This list contains the important short words (here, at, the, then, this, etc) and frequent words like mother, short, high, teacher, strong, speak, etc.
Editor's Note: This is a partial first draft, ready for web comment, showing a tentative design and content for the vocabulary page(s). This is an international cooperative effort by the members of GermanList@listbot.com. You are invited to join us. The final pages may look quite different than this. Most of this list was compiled by the German Teachers of Chicago after World War I.
Please comment on this page . Do you prefer single or double spacing between the lines? Is (-") acceptable for indicating umlauts in plurals? Are there any errors? Are these correct ==> aussehen, aussprechen (my source is in Gothic font and it has two different characters for the letter "s" plus two types of ß. Should I put a link to a dictionary (German to English) at the bottom of each page to help users understand the German? Do Germans call the old font used before WWII Gothic font? Should I put a space after the accent mark ( Ame'rika = America vs Ame' rika = America)? Is there any need for this page of 1000 words? Few have written that it helps them.
Should I put all 1000 words on a single page? If so, the page will be only 80K which is smaller than some commercial pages having graphics. Unlike those pages, you will be able to begin reading this page immediately before it is all downloaded. Numbers, days, months, etc will be placed in Section 400. If you know other important words that should be added, I can do so.
I only have time to add the words for one letter per week. If students spend one week on the words for each letter, they will know 1000 German words in half a year.
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1. German words are accented on the first syllable unless otherwise indicated: gehen, ausgehen; but gegan'gen, gekom'mem, Student'.
2. The inflection of the noun is given as follows: der Baum, -es, -"e;
die Schwester, -, -n.
for example: das Dorf, Dorfes, Dörfer = singular,
genetive (possessive), plural = village
Das Dorf is im Tal = the village is in the valley.
Das-- Dorfes Kirche ist verbrannt. The village's
church is burned.
eins Dorf = one village; zwei Dörfer
= two villages.
3. The principal parts of strong verbs and their irregularity in the present tense are indicated: lesen, las, gele'sen,er liest.
4. Verbs conjugated with sein are marked: bleiben, blieb, ist geblie'ben.
5. For pronunciation of German letters and phonetic groups see Chapter 400
6. The following abbreviations are used in this vocabulary:
| acc. | accusative | masc. | masculine |
| adj. | adjective | neut. | neuter |
| adv. | adverb | nom. | nominative |
| aux. | auxiliary | pers. | personal |
| cf. | compare | plur. | plural |
| comp. | comparative | poss. | possessive |
| conj. | conjunction | p.p. | past participle |
| dat. | dative | prep. | prposition |
| dem. | demonstrative | pron. | pronoun |
| fem. | feminine | refl. | reflexive |
| gen. | genitive | rel. | relative |
| impers. | impersonal | sep. | separable |
| indecl. | indeclinable | superl. | superlative |
| indef. | indefinite | trans. | transitive |
| inter. | interrogative | vb. | verb |
| intr. | intransitive |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z <= Click to jump to location
The FIND button is very useful for jumping to the word you want.
" means umlaut
Notice that the listing for a noun contains 3 words in abbreviated form:
der Ausdruck, -s, "e = expression
Ausdruck = singular
Ausdrucks = genitive (possessive)
Ausdrücke = plural.
ab (adv and sep prefix) = off, away
der Abend, -s, -e = evening
aber = but, however
die Absicht, -, -en = intention, purpose
achten = regard, heed, esteem
allein (adj) alone; (adj) however
aller = (fem) alle, (neut) alles = all, every;
(indeclinable when followd by the def. art. or a possessive)
all mein Geld = all my money
als = when, as, than;
als ob (als wenn) = as if
also = thus, in this way, consequently, accordingly
alt = old
Ame'rika = America
der Amerika'ner = the American
amerika'nisch = American
das Amt, -es, -"er = office; cf. der Beam' te
an (prep. dat or acc. and sep. prefix = on, at to, close by, against
ander = other, different
der Anfang, -s, -"e, beginning, start
anfangen, fing an, angefangen, er fängt an = begin, start
anangenehm = agreeable, pleasing
die Angst, -, -"e = fear, anxiety
anhalten, hielt an, angehalten, er hält an = stop, hold on, hold up
ankommen, kam an, ist angekommen = arrive
die Antwort, -, -en = answer ; (vb.) antworten
