If your phone dies in Germany, you will very quickly learn words you never planned to use. Battery, charger, plug, Wi-Fi, screen—suddenly German becomes extremely practical. Rude, really. But useful.
For the broader learning path, visit our parent guide.
This guide gives you the everyday German vocabulary you actually need for phones, laptops, apps, internet, and common tech problems. You will learn the words, the pronunciation, and the little usage details that keep you from sounding like a confused toaster.
For extra word nerd confidence, it helps to know that German tech language often uses simple compounds. That means long words are usually just smaller words glued together. Very on brand. If you want more everyday word-building practice later, the essential German words and phrases guide is a solid next stop.
And yes, German tech vocabulary is full of borrowed English words, but not always in the way you expect. Sometimes German copies English. Sometimes it makes its own version. Sometimes it looks obvious and then quietly tricks you. Charming, in a deeply annoying way.
Core Technology And Device Vocabulary
Here are the most useful words first. These are the ones you will see in stores, settings menus, manuals, repair chats, and everyday conversation.
| German | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation | Learner Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| das Handy | HAHN-dee | mobile phone, cellphone | Ich habe mein Handy vergessen. | I forgot my phone. | Very common in Germany. In Austria, people often say das Handy too, but Telefon is not the same as “mobile” in everyday use. |
| das Smartphone | SMART-fohn | smartphone | Mein Smartphone ist fast leer. | My smartphone is almost dead. | Clear and modern. More neutral than Handy. |
| der Laptop | LAP-top | laptop | Mein Laptop ist sehr langsam. | My laptop is very slow. | Common in Germany and Austria. Also heard: der Notebooks in some contexts, but Laptop is safer. |
| der Computer | kom-PYOO-ter | computer | Der Computer startet nicht. | The computer won’t start. | German uses the English-looking word, but pronunciation is German. |
| der Bildschirm | BILT-shurm | screen | Der Bildschirm ist zu dunkel. | The screen is too dark. | Literal meaning: “picture screen.” |
| die Tastatur | TAHS-tah-toor | keyboard | Die Tastatur ist kabellos. | The keyboard is wireless. | die because it’s feminine. |
| die Maus | mows | mouse | Meine Maus funktioniert nicht. | My mouse doesn’t work. | Same word as the animal. German loves this sort of thing. |
| das Tablet | TAHB-let | tablet | Ich lese gern auf dem Tablet. | I like reading on the tablet. | Common neutral word. |
| der Drucker | DROOK-er | printer | Der Drucker ist kaputt. | The printer is broken. | Useful in offices, schools, and any place where printers choose chaos. |
| das Kabel | KAH-bel | cable | Hast du ein Kabel dabei? | Do you have a cable with you? | Plural: die Kabel. |
| das Ladegerät | LAH-deh-ge-RAYT | charger | Ich brauche ein Ladegerät für mein Handy. | I need a charger for my phone. | Compound noun: laden + Gerät. Very useful. |
| der Stecker | SHTEH-ker | plug | Der Stecker passt nicht. | The plug doesn’t fit. | Great for travel and hotel life. |
Useful Phrases For Everyday Tech Problems
These phrases are the practical ones. The “I can’t find my charger,” “the Wi-Fi is dead,” and “why is this app doing that” kind of phrases. Real life is glamorous like that.
