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German Top 1000 Words

The 1,000 most common German words, ranked by how often they appear in written German (wordfreq). Each card has the word with its article, a short meaning, an example sentence with its translation, and the forms you cannot build yourself. Grouped in 20 steps of 50, most common first.

German1,000 cards

  • Core vocabulary
  • For beginners

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  • 1–50

    doch

    yes (to a no); surely

  • 251–300

    car (everyday)

    das Auto

  • 501–550

    die Firma

    firm; company

  • 701–750

    proud

    stolz

  • 951–1000

    böse

    angry; evil

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You start with 1–50, and the next section opens as you learn the one before it.

  1. Section 1: 1–50

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  2. Section 2: 51–100

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  3. Section 3: 101–150

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  4. Section 4: 151–200

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  5. Section 5: 201–250

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  6. Section 6: 251–300

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  7. Section 7: 301–350

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  8. Section 8: 351–400

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  9. Section 9: 401–450

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  10. Section 10: 451–500

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  11. Section 11: 501–550

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  12. Section 12: 551–600

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  13. Section 13: 601–650

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  14. Section 14: 651–700

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  15. Section 15: 701–750

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  16. 5 more sections
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11–5050 cards

der
the (masculine)
und
and
in
in (a place); into
ich
I
sein
to be
nicht
not
zu
to (a person, a shop); too (much)
von
from (away); of
mit
with; by (transport)
es
it
ein
a; an
auf
on; onto
für
for
sie
she; they
sich
oneself; each other
auch
also (in addition); too
als
when (once, in the past); than
er
he
an
at (a stop); on (a wall)
dass
that (linking two clauses)
so
so (very); like this
bei
at (someone's); near
wie
how; like
aber
but (contrast)
aus
out of; from
haben
to have
nach
to (a city, a country); after
noch
still (continuing); more (extra)
wir
we
du
you (informal)
nur
only (no more than)
wenn
if; when (whenever)
oder
or
werden
to become; will
was
what
man
one (impersonal); you (in general)
um
at (a time); around
können
can; to be able to
über
about (a topic); over
da
there (at hand)
dann
then
schon
already (everyday); yet (in questions)
ja
yes
viel
much; many
vor
in front of; before
mal
just (softener)
durch
through
hier
here
bis
until; as far as
doch
yes (to a no); surely

251–10050 cards

ihr
you (plural)
immer
always
jetzt
now (this moment)
dieser
this; these
wieder
again (as before)
kein
not a; not any
all
all
sehr
very
müssen
must; to have to
unter
under; among
gut
good; well
geben
to give
gegen
against
also
so (then); well then
gehen
to go (on foot)
die Zeit
time
ab
from (a date on)
ganz
whole; fully
machen
to do; to make
denn
because (verb second); then (in questions)
mein
my
damit
so that
wollen
to want to
einfach
simple; easy
ohne
without
weil
because (verb last)
etwas
something; a little
zwei
two
seit
since; for
sollen
should; supposed to
selbst
by oneself; even
wo
where
der Mensch
human; person
heute
today
kommen
to come
nichts
nothing
nun
now then; well now
leben
to live (be alive)
wer
who
ander
other
das Jahr
year
ob
whether
zwischen
between
dabei
while doing so; taking part
dort
over there
gerade
just (a moment ago); straight
neu
new
sondern
but (rather)
erst
only (as early as); first (then)
lassen
to let; to leave

3101–15050 cards

warum
why
wissen
to know (a fact)
weiter
further
wirklich
really
der Mann
man; husband
wohl
probably (I suppose)
drei
three
vielleicht
maybe
dazu
with it; to that
bitte
please; you're welcome
sehen
to see
sowie
as well as
der Tag
day
dafür
for it; for that
sagen
to say
stehen
to stand; to be (standing)
während
while; during
bereits
already (formal)
deutsch
German
das Ende
end (last part)
nie
never (everyday)
die Uhr
clock; watch; o'clock
weg
away (off); gone (missing)
wegen
because of (a cause)
einmal
once
die Frau
woman; wife
die Stadt
town; city
die Welt
world
genau
exactly; precise
danke
thank you
gar
at all (with a negative)
die Leute
people
unser
our
etwa
roughly; about (a number)
jeder
every; each
natürlich
of course
recht
right (be right); fairly
finden
to find; to think
das Kind
child
das Geld
money
gleich
same; right away
lang
long
der Teil
part
beide
both (of two)
davon
of them; from it
eigentlich
actually (softener)
fast
almost
richtig
right; correct
tun
to do (act)
die Arbeit
work; job

