School Systems in Germany, Austria & Switzerland | Fortgang Institut

School Systems in Germany, Austria and Switzerland | Fortgang Institut Education • DACH Region • German Learning School and School Systems in Germany, Austria and Switzerland How do children go to school in German-speaking Europe? Discover the school stages, school types, compulsory education rules, vocational routes and qualifications in Germany, Austria and Switzerland—and learn what makes each system different. Germany 🇩🇪Austria 🇦🇹Switzerland 🇨🇭School vocabularyStudy and career pathways The German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria and Switzerland share a language, but they do not share one identical school system. Each country has its own structure, school names, rules and qualifications. This guide gives a practical overview for German learners, families planning a move, and anyone curious about education in the DACH region. Important: School structures can vary by German federal state (Bundesland) and Swiss canton (Kanton). Ages and grade transitions below are typical guides, not a substitute for checking local rules. In this article At a glance Germany Austria Switzerland Compare the systems Vocational and academic pathways German school vocabulary For families moving abroad Sources 1. The school systems at a glance All three countries provide public schooling, but they differ in when children start, how compulsory education is defined, and how pupils move into secondary education. Feature Germany Austria Switzerland Typical school start Usually around age 6 Usually around age 6 Usually around age 4, including kindergarten Compulsory education Generally 9 or 10 years of full-time schooling; additional vocational-school obligations may apply 9 years of compulsory schooling; education or training obligation continues to age 18 Generally 11 years, including kindergarten/first learning cycle and lower secondary Primary stage Grundschule; usually grades 1–4, grades 1–6 in Berlin and Brandenburg Volksschule; grades 1–4 Primary level includes usually 2 years of kindergarten and subsequent primary grades; exact structure varies Secondary stage Multiple school types or combined schools, depending on state Mittelschule or AHS/Gymnasium lower cycle Lower-secondary schools organised by canton, often with different performance levels Common vocational route Dual Ausbildung: company + vocational school Lehre: company + vocational school Apprenticeship: training company + vocational school Academic qualification Abitur Matura Gymnasiale Maturität / Matura 2. The school system in Germany 🇩🇪 Germany has a federal education system. The 16 Bundesländer are responsible for many school rules, curricula and school structures, so the details can differ from state to state. Usually ages 3–6Kindergarten Early childhood education before compulsory school. Attendance is generally voluntary. Usually ages 6–10Grundschule Primary school. Usually grades 1–4; grades 1–6 in Berlin and Brandenburg. Usually ages 10–16Sekundarstufe I Secondary education through different school types or integrated schools. Usually ages 16–18/19Sekundarstufe II Upper secondary education: academic, vocational or combined pathways. What school types are there? Academic Gymnasium A school pathway with a strong general academic focus. Students usually complete the upper stage and take the Abitur, which generally qualifies them for university study. Lower / intermediate secondary Hauptschule and Realschule Traditional school types that lead to different lower-secondary certificates. Their availability and organisation vary; some states have combined or renamed them. Combined Gesamtschule / Gemeinschaftsschule Schools that combine different educational pathways under one roof and may offer several school-leaving qualifications. Vocational Berufsschule and Ausbildung In the dual system, an apprentice works at a company and attends vocational school for theoretical and general education. Key point: In Germany, the transition from primary to secondary school happens relatively early in most states. The exact selection process, school types and opportunities to move between pathways depend on the Bundesland. Important school-leaving qualifications Hauptschulabschluss: a lower-secondary school-leaving certificate. Realschulabschluss / Mittlere Reife: an intermediate school-leaving qualification. Abitur: the general higher education entrance qualification, typically allowing access to university. Fachhochschulreife: a qualification that generally provides access to universities of applied sciences, subject to requirements. 3. The school system in Austria 🇦🇹 Austria has nine years of compulsory schooling, usually starting in the September after a child’s sixth birthday. After compulsory school, young people are also required to continue education or training until age 18 under the education-and-training obligation. Usually ages 3–6Kindergarten Early childhood education. The final year before school is compulsory and free under the national framework. Usually ages 6–10Volksschule Primary school, grades 1–4. Usually ages 10–14Mittelschule or AHS Lower secondary at a middle school or at the lower level of an academic secondary school. Usually ages 14–15+Upper secondary Polytechnic school, vocational school or the upper level of an academic secondary school. Austria’s main school pathways General education AHS / Gymnasium Allgemeinbildende höhere Schule provides a broad academic education. Students can complete the upper level and take the Matura. Middle school Mittelschule (MS) A lower-secondary school for pupils typically aged 10–14. Afterward, students can progress to vocational or academic upper-secondary programmes depending on eligibility. Vocational BMS Berufsbildende mittlere Schule (intermediate vocational school) offers vocational preparation and training, usually from the ninth school year. Vocational + academic BHS Berufsbildende höhere Schule combines general education with advanced vocational training. Many programmes last five years and finish with a diploma and Matura. What is the Polytechnische Schule? The Polytechnische Schule is a one-year school option in the ninth school year. It focuses on career orientation and preparation for an apprenticeship (Lehre), including practical exposure to different occupational fields. Austria’s distinctive feature: The education-and-training obligation means that after the nine years of compulsory school, young people generally must continue in school or recognised training until 18 (or until they complete an eligible further education pathway). 4. The school system in Switzerland 🇨🇭 Switzerland’s education system is strongly shaped by its 26 cantons. Compulsory education generally lasts 11 years and usually begins around age four, counting kindergarten or the first learning cycle. Usually ages 4–6Kindergarten Usually two years and included in compulsory education. Usually ages 6–12Primary school Children learn core subjects and continue their language and general education. Usually ages 12–15Lower secondary Often around three years; school organisation and ability grouping vary by canton. Usually ages 15–19Upper secondary Most pupils choose vocational education and training; others enter general academic or specialised schools. What happens after compulsory school? Popular route Vocational education and training (VET)