| German | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation | Learner Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ich habe keinen Empfang. | ikh HAH-beh KY-nen em-FAHNG | I have no signal. | Entschuldigung, ich habe keinen Empfang. | Sorry, I have no signal. | Empfang means reception/signal. |
| Das WLAN funktioniert nicht. | dahs VEE-lahnk funk-tsee-oh-NYEERT nikh | The Wi-Fi isn’t working. | Das WLAN funktioniert im Hotel nicht. | The Wi-Fi doesn’t work in the hotel. | In Germany, people often say WLAN, not “Wi-Fi.” |
| Ich habe keinen Akku mehr. | ikh HAH-beh KY-nen AH-koo mair | I have no battery left. | Mein Handy hat keinen Akku mehr. | My phone has no battery left. | der Akku is everyday and very common. |
| Mein Akku ist fast leer. | myn AH-koo ist fahst lair | My battery is almost empty. | Mein Akku ist fast leer, also lade ich es auf. | My battery is almost empty, so I’m charging it. | leer = empty. |
| Kannst du mir helfen? | kanst doo meer HEL-fen | Can you help me? | Kannst du mir mit dem Laptop helfen? | Can you help me with the laptop? | Very common, friendly, direct. |
| Ich muss es neu starten. | ikh moos ess noy SHTAR-ten | I have to restart it. | Der Computer hängt. Ich muss ihn neu starten. | The computer is frozen. I have to restart it. | neu starten is a standard tech phrase. |
| Es hängt. | ess hengkt | It’s frozen / stuck. | Mein Tablet hängt schon wieder. | My tablet is frozen again. | Very useful for devices that stop responding. |
| Die App stürzt ab. | dee ap shtroosht aup | The app crashes. | Die App stürzt ständig ab. | The app keeps crashing. | abstürzen is separable: stürzt … ab. |
| Ich habe das Passwort vergessen. | ikh HAH-beh dahs PAHS-vort fer-GESS-en | I forgot the password. | Ich habe schon wieder das Passwort vergessen. | I forgot the password again. | das Passwort is neutral and extremely common. |
| Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? | KUR-nen zee dahs BIT-teh vee-der-HO-len | Could you repeat that, please? | Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? Es war zu schnell. | Could you repeat that, please? It was too fast. | Polite formal Sie. Great in shops, service, and offices. |
| Wie lautet das WLAN-Passwort? | vee LOW-tet dahs VEE-lahnk-PAHS-vort | What is the Wi-Fi password? | Wie lautet das WLAN-Passwort in diesem Café? | What is the Wi-Fi password in this café? | lauten here means “to be worded / to be.” A little formal but very normal in written signs. |
| Wo kann ich mein Handy aufladen? | voh kan ikh myn HAHN-dee owf-LAH-den | Where can I charge my phone? | Wo kann ich mein Handy aufladen, bitte? | Where can I charge my phone, please? | aufladen = to charge. Also used for batteries and electric cars. |
Technology Words You Will See Everywhere
These are the words that pop up on menus, in app stores, and in instructions. Some are borrowed from English, but the pronunciation often changes. German prefers to keep you on your toes.
| German | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation | Learner Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| die Einstellung | EYN-shtel-loong | setting, adjustment | Ändere die Einstellungen im Menü. | Change the settings in the menu. | Plural is often used: die Einstellungen. |
| das Menü | meh-NYOO | menu | Im Menü findest du die Sprache. | You can find the language in the menu. | Same French-origin word, German spelling with umlaut. |
| die Nachricht | NAHKH-risht | message, news | Ich habe eine neue Nachricht bekommen. | I got a new message. | Plural: Nachrichten. Very common in texting. |
| schicken | SHIH-ken | to send | Ich schicke dir den Link per Nachricht. | I’ll send you the link by message. | Everyday verb. Better than overthinking it. |
| die Datei | dih da-TAI | file | Die Datei ist zu groß. | The file is too big. | Plural: Dateien. Important spelling pattern. |
| speichern | SHPY-ker n | to save | Hast du das Dokument gespeichert? | Did you save the document? | Very common with files and documents. |
| löschen | LUH-shen | to delete | Ich will die alten Fotos löschen. | I want to delete the old photos. | The ö sound is like the vowel in “sir” with rounded lips. Fun little mouth workout. |
| herunterladen | heh-ROON-ter-lah-den | to download | Ich lade die App gerade herunter. | I’m downloading the app right now. | Also heard in the shorter everyday version downloaden, especially in speech. |
| hochladen | HOHKH-lah-den | to upload | Ich muss das Foto noch hochladen. | I still need to upload the photo. | Useful with cloud storage and social media. |
| der Download | DOWN-lohd | download | Der Download dauert zu lange. | The download is taking too long. | Common borrowed noun. |
| das Update | UP-date | update | Es gibt ein neues Update. | There is a new update. | Very common. Sometimes pronounced more German-style: “UP-date.” |
| die Verbindung | fer-BIN-doong | connection | Die Verbindung ist instabil. | The connection is unstable. | Useful for internet, Bluetooth, and signal problems. |
Pronunciation Tips For Tech Words
German tech vocabulary is full of words that look friendly and then bite you with pronunciation. Here are the bits worth knowing.
