.

Ich habe einen Bruder und eine Schwester.

Meine Eltern wohnen in einer Stadt.

Am Abend essen wir zusammen.

Am Wochenende besuchen wir unsere Großeltern.

English: My family is large/small. I have a brother and a sister. My parents live in a city. In the evening, we eat together. At the weekend, we visit our grandparents.

A1 German · Speaking Practice

Useful German Phrases & Everyday Dialogues

Learn practical German phrases for greetings, asking for help, making plans and talking about everyday life. Each expression includes an English translation, so you can start building natural German conversations at A1 level.

1. Greetings & Polite Expressions

Starting a conversation
Hallo! Wie geht es dir? Hello! How are you? (informal)
Guten Morgen! Good morning!
Guten Tag! Good day! / Hello!
Wie heißen Sie? What is your name? (formal)
Being polite
Bitte. Please. / You're welcome.
Danke schön! Thank you very much!
Entschuldigung! Excuse me! / Sorry!
Kein Problem. No problem.

2. Talking About Your Day

Daily routine
Wann stehst du auf? When do you get up?
Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf. I get up at seven o'clock.
Was machst du heute? What are you doing today?
Ich gehe heute zur Arbeit. I'm going to work today.
Feelings & plans
Mir geht es gut, danke. I'm fine, thank you.
Ich bin heute müde. I'm tired today.
Hast du heute Zeit? Do you have time today?
Ja, gern! Yes, gladly! / Yes, I'd love to!

3. Asking for Help & Information

Können Sie mir bitte helfen? Can you please help me?
Wie komme ich zum Bahnhof? How do I get to the train station?
Wo ist die nächste Apotheke? Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? Can you please repeat that?
Ich verstehe das nicht. I don't understand that.
Sprechen Sie Englisch? Do you speak English?
Learning tip: Use Sie when speaking formally to strangers, staff or people you do not know well. Use du with friends, family and in other informal situations.

4. Everyday German Dialogues

Dialogue 1 · Meeting a friend
Anna:
Hallo, Tom! Wie geht es dir? Hello, Tom! How are you?
Tom:
Mir geht es gut, danke. Und dir? I'm fine, thanks. And you?
Anna:
Auch gut. Was machst du heute? Fine too. What are you doing today?
Tom:
Ich lerne Deutsch. I'm learning German.
Dialogue 2 · Making plans
Mia:
Hast du heute Abend Zeit? Do you have time this evening?
Ben:
Ja. Was möchtest du machen? Yes. What would you like to do?
Mia:
Wollen wir spazieren gehen? Shall we go for a walk?
Ben:
Ja, gern! Um sieben Uhr? Yes, gladly! At seven o'clock?
Mia:
Ja, bis später! Yes, see you later!
Dialogue 3 · At a shop
Kunde:
Guten Tag. Was kostet das? Hello. How much does this cost?
Verkäufer:
Das kostet zehn Euro. That costs ten euros.
Kunde:
Gut, das nehme ich. Danke. All right, I'll take it. Thank you.
Verkäufer:
Bitte schön! You're welcome!

5. Useful Expressions When Learning German

Wie bitte? Pardon? / Sorry, what was that?
Langsamer, bitte. More slowly, please.
Was bedeutet das? What does that mean?
Wie schreibt man das? How do you spell that?
Ich weiß es nicht. I don't know.
Ich lerne Deutsch. I'm learning German.

Your A1 Speaking Challenge

Practise These Phrases Out Loud

Try to answer each prompt in German without looking at the translations.

  1. Greet someone and ask how they are.
  2. Say what time you get up.
  3. Ask a friend if they have time today.
  4. Ask someone to repeat a sentence.
  5. Ask the price of an item in a shop.
Remember: Learn each phrase as a complete expression. Practise it aloud, then replace one word to create a new sentence. For example: Ich lerne Deutsch → Ich lerne Englisch.

Continue Your A1 German Vocabulary Journey

You have now practised everyday expressions and short conversations. Next, test what you remember with vocabulary exercises and sentence-building activities.

Continue to Vocabulary Exercises →

Fortgang Institut · A1 Practice

German Vocabulary Exercises for Everyday Life

Ready to test your German? These beginner-friendly exercises review daily routines, common verbs, family, time, everyday objects and useful expressions. Try each activity before opening the answer key.

1Choose the Correct Translation

Select the English meaning of each German word or phrase.

1. der Schlüssel

2. aufstehen

3. die Apotheke

4. Ich bin müde.

2Complete the Sentences

Choose the word that makes each sentence correct.

5. Ich ______ Deutsch.

6. Meine Schwester ______ zu Hause.

7. Ich stehe ______ sieben Uhr auf.

8. Heute ______ ich einkaufen.

3Match the Phrase to the Situation

9. You want someone to repeat what they said.

10. You want to ask how much an item costs.

4Translate into German

Write your answers in a notebook, then compare them with the solutions below.

  1. I get up at six o'clock.
  2. My family lives in Berlin.
  3. Today I am learning German.
  4. Can you help me, please?
  5. What time is it?
Reveal the translation answers
  1. Ich stehe um sechs Uhr auf.
  2. Meine Familie wohnt in Berlin.
  3. Heute lerne ich Deutsch.
  4. Können Sie mir bitte helfen?
  5. Wie spät ist es?

Other translations may also be correct if the grammar and meaning are appropriate.

5Build Your Own Daily Routine

Complete these prompts with information about your own life.

  1. Ich stehe um ______ Uhr auf.
  2. Zum Frühstück esse ich ______.
  3. Am Vormittag ______ ich.
  4. Am Abend ______ ich.
  5. Um ______ Uhr gehe ich schlafen.

Example: Am Abend lese ich ein Buch. — In the evening, I read a book.

Your next step: Review the words you found difficult, say the example sentences aloud, and write five new sentences about your day. Consistent short practice helps you remember vocabulary and use it more confidently.

Your German Learning Journey

One topic mastered.
Many more to discover.

You have explored German clothing vocabulary, colours, sizes, fabrics, shopping expressions and everyday conversations. Keep building your vocabulary one practical topic at a time, and turn the words you learn into German you can actually use.

01 / VOCABULARY

Explore More A1 Words

Discover more beginner-friendly vocabulary topics and build a stronger foundation for everyday German.

Explore the vocabulary hub →
02 / EVERYDAY GERMAN

Learn Words in Context

Practise useful expressions for daily life, from introducing yourself to shopping and talking about familiar things.

Explore everyday vocabulary →
03 / BUILD YOUR SKILLS

Strengthen Your Grammar

Combine new vocabulary with sentence structure, articles, verbs and simple German grammar patterns.

Explore German courses →

Dein nächster Schritt beginnt hier.

Your next step starts here. Return to this lesson whenever you need revision, practise saying the example sentences aloud, and try using your new words in your own sentences.

Continue Learning German Fortgang Institut · Progress through Language