Vehicle Parts in German | Vocabulary, Examples & Exercises

Vehicle Parts in German | Fortgang Institut German Vocabulary • A1–B1 Vehicle Parts in German Learn the German names for the parts of cars, bicycles, buses, motorcycles, airplanes and ships—with articles, practical examples, useful verbs, real-life dialogues and exercises. Vocabulary with articlesUseful sentencesEveryday GermanExercises + answers Knowing vehicle-part vocabulary helps you talk about your car or bicycle, understand simple repair conversations, describe a problem and follow travel-related instructions. In German, remember to learn every noun together with its article: der, die or das. On this page Car parts Bicycle parts Other vehicles Useful verbs Example sentences Dialogues Grammar tips Exercises 1. Car Parts (Autoteile) These are some of the most useful words for describing a car and its components. German English Example das Auto car Das Auto ist neu. — The car is new. der Motor engine Der Motor ist laut. — The engine is loud. das Lenkrad steering wheel Das Lenkrad ist rund. — The steering wheel is round. der Reifen tire Der Reifen ist platt. — The tire is flat. das Rad wheel Das Rad ist beschädigt. — The wheel is damaged. die Bremse brake Die Bremse funktioniert nicht. — The brake does not work. das Bremspedal brake pedal Das Bremspedal ist weich. — The brake pedal feels soft. das Gaspedal accelerator pedal Drück das Gaspedal. — Press the accelerator. die Kupplung clutch Die Kupplung ist neu. — The clutch is new. der Rückspiegel rear-view mirror Der Rückspiegel ist sauber. — The rear-view mirror is clean. der Seitenspiegel side mirror Der Seitenspiegel ist kaputt. — The side mirror is broken. der Scheinwerfer headlight Der Scheinwerfer ist an. — The headlight is on. das Rücklicht rear light / taillight Das Rücklicht funktioniert. — The taillight works. die Windschutzscheibe windshield Die Windschutzscheibe ist schmutzig. — The windshield is dirty. der Scheibenwischer windshield wiper Der Scheibenwischer ist kaputt. — The wiper is broken. die Tür door Die Tür ist offen. — The door is open. das Fenster window Das Fenster ist geschlossen. — The window is closed. der Kofferraum trunk / boot Der Kofferraum ist voll. — The trunk is full. die Motorhaube hood / bonnet Die Motorhaube ist offen. — The hood is open. der Tank fuel tank Der Tank ist fast leer. — The tank is almost empty. der Sicherheitsgurt seat belt Bitte legen Sie den Sicherheitsgurt an. — Please fasten your seat belt. der Sitz seat Der Sitz ist bequem. — The seat is comfortable. die Batterie battery Die Batterie ist leer. — The battery is dead. der Auspuff exhaust Der Auspuff ist laut. — The exhaust is loud. das Nummernschild license plate Das Nummernschild ist schmutzig. — The license plate is dirty. Useful distinction: der Reifen means the tire; das Rad means the wheel. In everyday speech, Rad can also refer to a bicycle. 2. Bicycle Parts (Fahrradteile) Bicycle vocabulary is especially useful when renting a bike, cycling or visiting a repair shop. das FahrradbicycleDas Fahrrad ist leicht. The bicycle is light. der LenkerhandlebarDer Lenker ist schief. The handlebar is crooked. der Sattelsaddle / seatDer Sattel ist zu hoch. The saddle is too high. das PedalpedalEin Pedal fehlt. A pedal is missing. die KettechainDie Kette ist locker. The chain is loose. die KlingelbellDie Klingel ist laut. The bell is loud. die SpeichespokeEine Speiche ist kaputt. A spoke is broken. der FahrradständerkickstandDer Ständer ist stabil. The kickstand is sturdy. die Fahrradbremsebicycle brakeDie Bremse quietscht. The brake squeaks. der Fahrradreifenbicycle tireDer Reifen ist platt. The tire is flat. das Schutzblechmudguard / fenderDas Schutzblech ist locker. The mudguard is loose. das LichtlightDas Licht ist an. The light is on. 3. Parts of Other Vehicles Bus and truck (Bus und Lkw) die Fahrertür — driver’s door der Fahrersitz — driver’s seat die Haltestange — handrail der Außenspiegel — exterior mirror die Ladefläche — loading platform / truck bed der Reifen — tire Motorcycle (Motorrad) der Helm — helmet der Tank — fuel tank der Auspuff — exhaust der Lenker — handlebar der Scheinwerfer — headlight der Sitz — seat Airplane (Flugzeug) der Flügel — wing das Cockpit — cockpit das Triebwerk — engine das Fahrwerk — landing gear das Seitenruder — rudder die Kabine — cabin Ship (Schiff) das Deck — deck der Anker — anchor das Ruder — rudder / helm der Rumpf — hull der Mast — mast die Kabine — cabin 4. Useful Verbs for Vehicle Parts German verb Meaning Example starten to start Ich starte den Motor. — I start the engine. bremsen to brake Das Auto bremst. — The car brakes. beschleunigen to accelerate Das Auto beschleunigt. — The car accelerates. lenken to steer Sie lenkt das Auto nach links. — She steers the car to the left. reparieren to repair Der Mechaniker repariert die Bremse. — The mechanic repairs the brake. wechseln to change / replace Wir wechseln den Reifen. — We change the tire. prüfen to check Ich prüfe den Ölstand. — I check the oil level. aufpumpen to inflate Ich pumpe den Reifen auf. — I inflate the tire. öffnen to open Er öffnet die Motorhaube. — He opens the hood. schließen to close Bitte schließen Sie die Tür. — Please close the door. 5. Practical Example Sentences Mein Auto springt nicht an.My car won’t start. Der Reifen hat zu wenig Luft.The tire doesn’t have enough air. Die Batterie ist leer.The battery is dead. Der linke Scheinwerfer funktioniert nicht.The left headlight isn’t working. Können Sie bitte die Bremsen überprüfen?Could you please check the brakes? Wo kann ich mein Fahrrad reparieren lassen?Where can I get my bicycle repaired? Der Seitenspiegel ist beschädigt.The side mirror is damaged. Bitte öffnen Sie den Kofferraum.Please open the trunk. 6. Short Dialogues At the car repair shop Kunde: Guten Tag. Mein Auto springt nicht an. Mechaniker: Ist die Batterie vielleicht leer? Kunde: Ja, das könnte sein. Können Sie sie prüfen? Mechaniker: Natürlich. Ich sehe mir das gleich an. Customer: Hello. My car won’t start.Mechanic: Could the battery be dead?Customer: Yes, that could be. Can you check it?Mechanic: Of