4151–20050 cards

die Frage
question
zurück
back (returning)
dein
your (informal)
jedoch
however (formal)
klar
clear; sure (informal)
paar
a few
groß
big; tall
liegen
to lie (flat)
welcher
which
zusammen
together (in company)
einige
some (a number of)
der Fall
case; fall
sicher
sure; safe
darauf
on it (standard); for it (wait for)
letzt
last (final)
nein
no (as an answer)
schön
beautiful; nice
sogar
even
zwar
admittedly
allerdings
though (adding a limit)
die Art
way (method); kind
schnell
fast; quick
dürfen
may (permission); be allowed
jemand
someone
spät
late
gern
gladly; like to
mögen
to like; would like (möchte)
die Seite
side; page
das Spiel
game; match
weit
far; wide
wenig
little; few
heißen
to be called
lieb
dear; kind
oft
often
fragen
to ask
das Land
country; countryside
neben
next to
statt
instead of
gehören
to belong
der Platz
square; seat
besonders
especially (very)
die Geschichte
story; history
ne
right?
nehmen
to take
darüber
about it; over it
hin
that way (away from me)
vier
four
kurz
short
morgen
tomorrow
sonst
otherwise; else

5201–25050 cards

bekommen
to get; to receive
der Euro
euro
klein
small; short
spielen
to play
die Familie
family
das Haus
house; building
arbeiten
to work
das Bild
picture; image
bleiben
to stay
eigen
own
je
each (apiece)
möglich
possible
deshalb
for that reason; so
eben
just now; flat
glauben
to believe; to think
die Minute
minute
die Polizei
police
außerdem
besides (on top); as well
leider
unfortunately
online
online
stellen
to put (upright); to place
das Unternehmen
enterprise; company (large)
die Woche
week
daher
therefore; from there
der Grund
reason; ground
kaum
hardly; barely
der Name
name
das Problem
problem
daran
of it (thinking); on it
halt
just (simply)
die Nacht
night
die Stunde
hour
das Thema
topic; subject
das Beispiel
example
genug
enough
allein
alone (standard)
direkt
direct; straight
echt
real; genuine
halten
to hold; to stop
die Schule
school
solch
such
zeigen
to show
überhaupt
at all (in questions); in general
anders
different; differently
essen
to eat
der Abend
evening
dank
thanks to
ebenfalls
likewise; as well
eher
rather; sooner
hinter
behind

6251–30050 cards

die Musik
music
pro
per
das Wasser
water
alt
old
bald
soon
erhalten
to receive
jung
young
nachdem
after (conj.)
der Ort
place; location
sofort
immediately; right away
zweit
second (2nd)
das Auto
car (everyday)
bringen
to bring; to take
danach
after that; next
deutlich
distinct (easy to hear)
die Hand
hand
der Kopf
head
nah
near; close
damals
back then; at that time
endlich
at last; finally
fünf
five
gelten
to be valid; to apply
die Person
person
schwer
heavy; difficult
wichtig
important
egal
I don't mind; all the same
die Gesellschaft
society; company (firm)
hoch
high; tall
stark
strong
der Anfang
start; beginning
gegenüber
opposite; across from
oben
upstairs; at the top
rund
round; around (rund um)
die Straße
street; road
bekannt
known; well-known
bisher
so far; until now
die Eltern
parents
der Gott
god
los
going on; loose
die Mutter
mother
das Auge
eye
brauchen
to need
denken
to think (have in mind)
die Gruppe
group
her
to here
die Million
million
schreiben
to write
treffen
to meet
trotzdem
all the same; anyway
der Artikel
article

7301–35050 cards

bestimmt
certain; specific
die Folge
consequence; episode
das Glück
luck; happiness
der Herr
gentleman; Mr
die Hilfe
help
leicht
easy; light
mehrere
several
niemand
nobody; no one
die Politik
politics; policy
die Sache
matter; thing (affair)
scheinen
to seem (appear to be); to shine
zunächst
at first; for now
bisschen
a little bit
der Film
film; movie
das Internet
internet
laut
according to
lesen
to read
oh
oh (surprise)
die Regierung
government
die Richtung
direction
schließlich
in the end; after all
das Team
team (at work)
das Buch
book
das Ding
thing (object)
früh
early
das Prozent
percent
der Sohn
son
der Spaß
fun
die Stelle
spot; job (opening)
das Wort
word
der Bereich
area (section); field
bestehen
to pass (an exam); to consist (of)
ernst
serious
das Mädchen
girl
der Vater
father
die Zukunft
future
darum
that's why (informal)
fahren
to go (by vehicle); to drive
fest
solid; fixed
die Form
shape; form
frei
free; vacant
die Idee
idea (suggestion)
passieren
to happen (occur)
bevor
before (conjunction)
manchmal
sometimes
raus
out
super
great (informal)
die Wahl
election; choice
der Wert
value; worth
einzig
only (sole)

