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.
FORTGANG INSTITUT · GERMAN A1
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.
Build your German step by step, from essential everyday words to the expressions you need to communicate with confidence.
A GUIDE TO EVERYDAY GERMAN
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.
01 · THE ESSENTIALS
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.
These common German words describe objects you may use at home, carry with you or need throughout the day.
| German | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| das Handy | die Handys | mobile phone |
| der Schlüssel | die Schlüssel | key |
| die Tasche | die Taschen | bag |
| das Buch | die Bücher | book |
| die Uhr | die Uhren | clock; watch |
| die Brille | die Brillen | glasses |
| das Geld | — | money (usually uncountable) |
| der Ausweis | die Ausweise | ID card |
| die Flasche | die Flaschen | bottle |
| das Ticket | die Tickets | ticket |
Ich habe mein Handy und meinen Schlüssel.
I have my mobile phone and my key.
Learn the German names of familiar places so you can describe where you live, where you are going and where you do everyday activities.
| German | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| das Haus | die Häuser | house |
| die Wohnung | die Wohnungen | apartment |
| der Supermarkt | die Supermärkte | supermarket |
| die Schule | die Schulen | school |
| der Bahnhof | die Bahnhöfe | train station |
| die Apotheke | die Apotheken | pharmacy |
| der Park | die Parks | park |
| das Büro | die Büros | office |
| die Straße | die Straßen | street |
| das Geschäft | die Geschäfte | shop; business |
Ich gehe heute zum Supermarkt.
I am going to the supermarket today.
These beginner German words help you talk about people in your life, family members and the people you meet each day.
| German | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| der Mensch | die Menschen | person; human being |
| die Familie | die Familien | family |
| der Freund | die Freunde | male friend |
| die Freundin | die Freundinnen | female friend; girlfriend |
| das Kind | die Kinder | child |
| der Nachbar | die Nachbarn | male neighbour |
| die Nachbarin | die Nachbarinnen | female neighbour |
| der Kollege | die Kollegen | male colleague |
| die Kollegin | die Kolleginnen | female colleague |
| der Gast | die Gäste | guest |
Meine Familie wohnt in einer großen Stadt.
My family lives in a large city.
These common expressions help you describe what you do during a normal day, from household tasks to shopping and meeting friends.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. |
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. |
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.
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.
Choose five verbs from this lesson and describe your own routine aloud. Change the times and activities to make the sentences true for you. Regular practice will help you build confidence for everyday German conversations and A1 speaking tasks.
A1 German Grammar & Vocabulary
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.
Start with these frequently used verbs. Learn the infinitive, its meaning and one complete sentence that shows how it works.
sein
to be
Ich bin Student.
I am a student.
haben
to have
Ich habe eine Tasche.
I have a bag.
gehen
to go / walk
Ich gehe nach Hause.
I am going home.
fahren
to travel / drive / ride
Ich fahre mit dem Bus.
I travel by bus.
sprechen
to speak
Ich spreche Deutsch.
I speak German.
lernen
to learn / study
Ich lerne jeden Tag.
I study every day.
essen
to eat
Wir essen zusammen.
We eat together.
trinken
to drink
Ich trinke Wasser.
I drink water.
machen
to do / make
Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben.
I do my homework.
arbeiten
to work
Mein Vater arbeitet heute.
My father is working today.
schlafen
to sleep
Das Kind schläft.
The child is sleeping.
fragen
to ask
Ich frage den Lehrer.
I ask the teacher.
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.
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 |
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.
aufwachen
to wake up
Ich wache um sechs Uhr auf.
I wake up at six o’clock.
aufstehen
to get up
Er steht früh auf.
He gets up early.
einkaufen
to shop
Wir kaufen am Samstag ein.
We shop on Saturday.
zurückrufen
to call back
Ich rufe dich später zurück.
I will call you back later.
aufräumen
to tidy up
Ich räume mein Zimmer auf.
I tidy up my room.
anfangen
to begin
Der Film fängt um acht Uhr an.
The film starts at eight o’clock.
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.
Choose five verbs from this lesson. Conjugate each verb with ich, du and er/sie/es. Then write five original sentences about your own life. Include at least one separable verb and one time expression.
At Fortgang Institut, the goal is not simply to memorise German words. It is to use them confidently in real conversations.
