Linking Words and Connectors in German

If German sentences sometimes feel like they are wearing too many moving parts, connectors are the grease that keeps everything running. They link ideas, show contrast, add reasons, and stop your speech from sounding like a pile of disconnected fragments. In other words: very useful, very normal, and annoyingly easy to underestimate.

For the broader learning path, visit our parent guide.

By the end of this guide, you will know the most practical Verbindungswörter in German, how they change word order, and how to use them in real life without sounding like a textbook that fell into a sandwich shop.

German connectors do more than connect. Some join two equal ideas. Some start a new sentence. Some push the verb to the end. Yes, German enjoys making one tiny word do a full-time job.

Table of Contents

The Big Idea: Not All Connectors Work The Same Way

In English, connectors like “and,” “but,” “because,” and “although” are already familiar. German has the same kind of logic, but the word order can change depending on the connector. That is the part learners usually trip over.

There are three useful connector types to remember:

Coordinating connectors join two equal parts. The verb usually stays in position 2 in each clause.
Subordinating connectors introduce a dependent clause. The verb goes to the end.
Adverbial connectors link ideas and often send the verb to position 1 in the new clause.

That sounds dramatic, but once you see the patterns, it gets much easier. German is fond of rules. Rude, but consistent.

Essential Linking Words And Connectors

Here are the most useful connectors first. These are the ones that show up in everyday conversation, emails, texts, travel situations, and general human interaction.

German	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
und	oont	and	Ich kaufe Brot und Käse.	I’m buying bread and cheese.	The simplest connector. No special word order tricks here.
aber	AH-buhr	but	Ich habe Zeit, aber ich bin müde.	I have time, but I’m tired.	Very common in speech. Use for contrast.
oder	OH-duhr	or	Möchtest du Kaffee oder Tee?	Would you like coffee or tea?	Useful in questions and choices.
denn	den	because	Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn es regnet.	I’m staying at home because it’s raining.	Word order stays normal after denn.
sondern	ZON-duhrn	but rather / instead	Ich trinke keinen Kaffee, sondern Tee.	I don’t drink coffee, but rather tea.	Used after a negative idea. Very useful, very German.
deshalb	DESS-halp	therefore / that’s why	Es ist spät, deshalb gehe ich jetzt.	It’s late, so I’m leaving now.	New clause starts with the connector; verb comes right after it.
darum	DAH-room	so / for that reason	Ich bin krank, darum bleibe ich zu Hause.	I’m sick, so I’m staying home.	Very similar to deshalb.
trotzdem	TROTS-dem	nevertheless / still	Es regnet, trotzdem gehe ich spazieren.	It’s raining, nevertheless I’m going for a walk.	Great for “yes, but anyway” meaning.
außerdem	OWS-er-dem	besides / furthermore	Ich lerne Deutsch. Außerdem höre ich Podcasts.	I’m learning German. Besides that, I listen to podcasts.	Good for adding another point in speaking and writing.
zuerst	tsoo-ERST	first	Zuerst trinke ich einen Kaffee.	First, I drink a coffee.	Useful for steps and routines.
dann	dan	then	Ich frühstücke, dann gehe ich zur Arbeit.	I have breakfast, then I go to work.	Very common in everyday storytelling.
danach	dah-NAHCH	after that	Wir essen zu Mittag. Danach gehen wir einkaufen.	We eat lunch. After that, we go shopping.	Handy for sequencing events.
zuerst … dann … zum Schluss	tsoo-ERST … dan … tsoom shlooss	first … then … finally	Zuerst übe ich Vokabeln, dann mache ich Übungen, zum Schluss wiederhole ich alles.	First I practice vocabulary, then I do exercises, and finally I review everything.	Great for process descriptions.

Connectors That Keep The Verb In Normal Position

Some connectors do not send the verb to the end. That is good news. Your sentence can stay more relaxed.

