Witches, sorcerers, costumes, tricks, and superstition…no, it’s not Halloween! We’re talking about Walpurgis night in Germany. 

While you might not associate the beginning of spring with witchcraft and sorcery, this correlation has some interesting roots in numerous European countries. In this article, you’ll learn about the origins of this mystical holiday and how it’s celebrated today. 

Let’s go!

1. What is Walpurgis Night?

Walpurgis is a festival that takes place each year, beginning on the night of April 30 and ending on May 1. This festival is also common in a number of other European nations, including Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, and Estonia. 

Walpurgis Night is named after an eighth-century abbess named Saint Walpurgis (also known as Saint Walpurga). She was known for her effectiveness in spreading Christianity, as well as her supposed abilities to deflect witchcraft and heal a variety of ailments. After her passing, people would invoke her in their prayers in the hope that she would keep the witches at bay. 

You see, it was believed that witches and sorcerers would hold a Hexensabbat (Witches’ Sabbath) each year in the Harz Mountains atop Mount Brocken. They were thought to engage in crazy dances and conspire with demons—or even Satan himself—to harm Christians and cause other sorts of trouble. 

In addition to invocations of Saint Walpurga, people would light bonfires on the hillsides and create as much noise as possible to scare away witches. 

Over time, Walpurgis Day became less associated with actual witchcraft, and more and more people perceived this day as a time to reflect on the charms of such superstitions. Today, the holiday is mainly celebrated just for the fun of it, though the superstitions behind it are still strong in some places. 

→ Wondering how to talk about spring weather? Then head over to our list of the Top 15 Weather Conditions!

→ Make sure you also brush up on your Religion vocabulary while you’re at it.

2. German Walpurgis Traditions

While this witch festival in Germany is celebrated in most regions, there are a few towns and regions that have larger celebrations than others: 

• Thale
• Goslar
• Wernigerode
• Brocken

These areas often have a variety of festivities going on for Walpurgistage (Walpurgis Day), such as dances, comedy shows, and juggling acts. Everyone will be dressed up in some sort of witch or sorcerer costume, broomsticks and all. There are also all kinds of fun stalls, from those selling tasty food to others showcasing arts and crafts. At night, there are fireworks. 

Wherever you go, there’s likely to be a Maifeuer (May bonfire). This is a large bonfire set at night, around which people dressed in costumes enjoy themselves with drinks and songs. A popular activity is called “May jumping,” and it involves couples jumping over parts of the fire that have started to die down. There’s a Christianized version of the bonfire called Easter bonfires. 

Walpurgis is commonly associated with the end of winter and the beginning of spring. People may enjoy taking in the scenery and the warmer weather, and it’s popular to sing a number of May- and spring-related songs. Drinking something called woodruff punch is another common activity; this is a special alcoholic beverage made using white wine, semi-sparkling wine, and a type of plant called woodruff. 

Walpurgisnacht in Germany is also a time to expect pranks from youngsters. Many of Germany’s youth seize the opportunity to hide personal belongings or spray paint public property. 

The day following the Walpurgisnacht witch festival is Maifeiertag (May Day), and this is when the maypole is erected in many German towns. In bigger cities, this often involves brass bands and even a city fair. Though this is less common nowadays, it’s worth noting that Walpurgis and May Day are associated with leftist riots as well. 

→ Spring Break might be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the rest of spring. 😉 Check out our list of the Top 15 Things to Do Over Spring Break for some inspiration.

3. Walpurgis in Literature and Theatre

Did you know that Walpurgis night in Germany features in famous pieces of literature and other art forms? Here are just a few examples: 

• Faust by Goethe
• The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann
• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee

4. German Vocabulary You Should Know for Walpurgis

Ready to expand your German vocabulary? Here are some of the words and phrases from this article, plus a few more: 

• Mai / May
  • noun, masculine
• Hexe / Witch
  • noun, feminine
• Berg / Mountain
  • noun, masculine
• Glocke / Bell
  • noun, feminine
• Besen / Broom
  • noun, masculine
• Tanz in den Mai / Dance into May
  • phrase, masculine
• Heilige Walburga / Saint Walburga
  • phrase, feminine
• Maifeiertag / May Day
  • noun, masculine
• Maifeuer / May bonfire
  • phrase, neutral
• Hexensabbat / Witches’ Sabbath 
  • phrase, masculine
• Walpurgistage / Walpurgis day
  • noun, masculine
• Aberglaube / Superstition
  • noun, masculine
• Zauberer / Sorcerer 
  • noun, masculine
• Maibaum / Maypole
  • noun, masculine

Make sure to visit our Walpurgis Night vocabulary list to hear and practice the pronunciation of each word! 

Final Thoughts

Walpurgis night is a fun holiday with some more serious background. What are your thoughts on this holiday? Is there a similar festival or celebration in your country? 

