Free online German course
Learn practical German through short, usable chunks.
240 chunk-based lessons for real conversation
Learn German through useful chunks
German rewards you for showing up often rather than showing up exhausted. Each lesson is short enough to finish on a commute, and long enough to teach something real.
That’s chunk learning — ready-made phrases and words you can actually say.
Every lesson comes with German audio, a short story or dialogue, a short practice, and a line you can record.
Your German learning path
The course runs from A1 to B2, in lesson order.
A1: Your first words and survival phrases
You start with the greetings, questions, and everyday phrases that get you through a first conversation. By the end of A1 you can understand simple sentences and introduce yourself without panicking.
A2: Everyday talk, from food to directions
Now you handle restaurants, transit, and small talk in everyday German. The lessons lean on the casual phrases you'll hear on the street.
B1: Opinions, stories, and longer reading
You move from surviving to actually chatting, with opinions, past events, and short texts. This is where listening and reading start to feel less like decoding and more like understanding.
B2: Work, news, and real conversations
The last stretch: longer talks, work and news topics, and saying what you mean with more nuance. By the end you can hold your own in a real conversation, not just get by.
A free German course that’s actually useful
Order breakfast at a bakery, chat with a neighbor, or follow a show with fewer subtitles. These lessons aim at the German people actually use in everyday life.
Every German line comes with audio.
Tiny lessons, tiny wins. That’s the deal.
The tone stays friendly. The learning logic is still serious: useful input, retrieval, context, then saying it out loud.
Bookmark this page. If you work through the lot, figure on about 60 hours, not a weekend miracle.
Progress stays as long as your cookies stay. We might add Google or Apple login later.
Built on practical, effective language-learning theory
A few choices we made on purpose, because real conversation runs on chunks.
The aim is simple: get you understanding and speaking German faster than a grammar-first approach would.
Listening before speaking
You hear and understand a phrase long before you're asked to say it on your own. Listening first, speaking next, sanity throughout.
Audio on everything
Sounds like ö, ü, and the ch in ich take an ear, so hearing each word while you learn it keeps pronunciation anchored.
Say it
Say the line out loud, and the lesson checks what it heard.
Browse all German lessons
Lessons 1–60In course order
In course order. The level on each card is that lesson’s level.
- 01Hello, how are youA1 · Greet someone, say good morning or good afternoon, and answer how you are.
- 02Come in, sit downA1 · Welcome someone in, offer a seat, and bounce the question back.
- 03What's your nameA1 · Say your name, ask someone's name, and give a name to call you.
- 04Nice to meet youA1 · Say you are pleased to meet someone, say where you come from, and say you are new.
- 05Please and thank youA1 · Ask for something politely and say thank you and you're welcome.
- 06Excuse me, sorryA1 · Get someone's attention, apologise, and accept an apology.
- 07Can I get pastA1 · Let someone in, say after you, and ask to get past politely.
- 08See you tomorrowA1 · Say goodbye, say you have to go, and say when you will see someone again.
- 09Safe trip and take careA1 · Wish someone well when they leave, travel, or head home.
- 10Have a nice eveningA1 · Wish someone a nice evening or weekend, a safe trip home, good luck or a quick recovery as you part.
- 11Yes and noA1 · Answer yes-or-no questions clearly, not only with a bare yes or no.
- 12Is it or isn't itA1 · Ask a yes-or-no question by offering both the yes and the no.
- 13Say what? I don't understandA1 · Say you did not understand, ask what a word means, and say how much of the language you have.
- 14Slower, pleaseA1 · Ask someone to repeat, slow down, write it, or say how to say something.
- 15I'm learning GermanA1 · Say you are learning German, how much you speak, and ask people to help you practise.
- 16What is thisA1 · Ask what, who, and when about things in front of you.
- 17Numbers one to tenA1 · Count from one to ten and say zero.
- 18How much is itA1 · Ask the price and say a price in euros.
- 19Bigger numbersA1 · Say numbers from eleven to a thousand and understand a bill read aloud.
- 20One coffee, one rollA1 · Count food and drink at the counter with einen, eine or ein.
- 21Tickets, books, people, petsA1 · Count tickets, books, people, animals and machines with a number plus a plural.
- 22Order breakfastA1 · Order a breakfast roll and a drink at the bakery and say that is all.
- 23Eat here or take awayA1 · Say whether you will eat here or take it away, and refuse a bag or extras.