anziehen, zog an, angezogen (refk,) = dress, put on; (tr.) puton, draw
on
der Apfel, -s, -" = apple
die Arbeit, -, -en = work
arbeiten = work
der Arbeiter, -s, -, = worker, workman
arm = poor
die Armee', -, -n = army
die Art, -, -en = kind, sort; way, manner; species
der Arzt, -es, -"e = physician
auch = also, too
auf (prep. dat. or acc. and sep. prefix) = on, upon
die auffassung, -, -en = conception, point of view
die Aufgabe, -, -n = lesson, task
aufgeben, gab auf, aufgegeben, er gibt auf = give up; assign
aufgehen, ging auf, ist aufgegangen = rise; open
aufheben, hob auf, aufgehoben = lift, pick up
aufhören = stop, cease
aufmachen, machte auf, aufgemacht = open
aufmerksam = attentive
aufstehen, stand auf, ist aufgestanden = rise, get up
aufwachen, wachte auf, ist aufgewacht = awake, wake up
das Auge, -sm -n = eye
der Augenblick, -s, -e = moment
der August' = August
aus (prep. dat. and sep. prefix) = out, out of, from
der Ausdruck, -s, -"e = expression
die Ausführung, -, -en = execution, finish
aussehen, sah aus, ausgesehen, er sieht aus = look, appear, seem
außer (prep. dat.) = outside of, out of, besides, except
außerdem' = besides
aussprechen, sprach aus, ausgesprochen, er spricht aus = pronounce
auswendig = outside; by heart
ausziehen (tr.), zog aus, ausgezogen = draw out, pull off; (intr.) move (out)
der Bach, -es, -"e = brook, creek
baden = bathe
bald = soon
balb ... balb = now ... now
die Bank, -, -"e = bench;
die Bank, -, -en = bank
bauen = build
der Bauer, -s, -n = peasant, farmer
der Beam'te, -n, -n = official
beden'ken, bedach'te, bedacht' = think over, consider
bedeu'ten = mean, signify
die Bedu'tung, -, -en = meaning, significance
der Befehl', -s, -e = order, command
befeh'len = order, command
befin'den, befand', befun'den = (refl.) be, find one's self
begeg'nen = (aux. fein) meet, befall; happen
begin'nen, begann', begon'nen = begin
beglei'ten = accompany
behal'ten, behielt, behal'ten, er behält = keep
bei (prep. dat.) = by, at, with, near, on, in
beide = both
das Bein, -es, -e = leg
beinah'e = almost, nearly
das Beispiel, -s, -e = example
zum Beispiel = for example
beißen, biß, gebis'sen = bite
bekannt' = acquainted, well known
bekom'mem, bekam', bekom'men = get, obtain, receive
bequem' = comfortable
bereit' = ready
berei'ten = prepare; cause, give
der Berg, -es, -e = mountain
berich'ten report
berühmt' = famous, celebrated
beschäf'tigt = busy; occupied, employed
beschrei'ben, beschrieb', beschrie'ben = describe, depict
besi'tzen, befaß', beses'sen = possess, own
beson'ders = especially, particularly
beste'hen, bestand, bestan'den = (tr.) endure, pass; (intr.) exist, be
bestimmt' = definite, sure, certain
die Bestim'mung, -, -en = statement (of terms); destination;
definition
der Besuch' -es, -e = visit
besu'chen = visit, go to see
das Bett, -es, -en = bed
bewe'gen = move, stir
bewei'sen, bewies', bewie'sen = prove
bezah'len = pay
die Bezie'hung, -, -en = relation(ship)
die Bibliothek', -, -en = library
das Bild, -es, -er = picture
bilden = for, shape; cultivate, educate
die Bildung, -, -en = formation, education
billig = cheap, at a bargain
binden, band, gegun'den = bind, tie
bis = until, as far as
bisher' = hitherto
bitten, bat, gebe'ten = ask, beg, request
bitte = please
die Bitte, -, -n = request
blasen, blies, gebla'sen = blow
Blatt, -es, -"er = leaf, page, thinly sliced
blau = blue
bleiben, blieb, ist geblie'ben = stay, remain
der Bleistift, -es, -e = pencil
der Blick, -es, -e = glance, look
blißen = lighten; glisten, shine
blühen = bloom; flourish
die Blume, -, -n = flower
das Blut, -es = blood
der boden, -s, -" = ground, floor, bottom
böse = evil, bad; naughty; angry
brauchen = use, need, want
braun = brown
brechen, brach, gebro'chen = break
breit = broad, wide
brennen, brannte, gebrannt' = burn
der Brief, -es, -e = letter
bringen, brachte, gebracht' = bring, fetch, take
das Brot, -es, -e = bread
die Brücke, -, -n = bridge
der Bruder, -s, -" = brother
das Buch, -es, -"er = book
der Bürger, -s, - = citizen
die Butter, - = butter
der Charak'ter, -s, die Charakte're = character
Notice the letter "c" is used in German only in the "ch, ck, tsch " phonetic characters, except in foregin words. German uses "s" for the soft "c" and "k" for the hard "c"
da = (adv.) then, there, at that time or place; (conj.) since, as, because
dabei' = with that, at that, at the same time; besides
das Dach, Daches, Dächer = roof, shelter
dadurch = thereby, through (by means of that)
dafür = therefore, for it/them/that; instead
daher' = (adv. and sep. prefix) this way, hither
da' her = accordingly, therefore
dahin = (adv. and sep. prefix) to that place, thither; past away, along