- WLAN is usually said like VEE-lahnk, not “double-you-lan.”
- Handy sounds like HAHN-dee. The h is not silent, but it is soft.
- sch sounds like English sh: speichern, schicken, stürzen.
- z sounds like ts: Update is borrowed, but words like Adresse and Zimmer use the same sound pattern elsewhere.
- ei sounds like English eye: Datei, speichern.
- ie sounds like long ee: viel, hier, dies.
- ü and ö matter: löschen is not the same as loschen, and yes, German cares.
- Final devoicing often happens, so a final b or d may sound more like p or t to English ears.
One especially useful sound rule: in compounds like Ladegerät, stress usually goes on the first part you want to notice. German likes to put the main stress near the front and then pretend the rest is obvious. Bold strategy.
Common Tech Verbs You Need
Verbs make the difference between knowing a word and actually using it. These are the ones you will use all the time.
| German Verb | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation | Learner Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| laden | LAH-den | to charge / load | Ich lade mein Handy auf. | I’m charging my phone. | Common with batteries and devices. |
| anschließen | AHN-shloo-sehn | to connect / plug in | Kannst du den Laptop anschließen? | Can you connect the laptop? | Separable verb: schließt … an. |
| einschalten | EYN-shal-ten | to turn on | Ich schalte das WLAN ein. | I’m turning on the Wi-Fi. | Separable verb: schaltet … ein. |
| ausschalten | OWS-shal-ten | to turn off | Bitte schalten Sie das Handy aus. | Please turn off the phone. | Very common on signs and in class. |
| installieren | in-shtal-LEE-ren | to install | Ich installiere die App gerade. | I’m installing the app right now. | Borrowed from Latin via French/English-style usage. |
| aktualisieren | ak-too-ah-lee-ZEE-ren | to update | Bitte aktualisieren Sie die Software. | Please update the software. | More formal than just saying update. |
| funktionieren | funk-tsee-oh-NEE-ren | to work, function | Mein Drucker funktioniert heute nicht. | My printer isn’t working today. | Extremely useful and pleasantly boring. |
| verbinden | fer-BIN-den | to connect | Das Handy verbindet sich automatisch mit dem WLAN. | The phone connects automatically to the Wi-Fi. | Reflexive version often used: sich verbinden. |
| klicken | KLIH-ken | to click | Bitte hier klicken. | Please click here. | Used in instructions and interfaces. |
| tippen | TIH-pen | to type / tap | Ich tippe die Adresse in das Handy ein. | I’m typing the address into the phone. | Also used for tapping on a phone screen. |
Mini Grammar Notes That Save Time
German device words are not random. They mostly follow normal noun rules, which is nice for once.
- Capital letters: all German nouns are capitalized. So it is das Handy, der Computer, die Datei.
- Articles matter: learn the gender with the word. der Laptop, die Maus, das Kabel.
- Plural forms: some are regular, some are not. die Kabel, die Dateien, die Nachrichten.
- Separable verbs: einschalten becomes schalte … ein, and herunterladen becomes lade … herunter.
- Word order: in normal German sentences, the conjugated verb comes in second position.
| Pattern | Meaning | German Example | English Translation | Learner Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ich schalte das Handy ein. | main verb second, separable prefix at the end | Ich schalte das Handy ein. | I turn on the phone. | The prefix goes to the end in simple present tense. |
| Ich lade die App herunter. | separable verb with the prefix at the end | Ich lade die App herunter. | I download the app. | herunter often appears at the end. |
| Der Akku ist leer. | adjective after sein | Der Akku ist leer. | The battery is empty. | This is a very simple and common pattern. |
| Das WLAN funktioniert nicht. | negation with nicht | Das WLAN funktioniert nicht. | The Wi-Fi doesn’t work. | nicht usually comes near the end. |
If you want a compact reference on common German word forms, the boringly reliable Duden is always useful for spelling, gender, and usage checks.