- 24I wantA1 · Say what you want and what you need.
- 25No thanks, that's enoughA1 · Turn things down politely and say that is enough.
- 26I haveA1 · Say what you have and what you do not have.
- 27Whose is thisA1 · Say whose something is and whether it is yours.
- 28Where is itA1 · Ask where something is and say it is here or there.
- 29In front, behind, besideA1 · Say where one thing is in relation to another.
- 30What time is itA1 · Ask and tell the time on the hour and the half hour.
- 31Days of the weekA1 · Say today, tomorrow, yesterday, and the days of the week.
- 32Does that work for youA1 · Suggest a simple plan, ask if it works, and say it works or it does not.
- 33Can I?A1 · Ask permission to do something and answer yes or no.
- 34What's allowedA1 · Say what you can and cannot do in a place.
- 35Can you help meA1 · Ask for help and thank people for it.
- 36Borrow a phoneA1 · Ask to use a phone, call someone, and say what to do.
- 37Something's wrongA1 · Say something is lost, broken, or will not work.
- 38I forgot and I'm lateA1 · Say you forgot something, missed something, or are late.
- 39Hurry up, no rushA1 · Ask someone to hurry, say you are in a rush, or tell them there is no rush.
- 40Coffee at the bakeryA1 · Order a coffee at the bakery and say how you want milk, sugar, and size.
- 41Looking for somethingA1 · Say what you are looking for in a shop and ask if they have it.
- 42Pay with cash or cardA1 · Say how you will pay, hand things over, and ask for change.
- 43The convenience-store counterA1 · Answer a clerk about a bag, a receipt, points, and bottle deposits.
- 44Is it openA1 · Ask if a place is open, when it opens, and where the toilet or the exit is.
- 45Where is the metroA1 · Ask where a station, a shop, or a toilet is.
- 46Straight, left, rightA1 · Follow directions: go straight, turn, and say where it is on the way.
- 47The metro and a passA1 · Ride the U-Bahn with a Deutschlandticket, say which line, and say when you change or get off.
- 48Where I liveA1 · Say where you live and what the place is like.
- 49Keys from the landlordA1 · Receive keys and ask the landlord simple questions.
- 50Your phone numberA1 · Give and take a phone number and an email.
- 51Add me on WhatsAppA1 · Add a friend on WhatsApp and send a location or a voice message.
- 52My familyA1 · Say who is in your family and how many.
- 53Wake up, sleep, and mealsA1 · Say when you get up, eat, and go to bed.
- 54Months and datesA1 · Say the month, day, and date, and ask when.
- 55Colours and sizesA1 · Describe something by colour and size.
- 56What I likeA1 · Say what you like, love, and don't like.
- 57You decideA1 · Make a small decision together: you decide, I don't mind, that looks good.
- 58Food I can't eatA1 · Say what you don't eat, and ask if something has an ingredient.
- 59Hot, cold, rainyA1 · Describe today's weather.
- 60Write it down for meA1 · Ask for something to be spelled, written, or shown.
Lessons 61–120In course order
In course order. The level on each card is that lesson’s level.
- 61Du or Sie, and casual hellosA1 · Address people with du or Sie, greet friends casually, and send a hello to someone who is not there.
- 62Are you from around hereA2 · Ask a neighbour where they live, how they got here, and keep in touch.
- 63Small talk at workA2 · Make small talk about a busy day, the weekend, and getting a coffee.
- 64Running into the same personA2 · Welcome a coworker you have heard of, check in on a project, and not keep them.
- 65And then what happenedA2 · Ask follow-up questions that keep a story going.
- 66Tell me moreA2 · Ask for an example, a reason, and how often it happens.
- 67Say it a different wayA2 · Ask someone to rephrase, raise their voice, or confirm what you heard.
- 68What the neighbourhood is likeA2 · Describe the area where you live.
- 69How my family isA2 · Say how old family members are, where they live, and what they do.
- 70What do you doA2 · Say your job and ask about someone else's.
- 71My work scheduleA2 · Say your hours, when you start, finish, and take time off.
- 72School and studyA2 · Say what you study, when classes are, and what you like best.
- 73Homework and testsA2 · Say you are late with work, ask for more time, and how a test went.
- 74Asking your teacherA2 · Ask the teacher to repeat, explain, or answer a question.
- 75What we're doing in classA2 · Say what you need and ask what to do in class.