Vehicles and Transport in German: Vocabulary, Grammar & Travel Phrases

Vehicles and Transport in German: Vocabulary, Grammar & Examples | Fortgang Institut Fortgang Institut · German Learning Hub Vehicles and Transport in German Explore the vocabulary and grammar you need to talk about cars, buses, trains, bicycles, travel, tickets, routes and getting around. Learn how to choose the right German transport verb, ask for directions, buy a ticket and describe your journey—with clear examples and practical exercises. A1–A2 German · Vocabulary · Grammar · Travel Phrases · Practice On this page Key vocabulary: transport Road vehicles Rail and public transport Air and water transport People, places and travel words Transport verbs Grammar: fahren, gehen, nehmen Prepositions and useful patterns Tickets and travel phrases Directions and asking the way Everyday dialogues Common mistakes Exercises and answer key 1. Key Vocabulary: Transport The most general German word for “transport” or “transportation” is der Verkehr. A means of transport is das Verkehrsmittel (plural: die Verkehrsmittel). German English Example der Verkehr traffic; transport Der Verkehr ist heute stark. das Verkehrsmittel means of transport Welches Verkehrsmittel nimmst du? die Verkehrsmittel means of transport (plural) Es gibt viele Verkehrsmittel. der Transport transport; transportation Der Transport dauert zwei Stunden. die Reise trip; journey Die Reise war schön. die Fahrt ride; journey by vehicle Die Fahrt dauert 30 Minuten. die Strecke route; distance; stretch Die Strecke ist sehr lang. die Verbindung connection Gibt es eine direkte Verbindung? Useful distinction: Reise often refers to a trip or travel experience; Fahrt commonly refers to the journey or ride by a vehicle. The exact choice depends on context. 2. Road Vehicles 🚗 das Auto car 🚕 das Taxi taxi 🚌 der Bus bus 🚲 das Fahrrad bicycle 🏍️ das Motorrad motorcycle 🚐 der Lieferwagen delivery van 🚚 der Lkw truck / lorry 🚑 der Krankenwagen ambulance German English Example sentence der Pkw (Personenkraftwagen) passenger car Der Pkw steht vor dem Haus. der Lkw (Lastkraftwagen) truck / lorry Der Lkw transportiert Waren. der Kleinbus minibus Wir fahren mit einem Kleinbus. der Roller scooter Er fährt mit dem Roller zur Schule. das E-Bike electric bicycle Sie fährt mit dem E-Bike zur Arbeit. das Wohnmobil motorhome / camper van Wir reisen mit dem Wohnmobil. der Anhänger trailer Das Auto zieht einen Anhänger. Parts and features of a vehicle German English das Lenkrad steering wheel der Reifen tyre / tire der Motor engine der Sitz seat der Sicherheitsgurt seat belt der Kofferraum trunk / boot die Tür door die Bremse brake der Führerschein driver’s licence die Tankstelle petrol station / gas station das Benzin petrol / gasoline der Parkplatz parking space / car park Ich habe ein Auto. I have a car. Mein Vater fährt einen Lkw. My father drives a truck. Wir suchen einen Parkplatz. We are looking for a parking space. Bitte legen Sie den Sicherheitsgurt an. Please fasten your seat belt. 3. Rail and Public Transport German English Example der Zug train Der Zug fährt um 9 Uhr ab. die Bahn railway; train service Ich fahre mit der Bahn. die S-Bahn urban / suburban rail Nimm die S-Bahn zum Zentrum. die U-Bahn underground / subway Die U-Bahn kommt gleich. die Straßenbahn / die Tram tram / streetcar Wir nehmen die Straßenbahn. der Regionalzug regional train Der Regionalzug hält in Bonn. der ICE German high-speed train Der ICE fährt nach Berlin. der Bahnhof train station Wir treffen uns am Bahnhof. die Haltestelle stop / station Die Haltestelle ist dort. der Bahnsteig platform Der Zug fährt von Bahnsteig 4 ab. die Rolltreppe escalator Die Rolltreppe ist links. Public transport vocabulary German English der Fahrplan timetable / schedule die Abfahrt departure die Ankunft arrival die Verspätung delay der Anschluss connection der Umstieg transfer / change die Endstation final stop die Durchsage announcement der Fahrgast passenger die Linie line / route Der Bus hält an der nächsten Haltestelle. The bus stops at the next stop. Wir müssen in Köln umsteigen. We have to change trains in Cologne. Der Zug hat zehn Minuten Verspätung. The train is ten minutes late. Auf welchem Bahnsteig fährt der Zug ab? Which platform does the train leave from? 4. Air and Water Transport Air transport German English das Flugzeug airplane / aircraft der Flughafen airport der Flug flight die Fluggesellschaft airline der Pilot / die Pilotin pilot der Passagier / die Passagierin passenger das Gate gate das Gepäck luggage der Koffer suitcase der Reisepass passport die Sicherheitskontrolle security check das Boarding boarding Water transport German English das Schiff ship das Boot boat die Fähre ferry das Segelboot sailboat der Hafen harbour / port der Matrose / die Matrosin sailor Unser Flug geht um 14:30 Uhr. Our flight leaves at 2:30 p.m. Wo ist das Gate 12? Where is gate 12? Wir nehmen die Fähre zur Insel. We are taking the ferry to the island. 5. People, Places and Travel Words German English der Fahrer / die Fahrerin driver der Radfahrer / die Radfahrerin cyclist der Fußgänger / die Fußgängerin pedestrian der Reisende / die Reisende traveller der Schaffner / die Schaffnerin conductor / ticket inspector der Kontrolleur / die Kontrolleurin inspector die Fahrkarte ticket das Ticket ticket der Fahrkartenautomat ticket machine der Eingang entrance der Ausgang exit die Kreuzung intersection / crossroads die Ampel traffic light der Zebrastreifen pedestrian crossing / zebra crossing die Einbahnstraße one-way street der Stau traffic jam 6. Important Transport Verbs Verb Meaning Example fahren to go / travel by vehicle; to drive Ich fahre mit dem Bus. gehen to go / walk Ich gehe zu Fuß. laufen to walk / run (context-dependent) Ich laufe zum Bahnhof. fliegen to fly Wir fliegen nach Wien. reisen to travel Sie reist gern mit dem Zug. nehmen to take Ich nehme die U-Bahn. einsteigen to get on / board Steigen Sie hier ein. aussteigen to get off Wir steigen am Markt aus. umsteigen to change / transfer Du musst in Bonn umsteigen. abfahren to depart Der Zug fährt um 8 Uhr ab. ankommen to arrive Wir kommen um 10 Uhr an. losfahren to set off / leave Wir fahren

Days, Months and Seasons in German: Vocabulary, Dates & Examples

Days, Months and Seasons in German | Fortgang Institut Fortgang Institut · German Learning Hub Days, Months and Seasons in German Learn how to say the days of the week, months, seasons and dates in German. Discover the grammar behind am and im, practise useful time expressions, and build confidence with everyday examples and exercises. A1 German · Vocabulary + Grammar · Examples · Practice On this page Days of the week Weekdays and weekend Months of the year Seasons Useful time expressions Dates and ordinal numbers Using am, im and jeden Questions and answers Everyday dialogues Common mistakes Exercises and answers 1. Days of the Week in German There are seven days in a week. In German, the days of the week are masculine nouns, so their dictionary form is used with der: der Montag, der Dienstag, and so on. German English Pronunciation guide (approx.) der Montag Monday MOHN-tahk der Dienstag Tuesday DEENS-tahk der Mittwoch Wednesday MIT-vokh der Donnerstag Thursday DON-ers-tahk der Freitag Friday FRY-tahk der Samstag Saturday ZAHMS-tahk der Sonntag Sunday ZON-tahk Remember: German nouns are capitalized. Days of the week are nouns, so write Montag, not montag. Examples with days Heute ist Montag. Today is Monday. Morgen ist Dienstag. Tomorrow is Tuesday. Am Freitag habe ich einen Deutschkurs. I have a German class on Friday. Der Laden ist am Sonntag geschlossen. The shop is closed on Sunday. Wir fahren am Samstag nach Lahore. We are going to Lahore on Saturday. 2. Weekdays and the Weekend 📘 die Wochentage the days of the week 🗓️ der Werktag a working day / weekday 🌤️ das Wochenende the weekend 🎉 die Wochenenden the weekends (plural) In German, the usual word for “weekend” is das Wochenende. “On the weekend” is commonly expressed as am Wochenende. Am Wochenende schlafe ich länger. I sleep longer on the weekend. Was machst du am Wochenende? What are you doing this weekend? Unter der Woche arbeite ich, aber am Wochenende bin ich frei. I work during the week, but I am free on the weekend. Unter der Woche means “during the week” or “on weekdays.” In Germany, Samstag is widely used for Saturday; Sonnabend is also used in some regions. 3. Months of the Year in German German has twelve months. Month names are masculine: der Januar, der Februar, etc. When saying that something happens in a particular month, use im (short for in dem) in the usual expression. German English German example der Januar January im Januar der Februar February im Februar der März March im März der April April im April der Mai May im Mai der Juni June im Juni der Juli July im Juli der August August im August der September September im September der Oktober October im Oktober der November November im November der Dezember December im Dezember Examples with months Mein Geburtstag ist im Mai. My birthday is in May. Im Januar ist es in Deutschland oft kalt. In Germany, it is often cold in January. Der Kurs beginnt im September. The course starts in September. Wir machen im August Urlaub. We take a vacation in August. Im Dezember feiern viele Menschen Weihnachten. Many people celebrate Christmas in December. Spelling tip: Notice the umlaut in März. The months Juni and Juli are sometimes pronounced with a long “ee” sound at the end. 4. The Four Seasons in German 🌷 der Frühling spring im Frühling ☀️ der Sommer summer im Sommer 🍂 der Herbst autumn / fall im Herbst ❄️ der Winter winter im Winter All four seasons are masculine nouns. Use im when saying “in spring,” “in summer,” and so on. Im Frühling blühen die Blumen. The flowers bloom in spring. Im Sommer ist es oft warm. It is often warm in summer. Im Herbst fallen die Blätter. The leaves fall in autumn. Im Winter schneit es manchmal. It sometimes snows in winter. Season-related vocabulary German English das Wetter weather warm warm heiß hot kalt cold der Schnee snow der Regen rain die Sonne sun der Wind wind blühen to bloom schneien to snow 5. Useful Time Expressions German English Example heute today Heute ist Mittwoch. morgen tomorrow Morgen habe ich frei. gestern yesterday Gestern war Dienstag. übermorgen the day after tomorrow Übermorgen fahren wir los. vorgestern the day before yesterday Vorgestern war ich krank. diese Woche this week Diese Woche lerne ich viel. nächste Woche next week Nächste Woche beginnt der Kurs. letzte Woche last week Letzte Woche war ich im Urlaub. diesen Monat this month Diesen Monat habe ich Prüfungen. nächsten Monat next month Nächsten Monat ziehe ich um. letzten Monat last month Letzten Monat war ich sehr beschäftigt. dieses Jahr this year Dieses Jahr lerne ich Deutsch. nächstes Jahr next year Nächstes Jahr reisen wir. letztes Jahr last year Letztes Jahr habe ich geheiratet. Important: morgen means “tomorrow” when it is written with a lowercase m. der Morgen means “the morning.” In a sentence, a noun is capitalized: Am Morgen lerne ich Deutsch. 6. Saying and Writing Dates in German Dates in German are commonly written in the order day.month.year, for example 03.10.2026 (3 October 2026). In formal writing, the day is often followed by a period because it is an ordinal number. Asking about the date Welches Datum ist heute? What is the date today? Den wievielten haben wir heute? What date is it today? (colloquial) Heute ist der dritte Oktober. Today is the third of October. Ordinal numbers used for dates For dates, German uses ordinal numbers. In written dates, they are usually shown as numerals followed by a period: 1., 2., 3., 4. When read aloud, the ordinal ending depends on the grammar of the sentence. Number Ordinal Example date 1 erste der erste Mai 2 zweite der zweite Mai 3 dritte der dritte Mai 4 vierte der vierte Mai 5 fünfte der fünfte Mai 6 sechste der sechste Mai 7 siebte der siebte Mai 8 achte der achte Mai 9 neunte der neunte Mai 10 zehnte der zehnte Mai 11 elfte der