If you enjoyed this article and would like to continue learning about German culture and the language, then head over to the following pages on GermanPod101: 

• Celebrating Oktoberfest: Germany’s Most Popular Tradition
• Celebrating the German Unification: German Unity Day
• The Best German Quotes to Spice Up Your Conversations
• Essential Vocabulary for Life Events in German
• Get Angry in German with Phrases for Any Situation! 

If you would like to start making the most of your time studying with GermanPod101, create your free lifetime account today and gain access to tons of fun and practical lessons and materials. Learning German can be a challenge, but you don’t have to go it alone.

Germany is a predominantly Christian nation, with over half of its population identifying as Christian. As such, it should come as no surprise that Christian holidays, such as Dreikönigsfest (Epiphany), are widely celebrated here.

In this article, you’ll learn all about the Epiphany holiday in Germany. Because this is such a special occasion in the country, exploring its origins and traditions will help you become better acquainted with German culture as a whole. 

Let’s get started.

1. What is Epiphany All About?

Epiphany is a religious Feiertag (holiday) on which Christians commemorate the three wise men who followed a bright star to find Baby Jesus. This is an important holiday for Catholic and Protestant believers in the country, and it has public holiday status in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Wuerttemberg, and Saxony-Anhalt.

The story behind the Epiphany holiday is as follows:

Three wise men named Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar noticed an unusual star in the sky while they traveled. Amazed by the sight, the trio decided to follow after it and were led to the birthplace of Jesus. Seeing this as the Offenbarung (revelation) of their Savior being born, they offered Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Many Christians consider this a key event in the story and life of Jesus. During Christmas services a few days prior, many Kirchen (churches) read the story from the Bible or host a play outlining the story. 

→ Visit our Religion vocabulary list to learn the names of different religions in German, or watch our Video Culture Class lesson on Christmas Eve to familiarize yourself with German traditions for this other important holiday.

2. When is Epiphany?

Each year, Epiphany is celebrated on January 6. However, some churches hold their celebration services on the following Sunday. 

3. How is Epiphany Celebrated in Germany?

There are several Feast of the Epiphany traditions in Germany, though the most important is that of the Sternsingers. These Sternsingers are groups of three children who are dressed in attire similar to what the wise men would have worn. They go from one home to another singing hymns and asking each homeowner to donate Gelde (money) to charity. This tradition became less popular for a time, but it regained its prominence about fifty years ago. 

In addition to singing Lieder (songs), the Sternsingers sometimes mark the doors of the houses with special chalk blessed by the town’s local Catholic priest. The inscription includes the letters C, M, and B, and the numbers for the current year. In 2021, the inscription will look like this:

20 * C + M + B + 21

There are two schools of thought concerning the letters used. One is that the letters stand for the supposed names of the wise men (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar). The other is that it stands for the Latin phrase meaning, “Christ bless this house.”

Because Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season in Germany, another common activity on this day is to take down all of the Christmas trees and other holiday decorations. Sometimes, an entire community will get together and burn their Christmas trees as a festive group event. 

Finally, some people burn Weihrauch (frankincense), one of the wise men’s gifts to Baby Jesus, to let its smoke cleanse their home. 

4. Epiphany Feast Foods

Food is another big part of the Epiphany celebration in Germany. 

The most famous food item for this day is King Cake. This is a delicious dessert featuring a range of holiday season ingredients: brandy, raisins, vanilla sugar, and the list goes on. 

The night before, on Epiphany Eve, Germans also enjoy indulging in bockbier. This beer is often consumed during holidays, having a rather high alcohol content and a deep flavor.

→ Getting a sweet tooth? Then head over to our lesson on Sweets and Desserts in Germany!

5. Essential Vocabulary for Epiphany

Now let’s review some of the vocabulary words used in this article, plus a few more! 

• Kind (Child) – noun, neutral
• Bibel (Bible) – noun, feminine
• König (King) – noun, masculine
• Gelde (Money) – noun, neutral
• Kirche (Church) – noun, feminine
• Singen (Sing) – verb
• Lied (Song) – noun, neutral
• Feiertag (Holiday) – noun, masculine
• Dreikönigsfest (Epiphany) – proper noun, neutral
• Offenbarung (Revelation) – noun, feminine
• Verkleiden (Disguise) – verb
• Laterne (Lantern) – noun, feminine
• Weihrauch (Frankincense) – noun, masculine

You can find each of these words on our Epiphany vocabulary list, accompanied by recorded audio pronunciations that you can practice along with! 

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about Epiphany traditions in Germany with us, and that you feel inspired to keep exploring this rich culture. In addition to Epiphany, Germany celebrates a range of fascinating holidays all year long. To learn about them, check out the following blog posts on GermanPod101.com:

• Karneval in Germany: German Carnival Season
• Celebrating Oktoberfest: Germany’s Most Popular Tradition
• Celebrating the German Reunification: German Unity Day
• Adventssonntag: First Sunday of Advent in Germany
• German Thanksgiving: The Harvest Festival in Germany

If you’re serious about your German studies, then create your free lifetime account with us today. We provide a number of practical lessons and resources for learners at every level, so you can jump right in wherever you are in your language learning journey. 