- 76Free timeA2 · Say what you do in your free time and ask what others do.
- 77How good I amA2 · Say how long and how well you do a hobby and why you like it.
- 78Evening and weekend routineA2 · Describe a longer daily routine in order.
- 79What I usually doA2 · Say what you usually do on weekdays and weekends.
- 80First this, then thatA2 · Say the order of what you do and what you do before or after.
- 81Once a weekA2 · Say how many times and for how long.
- 82Always, often, neverA2 · Use frequency words from always to never.
- 83This one or that oneA2 · Choose between two things and say why.
- 84Foods I love or skipA2 · Describe food you like and dislike with details.
- 85Sharing a tableA2 · Ask to sit with others and say who is still coming.
- 86Getting a tableA2 · Ask for a table, a booking, and for the wait.
- 87Questions at the caféA2 · Ask what is in a dish, whether it comes with something, and fix the bill.
- 88Try it onA2 · Ask to try something, ask for other sizes and colours, and decide.
- 89Refunds and holdsA2 · Ask about exchanges, refunds, and keeping an item for later.
- 90Excuse me, may I?A2 · Interrupt, queue, and take turns politely.
- 91I didn't mean toA2 · Apologise for something specific, say you didn't mean it, and accept an apology.
- 92Small everyday reactionsA2 · React briefly and softly to what someone just said.
- 93Soft repliesA2 · Say later and not now without a flat no.
- 94Maybe and almost thereA2 · Say you're on your way, it might work, or it's too late.
- 95Good news, bad newsA2 · React to good news and bad news.
- 96Wow, really?A2 · React to a surprise, from disbelief to delight.
- 97Agree and go alongA2 · Agree, go along, and accept a plan.
- 98Give a reasonA2 · Ask why and give a reason.
- 99More, less, sameA2 · Compare two things as more, less, or the same.
- 100Taking the busA2 · Ask which bus goes where and when it leaves.
- 101Getting offA2 · Ask to get off, say you missed your stop, and pay.
- 102Come in, go outA2 · Say someone came in, went out, or went up.
- 103Rent a shared bikeA2 · Rent a Leihrad, find a dock, and fix a lock that will not open.
- 104High-speed railA2 · Buy an ICE ticket, find the platform, and pick a seat.
- 105Hail a taxiA2 · Tell a driver where to go and ask how long it takes.
- 106Left something in the carA2 · Report something left in the car and fix the fare.
- 107Hotel bookingA2 · Check in, ask about breakfast, and ask the check-out time.
- 108Hotel problemsA2 · Report a problem with the room.
- 109Where it hurtsA2 · Name body parts and say where it hurts.
- 110At the clinicA2 · Sign in at the Praxis and answer the receptionist.
- 111Telling the doctorA2 · Say your symptoms, how long, and how bad.
- 112The doctor's questionsA2 · Answer the doctor about pain, allergies, and what to do next.
- 113At the pharmacyA2 · Ask for medicine at the Apotheke and say what you need it for.
- 114How to take itA2 · Ask how often, how many, and when to take medicine.
- 115Filling in the formA2 · Ask what to write on an Anmeldung form, whether to sign, and what to do if a scan fails.
- 116Making an appointmentA2 · Make an appointment and ask which times are free.
- 117Change an appointmentA2 · Move, cancel, or check what to bring for an appointment.
- 118Making plansA2 · Invite someone, suggest a time, and ask what's good.
- 119Fix the time and placeA2 · Agree on a time and place and confirm.
- 120Cancel plansA2 · Say you can't make it and why.
Lessons 121–180In course order
In course order. The level on each card is that lesson’s level.
- 121Reschedule a planA2 · Suggest a new time and say you might be late.
- 122Do you feel like itA2 · Ask if someone feels like doing something tonight, say you do or don't, and say what you are in the mood for.
- 123Last weekendA2 · Say what you did last weekend.
- 124This weekendA2 · Say what you are doing this weekend and ask about theirs.
- 125What I did todayA2 · Say what you did today and what you have not done yet.
- 126Have you everA2 · Say you have or have never done something, and offer to try it.
- 127When it happenedA2 · Say when something happened in the past and how it went.
- 128Trip storiesA2 · Say where you went, what was best, and what surprised you.
- 129Plans for laterA2 · Say what you plan to do and what you have not decided yet.