How to Tell the Time in German: Official & Informal

How to Tell the Time in German: Official and Informal Clock Time Fortgang Institut · German Learning Resource How to Tell the Time in German Learn to ask and tell the time in German using both official (24-hour) and informal (everyday) clock time. Explore clear rules, many examples, real-life dialogues, common mistakes, and practice exercises. A1 GermanOfficial & informal timeExamples & dialoguesExercises with answers What will you learn? In German, the same time can often be expressed in two ways. For example, 16:30 can be said as sechzehn Uhr dreißig in an official context or halb fünf in everyday conversation. This guide shows you how both systems work and when to use them. How to ask the time Numbers you need Official time: 24-hour clock Informal time: everyday speech Minutes past and to Morning, afternoon, evening When to use each system Examples and conversions Dialogues Common mistakes Exercises and answer key 1. How to ask the time in German German English Use Wie spät ist es? What time is it? Most common everyday question Wie viel Uhr ist es? What time is it? Also common and correct Können Sie mir bitte sagen, wie spät es ist? Could you please tell me what time it is? Polite / formal Hast du kurz die Uhrzeit? Do you have the time? Casual, informal Um wie viel Uhr beginnt der Film? At what time does the film start? Asking for the time of an event Wann fährt der Zug ab? When does the train leave? Asking when something happens Difference: Wie spät ist es? asks what time it is now. Um wie viel Uhr …? asks at what exact time an event is scheduled to happen. How to answer Es ist neun Uhr. — It is nine o’clock. Es ist halb drei. — It is half past two (2:30). Es ist vierzehn Uhr fünfundzwanzig. — It is 14:25. 2. Numbers you need to tell the time Learn these numbers first. For clock time, numbers from 1 to 12 are especially important for everyday speech; the 24-hour system uses numbers up to 23 for hours. Number German Number German 1 eins 13 dreizehn 2 zwei 14 vierzehn 3 drei 15 fünfzehn 4 vier 16 sechzehn 5 fünf 17 siebzehn 6 sechs 18 achtzehn 7 sieben 19 neunzehn 8 acht 20 zwanzig 9 neun 21 einundzwanzig 10 zehn 22 zweiundzwanzig 11 elf 23 dreiundzwanzig 12 zwölf 30 dreißig Pronunciation note: Uhr sounds approximately like “oor” (with a German vowel), and fünf contains the German ü sound. Listen to or practise the numbers aloud as you study. 3. Official time: the 24-hour clock Official time is used for schedules, timetables, appointments, announcements, business hours, and other situations where precision matters. It is also called the 24-hour clock. Basic structure Say the hour, then Uhr, then the minutes: 14:25 → vierzehn Uhr fünfundzwanzig Es ist vierzehn Uhr fünfundzwanzig. — It is 14:25 (2:25 p.m.). Digital time German English 06:00 sechs Uhr six o’clock 08:05 acht Uhr fünf eight oh five 09:10 neun Uhr zehn nine ten 10:15 zehn Uhr fünfzehn ten fifteen 11:20 elf Uhr zwanzig eleven twenty 12:30 zwölf Uhr dreißig twelve thirty 13:45 dreizehn Uhr fünfundvierzig thirteen forty-five / 1:45 p.m. 16:05 sechzehn Uhr fünf sixteen oh five / 4:05 p.m. 18:40 achtzehn Uhr vierzig eighteen forty / 6:40 p.m. 21:55 einundzwanzig Uhr fünfundfünfzig twenty-one fifty-five / 9:55 p.m. Important: how to say minutes with a zero 07:03 → sieben Uhr drei 10:04 → zehn Uhr vier 12:08 → zwölf Uhr acht In spoken German, you do not normally need to say null before a single-digit minute. The digital display may show a leading zero, but the spoken form can simply be Uhr drei, Uhr vier, or Uhr acht. When the time is exactly on the hour Use the hour followed by Uhr: 05:00 → fünf Uhr 12:00 → zwölf Uhr 20:00 → zwanzig Uhr Midnight and noon: 00:00 is null Uhr or Mitternacht. 12:00 is zwölf Uhr or Mittag, depending on the context. For schedules, 00:00 Uhr and 12:00 Uhr are clear. 4. Informal time: everyday German In everyday conversation, speakers often use a 12-hour-style system with expressions such as halb, Viertel nach, and Viertel vor. The key is to think of the next hour when you hear halb. O’clock: Uhr For exact hours, Uhr is used in both official and everyday speech: 08:00 → acht Uhr 13:00 → ein Uhr (everyday context) or dreizehn Uhr (official) 19:00 → sieben Uhr (everyday context) or neunzehn Uhr (official) Nach = past / after the hour For minutes after an hour, say the minute followed by nach and the current hour. Time German Think of it as 07:05 fünf nach sieben five past seven 07:10 zehn nach sieben ten past seven 07:15 Viertel nach sieben quarter past seven 07:20 zwanzig nach sieben twenty past seven 07:25 fünfundzwanzig nach sieben twenty-five past seven Vor = to / before the next hour For minutes before the next hour, say the minutes remaining, then vor and the next hour. Time German Think of it as 07:35 fünfundzwanzig vor acht twenty-five to eight 07:40 zwanzig vor acht twenty to eight 07:45 Viertel vor acht quarter to eight 07:50 zehn vor acht ten to eight 07:55 fünf vor acht five to eight Halb = half to the next hour This is one of the most important differences between German and English. In German, halb acht means halfway to eight, or 7:30—not 8:30. Time German English 06:30 halb sieben half past six 07:30 halb acht half past seven 08:30 halb neun half past eight 12:30 halb eins half past twelve 16:30 halb fünf half past four 21:30 halb zehn half past nine Memory trick: halb acht means “halfway to eight.” The next hour is eight, so the time is 7:30. Always ask yourself: “Halfway to which hour?” Viertel = quarter In many regions, Viertel nach and Viertel vor are used: 10:15 → Viertel nach zehn 10:45 → Viertel vor elf Regional variations