8351–40050 cards

die Entwicklung
development
folgen
to follow
der Freund
friend; boyfriend
führen
to lead
helfen
to help
die Kosten
costs
obwohl
although
suchen
to look for
das Ziel
goal; destination
ziemlich
fairly; rather
die Angst
fear
dadurch
by that means
der Erfolg
success
der Krieg
war
die Lage
location; situation
laufen
to run (jog)
der Mai
May (month)
der September
September
verstehen
to understand
voll
full
wann
when (in questions)
wieso
why (how come)
aufgrund
on account of (formal)
innerhalb
within; inside
insgesamt
in total; overall
die Klasse
class
okay
okay; all right
der Preis
price; prize
rein
in (come in)
die Rolle
role
stimmen
to be correct (a statement)
der Tod
death
völlig
completely (wholly)
zudem
moreover (formal)
ach
ah (sigh); oh dear
außer
except
gestern
yesterday
irgendwie
somehow
die Kirche
church
der März
March
na
hey (casual)
trotz
despite
vergessen
to forget
verschieden
various; different
vorbei
over (finished); past
zahlen
to pay (a sum)
der Blick
view (from a spot); glance
dagegen
against it; by contrast
ebenso
likewise; so too
kaufen
to buy

9401–45050 cards

lernen
to learn; to study
die Meinung
opinion
die Partei
political party
reden
to talk
wobei
whereby; during which
der Moment
moment
schlecht
bad (poor quality)
sechs
six
sprechen
to speak
das Video
video
der August
August
die Mitte
middle; centre
der November
November
sowohl
both (… and)
wahrscheinlich
likely; probably
der April
April
insbesondere
especially (above all)
per
by; via
der Raum
space; room (general)
das System
system
tatsächlich
in fact; indeed
erreichen
to reach; to achieve
gemeinsam
shared; jointly
der Juli
July
der Juni
June
links
on the left; to the left
nämlich
you see; namely
der Oktober
October
schaffen
to manage; to make it
setzen
to sit down (sich setzen); to set down
versuchen
to try
bedeuten
to mean (signify)
der Einsatz
use; effort
falls
in case; if
gleichzeitig
simultaneously
hören
to hear; to listen
die Möglichkeit
possibility; opportunity
der Rahmen
frame; scope
rechts
on the right; to the right
das Stück
piece
fallen
to fall
hoffen
to hope
die Höhe
height
der Job
job (informal)
der Sex
sex (intercourse)
der Sommer
summer
der Titel
title
die Tochter
daughter
die Wohnung
flat; apartment
die Zahl
number (numeral); figure

10451–50050 cards

zehn
ten
handeln
to act; to deal
kennen
to know (be familiar with)
die Kunst
art
der Mitarbeiter
employee; member of staff
sorgen
to take care (of)
die Sprache
language
verlieren
to lose
die Weise
manner (way of doing)
zumindest
at least (anyway)
übrigens
by the way
das Bad
bathroom
die Band
band (music)
die Chance
chance
der Fehler
mistake
hallo
hello; hi
hinaus
out (away)
langsam
slow; slowly
die Menge
amount; crowd
der Meter
metre
mindestens
at least (number)
die Sicherheit
safety; security
der Spieler
player
drauf
on it (informal)
erklären
to explain
das Gefühl
feeling
das Medium
medium; media
die Saison
season (sport, trade)
weiterhin
still (as before); further
ziehen
to pull; to move
überall
everywhere
die Antwort
answer
die Bahn
railway; train
dennoch
nevertheless (formal)
der Dezember
December
das Gesicht
face
der Monat
month
somit
thus; therefore
toll
great (wonderful)
tragen
to wear; to carry
der Vergleich
comparison
die Entscheidung
decision
der Gedanke
thought
die Gemeinde
municipality; parish
das Herz
heart
der Januar
January
jeweils
respectively; each
nutzen
to use (make use of)
die Nähe
nearness; vicinity
der Sinn
sense; point

11501–55050 cards

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12551–60050 cards

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13601–65050 cards

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14651–70050 cards

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15701–75050 cards

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16751–80050 cards

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17801–85050 cards

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18851–90050 cards

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19901–95050 cards

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20951–100050 cards

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751–800

der Meister

Published November 1, 2026