Happy learning!

Autumn is in the air already…can you believe it? Leaves turning, nippy air, warm drinks, and a cold winter ahead. If you live in the U.S. or U.K., you’re probably looking forward to some great weather and a series of comforting holidays. 

In Germany, one such holiday is the Harvest Festival, a holiday very similar to Thanksgiving. 

In this article, you’ll learn all about the Harvest Festival in Germany, from what it’s about to how it’s celebrated today. Let’s get started!

1. What is the Harvest Festival?

The Harvest Festival in Germany is similar—but not identical—to Thanksgiving in the United States. It’s a holiday to celebrate the autumn Ernte (“harvest”), as well as show appreciation to God and people working in Landwirtschaft (“agriculture”). People who are in a position to do so are also encouraged to give to the poor.

This is one of Germany’s oldest traditions, and it reflects both the religious nature of the country and the German people’s sense of being one with the land and nature.

→ Make sure to brush up on the Must-Know Autumn Vocabulary and important words for Thanksgiving!

2. When is the Harvest Festival This Year?

Each year, the Harvest Festival takes place on the first Sunday of October, and very often right after the German grape harvest festival (better known as Oktoberfest). 

For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years.

• 2020: October 4
• 2021: October 3
• 2022: October 2
• 2023: October 1
• 2024: October 6
• 2025: October 5
• 2026: October 4
• 2027: October 3
• 2028: October 1
• 2029: October 7

Keep in mind that these dates are based on the official recommendation from the German Catholic Church, given in 1972. Many places in Germany celebrate the Harvest Festival before or after these dates. 

→ Of course, you can read our article Celebrating Oktoberfest: Germany’s Most Popular Tradition for more information on this fun holiday. 

3. Traditions and Celebrations for the Harvest Festival

There are numerous Harvest Festival activities to look forward to!

The most important activity is that of attending the Thanksgiving church service. Upon walking in the door, one will find that the altars of the church have been decorated with Obst (“fruit”), vegetables, grains, and nuts to honor God. The service normally begins with an appropriately themed sermon, followed by choral music and a Thanksgiving procession. During this procession, the Harvest Queen (or King!), who was chosen by the community, is given a crown.

On the Harvest Festival, Germany comes alive with a variety of Thanksgiving parades. These parades feature floats decked out with flowers and motifs that resemble situations related to the harvest. In addition, participants carry a large crown designed for the parade, signifying gratitude. There’s lots of singing and dancing, with the largest parades featuring over ninety folk-costume and music groups. It’s not uncommon for there to be fireworks shows after parades that take place in the evening. 

There have been many songs and poems written for and about the Harvest Festival, which are often sung or recited during celebrations. The most famous of these is called The Seed, written by Joachim Ringelnatz.

As for food, some Germans do eat turkey like people in the U.S. and Canada, though specially fattened chicken is much more common. Also note that most Germans don’t gather with family over the holiday for a feast, as people do in other countries. 

→ Learn the German names for popular Fruits and Vegetables and Herbs and Spices!

4. Almabtrieb

While the German Harvest Festival is a big deal in most of the country, people in more rural areas don’t actually celebrate it.

Instead, there’s a special holiday called Almabtrieb. This takes place on October 1 and involves people guiding cows down from mountain pastures back to their barns. The cows are adorned with flowers and bells, making this a sight to see for many of the villagers!

5. Essential Vocabulary for the Harvest Festival

Let’s review some of the German vocabulary words from this article! 

• Obst (“Fruit”) — noun, neuter
• Landwirtschaft (“Agriculture”) — noun, feminine
• Dürre (“Drought”) — noun, feminine
• Ernte (“Harvest”) — noun, feminine
• Gewächse (“Plants”) — noun, neuter
• Erzeugnisse (“Products”) — noun, feminine
• Forstwirtschaft (“Forestry”) — noun, feminine
• Grünfutterernte (“Green forage”) — noun, feminine
• Getreide (“Grain”) — noun, neuter
• Weinlese (“Grape harvest”) — noun, feminine
• Ertrag (“Yield”) — noun, masculine
• Dünger (“Fertilizer”) —  noun, masculine
• Züchtung (“Cultivation”) — noun, feminine
• Unwetter (“Storm”) — noun, neuter
• Bewässerung (“Watering”) — noun, feminine

Remember that you can find each of these words and their pronunciation on our Harvest Festival vocabulary list! 

Final Thoughts

We hope you learned something new about German culture today, and that you took away some valuable information. 