Pattern	Meaning	German Example	English Translation	Learner Note
Ich lerne Deutsch und ich höre Podcasts.	and	Ich lerne Deutsch und ich höre Podcasts.	I learn German and I listen to podcasts.	und joins two main clauses. Each clause keeps its own verb position.
Ich bin müde, aber ich arbeite weiter.	but	Ich bin müde, aber ich arbeite weiter.	I’m tired, but I keep working.	aber behaves like und here.
Ich nehme Kaffee oder Tee.	or	Ich nehme Kaffee oder Tee.	I’ll take coffee or tea.	oder is also normal and simple.
Ich gehe nicht ins Kino, sondern ins Theater.	but rather / instead	Ich gehe nicht ins Kino, sondern ins Theater.	I’m not going to the cinema, but rather to the theatre.	sondern follows a negative statement.
Ich mag Kaffee, denn er schmeckt gut.	because	Ich mag Kaffee, denn er schmeckt gut.	I like coffee because it tastes good.	denn is easy because word order stays normal.

A small but important note: with und, aber, oder, and denn, each side is usually a full clause. That means a subject and a verb. German likes its clauses properly dressed.

Connectors That Push The Verb To The End

This is the classic German connector trap. When a clause starts with a subordinating connector, the conjugated verb moves to the end of that clause.

German	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
weil	vile	because	Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.	I’m staying home because I’m sick.	Very common. The verb bin goes to the end in the weil-clause.
dass	dahs	that	Ich hoffe, dass du morgen kommst.	I hope that you are coming tomorrow.	Very useful for reported thoughts, opinions, and facts.
wenn	ven	if / when	Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause.	If it rains, I stay home.	Also means “when” in repeated or future situations.
ob	op	whether / if	Ich weiß nicht, ob er heute kommt.	I don’t know whether he’s coming today.	Used for yes/no uncertainty.
als	als	when	Als ich klein war, hatte ich einen Hund.	When I was small, I had a dog.	Use for a single event in the past.
obwohl	op-VOHL	although	Obwohl es kalt ist, gehe ich spazieren.	Although it’s cold, I’m going for a walk.	Great for contrast with a surprising result.
während	VAH-rent	while / during	Während ich koche, hört er Musik.	While I cook, he listens to music.	Can describe two actions happening at the same time.
bevor	beh-FOR	before	Ich wasche mir die Hände, bevor ich esse.	I wash my hands before I eat.	Very practical, very civilized.
nachdem	nahch-DEM	after	Nachdem ich gegessen habe, gehe ich raus.	After I’ve eaten, I go outside.	Usually the verb still goes to the end of the subordinate clause.
damit	dah-MIT	so that / in order to	Ich spreche langsam, damit du mich verstehst.	I speak slowly so that you understand me.	Useful for purpose. The verb goes to the end of the damit-clause.

Here is the key memory trick: if you see weil, dass, wenn, obwohl, bevor, nachdem, or damit, mentally send the verb to the back of the sentence and let it sit there politely.

Rule of thumb: subordinating connectors make the verb wait at the end. German enjoys suspense.

Connectors That Start A New Sentence And Flip The Verb

Some connectors behave like adverbs. They start a new clause, and the verb comes right after them. This is different from weil and friends, so it is worth noticing.

German	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
deshalb	DESS-halp	therefore	Es regnet. Deshalb bleibe ich drinnen.	It’s raining. Therefore I’m staying inside.	Verb comes right after the connector.
darum	DAH-room	that’s why / for that reason	Ich bin krank. Darum gehe ich nicht zur Arbeit.	I’m sick. That’s why I’m not going to work.	Similar to deshalb.
trotzdem	TROTS-dem	still / nevertheless	Es ist spät. Trotzdem arbeite ich noch.	It’s late. Still, I’m working.	Very handy for contrast.
außerdem	OWS-er-dem	besides / also	Ich habe keine Zeit. Außerdem bin ich müde.	I don’t have time. Besides, I’m tired.	Useful in speaking and writing.
danach	dah-NAHCH	after that	Wir essen. Danach gehen wir spazieren.	We eat. After that, we go for a walk.	Great for sequencing.
dann	dan	then	Ich räume auf. Dann gehe ich schlafen.	I tidy up. Then I go to sleep.	Very common and very natural.

