Did you do it? Well, you’d better fess up. Or make amends, apologize, beg forgiveness, admit guilt, cop a plea…say sorry. We’ve got a lot of ways to talk about doing this in English, just like we do for lots of everyday concepts. And yes, apologizing is an everyday concept, even if you’re a good person. For that reason, it’s important that you learn how to say “sorry” in German. Imagine yourself making several different mistakes, then consult this guide to see exactly how you should atone for each one. We’ll also break down the language for you so you can understand what you’re saying. All the better for a sincere apology. Now, the big question: What have you done? Was hast du gemacht? Level 1: You Made a Careless Mistake... Show more

At one point, Germany was divided into two sections, separated by the Berlin Wall. This division had many negative effects on Germans of both sides, including the inability to visit friends or family living on the opposite side. In 1990, the Berlin Wall fell at last, reuniting the two sides of Germany, and thus making the country what it is today. In this article, we’ll be going over some more-detailed history leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall and German Unity Day 1990, as well as current celebrations of this day. You’ll also learn additional facts about German Unity Day, such as why the holiday’s date was chosen. Knowing this facet of German’s history will give you much insight into the Germany of today, and make your German... Show more

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? ... Show more

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... Show more

German slang and German internet words can be tough to understand. But no worries, as we’ll guide you through some of the most used expressions and words, so that you can impress your German friends with some stuff that will make you sound like a native speaker. Just to show you a quick example of how hard it can be to understand German slang, take a look: Der Lauch ist heute auf keinstem am Start. Literally, this means something like: “This leek will not be at the start for sure.” Let’s break this down for you. Der Lauch is used these days to describe a skinny person who doesn’t lift weights, and lifting weights is getting really popular nowadays in Germany. Auf keinstem is a short version of the expression auf keinen Fall... Show more

There are some untranslatable German words that need to be explained. To be fair guys, the English language is quite easy to learn. This comes from the general structure of your language. For example, compared to many other languages you don't have genders, there is just 'the'. Also, the conjugation of verbs follows some easy rules compared to other languages like French or Spanish. There are more good examples, but let's focus on German now. In fact, the German language is much more complex than English, and several other languages. But, despite this fact, in German we only have around 300.000 to 500.000 words in our dictionaries and in the English language there are up to 800.000. So congratulations, you win. (But this isn’t the... Show more

So how exactly do you say “My name is,” in German? And more importantly, why should you know this? If you travel, you’re probably going to end up making small talk at some point. And if you’re studying another language and traveling to the place where they speak that language, this is going to happen a lot. It’s happened to me many, many times. I’ve been very lucky to travel a lot, to countries all over the world. It turns out that no matter where you go, you’re going to find people who are interested in your story. Especially in Germany, because there aren’t tons of foreigners who end up speaking German at a high level. They want to know who you are, where you’re from, and why you’re learning their language. Natural... Show more

We know from experience that learning a new language can be time-consuming, hard, and sometimes frustrating. But with German movies, this won’t be the case. For this reason, we always suggest that our learners make the process fun by doing something they like—and everybody likes to watch a good movie. So why not combine watching a movie with learning a new language? Even experts say that watching movies and series is a great way to improve language skills quickly. When looking for a good movie to watch, remember that fantastic movies extend beyond Hollywood. To drive this point home, consider that Oscars are even awarded to the best movie from a foreign country—and Germany won this prize more than once so far. But even on platforms like... Show more

Father's Day, celebrated in most countries around the world, is a special day set aside to honor one's father (or father-figure). There's something about the love and care of a father that's unmatched by anything else, so it's important to show appreciation and gratitude to them on this day. In Germany, this is called Vatertag, and you'll soon find that celebrations in Germany are pretty unique compared to celebrations elsewhere. At GermanPod101.com, we hope to make learning about Vatertag in Germany fun, and provide you with great insight into German culture. For in knowing a country's culture, you can master the language in context of the bigger picture. Let's get started, and delve into Vatertag Deutschland ("Father’s Day... Show more

Learning a language from home can be stressful and frustrating, but with the help of German TV Shows, you can improve in less time than you imagined. Language learners and experts alike say that watching movies and series is a great way to improve your language skills. And the good thing about this is that you can do it by watching the type of movies or TV shows that you actually like. Each country produces TV shows in the genres of drama, crime, comedy, sci-fi, cooking, nature, and many more. Germany is certainly no different, with plenty of good German TV shows for language-learning. By watching television shows or movies in German, you’re allowing yourself to learn while having a lot more fun, and this is a big advantage for... Show more