A1 German Vocabulary · Time & Planning
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.
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.
Es ist sieben Uhr.
It is seven o’clock. — 7:00
Es ist acht Uhr zehn.
It is eight ten. — 8:10
Es ist halb neun.
It is half past eight. — 8:30
Es ist Viertel nach neun.
It is quarter past nine. — 9:15
Es ist Viertel vor zehn.
It is quarter to ten. — 9:45
Es ist zehn vor elf.
It is ten to eleven. — 10:50
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.)
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 |
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).
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 |
Welches Datum ist heute?
What is today's date?
Heute ist der fünfte Mai.
Today is the fifth of May.
Wann hast du Geburtstag?
When is your birthday?
Ich habe am zehnten Juni Geburtstag.
My birthday is on the tenth of June.
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! |
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.
Write five sentences about your weekly schedule. Include two days of the week, three clock times and one appointment. Then practise asking a partner when they are free and suggesting a time to meet.
Example: Am Mittwoch um zehn Uhr habe ich einen Termin. Am Freitag lerne ich Deutsch. Am Sonntag treffe ich meine Freunde.
A1 German Vocabulary · Family & Home
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.
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 Familie | die Familien | family |
| die Mutter | die Mütter | mother |
| der Vater | die Väter | father |
| die Eltern | — | parents |
| der Bruder | die Brüder | brother |
| die Schwester | die Schwestern | sister |
| der Sohn | die Söhne | son |
| die Tochter | die Töchter | daughter |
| das Kind | die Kinder | child |
| die Geschwister | — | siblings |
| der Großvater | die Großväter | grandfather |
| die Großmutter | die Großmütter | grandmother |
| der Onkel | die Onkel | uncle |
| die Tante | die Tanten | aunt |
| der Cousin | die Cousins | male cousin |
| die Cousine | die Cousinen | female cousin |
| der Ehemann | die Ehemänner | husband |
| die Ehefrau | die Ehefrauen | wife |
Use these simple German sentences to introduce family members and share basic information about your family.
Das ist meine Familie.
This is my family.
Meine Familie ist groß.
My family is large.
Ich habe einen Bruder.
I have a brother.
Ich habe zwei Schwestern.
I have two sisters.
Meine Eltern wohnen in Berlin.
My parents live in Berlin.
Mein Vater arbeitet im Büro.
My father works in an office.
Ich habe ein Kind.
I have one child.
Meine Tochter ist fünf Jahre alt.
My daughter is five years old.
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.)
These common verbs help you describe household routines and activities you do with your family.
kochen
to cook
Ich koche das Abendessen.
I cook dinner.
putzen
to clean
Ich putze die Küche.
I clean the kitchen.
aufräumen
to tidy up
Wir räumen das Zimmer auf.
We tidy up the room.
helfen
to help
Ich helfe meiner Mutter.
I help my mother.
spielen
to play
Die Kinder spielen im Garten.
The children play in the garden.
lesen
to read
Mein Bruder liest ein Buch.
My brother reads a book.
besuchen
to visit
Wir besuchen unsere Großeltern.
We visit our grandparents.
zusammen sein
to be together
Wir sind am Abend zusammen.
We are together in the evening.
| 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. |
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.
Write six sentences about a family, real or imaginary. Include at least four family words, two everyday activities and one sentence using mein or meine. Then practise answering Hast du Geschwister? and Was macht deine Familie am Wochenende?
A1 German · Speaking Practice
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.
Your A1 Speaking Challenge
Try to answer each prompt in German without looking at the translations.
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
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.
Write your answers in a notebook, then compare them with the solutions below.
Other translations may also be correct if the grammar and meaning are appropriate.
Complete these prompts with information about your own life.
Example: Am Abend lese ich ein Buch. — In the evening, I read a book.
Your German Learning Journey
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.
Discover more beginner-friendly vocabulary topics and build a stronger foundation for everyday German.
Explore the vocabulary hub →Practise useful expressions for daily life, from introducing yourself to shopping and talking about familiar things.
Explore everyday vocabulary →Combine new vocabulary with sentence structure, articles, verbs and simple German grammar patterns.
Explore German courses →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.
Lerne Schritt für Schritt. Practise consistently. Make German part of your everyday life.
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