How do Thanksgiving celebrations in Germany compare to those in your country? What other autumn celebrations do you enjoy? Let us know in the comments! 

If you would like to learn more about German culture and the language, visit the following blog posts on GermanPod101.com:

• Adventssonntag: First Sunday of Advent in Germany
• Celebrating the German Unification: German Unity Day
• Karneval in Germany: German Carnival Season
• Essential Vocabulary for Life Events in German
• Unlock Your German Potential with These Top Netflix Shows

For even more great information, create your free lifetime account today. With our fun and effective lessons for learners at every level, you’ll be speaking German in minutes and fluent before you know it. We hope to see you around. 😉

Happy Harvest Festival, and a refreshing autumn, from the GermanPod101 team!

We’re sure that the name Oktoberfest rings a bell (or several).

During Oktoberfest, Germany enjoys a long celebration focused on great food, fun music, and of course, lots of beer! But did you know that for Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany even has events for the kids?

In this article, you’ll learn about the traditions of Oktoberfest Munich observes each year. As one of Germany’s most well-known and beloved holidays, knowing the celebrations behind it are essential in understanding German culture. This, in turn, will help you get a better grasp of the language.

At GermanPod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your learning journey both fun and informative. So drink up, and let’s get started…

1. What is Oktoberfest?

Introduced in 1810 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, the Oktoberfest, or Wiesn, attracted around seven-million people from all over the world in 2011. This all-day event is held annually in September and October at Theresienwiese in Munich, and lasts between sixteen and eighteen days.

2. When is Oktoberfest in Germany?

The date of Oktoberfest varies slightly from year to year, but always begins in September and ends the first Sunday in October. For your convenience, here’s a list of Oktoberfest’s start and end dates for the next ten years.

• 2019: September 21 to October 6
• 2020: September 19 to October 4
• 2021: September 18 to October 3
• 2022: September 17 to October 3
• 2023: September 16 to October 3
• 2024: September 21 to October 6
• 2025: September 20 to October 5
• 2026: September 19 to October 4
• 2027: September 18 to October 3
• 2028: September 16 to October 3

3. Traditions & Celebrations for Oktoberfest

At the festival-opening Wiesn-Einzug parade, which runs through the center of Munich, the festival innkeepers participate with their decorated carriages, musical bands, and showmen. The official opening of the festival is followed not only by the home crowd, but also by viewers from around the world on TV or online. With the slogan O’zapft is and the tapping of the first keg by the mayor of Munich, the festival begins.

Traditional Oktoberfest costumes include the dirndl dress for women and leather trousers for men. People usually visit the Oktoberfest with their friends, work colleagues, or partners. People eat and drink in the tents, and sway and dance while pop music and traditional Bavarian brass music play in the background. The larger of the fourteen tents, such as the Hofbräu festival tent, can accommodate up to 12,000 people.

Many families visit the Oktoberfest in the afternoon with their children. A carousel, Ferris wheel, and other rides are there for their enjoyment. Bavarian specialties such as chicken, pretzels, Bavarian cheese, and pork and veal sausages are very popular. The popularity of the festival is also evident from the fact that some of the cities, like Mainz and Konstanz, organize their own Oktoberfests.

Munich breweries brew a special beer for Oktoberfest that contains more of the original wort and higher alcohol content of around six or seven percent, which is known as Märzen.

4. How Much Beer?

On average, how many liters of beer do Germans consume per capita annually?

Each year, Germans consume an average of 125 liters of beer per capita in Germany. Cheers!

5. Essential Oktoberfest Vocabulary

Here’s some vocabulary you need to know for Oktoberfest in Germany!

• Oktoberfest — Oktoberfest
• Dirndl — Dirndl
• Oans, zwoa, gsuffa! — One, Two, Drink up!
• Obatzda — Obatzda
• Hendl — Hendl
• Zur Wiesn gehen — Go to the Oktoberfest
• Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit! — Cheers, here’s to “cosiness!”
• Eine Maß Bier — One liter of beer
• Lederhosen — Lederhosen
• Volksfest — Folk festival
• Blaskapelle — Brass band

To hear each of these vocabulary words pronounced, check out our Oktoberfest vocabulary list!

How GermanPod101 Can Help You Master German!

We hope you enjoyed learning about Oktoberfest with us, and that you learned some new facts. But most importantly, we hope you’re ready to partake in celebrations. 😉

Have you ever experienced an Oktoberfest celebration in Germany, or do you plan to? Does your country have similar celebrations? Let us know in the comments!

To continue learning about German culture and the language, explore GermanPod101.com. We offer an array of fun and effective learning tools for every learner, at every level:

• Insightful blog posts on a range of cultural and language-related topics
• Free vocabulary lists covering various topics and themes
• Podcasts to improve your listening and pronunciation skills
• Mobile apps to learn German anywhere, on your own time
• Much, much more!