German Hobbies and Free-Time Activities: Vocabulary & Phrases

German Hobbies and Free-Time Activities: Vocabulary, Phrases & Grammar Fortgang Institut · German Learning Resource German Hobbies and Free-Time Activities A complete beginner-friendly guide to talking about hobbies, interests, sports, music, reading, travel, and what you like to do in your free time—with useful vocabulary, grammar, examples, dialogues, and practice. A1–A2 GermanVocabulary & phrasesGrammar in contextPractice activities What will you learn? When someone asks „Was machst du gern in deiner Freizeit?“ (What do you like doing in your free time?), you should be able to answer naturally, ask follow-up questions, and explain how often you do an activity. Talking about hobbies Hobby vocabulary Important verbs and expressions Grammar you need Useful example sentences Questions to keep a conversation going Real-life dialogues Language and cultural notes Common mistakes Exercises and answer key 1. Talking about hobbies in German A hobby is an activity that you enjoy doing in your free time. In German, the most common word is das Hobby. The plural is die Hobbys. German English das Hobby a hobby die Freizeit free time / leisure time die Lieblingsbeschäftigung favorite activity / pastime die Interessen interests Spaß haben to have fun Essential questions and answers Question Meaning Example answer Was sind deine Hobbys? What are your hobbies? Meine Hobbys sind Lesen und Schwimmen.My hobbies are reading and swimming. Was machst du gern in deiner Freizeit? What do you like doing in your free time? Ich höre gern Musik und treffe Freunde.I like listening to music and meeting friends. Was machst du am Wochenende? What do you do on the weekend? Am Wochenende spiele ich Fußball.I play soccer on the weekend. Hast du ein Hobby? Do you have a hobby? Ja, ich fotografiere gern.Yes, I like taking photographs. Wie oft machst du das? How often do you do that? Zweimal pro Woche.Twice a week. Useful pattern: Ich + verb + gern. For example: Ich tanze gern. (I like dancing.) The word gern expresses that you enjoy doing something. 2. Hobby vocabulary: activities and interests Learn hobbies in groups. Many activities use a verb; some are expressed with a noun phrase. Pay attention to the verb that naturally goes with each activity. Sports and physical activities German English Example Fußball spielen to play soccer / football Ich spiele gern Fußball. Basketball spielen to play basketball Er spielt jeden Samstag Basketball. Tennis spielen to play tennis Wir spielen manchmal Tennis. Volleyball spielen to play volleyball Sie spielt Volleyball im Verein. Badminton spielen to play badminton Ich spiele mit meiner Schwester Badminton. schwimmen to swim Ich schwimme zweimal pro Woche. joggen to jog Am Morgen jogge ich im Park. Rad fahren to ride a bicycle Wir fahren gern Rad. wandern to hike Im Urlaub wandere ich in den Bergen. tanzen to dance Sie tanzt sehr gern. Yoga machen to do yoga Ich mache am Abend Yoga. trainieren to work out / train Er trainiert im Fitnessstudio. klettern to climb Meine Freunde klettern gern. Schach spielen to play chess Mein Großvater spielt Schach. Music, art, and creative activities German English Example Musik hören to listen to music Ich höre gern Musik. Musik machen to make music Wir machen zusammen Musik. Gitarre spielen to play the guitar Sie spielt Gitarre. Klavier spielen to play the piano Ich lerne Klavier spielen. singen to sing Er singt in einem Chor. zeichnen to draw Ich zeichne gern Tiere. malen to paint Sie malt Landschaften. fotografieren to take photographs Wir fotografieren auf Reisen. basteln to make things / do crafts Die Kinder basteln Karten. stricken to knit Meine Tante strickt einen Schal. nähen to sew Ich nähe gern Kleidung. kochen to cook Am Sonntag koche ich gern. backen to bake Wir backen einen Kuchen. Reading, learning, and quiet hobbies German English Example lesen to read Ich lese gern Romane. Bücher lesen to read books Sie liest jeden Abend Bücher. Comics lesen to read comics Er liest Comics. Sprachen lernen to learn languages Ich lerne in meiner Freizeit Deutsch. Kreuzworträtsel lösen to solve crossword puzzles Meine Mutter löst gern Kreuzworträtsel. meditieren to meditate Ich meditiere zehn Minuten am Tag. im Garten arbeiten to garden Mein Vater arbeitet gern im Garten. Digital entertainment and social activities German English Example Computerspiele spielen to play computer games Ich spiele am Wochenende Computerspiele. Videospiele spielen to play video games Die Freunde spielen Videospiele. Filme sehen to watch films Wir sehen gern Filme. Serien schauen to watch series Sie schaut abends eine Serie. im Internet surfen to browse the internet Er surft oft im Internet. Freunde treffen to meet friends Ich treffe am Freitag Freunde. ins Kino gehen to go to the cinema Wir gehen heute ins Kino. ausgehen to go out Am Samstag gehen wir aus. reisen to travel Ich reise gern in neue Länder. einen Ausflug machen to take a trip / excursion Wir machen einen Ausflug ans Meer. Useful hobby nouns German English der Sport sport die Musik music das Buch, die Bücher book, books das Fahrrad, die Fahrräder bicycle, bicycles die Kamera, die Kameras camera, cameras das Fitnessstudio, die Fitnessstudios gym, gyms der Verein, die Vereine club / association die Mannschaft, die Mannschaften team, teams das Wochenende, die Wochenenden weekend, weekends die Freizeit free time (normally no plural in this meaning) 3. Important verbs and expressions German hobby expressions often use a verb together with a noun. Learn the complete phrase rather than translating word by word. Expression Meaning Fußball spielen to play soccer Gitarre spielen to play the guitar Musik hören to listen to music Bücher lesen to read books Freunde treffen to meet friends ins Kino gehen to go to the cinema Rad fahren to ride a bicycle Sport treiben to do / engage in sport einen Spaziergang machen to take a walk Zeit verbringen to spend time sich entspannen to relax Spaß machen to be fun / enjoyable Example sentences Ich verbringe gern Zeit mit meiner Familie. — I like spending time with my family. Am Wochenende entspanne ich mich zu Hause. — I relax at home on