Common False Friends And Easy Traps
Some tech words look like English, but German uses them a little differently. Tiny mismatch, big confusion.
| German Word | Looks Like | Real Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| das Handy | handy = useful | mobile phone | Mein Handy ist neu. | My phone is new. |
| der Bildschirm | screen / display | monitor, screen | Der Bildschirm ist zu klein. | The screen is too small. |
| das Papier | paper | paper, but not tech-specific | Ich drucke die Datei auf Papier. | I print the file on paper. |
| aktuell | actually | current, up to date | Die aktuelle Version ist besser. | The current version is better. |
| eventuell | eventually | possibly, maybe | Eventuell gibt es ein Update. | There may be an update. |
That last one is a classic trap. eventuell does not mean “eventually.” It means “possibly.” German will absolutely borrow English-looking words, then quietly give them a different job. Just enough mischief to stay interesting.
Germany, Austria, And Switzerland: Small Tech Differences
Most tech vocabulary is shared, but a few terms vary by region.
- das Handy is the standard everyday word in Germany and very common in Austria too.
- In Switzerland, people may still understand das Handy, but Swiss German speech can sound different overall. Standard written German is still widely used.
- der Computer, das WLAN, das Tablet, and der Laptop are broadly understood across the German-speaking world.
- For travel and everyday communication, standard German is your safest bet.
If you like learning how German changes across countries, the German-speaking countries and capitals guide is a handy companion read. Because yes, geography matters when words travel.
Practice Section
Try these quick drills. No dramatic background music required.
- Translation practice: “I need a charger.” → Ich brauche ein Ladegerät.
- Translation practice: “The app crashes.” → Die App stürzt ab.
- Translation practice: “The Wi-Fi isn’t working.” → Das WLAN funktioniert nicht.
- Fill in the blank: Ich habe kein ______ mehr. → Akku
- Fill in the blank: Kannst du das bitte ______? → wiederholen
- Fix the word order: Das Handy ich lade auf. → Ich lade das Handy auf.
- Choose the right verb: turn on = einschalten / turn off = ausschalten
- Quick speaking drill: say Mein Laptop ist fast leer. three times without sounding like a robot, which is apparently difficult for everyone.
And if you want to check meanings or pronunciation for a few extra words, the DW Learn German pages are a dependable place to poke around without falling into nonsense.
Quick Reference Summary
| Category | Most Useful Words |
|---|---|
| Devices | das Handy, das Smartphone, der Laptop, der Computer, das Tablet, der Drucker |
| Parts | der Bildschirm, die Tastatur, die Maus, das Kabel, das Ladegerät, der Stecker |
| Problems | kein Empfang, kein Akku, hängt, stürzt ab, funktioniert nicht, Passwort vergessen |
| Actions | einschalten, ausschalten, aufladen, anschließen, installieren, speichern, löschen, herunterladen |
| Settings And Online Life | die Einstellung, das WLAN, die Nachricht, die Datei, das Update, die Verbindung |
Yak wisdom: If you can say “the Wi-Fi doesn’t work,” “my phone is almost dead,” and “can you repeat that, please,” you are already way more prepared for real German life than most glossy phrasebooks would like to admit.
Technology vocabulary in German is practical, modern, and surprisingly learnable once the patterns click. Start with the everyday words, learn the common verbs, and keep an eye on those separable prefixes. Then your German stops being “basic app menu survival” and starts feeling like actual communication. Nice upgrade.
Yak takeaway: learn the device nouns, the problem phrases, and the action verbs first—because when technology breaks, grammar suddenly becomes less important than getting your charger, your signal, and your sanity back.