If you’re interested in a one-on-one and personalized learning approach, be sure to upgrade to Premium Plus. Doing so will give you access to your own German teacher who will help you develop a learning plan tailored to your needs and goals. Yes, really!

Learning German isn’t an easy feat, but know that your hard work and perseverance will pay off! And GermanPod101 will be here with you each step of the way to German mastery, with effective tools and constant support.

Until next time, we wish you a Happy Oktoberfest! 🙂

Have you ever heard about the Italian people using their hands, feet, and all the other parts of their body while they’re talking? Your answer is: Yes?

No worries if you haven’t heard this about German people. The only reason for this is that we’re not that expressive with our body gestures and body language like other nations are. But have you heard about German eye contact? They like to keep eye contact at all times.

Here’s a little side story to help you visualize nonverbal communication in German:

My grandparents travelled in Africa for three months in 2012. Does that sound odd? It gets better! My grandparents don’t speak any French or English at all. All they know is German.

After they came back home, I was impressed and asked them how they expressed themselves to the locals. The dry answer my grandmother gave was: ‘Boy, with our hands and feet.’ This is a common German idiom.

All I want to show you is that body language is such a significant part of our daily life. When you master the common expressions in German, your interaction with locals will improve immediately.

Body language isn’t often covered by German language teachers. Learning some basic principles and gestures will help you right from the start. Maybe some of these postures are already familiar with you if you’re coming from a neighboring country.

I hope I made my point clear and that now you know why body gestures in learning German
are important for your progress. Here we prepared for you some of the most common German gestures in as simple a way as possible.

However, if you’re interested in improving your speaking skills, here’s a helpful vocabulary list.

In the meantime, let’s get on to learning common body language and gestures in Germany!

Table of Contents

1. Zählen
2. Greetings
3. Positive Gestures
4. Negative Gestures
5. Other Gestures
6. Why are Germans Heartless and Why is Eye Contact Important?
7. How GermanPod101.com can Help You Learn Faster

1. Zählen

There are different ways of doing this. This is just the way we in Germany do it, and it’s one of the most common hand signs in German.

Here’s a helpful lesson for counting in German.

2. Greetings

When learning body language in Germany, it’s vital that you know about greetings. These German body gestures will help you say “hello” like a native, without even saying a word.

1- Die Hand geben

Okay everybody, let’s get prepared for the handshake in Germany. I know people from other countries find this part about the German culture a bit boring, but it is how it is. We’re a nation of hand-shakers. This might sound a bit awkward to people from South America, France, or any other country that are used to giving hugs for greetings.

But we just don’t do it in general. Even when you’ve known a person for a long time, you’re not going to just fall into their arms as a greeting.

2- Bussi Bussi

3- Hallo

If you’re ready to dive a bit deeper into how to say “hello” in German and introduce yourself, take a look at this video. Or if you’re looking for another approach to underline your gestures with words, take a look at all German words for greetings.

Greetings are not everything, though, so you may want to brush up on how to say goodbye in German as well.

3. Positive Gestures

1- Daumen hoch

2- Daumendrücken

4. Negative Gestures

1- Jemandem den Vogel zeigen

2- Waving your hand in front of your face.

3- Daumen runter

4- Forearm Jerk

5. Other Gestures

1- Augenlied herunterziehen

2- Ach

3- Tja

6. Why are Germans Heartless and Why is Eye Contact Important?

1- Are Germans Heartless?

Maybe they’re not. There are some stereotypes out there about Germans that are true, but we’re not heartless at all. Though we do value things like order, privacy, and punctuality which can give the impression of being “heartless.”

Since we value privacy, it might seem like we don’t love the people around us, but that’s not true. We just don’t express ourselves as other nations do and we respect the privacy of others.

Those are important facts when dealing with a German. But no worries, no person from Germany will dislike you if you give him a nice and warm hug.

2- German Eye Contact

In Germany, it’s considered polite to maintain eye contact almost all the time while talking to another person. This is especially important during business meetings. Eye contact is a sign of attentiveness, and you don’t need to be afraid of threatening someone with this. It’s better to maintain eye contact than to overdo it with too many body gestures with German locals.

Here are some hard facts when it comes to eye contact with a German:

• It’s expected and respected.
• It demonstrates attention and awareness.
• It’s a part of proper etiquette.

And now a really important fact:

DO use eye contact while toasting in Germany. Or else you’ll have bad luck for the next seven years of your life.

7. How GermanPod101.com can Help You Learn Faster

When learning a language, especially when you’re at the beginning of this journey, people always say “Go to the country where they speak the language and you’ll master it.”

In my experience, this is good advice. But once you’re there and you start listening to the locals and you ask yourself if they even speak the same language that you’re trying to learn, this feels a bit tough. Here’s when body language comes into play, as it helps you understand the context and anticipate which words might have been used.