German Conversations and Dialogues: Everyday Situations

German Conversations and Dialogues: Everyday Situations Fortgang Institut · German Learning Resources German Conversations and Dialogues: Everyday Situations Learn how to speak German in real-life situations. This practical guide includes everyday conversations, English translations, useful expressions, vocabulary, and speaking practice for A1–A2 learners. A1–A2Everyday GermanDialogues + TranslationSpeaking Practice How to use this guide Read each dialogue once for the general meaning. Read it again and notice the expressions that speakers use. Then cover the English translation and practise speaking the German lines aloud. Finally, change the details—your name, city, order, appointment time, or destination—and perform the dialogue with a partner. Important: The dialogues are model conversations. In real life, people may use shorter sentences, different expressions, or regional forms. Both formal Sie and informal du are included where appropriate. On this page Greeting and introducing yourself Meeting someone new Small talk At a café At a restaurant Shopping for clothes At the supermarket Asking for directions Public transport At a hotel At the doctor At the pharmacy Making a phone call Making an appointment At work In a German course Inviting a friend Explaining a problem In an emergency Saying goodbye Useful conversation phrases Practice exercises Formal or informal? Use du with friends, family, children, and people who have invited you to use it. Use Sie in many professional and service situations, especially when speaking to an unfamiliar adult. Context and personal preference matter; follow the other person’s lead. Scenario 01 Greeting and introducing yourself Use these expressions when you meet someone for the first time or introduce yourself in a class, at an event, or in a new workplace. Dialogue: First meeting (formal) A:Guten Tag. Ich heiße Anna Müller. Wie heißen Sie?Good day. My name is Anna Müller. What is your name? B:Guten Tag. Mein Name ist Daniel Weber. Freut mich.Good day. My name is Daniel Weber. Pleased to meet you. A:Freut mich auch. Woher kommen Sie?Pleased to meet you too. Where are you from? B:Ich komme aus Österreich. Und Sie?I come from Austria. And you? A:Ich komme aus Deutschland, aus Hamburg.I come from Germany, from Hamburg. B:Ah, schön! Sind Sie beruflich hier?Ah, nice! Are you here for work? A:Ja, genau. Ich bin für eine Konferenz hier.Yes, exactly. I’m here for a conference. Useful expressions Ich heiße … / Mein Name ist … — My name is … Freut mich. — Pleased to meet you. Woher kommen Sie? — Where are you from? Ich komme aus … — I come from … Dialogue: Introducing yourself (informal) A:Hi! Ich bin Lena. Wie heißt du?Hi! I’m Lena. What’s your name?B:Ich heiße Tom. Freut mich!My name is Tom. Nice to meet you!A:Freut mich auch. Wohnst du hier?Nice to meet you too. Do you live here?B:Ja, ich wohne in Köln. Und du?Yes, I live in Cologne. And you?A:Ich wohne in Bonn, aber ich studiere in Köln.I live in Bonn, but I study in Cologne. Scenario 02 Meeting someone new Ask simple questions to learn about another person’s home, work, studies, or interests. Dialogue: Getting to know a classmate Mia:Was machst du beruflich, Alex?What do you do for a living, Alex?Alex:Ich bin Krankenpfleger. Und du?I’m a nurse. And you?Mia:Ich studiere Informatik.I study computer science.Alex:Interessant! Was machst du gern in deiner Freizeit?Interesting! What do you like doing in your free time?Mia:Ich lese gern und gehe oft spazieren. Und du?I like reading and often go for walks. And you?Alex:Ich spiele Fußball und treffe Freunde.I play football and meet friends. Question patterns Was machst du beruflich? — What do you do for work? Was studierst du? — What are you studying? Was machst du gern? — What do you like doing? Wie lange wohnst du schon hier? — How long have you lived here? Scenario 03 Making small talk Small talk often starts with the weather, the day, or a shared situation. Keep it friendly and simple. Dialogue: Talking about the weather A:Ganz schön kalt heute, oder?It’s pretty cold today, isn’t it?B:Ja, wirklich. Und es soll morgen schneien.Yes, it really is. And it’s supposed to snow tomorrow.A:Hoffentlich wird es am Wochenende wärmer.Hopefully it will get warmer at the weekend.B:Das wäre schön. Hast du schon Pläne?That would be nice. Do you have plans yet?A:Noch nicht. Vielleicht gehe ich wandern.Not yet. Maybe I’ll go hiking. Weather vocabulary German English Es ist sonnig. It’s sunny. Es regnet. It’s raining. Es ist windig. It’s windy. Es ist bewölkt. It’s cloudy. Es ist warm / kalt. It’s warm / cold. Es schneit. It’s snowing. Scenario 04 At a café Use these phrases to order a drink, ask for something, and pay. Dialogue: Ordering coffee Service:Guten Morgen. Was möchten Sie?Good morning. What would you like?Gast:Guten Morgen. Ich hätte gern einen Cappuccino und ein Croissant, bitte.Good morning. I’d like a cappuccino and a croissant, please.Service:Gern. Möchten Sie den Cappuccino hier trinken oder mitnehmen?Certainly. Would you like to drink the cappuccino here or take it away?Gast:Hier, bitte.Here, please.Service:Das macht sechs Euro zwanzig.That comes to six euros twenty.Gast:Bitte schön. Danke!Here you go. Thank you!Service:Danke. Einen schönen Tag noch!Thank you. Have a nice day! Useful expressions Ich hätte gern … — I would like … Was möchten Sie? — What would you like? Hier trinken oder mitnehmen? — For here or to take away? Das macht … — That comes to … Scenario 05 At a restaurant Practise asking for a table, ordering food, asking about a dish, and requesting the bill. Dialogue: Having dinner Kellner:Guten Abend. Haben Sie reserviert?Good evening. Do you have a reservation?Gast:Ja, auf den Namen Schmidt. Ein Tisch für zwei Personen.Yes, under the name Schmidt. A table for two.Kellner:Natürlich. Hier entlang, bitte. Möchten Sie schon etwas trinken?Of course. This way, please. Would you like something to drink already?Gast:Zwei Mineralwasser, bitte. Und was empfehlen Sie als Hauptgericht?Two mineral waters, please. And what do you recommend for the main course?Kellner:Unser Gemüsegericht ist heute sehr beliebt.Our vegetable dish is very popular today.Gast:Ist das Gericht vegetarisch?Is the dish vegetarian?Kellner:Ja, es enthält kein Fleisch.Yes, it contains no meat.Gast:Dann nehme ich das Gemüsegericht. Danke.Then I’ll have the vegetable