Notice the difference:

weil = verb at the end
deshalb = verb right after the connector

That pair alone is worth learning carefully. It will save you from sentences that sound half-right and mildly suspicious.

Everyday Phrases With Connectors

These are the kinds of phrases you can actually use in conversation, emails, and simple writing. Not museum German. Real-life German.

German	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
und dann	oont dan	and then	Ich mache Kaffee, und dann lese ich die Nachrichten.	I make coffee, and then I read the news.	Very common in everyday storytelling.
nicht nur … sondern auch …	nicht noor … ZON-duhrn owkh …	not only … but also …	Er spricht nicht nur Deutsch, sondern auch Englisch.	He speaks not only German, but also English.	Useful for emphasis and comparisons.
entweder … oder …	ENT-vee-duhr … OH-duhr …	either … or …	Entweder wir fahren mit dem Zug oder wir bleiben zu Hause.	Either we go by train or we stay home.	Common for choices.
weder … noch …	VAY-duhr … nokh …	neither … nor …	Ich habe weder Zeit noch Geld.	I have neither time nor money.	Negative pair. Great in explanations.
nicht … sondern …	nicht … ZON-duhrn …	not … but rather …	Das ist nicht schwer, sondern einfach.	That is not difficult, but rather easy.	Used to correct or contrast a statement.
einerseits … andererseits …	EYE-nuhr-zyts … AHN-duh-rer-zyts …	on the one hand … on the other hand …	Einerseits möchte ich reisen, andererseits brauche ich Geld.	On the one hand, I want to travel; on the other hand, I need money.	Useful for balanced opinions.
zum Beispiel	tsoom BY-shpeel	for example	Ich mag Obst, zum Beispiel Äpfel und Bananen.	I like fruit, for example apples and bananas.	Extremely common. Great for giving examples.
zum Schluss	tsoom shlooss	in the end / finally	Zum Schluss wiederhole ich die wichtigsten Wörter.	Finally, I repeat the most important words.	Good for presentations and step-by-step explanations.
erstens … zweitens … drittens …	ERST-ens … TSVY-tens … DRIT-tens …	firstly … secondly … thirdly …	Erstens ist es billig. Zweitens ist es nah. Drittens ist es bequem.	Firstly, it is cheap. Secondly, it is close. Thirdly, it is convenient.	Useful for clear arguments.
am Ende	am EN-duh	at the end	Am Ende des Tages bin ich müde.	At the end of the day, I’m tired.	Can be literal or figurative.

Useful Confusions To Watch

Some connectors look similar but behave differently. This is where learners often get mildly betrayed by German grammar.

German	Type	What It Does	Example	Important Note
weil	subordinating	verb goes to the end	Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich müde bin.	Very common in speech and writing.
denn	coordinating	normal word order	Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn ich bin müde.	Often easier for beginners because the clause feels more English-like.
deshalb	adverbial connector	verb comes after the connector	Ich bin müde. Deshalb gehe ich jetzt schlafen.	Good for “that’s why.”
wenn	subordinating	if / when with verb at the end	Wenn ich Zeit habe, rufe ich dich an.	Be careful not to use it like a normal English “if.”
als	subordinating	single past event	Als ich jung war, spielte ich Fußball.	Use for one-time past situations.
obwohl	subordinating	although / despite the fact that	Obwohl es teuer ist, kaufe ich es.	Often used to show surprising contrast.

If you want a broader foundation for common everyday words before stacking connectors on top, a basic vocabulary list like Essential German Words & Phrases helps a lot. Connectors are easier when the rest of the sentence is already familiar.

And if you keep mixing up question patterns and sentence beginnings, the guide on German Question Words is a useful sidekick. German sentence structure likes company.

Word Order Mini Guide

This is the part that saves sentences from wobbling.

Connector Type	Word Order	German Example	English Translation
Coordinating like und, aber, oder, denn	Main clause order stays normal	Ich komme später, aber ich rufe dich an.	I’m coming later, but I’ll call you.
Subordinating like weil, dass, wenn, obwohl	Verb goes to the end	Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.	I’m staying home because I’m sick.
Adverbial like deshalb, trotzdem, außerdem	Verb comes right after the connector	Es regnet. Deshalb nehme ich einen Schirm mit.	It’s raining. Therefore I’m taking an umbrella.

