Remember the last time you had to make an important call?  When you had that shaky feeling in your chest…the one you get right after you hear the ring on the other end? Or maybe you’re one of those gifted people who can screw up their courage and take it easy. While we’re slowly ditching what used to be the main function of telephones—voice calling—for things like texting and Facebook, there are still moments when we need to pick up the phone.  This in mind, language learners will still benefit from memorizing a few German phone call phrases in today’s SMS-based world. While in Germany, you’ll have to order food from a new favorite restaurant, call the local barbershop for a reservation, or phone your boss with an urgent... Show more

Imagine if everything in language was straightforward and perfect. Like, literally. No typos. No jokes. No slang. Just everyone meaning business. It wouldn’t be much fun, would it? The imperfections found in languages, dialects, and communication in general are what make them fun.  We all like to communicate clearly, but that never allows for any awkward, unforeseen, or weird moments—moments which could be pretty funny, if you think about it. Knowing how flawed our communication is, we try our best to hide our imperfections. As a learner of the language, you can do this well by using German filler words. Table of Contents What are filler words and why do we use them? The Top 10 German Filler Words Pros... Show more

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart." Makes sense, right? When dating a German, it’s easy to get comfortable speaking to your partner in only English, especially as Germany classifies as one of the best non-native English-speaking countries. While this can help you keep a good line of communication, it can easily start to feel a little superficial for your German-speaking partner. From time to time, your relationship could benefit from expressing your love in German, their mother tongue. Speaking your partner’s native language will go right to their heart, and that will make it easier for you to build a connection with them in... Show more

Are you a people-pleaser? Someone who goes out of their way to make others happy and can’t say no to anyone?  Of course, learning a language is all about developing new skills, embracing new experiences, and accepting challenges…so you’ll probably be saying yes quite a lot. Yet, you still need to know how to say no if you want to master the German language! In this article, we’ll look at negation in German. You’ll learn how to make negative sentences, how to answer a yes-or-no question correctly, and how to politely decline an offer or invitation…without making anyone upset. Sure, saying no isn’t easy for some of us. But I assure you it will be (at least from a language-learning point of view!), after you’ve read this.  ... Show more

What dedicated language learner could pass up an opportunity to spend endless days studying German and all its nuances? Unfortunately, in our society, time is money and the reality of things can be quite different. Most of us just don’t have the time to study languages at our leisure.  Because time is such a constraint, there’s an important question to ask yourself before beginning to learn this beautiful language: How long does it take to learn German? Mark Twain said: "A gifted person ought to learn English in 30 hours, French in 30 days and German in 30 years." But it might not take quite that long! I’m sure we all instinctively look for the fastest and easiest ways to learn new things. Being efficient with our time allows... Show more

Proverbs are popular sayings that provide a little dose of wisdom—a truth that is, sometimes, so obvious that it’s overlooked.  If you really want your language skills to shine, knowing some popular German proverbs is a great way to start. And of course, it will also help you fit in with the German locals and better understand their culture! In Germany, there’s a great variety of wisdom-infusing sayings—whether we’re talking about a lot of sausages, some bears and rabbits running around in forests, or some serious-sounding, deep stuff!  As we say, "There is no time like the present." So let’s get to it. These thirty popular German proverbs will add versatility and color to your spoken language, so that even locals will mistake... Show more

Have you ever visited a city filled with an eclectic mix of cultures, history, and wonderful sights, as well as a vibrant creative life? If the answer is no, then you should start thinking about a trip to the German capital. Even John F. Kennedy, the U.S. President, loved it!  "All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words, ‘Ich bin ein Berliner!’ " But really, why should you visit Berlin? Imagine a hub of history, art, music, and graffiti that attracts millions of tourists annually. Sounds pretty good, right? Follow our Berlin travel guide and rest assured you’ll have an incredible experience.  We’ll keep it short by describing only the top ten places to... Show more

German learners often have to put up with native speakers who only ever speak English to them. After all, if you go up to a stranger in Berlin and start speaking English only, there’s a good chance you’ll hear English in response – often quite fluent English at that! But it’s not enough that you have to speak excellent German in order to get people to speak German with you at all. You’ve got to speak the right amount of English as well. Hence, our English words in German list.  You see, if you’re going to take part in German society at this point in the 21st century, you’ve got to reckon with the fact that Germans are international enough to already speak English at a high level. German-speakers from Cologne to Zurich can... Show more

German is a language with a long history of great writing. It’s no wonder that there are a lot of excellent quotes that have been passed down through the centuries! In order to help you become a more eloquent German speaker, GermanPod101 has compiled a list of the best German quotes in several different categories.  As you study these quotes, you’ll also start to make important connections concerning the grammatical structures being used. The end result? You’ll pick up German grammar without even realizing it! Table of Contents Quotes About Success Quotes About Life Quotes About Time Quotes About Love Quotes About Friendship Quotes About Food Quotes About Health Quotes About Language Learning ... Show more

https://www.youtube.com/embed/kIA_3g6dcV4 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... Show more