German Food and Mealtimes: Vocabulary, Phrases & Culture

German Food and Mealtimes: Vocabulary, Phrases & Culture Fortgang Institut · German A1–A2 Learning Guide German Food and Mealtimes: A Complete Guide Learn how to talk about food, meals, drinks, tastes, grocery shopping and eating out in German. This guide brings together essential vocabulary, everyday expressions, practical dialogues, grammar, cultural notes and exercises to help you use German confidently in real-life situations. Essen und TrinkenA1–A2Vocabulary + GrammarEveryday German Learning note: German nouns always begin with a capital letter. Learn food words together with their article—der Apfel, die Banane, das Brot—and, where useful, their plural form. On this page Meals and mealtimes Food vocabulary Drinks Taste and texture Useful everyday phrases Essential grammar Grocery shopping At a restaurant Food culture: Germany, Austria, Switzerland Practical dialogues Common mistakes Exercises and answer key FAQs 1. Meals and Mealtimes in German To talk about what you eat during the day, start with the names of the main meals. Meal times are not identical for everyone; they depend on region, routine, work, family habits and personal preference. The following times are general examples, not fixed rules. German English Typical time (approx.) Example das Frühstück breakfast 6:00–10:00 Ich frühstücke um sieben Uhr. — I have breakfast at seven. das Mittagessen lunch / midday meal 11:30–14:00 Wir essen um zwölf zu Mittag. — We have lunch at twelve. das Abendessen dinner / evening meal 17:00–20:00 Das Abendessen ist um halb sieben. — Dinner is at half past six. der Snack snack between meals Ich esse nachmittags einen Snack. — I have a snack in the afternoon. der Nachtisch dessert after a meal Gibt es einen Nachtisch? — Is there a dessert? Useful verbs for meals German verb Meaning Example frühstücken to have breakfast Ich frühstücke zu Hause. zu Mittag essen to have lunch Wir essen heute zu Mittag in der Kantine. zu Abend essen to have dinner Sie essen zusammen zu Abend. essen to eat Was isst du gern? trinken to drink Ich trinke viel Wasser. kochen to cook Mein Vater kocht heute. backen to bake Wir backen einen Kuchen. probieren to try / taste Möchtest du die Suppe probieren? Remember: In German, people commonly say frühstücken (have breakfast), zu Mittag essen (have lunch), and zu Abend essen (have dinner). You can also say Ich esse Frühstück, but the verb frühstücken is very natural. 2. Food Vocabulary: Lebensmittel Use the vocabulary tables to build a practical foundation. The article includes common foods rather than every possible ingredient. When learning a noun, remember the article and plural form. Fruit — das Obst German English Plural / note der Apfel apple die Äpfel die Banane banana die Bananen die Orange orange die Orangen die Birne pear die Birnen die Erdbeere strawberry die Erdbeeren die Traube grape die Trauben die Kirsche cherry die Kirschen die Zitrone lemon die Zitronen die Wassermelone watermelon die Wassermelonen die Mango mango die Mangos / Mangos Vegetables — das Gemüse German English Plural / note die Kartoffel potato die Kartoffeln die Tomate tomato die Tomaten die Karotte / die Möhre carrot die Karotten / Möhren die Zwiebel onion die Zwiebeln der Knoblauch garlic usually uncountable die Gurke cucumber die Gurken der Salat lettuce / salad die Salate der Brokkoli broccoli often used as a mass noun der Paprika bell pepper die Paprika; regional variation der Spinat spinach usually uncountable die Bohne bean die Bohnen der Pilz mushroom die Pilze Bread, grains and bakery items — Brot und Getreide German English Plural / note das Brot bread / loaf die Brote das Brötchen bread roll die Brötchen das Toastbrot toast bread die Toastbrote die Brezel pretzel die Brezeln der Kuchen cake die Kuchen die Nudeln pasta / noodles plural form commonly used der Reis rice usually uncountable das Mehl flour usually uncountable die Haferflocken oats / oatmeal plural Meat, fish and alternatives German English Plural / note das Fleisch meat usually uncountable das Hähnchen chicken die Hähnchen das Rindfleisch beef usually uncountable das Schweinefleisch pork usually uncountable der Fisch fish die Fische die Wurst sausage / cold cut die Würste das Ei egg die Eier der Tofu tofu usually uncountable die Linsen lentils plural Dairy products — Milchprodukte German English Plural / note die Milch milk usually uncountable der Käse cheese die Käse (varieties / portions) der Joghurt yogurt die Joghurts die Butter butter usually uncountable die Sahne cream usually uncountable; Austria often Obers der Quark quark / fresh curd cheese usually uncountable Meals, dishes and ingredients German English die Suppe soup das Sandwich sandwich die Pizza pizza der Burger burger das Omelett omelette die Soße / die Sauce sauce / gravy das Öl oil der Essig vinegar das Salz salt der Pfeffer pepper der Zucker sugar der Honig honey Desserts and sweets — Süßigkeiten und Nachtisch German English das Eis ice cream die Schokolade chocolate der Keks cookie / biscuit der Pudding pudding / custard-style dessert die Marmelade jam der Kuchen cake die Torte layer cake / gateau die Süßigkeit sweet / candy 3. Drinks — Getränke German English Example das Wasser water Ein Glas Wasser, bitte. das Mineralwasser mineral water Mit oder ohne Kohlensäure? der Kaffee coffee Ich trinke morgens Kaffee. der Tee tea Möchtest du einen Tee? der Saft juice Orangensaft, bitte. die Limonade lemonade / soft drink Eine Limonade für mich. die heiße Schokolade hot chocolate Eine heiße Schokolade mit Milch. die Milch milk Kaffee mit Milch. das Getränk drink / beverage Plural: die Getränke At a café or restaurant, you may be asked: Still oder mit Kohlensäure? (Still or sparkling?) or Mit oder ohne Eis? (With or without ice?) 4. Talking About Taste, Texture and Preferences Use these adjectives to describe what food tastes or feels like. Many can be used with sein: Die Suppe ist heiß. (The soup is hot.) German English Example lecker delicious / tasty Der Kuchen ist lecker. süß sweet Die Erdbeeren sind süß. salzig salty Die Pommes sind zu salzig. sauer sour Die Zitrone ist sauer. bitter bitter Der Kaffee ist bitter. scharf spicy /

German Greetings and Goodbyes: Formal, Informal & Regional

German Language · A1–A2 German Greetings and Goodbyes: The Complete Beginner’s Guide Begrüßungen und Verabschiedungen — Speak politely, naturally, and confidently. How do you greet a teacher, a colleague, a friend, or a stranger in German? And what should you say when you leave? The answer depends on the situation, the relationship, the time of day, and sometimes the region. In this guide, you will learn common greetings and farewells in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland—with formal and informal expressions, examples, pronunciation help, and practical dialogues. By the end, you will be able to: Choose a greeting for formal and informal situations. Say hello and goodbye at different times of day. Recognize common expressions from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Use greetings in conversations, emails, and introductions. Avoid common beginner mistakes and practise with exercises. Start with these four essentials: Guten Tag! — Auf Wiedersehen! Good day! — Goodbye! (formal or polite) Hallo! — Tschüss! Hello! — Bye! (usually informal) These expressions will work in many everyday situations. As you learn more, you can choose greetings that fit the region and relationship. Table of Contents Greetings and goodbyes: the basics Formal greetings and farewells Informal greetings and farewells Greetings by time of day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland Pronunciation and useful notes Everyday dialogues Greetings and closings in emails Common mistakes Quick reference Exercises Answer key Frequently asked questions 1. Greetings and Goodbyes: The Basics In German, greetings are called Begrüßungen and farewells are called Verabschiedungen. A greeting starts an interaction; a farewell closes it. Begrüßung Hallo! Guten Morgen! Grüezi! Hello! Good morning! Hello! (Swiss) Use these when you meet or address someone. Verabschiedung Tschüss! Auf Wiedersehen! Uf Wiederluege! Bye! Goodbye! Goodbye! (Swiss German) Use these when you leave or end a conversation. One important distinction: German greetings do not all have a single English equivalent. Some are tied to a time of day, some signal familiarity or politeness, and some are strongly associated with a region. 2. Formal Greetings and Farewells Use formal expressions when speaking to someone you do not know well, in professional situations, with customers, or when showing respect. Formal German usually uses Sie (you, formal) and the person’s title or surname when appropriate. German Meaning / use Typical context Guten Morgen! Good morning! Morning; polite and widely used Guten Tag! Good day! / Hello! Polite, neutral daytime greeting Guten Abend! Good evening! Evening; polite greeting Auf Wiedersehen! Goodbye! Polite farewell; especially face-to-face Auf Wiederhören! Goodbye! (on the phone) Polite telephone farewell Wie geht es Ihnen? How are you? Formal; uses Ihnen Freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen. Nice to meet you. Formal first meeting Formal examples Guten Tag, Frau Müller. Wie geht es Ihnen? Good day, Ms. Müller. How are you? Sehr gut, danke. Und Ihnen? Very well, thank you. And you? Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Schneider. Goodbye, Mr. Schneider. Politeness tip: In formal settings, a greeting followed by a surname—such as Guten Morgen, Frau Weber—sounds courteous and natural. Whether to use a title or surname depends on the context and the person’s preference. 3. Informal Greetings and Farewells Use informal expressions with friends, family, classmates, and people who have invited you to use du. These are also common in relaxed everyday interactions, but regional habits vary. German Meaning Typical use Hallo! Hello! Friendly, common, broadly understood Hi! Hi! Casual; common among younger speakers too Hey! Hey! Casual; often among friends Na? Hey / So, how’s it going? Very informal; depends on tone and context Wie geht’s? How are you? Informal contraction of Wie geht es? Tschüss! Bye! Common informal farewell Bis bald! See you soon! When you expect to meet again Bis später! See you later! Later the same day or soon Mach’s gut! Take care! Friendly farewell Bis dann! See you then! Casual farewell Informal examples Hey, Lena! Wie geht’s? Hey, Lena! How are you? Gut, danke! Und dir? Good, thanks! And you? Auch gut. Bis später! Good too. See you later! Remember: Wie geht es Ihnen? is formal. Wie geht’s? or Wie geht es dir? is informal. The difference is not just the greeting—it is also the pronoun and verb form. 4. Greetings by Time of Day These expressions are widely used, but the exact time when people switch from one greeting to another can vary by person and region. Expression Meaning When to use it Guten Morgen! Good morning! Morning; often until late morning Guten Tag! Good day! / Hello! Daytime; a safe polite greeting Guten Abend! Good evening! Evening; when greeting someone Gute Nacht! Good night! When going to bed or leaving late at night—not usually as a first greeting Guten Abend vs. Gute Nacht: Use Guten Abend to greet someone in the evening. Use Gute Nacht when saying goodbye at night, especially when someone is going to sleep. 5. Germany, Austria, and Switzerland German is spoken across several countries, and greetings can sound different from one region to another. The expressions below are useful to recognize; not every expression is used by every speaker in that country. Germany Expression Meaning Regional note Hallo! Hello! Widely used across Germany Guten Tag! Good day! / Hello! Polite, broadly understood Moin! Hello! Common in northern Germany; can be used throughout the day, not only in the morning Grüß dich! Hello! (informal, singular) Especially common in southern German-speaking areas Grüß Gott! Hello! (polite/regional) Common in southern Germany, especially Bavaria; also used in Austria Tschüss! Bye! Common informal farewell Servus! Hello! / Bye! Used in parts of southern Germany; can be both greeting and farewell Austria Expression Meaning Regional / register note Grüß Gott! Hello! Very common polite or neutral greeting in many parts of Austria Grüß dich! Hello! (informal, singular) Friendly, informal Servus! Hello! / Bye! Common informal greeting and farewell Guten Morgen! Good morning! Widely understood Auf Wiedersehen! Goodbye! Polite farewell Pfiat di! Bye! (informal, singular) Regional/Bavarian-Austrian dialect expression; familiar and not suitable for every formal situation Switzerland Expression Meaning Regional / register note Grüezi! Hello! Common polite or neutral greeting in Swiss German-speaking areas; often used