Whether you’re just up for a holiday in Germany, or are ready to dive completely into the German language and its nuances, the body gestures we showed you here are just the tip of the iceberg and there’s so much more to discover.

To get started, GermanPod101.com has a lot of free resources that you can use to practice and improve your grammar skills.

With our MyTeacher app, you can get one-on-one practice that perfectly fits your individual needs. With your private teacher, you’ll level up fast.

That said, we wish you the best of luck as you continue learning German and the many facets of its culture. We hope that you learned a lot about German body language and gestures. Be sure to keep practicing with GermanPod101.com! Start with a bonus, and download your FREE cheat sheet – How to Improve Your German Skills! (Logged-In Member Only)

The German language is currently the 15th most spoken language in the world. The number of first language speakers according to the 21st edition of Ethnologue is 76 million. Speakers of German are found in 28 countries, located in 6 continents. German has official language status in Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Austria. You’ll also find German speakers in Kazakhstan, Russia, Brazil, Namibia, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, South Africa and Australia.

Being part of the Indo European language family, the English language and the German language share around 60% of their lexicon. Like most languages, the German language has its own set of quirks and unique features, which at times add to the confusion of German language learners.

1. Quirky German language

• German is a language that is known for being logical. However, the language also has many characteristics that make it confusing as well as inspiring. Here are some of these interesting characteristics.
• Among the languages in Europe, German is the most spoken. It still ranks first among the most common European languages, besting English, Spanish, French and Italian. German is spoken as a first language by 16% of the population in Europe.
• In the past, German and English have three genders, but with the changes in English grammar, it uses masculine and feminine and use a gender-neutral nouns and pronouns for persons of undetermined gender. German on the other hand retained the old rule, so it has masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
• Telling time in German is a bit tricky for language learners. When a German tells you that it’s halb drei or half-three, this does not mean that it is half past the hour of two. Rather, this means that it is 30 minutes to three.
• Germans are also known for their propensity in creating compound words – words that contain several consonants. Here are a few examples:
  1. der Kühlschrank. The literal meaning of this is cool cupboard, but technically, this refers to a refrigerator.
  2. das Weichei. This is not a very complimentary word. Literally, it’s translated as soft egg, but wimp is its real meaning.
  3. der Tagedieb. You might have guessed correctly. This translates to day thief, but it does not really mean that someone is stealing the day. What it actually means is someone who dawdles, someone who is a layabout or somebody who wastes the day doing nothing.
  4. der Handschuh.This is somewhat understandable, isn’t it. If you guessed that it meant the hand shoe, you got it right! But your hands do not wear shoes. Instead you wear gloves, which is the correct translation of the term.
  5. das Fingerspitzengefühl. This is definitely not the last in the list of German compound word, but this one is quite meaningful. Its literal meaning isthe fingertip feeling. The accurate translation of this phrase is intuitive instinct or flair. It also means tactfulness.
• Depending on which study results you are looking at, German can be the third or the seventh most studied language in the world. It is safe to say that it belongs to the world’s top 10 most taught languages.
• The Koreans may have invented the movable printing type but Germany introduced mechanical printing to the world. It printed the first book in movable metal type – the Gutenberg Bible. Contrary to what some people believe, the Gutenberg Bible is not German but rather written in Latin.
• The German alphabet has 26 letters just like the English language, but it has three umlauted (letters with two dots on top) letters, ä, ö, ü as well as a ligature, ß that is called ein scharfes (sharp S or double S). It is a peculiar letter. If you use double S for ‘Masse‘ when you do not have a German keyboard, it translates to mass. But if you write Maße, it refers to dimensions.

Despite the confusion that is natural to the German language, do not let this deter you from learning German.

Because Germans love using compound words, it is easy for them to construct very long words by combining these compound texts, resulting in words that could be about 30 to over 60 letters in length. At the same time, expect to see lengthy meanings for these words.

2. Longest words in German

Creating compound words is not exclusive to the German language. There are several more languages where you’ll encounter compound words, although German is legendary for having very long words. Even Mark Twain said that due to their length, some of the German words have their own perspective.

1- Siebenhundertsiebenundsiebzigtausendsiebenhundertsiebenundsiebzig

This word contains 65 letters and looks like you’ll run out of breath before you finish saying it. If you look carefully, you might have a clue as to what it actually is. That’s right; it’s about numbers and number 7 to be precise. Because all numbers can be expressed in long words in German, this one is the compound word for seven hundred seventy-seven thousand, seven hundred seventy-seven or 777,777.

2- Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz

This 63-letter term refers to the law for the delegation of monitoring beef labeling. It is officially the longest word that appears in government documents. The law which was passed in 1999 was meant to protect beef consumers from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease. However, the law has been dropped as the EU declared that testing is not needed anymore. Hence the word will now be a part of history.