- 130Looking aheadA2 · Say what you are looking forward to, what you are saving for, and what you will not do.
- 131What I can doA2 · Say what you can and cannot do, and how well.
- 132Still learningA2 · Say what you are still learning and what you have never tried.
- 133Call for helpA2 · Call for help in an emergency and give the right German number.
- 134Emergency helpA2 · Tell people what to do in an emergency and how to stay safe.
- 135Phone callsA2 · Ask for someone on the phone, say who is calling, and leave a message.
- 136Bad signalA2 · Talk about missed calls, bad signal, and messages.
- 137Looking for a flatA2 · Ask if a flat is still free, what the rent is, and when you can view it and move in.
- 138Signing the leaseA2 · Ask what papers you need, who handles repairs, and how to leave the flat.
- 139What's in the flatA2 · Name things in the apartment and say what is broken or missing.
- 140Rent and billsA2 · Ask about warm rent, bills, the deposit, and how to pay.
- 141The canal marketA2 · Order street food at the canal market and ask what is in it.
- 142Fruit and bargainingA2 · Buy fruit, ask the price per kilo, and ask for a better price.
- 143Phone, charger and Wi-FiA2 · Ask for a charger, ask for the Wi-Fi, and fix common phone trouble.
- 144Packages and deliveryA2 · Pick up a parcel or tell a driver where to leave the food.
- 145Treating friends to dinnerA2 · Pay for a meal, offer to treat, and split the bill.
- 146Weather forecastA2 · Read the forecast and ask if it will rain tomorrow.
- 147Black ice is comingA2 · Get ready for black ice and snow: stock up, stay home, and check for closures.
- 148The lost umbrellaA2 · Describe a lost item and ask at lost and found.
- 149A birthday at the bakeryA2 · Wish someone a happy birthday and give a small gift.
- 150A quiet SundayA2 · Talk about Sunday closing and everyday luck on a quiet day out.
- 151Put it thereB1 · Say where you put or moved something.
- 152It got takenB1 · Say what happened to someone or something.
- 153Understood, found, finishedB1 · Say you understood, found, or finished something.
- 154Explaining a problemB1 · Explain what is wrong and what has changed.
- 155What happened firstB1 · Describe the steps that led to a problem and what you think the cause is.
- 156Set up a meetingB1 · Ask for a meeting time and agree on an agenda.
- 157The meeting runs longB1 · Move a meeting along and say what is left.
- 158Project updatesB1 · Give a short progress update: done, in progress, or blocked.
- 159A polite message at workB1 · Write a short polite work message.
- 160What do you thinkB1 · Ask and give opinions about something.
- 161Mixed feelingsB1 · Say you have mixed feelings and weigh both sides.
- 162I agreeB1 · Agree with different strengths.
- 163I disagreeB1 · Disagree politely and say what you think instead.
- 164Soften the noB1 · Add a cushion before disagreeing.
- 165Going along with itB1 · Agree with a plan or a view in a natural way.
- 166Why that wayB1 · Explain why you chose something and why it happened.
- 167For exampleB1 · Give an example to explain a point.
- 168When that happensB1 · Describe typical situations.
- 169On the one handB1 · Contrast two options in a longer sentence.
- 170The short versionB1 · Give the point first, then explain.
- 171In other wordsB1 · Restate, explain a rule, and say what it means.
- 172A trip that went wrongB1 · Tell what went wrong on a trip and how you got through.
- 173Planning a weekend tripB1 · Plan a weekend trip to Hamburg: the train, a hotel, and what to eat.
- 174How it turned outB1 · Say how things turned out, in hindsight.
- 175The wrong trainB1 · Deal with a cancelled train and a rail-replacement bus, and ask station staff.
- 176The famous snackB1 · Order a famous local fish roll and say what it tastes like.
- 177The warehouse districtB1 · Describe an old place and how it used to be used.
- 178The story growsB1 · Retell something and notice how it grows with each telling.
- 179Wait, what?B1 · Follow up on a surprise and ask what happened.
- 180That must be hardB1 · Respond to someone's hard day.
Lessons 181–240In course order
In course order. The level on each card is that lesson’s level.
- 181Listening to a friendB1 · Say you're there and that a friend's feeling makes sense.
- 182It's not your faultB1 · Comfort and reassure someone who is blaming themselves.
- 183Keep goingB1 · Encourage someone who is learning or struggling.
- 184We'll do it togetherB1 · Share the effort and tell someone they tried their best.