German Two-Way Prepositions: Akkusativ vs. Dativ

Fortgang Institut · German Grammar · A1–B1 German Two-Way Prepositions: Akkusativ vs. Dativ Wechselpräpositionen — a clear, practical guide to choosing the right case. Why do we say Ich bin in der Schule but Ich gehe in die Schule? Why is the book auf dem Tisch, but you put it auf den Tisch? The answer is not simply “movement.” It is the meaning of the prepositional phrase: are you describing a place or position, or a destination? In this guide, you will learn to: Recognize all nine German two-way prepositions. Use the core spatial contrast: Wo? + Dativ and Wohin? + Akkusativ. Choose the correct article and pronoun. Understand why movement can still take Dativ. Practice with clear examples, exercises, and an answer key. Start with this pair: Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. The book is on the table. Wo? Its location → Dativ Ich lege das Buch auf den Tisch. I put the book onto the table. Wohin? Its destination → Akkusativ The preposition stays the same. The noun and its article change case because the meaning of the phrase changes. On this page What are Wechselpräpositionen? The nine prepositions Wo? vs. Wohin? Movement is not the deciding factor Dativ and Akkusativ articles Sentence pairs Questions: Wo, Wohin, Woher? Position and placement verbs Other uses and contractions Common mistakes A five-step method Exercises Answer key FAQs 1. What Are Two-Way Prepositions? German two-way prepositions are called Wechselpräpositionen. In their spatial use, they can take either Dativ or Akkusativ. The case depends on what the phrase means in the sentence. The nine two-way prepositions: an · auf · hinter · in · neben · über · unter · vor · zwischen They can describe relationships such as being at, on, in, behind, beside, above, below, in front of, or between something. The English translation is only a guide: German and English do not always use prepositions in the same way. Compare a position with a destination Position — Dativ Die Katze sitzt auf dem Stuhl. The cat is sitting on the chair. We say where the cat is sitting: Wo? Destination — Akkusativ Die Katze springt auf den Stuhl. The cat jumps onto the chair. We say where the cat jumps to: Wohin? This guide focuses on the spatial use of these prepositions. Some also appear in non-spatial expressions or verb-preposition combinations, where the case may follow a different pattern. 2. The Nine Two-Way Prepositions Learn each preposition with a typical spatial meaning. These meanings are helpful starting points, not one-to-one translations. Preposition Common spatial meaning Example an at, on, by (often contact with a vertical surface, edge, or boundary) Das Bild hängt an der Wand.The picture hangs on the wall. auf on, onto (often a surface) Das Handy liegt auf dem Tisch.The phone is on the table. hinter behind Der Garten ist hinter dem Haus.The garden is behind the house. in in, into Wir sind im Zimmer.We are in the room. neben next to, beside Der Stuhl steht neben dem Bett.The chair is next to the bed. über above, over Die Lampe hängt über dem Tisch.The lamp hangs above the table. unter under, beneath Der Ball liegt unter dem Sofa.The ball is under the sofa. vor in front of Das Auto steht vor dem Haus.The car is in front of the house. zwischen between Der Tisch steht zwischen den Stühlen.The table is between the chairs. Study tip: Memorize each preposition with a location example and a destination example. Practice the whole phrase — for example, auf dem Tisch and auf den Tisch — rather than the preposition by itself. 3. Wo? vs. Wohin? — The Core Spatial Rule When a two-way preposition describes a spatial relationship, ask which meaning the sentence expresses: Wo? Where? Asks about a location or position. Dativ Wo ist das Buch? — Auf dem Tisch. Where is the book? — On the table. Wohin? Where to? Asks about a destination or the endpoint of placement. Akkusativ Wohin legst du das Buch? — Auf den Tisch. Where are you putting the book? — Onto the table. Core rule for spatial uses: Wo? → location / position → Dativ Wohin? → destination / change of location → Akkusativ Think about the role of the phrase Imagine a cup and a table. If the cup is already on the table, you describe its position: Die Tasse steht auf dem Tisch. If you move the cup onto the table, you describe its destination: Ich stelle die Tasse auf den Tisch. The object itself is not what determines the case. The prepositional phrase tells us either where something is located or where it is being moved/placed. Important limitation: This is the core rule for spatial uses. It is not a universal rule for every sentence containing one of these words. For example, über das Problem sprechen (“to talk about the problem”) is not a location or destination phrase. 4. Movement Is Not the Deciding Factor A common shortcut says “movement means Akkusativ.” That is not reliable. A person or thing can move while the prepositional phrase still describes the place where the activity happens. Ich laufe im Park. I am running in the park. The park is the setting/location of the activity. Wo? → Dativ. Ich laufe in den Park. I am running into the park. The park is the destination I enter. Wohin? → Akkusativ. More contrasts Location / Dativ Destination / Akkusativ Wir gehen im Wald spazieren.We go for a walk in the forest. Wir gehen in den Wald.We go into the forest. Er schwimmt im See.He is swimming in the lake. Er springt in den See.He jumps into the lake. Sie fährt auf der Straße.She is driving on the road. Sie fährt auf die Straße.She drives onto the road. Notice: in the first column, the phrase names the place where the activity takes place. In the second, it names the destination. Do not choose the case by looking at the verb alone. 5. Articles with