3- Rechtsschutzversicherungsgesellschaften

There are only 39 letters in Rechtsschutzversicherungsgesellschaften, which translates to insurance companies providing legal protection. It’s included here because it holds a Guinness Book of World Records recognition as German’s longest word that is commonly used.

4- Kaftfahrzeug-Haftpflichtversicherung

At 36 letters, it is one of the shortest compound words in German. Kaftfahrzeug-Haftpflichtversicherung equates to motor vehicle liability insurance. It is the longest word that is included in the Duden German dictionary.

5- Sozialversicherungsfachangestelltenauszubildender

This 49-letter word is a modern term. It refers to a trainee assistant social insurance broker.
Some of these are not even the longest words Germans ever came up with, but they are quite distinct. Several more are truly unique and tongue twisting.

For example, Betäubungsmittelverschreibungsverordnung (regulation for requiring a prescription for an anesthetic), Massenkommunikationsdienstleistungsunternehmen (companies providing mass communications services) and Nahrungsmittelunverträglichkeit (food intolerance).

3. Keep Learning German!

Don’t stop learning a new language. German is similar to English so in time you’ll be able to pick up the pace as you learn to recognize the German words and their English equivalent. Find the most suitable online lessons on the German language to support your formal language learning. If you need language translation services, find the best translation company that will meet your requirements.

Author’s bio:
Sean Patrick Hopwood is a polyglot whose interests include technology, the Internet, education, and positive thinking. He is the President and CEO of Day Translations, Inc., a company serving international clients with a wide range of language services including translating, interpreting and website and app localization.

Discover 3 ways that German learning games and video games can help you learn and master German faster, retain more, and enhance your language skills.

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Can You Learn German Using Games?

Yes, German learning games and even video games can help you learn and master German faster and improve overall comprehension. Research studies have concluded that video games enhance traditional learning methods and make mastering a new language like German fun and exciting. Without the firm foundation in grammar and vocabulary provided by conventional learning programs, however, you will not be able to learn German with games alone. But when you combine the solid educational foundation like you’ll get at GermanPod101 with the benefits of German learning games, you learn faster and retain more than with traditional learning alone.

Let’s now take a look at three of the biggest benefits of using video games to learn German:

Video Games Help Improve Linguistic Skills and Cognitive Development

When combined with a solid foundation in vocabulary and grammar, video games help students improve reading, comprehension, and even speaking skills. The results are even more pronounced in struggling students. According to a recent national survey, more than 78% of teachers noted that learning games, even video games, were effective in helping struggling students compensate for learning gaps in their traditional studies.

So how do German learning games, or even video games, help students improve their linguistic skills and cognitive development? The key is practice, practice, and more practice!
Learning games and video games naturally require the integration of several linguistic skills including reading, listening, speaking, and even writing in some games. And by removing the fear of making mistakes so common in students in traditional classroom settings, students are free to practice the language and further develop their linguistic and cognitive abilities in the process.

Do a compliment in German? Break-Up Lines? Our Vocabulary Lists are Made for You!

Learning Games/Video Games Provide In-Context Learning

Students naturally learn faster and comprehend more when they are forced to use the information often and in real-world situations, even the fake ones created by German learning games and video games. Essentially, this is immersion-based learning or contextual learning very similar to what one experiences when living abroad and being forced to interact with people in another language. So by providing both context and constant feedback, video games allow students to actually use the knowledge they gain in classrooms or conventional study to learn and master German or any new language faster.

German Learning Games Make Studying Fun and Alleviate Stress

Homework, quizzes, tests, and even in-class assignments can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety in students, particularly those who may be struggling to keep up. This stress and anxiety can actually derail a student’s progress and cause them to feel isolated from their more successful peers. But video games and even most learning games are the great equalizer because they help alleviate stress, increase social engagement, and yes, even help students have fun while learning German or any new language.
In fact, research recently published in The Washington Post shows a wide range of health benefits from video games and learning games including the fact that they:

Scientists have indeed discovered that not only can you learn German or any new language faster thanks to video games, they can also provide a wide range of potential health benefits as well. However, learning languages through video games alone is not really a feasible alternative to progressive, structured learning like you find in classrooms or programs like GermanPod101.

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The Limitations of Learning Languages Through Video Games

While great supplemental learning tools, video games and even more formal learning games are simply no substitute for structured learning programs for two reasons:

German learning games and even video games are great supplemental tools to help students learn and master a language faster. Scientific studies and recent research reveal that video games can help contextualize formal lessons from structured learning, enhance linguistic skills, alleviate stress, and even provide a wide range of potential health benefits. However, learning languages through video games (even learning games) has limitations and is no substitute for structured lessons that provide a firm foundation in vocabulary and grammar.

GermanPod101 is the world’s most advanced online learning system with more than 2500+ HD video lessons created by real German instructors. With more than 500 million lesson downloads and 10,000’s of success stories, GermanPod101 can provide you with a world-class foundation in vocabulary and grammar.