- 185What I'm intoB1 · Talk about a new interest and why you like it.
- 186Never gets oldB1 · Share what you never tire of talking about, and ask for a tip on it.
- 187My goalsB1 · Say what you want to achieve and what it takes to get there.
- 188Small stepsB1 · Report progress, say what is hard, and name the next small goal.
- 189Are you followingB1 · Check someone is following and offer to repeat.
- 190What's unclearB1 · Ask which part is unclear and whether the answer helps.
- 191Thinking out loudB1 · Use fillers while you think of what to say.
- 192Change the subjectB1 · Bring up another topic or step away from this one.
- 193Linking what you sayB1 · Connect two points smoothly in the same turn.
- 194Being unsureB1 · Buy time and say you're not sure of a word or a point.
- 195Moving onB1 · Close a topic and move to the next.
- 196Storm day indoorsB1 · Spend a snow day inside and follow a story that stops halfway.
- 197Cooking at homeB1 · Follow and give a simple recipe in steps.
- 198How I'm feelingB1 · Describe your mood and what caused it.
- 199Online shopping and returnsB1 · Order online, track the delivery, and send it back.
- 200Giving adviceB1 · Give friendly advice someone can take or leave.
- 201Asking for a recommendationB1 · Ask for and give recommendations for food and places.
- 202Making the deadlineB1 · Say when something is due and whether you can make it.
- 203If, thenB1 · Make conditions and say what follows from them.
- 204Although, butB1 · Concede a point and still make your own.
- 205A leaking tapB1 · Report a repair in the flat and arrange a visit.
- 206Post office and bankB1 · Send a parcel, change money, or ask about an account.
- 207Taking a day offB1 · Ask your boss for time off and explain why.
- 208I heardB1 · Say what you heard from others and pass it on with care.
- 209Telling people what someone saidB1 · Pass on a message accurately.
- 210Festivals and traditionsB1 · Greet people at German festivals and talk about how you mark them.
- 211Borrow and returnB1 · Borrow something from a neighbour and say when you will return it.
- 212Run the meetingB2 · Open, chair, and close a short work meeting.
- 213Say no kindlyB2 · Disagree with a client or friend without losing the relationship.
- 214Negotiate a deadlineB2 · Ask for more time and agree on what is delivered when.
- 215Give feedbackB2 · Say what works, what doesn't, and what to change.
- 216A short presentationB2 · Open a short talk, present three points, and close.
- 217Sound naturalB2 · Use native-sounding fillers and hedges.
- 218Steer the conversationB2 · Take the lead and steer a conversation back on track.
- 219Link a storyB2 · Move through a story with linking words.
- 220Correct yourselfB2 · Correct yourself and say what you actually meant.
- 221If onlyB2 · Express wishes and what would have been.
- 222Not what I expectedB2 · Say that something turned out unlike what you expected.
- 223Persuade someoneB2 · Make a case, answer objections, and ask for a decision.
- 224A polite complaintB2 · Complain at a shop and ask for a fix.
- 225The repair argumentB2 · Argue politely with the landlord about a repair and who pays.
- 226The noise next doorB2 · Raise a neighbour problem about noise and quiet hours without making enemies.
- 227Accepting a complaintB2 · Receive a complaint, apologise formally, and fix it.
- 228Helping a newcomerB2 · Help a newer visitor order and explain local habits like Pfand, cash and Tschüss.
- 229The neighbourhood meetingB2 · Take part in a residents' meeting: propose, object, and vote.
- 230Everyday idiomsB2 · Use a handful of common German idioms in speech.
- 231Back home and hereB2 · Compare life back home with life in Berlin, fairly.
- 232Reading notices and signsB2 · Read a building notice, a stairwell sign, and a short formal message.
- 233Say thanks properlyB2 · Write a formal thanks and a farewell note.
- 234News and opinionsB2 · Talk about a local news item and give a balanced view.
- 235Let it restB2 · Close a topic with grace.
- 236Retelling the yearB2 · Tell the story of your year with a point.
- 237The trip story, told properlyB2 · Retell one story with details and a punchline.
- 238Renew the leaseB2 · Agree to renew the lease, ask what changes, and say you will stay.
- 239Everyone around the counterB2 · Thank people one by one and say what you will keep doing.
- 240The last morningB2 · Share a last breakfast, remember an old order, and say a real goodbye.