A tiny practical trick: when a sentence starts with deshalb, trotzdem, or außerdem, the verb usually jumps to position 2 in that new clause. So:

Es regnet. Deshalb gehe ich früh nach Hause.
Es ist teuer. Trotzdem kaufe ich es.
Ich lerne viel. Außerdem höre ich deutsche Musik.

That verb jump is one of those German habits that feels annoying for five minutes and then weirdly satisfying once it clicks.

Practice: Choose The Right Connector

Fill in the blank with the best connector: und, aber, weil, deshalb, obwohl, denn, trotzdem.

Ich lerne Deutsch, ___ ich will in Deutschland arbeiten.
Es ist kalt, ___ gehe ich spazieren.
Ich mag Kaffee ___ Tee.
Wir bleiben zu Hause, ___ es regnet.
Es ist spät, ___ gehe ich noch nicht schlafen.
Ich bin müde, ___ ich arbeite weiter.
___ es schwierig ist, mache ich weiter.

Answers:

weil
trotzdem
und
denn
deshalb
aber
obwohl

Practice: Fix The Sentence

Some of these sentences have the right meaning but the wrong word order. Fix them.

Wrong	Correct	Why
Ich gehe nicht, weil ich bin müde.	Ich gehe nicht, weil ich müde bin.	With weil, the verb goes to the end.
Es regnet, deshalb ich bleibe zu Hause.	Es regnet, deshalb bleibe ich zu Hause.	With deshalb, the verb comes right after the connector.
Ich mag weder Kaffee oder Tee.	Ich mag weder Kaffee noch Tee.	weder … noch … is the fixed pair.
Obwohl es kalt ist, ich gehe spazieren.	Obwohl es kalt ist, gehe ich spazieren.	Main clause follows normal order after the subordinate clause.

Quick Sound And Style Notes

A few pronunciation and usage details make these connectors sound more natural:

weil sounds like “vile,” not “why.”
denn is short and neat, like “den.”
doch is another useful connector-like word in speech, often meaning “but” or “actually,” though it is not the same as aber.
sondern is used after a negative. Without the negative, it usually sounds wrong.
obwohl often shows a real contrast, not just a simple reason.

If you are curious about one very standard dictionary-style explanation of connector usage, Duden is the sort of boring authority German teachers secretly trust. Respectable. Unspectacular. Exactly what grammar sometimes needs.

One more thing: if you have learned a few French words that sneak into German use in some contexts, the guide on French Words Used in German is a fun detour. Languages borrow from each other all the time. They are nosy like that.

Common Mistakes And Fixes

Mistake	Better Version	Explanation
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich bin müde.	Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich müde bin.	weil sends the verb to the end.
Ich bin müde, aber deshalb gehe ich schlafen.	Ich bin müde, deshalb gehe ich schlafen.	Choose one connector pattern. Don’t stack them awkwardly.
Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich brauche es.	Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich es brauche.	Object + verb order matters inside the subordinate clause too.
Ich mag Kaffee, sondern Tee.	Ich mag keinen Kaffee, sondern Tee.	sondern needs a negative idea before it.
Wenn ich hatte Zeit, ich komme.	Wenn ich Zeit hätte, käme ich.	This is a different grammar pattern, but the connector still affects the clause structure.

If that last one felt a bit advanced, no panic. The important connector lesson is already clear: the word you choose affects the sentence shape. German grammar is basically a furniture arrangement show.

Quick Reference Summary

und, aber, oder, denn = normal word order
weil, dass, wenn, ob, als, obwohl, bevor, nachdem, damit = verb to the end
deshalb, darum, trotzdem, außerdem, danach, dann = verb after the connector
sondern = “but rather,” used after a negative
nicht nur … sondern auch … = “not only … but also …”
entweder … oder … = “either … or …”
weder … noch … = “neither … nor …”

Yak Takeaway: In German, connectors do two jobs at once — they link ideas and they boss the verb around. Learn the connector, and the sentence shape usually follows.