Combined with German learning games, our cutting edge online language system can propel you to mastering the language faster, more easily, and at far less expense than traditional classroom instruction.

Learn 4 honest reasons you need German slang words and why they are so vital to truly learning and mastering the language.

Teachers may normally cringe at the thought of their students learning German slang words. After all, slang words and phrases are typically defined as being grammatically incorrect. So why would your teacher want you to spend time learning the “wrong way” to speak German? Here are 4 of the top reasons why you should study slang words and expressions when learning German or any new language.

1. Native Speakers Use Slang Expressions in Everyday Conversation

If you are going to study a foreign language and plan to use it to speak with native speakers, then you have to learn slang words and expressions. Otherwise, just using formal expressions and grammar may alienate you from native speakers and make it more difficult to establish a real connection. So it is best to at least learn some common slang words and expressions if you’re planning to meet or speak socially with someone.

2. Slang Words Are Used All Throughout German Culture

If you turn on any popular German TV show, listen to any song, or watch any movie, you are quickly going to see the value of learning German slang phrases. Just like everyday conversations between native speakers, German culture is filled with slang phrases and expressions. Without at least some knowledge of the more common slang phrases, popular culture and most conversations will be very confusing and potentially alienating.

3. Slang Expressions Help You Better Express Your True Thoughts and Feelings

Only relying on formal grammar and vocabulary is very limiting, especially in social situations. Just like in your native language, using the appropriate German slang words can help you express a broader range of emotions, thoughts, and feelings.

4. Proper Use of Slang Makes You Sound More Natural

We’ve all met foreigners who technically used formal language perfectly but still sounded odd and well….foreign. But when you use the right slang words and expressions, you will sound more natural and like a true native speaker. If you notice, even most politicians include a sprinkling of slang expressions and words throughout their speeches to help them sound more natural and to better connect with the audience.

The Dark Side of Slang Expressions

Learning German slang words can indeed help you sound more natural, better understand the people and culture, and make integration much easier. However, there is a dark side: using the wrong slang expressions can also make you look foolish, uneducated, and potentially disrespectful.

But how do you know which slang words or phrases to use and when?

The truth is that you can’t learn the most modern and appropriate slang words in textbooks or formal classroom settings. By the time the information gets incorporated into a formal curriculum, it’s already outdated and no longer in use by actual German people. And while you can learn current slang expressions from German TV shows, movies, songs, and games, you may not understand the context. If that happens, you may use the right German slang words but in the wrong situation and still look like a fool or possibly even offend someone.

So where can you learn current slang expressions and the right context in which to use them?

At GermanPod101, native speaking instructors create audio and video lessons that can include slang expressions and words. Our instructors provide context and examples for all the German slang words used in any lesson to make sure students understand the right time and place to use them.

German slang words and expressions may be grammatically incorrect but they are vital to truly understanding and immersing yourself in the culture. In fact, it will be very difficult to fully understand any movie, TV show, song, game, or even 1-on-1 conversation without knowing a few of the more common slang expressions.

However, it is important to learn the proper context and use of even popular slang expressions or you may come across as confusing, disrespectful, or uneducated.
At GermanPod101, you’ll learn how to use slang phrases and words to draw the right attention and avoid these problems.

Don’t forget to sign up for a Free Lifetime Account on GermanPod101.com to access tons of FREE lessons and features to become fluent in German!

Zombies are coming, and they speak German! Do you have what it takes to survive? No?
How lucky you are, we have exactly what you need. Here is the Top 20 Words and Phrases you need to survive this Apocalypse!

Click here to listen how to pronounce those phrases!

–beängstigend (adj)
scary

–Infektion die fem (n)
infection

–Schädel der masc (n)
skull

Grab das neut (n)
grave

–Was ist Ihr Lieblings-Zombie-Film?
What’s your favorite zombie movie?

Click here to access this lesson for free!

–Apokalypse die fem (n)
apocalypse

–Aus dem Grab auferstehen
rise from the grave

–Zombies! Renn!
Zombies! Run!

–Wenn es einen Zombie-Angriff geben würde, wohin würdest du fliehen?
If there was a zombie attack, where would you go?

–übernatürlich (adj)
supernatural

–Nahrungsmittelversorgung die fem (n)
food supply

–Wandelnde Tote
walking dead

–Gänsehaut die fem (n)
goose bumps

–Phantasie die fem (n)
imagination

–Popkultur die fem (n)
pop culture

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–Frischwasser das neut (n)
fresh water

–Leiche die fem (n)
corpse

–schauerlich (adj)
gruesome

–verstecken (v)
hide

Friedhof der masc (n)
graveyard

Want to amaze zombies? Become their friends? Learn German with our vocabulary lists!

More sample sentences, vocabulary, audio and video lessons when you sign up for free at GermanPod101.com.

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