damit = (adv.) therewith, with it/that/them
damit' = (conj.) in order that, so that
danken = thank
dankbar = thankful
darauf = thereupon; upon or on it/them/that
daraus = therefrom, from it/that
daß = (conj.) that, so that, in order that
dazu = thereto, to that, for that, in addition
denken, dachte, gedacht' = think
dennoch = yet, nevertheless
dersel'be, (fem.) diesel'be, (neut.) dassel'be = the same; he/she/it
deshalb = therefore, for this reason
desto, je ... desto = the ... the
deutlich = plain, clear, distinct
deutsch = German
Deutschland = (neut) Germany
der Dezem'ber, Dezem'bers = December
dicht = close, tight, dense
der Dichter, Dichters, Dichter = poet
dick = thick, big
dienen = serve
der Diener, Dieners, Diener = servant
der Dienst, Dienstes, Dienste = service
der Dienstag, Dienstags, Dienstage = Tuesday
dieser, (fem.) diese, (neut.) dieses = this (one); the latter
das Ding, Dinges, Dinge = thing
doch = (adv. or conj.) but, however, though, yet; after all, through, yet; after all, just, at any rate; surely, only, you know
der Doktor, Doktors, Doktoren = doctor
donnern = thunder
der Donnerstag, Donnerstags, Donnerstage = Thursday
das Dorf, Dorfes, Dörfer = village
dort = there, yonder, in that place
draußen = outside, out-of-doors
drinnen = within, indoors
der Druck, Druckes, Drucke = print; pressure
drucken = print
drücken = press, oppress
dumm = stupid, dull
dunkel = dark
durch = (prep. acc.) through, by means of, during
durchaus' = thoroughly, by all means
Dürfen, durfte, gedurft' = be permitted, be allowed; may, might
der Durst, Durstes = thirst
das Dußend, Dußends, Dußende = dozen
eben = (adj.) evenm level, smooth; (adv.) just (now), exactly
evenso = just as, in the same way
die Ecke, Ecke, Ecken= corner
edel = noble, of noble birth
ehe = (conj.) before, ere
die Ehre, Ehre, Ehren = honor
das Ei, Eis, Eier = egg, egg's, eggs
eigen = to own ??????
eigentlich = really, in truth
eilen = to hasten
einan'der = one another, each other
einfach = simple, onefold
einige = some, a few
einladen, lub ein, eingeladen = to invite
einmal = once (upon a time)
einsam = solitary, lonely
einschlafen, schlief ein, ist eingeschlafen = to fall asleep
einst = once (upon a time), some day
der Einwohner, Einwohners, Einwohner = inhabitant
einzeln = single
einzig = only, single, sole
das Eis, Eises = ice
das Eisen, Eisens, Eisen = iron
die Eisenbahn, Eisenbahn, Eisenbahnen = railroad
die Eltern = (plur.) parents
empfan'gen, empfing', empfan'gen = to receive
empfin'den, empfand', empfun'den = feel, preceive
das Ende, Endes, Enden = the end, end's, ends
endlich = in the end, at last, finally
end(e) = narrow, tight
England = England
der Engländer, Engländers, Engländer = Englishman
english = English
die Entfer'nung, Entfernung, Entfernungen = distance
entfernt' = distant
entge'gen = (prep. or adv.) against, toward, opposite to; contrary, counter
enthal'ten, enthielt', enthal'ten er enthält' = to contain
entlang' = along
entschei'den, entschied', entschie'den = to decide
die Entschei'dung, Entscheidung, Entscheidungen = decision
entschul'digen = to excuse, to pardon
entste'hen, entstand',ist entstan'den = arise, grow
die Entste'hung, Entste'gung, Enste'hungen = evolution, development
entwe'der ... oder = either ... or
erben = to inherit
die Erde, Erde, Erden = the earth
erfah'ren, erfuhr' erfah'ren = experience, find out, learn by experience
erhal'ten, erhielt', erhal'ten = receive, get; keep, preserve
erin'nern (refl. with gen.) = to remember;
-- an, (with acc.) = to remind of
erken'nen, erkann'te, erkannt' = to recognize
erklä'ren = to explain
die Erklä'rung, Erklärung, Erklärungen = explanation
erlau'ben= to allow, to permit
errei'chen = to reach, to arrive at, to attain
erschei'nen, erfchien', ist erschie'nen = to appear
erschre'cken, erschrak', erschro'cken = (intr.) be frightened; (tr, and weak) terrify, frighten
erst = (numeral adj.) first, foremost; (adv.) first, only, not until
erstau'nen = be astonished
erwa'chen = (aux. sein) to awake
erwar'ten = to await, to eapect
erwi'dern = to answer, to reply
erzäh'len = to tell, to relate
erzei'hen = to educate, to bring up
der Esel, Esels, two Esel = ass, donkey
essen, aß, geges'sen = to eat
etwa = (adv.) about
etwas = something, anything; some, any; somewhat
ewig = eternal
das Fach, Faches, Fächer = branch, subject
fahren, fuhr, ist gefah'ren er fährt = to go, to ride, to travel
die Fahrt, Fahrt, Fahrten = the journey, the voyage
der Fall, Falles, Fälle = case, the event, the instance???
falsch = false, wrong
die fami'lie, familie, Familien = the family
fangen, fing, gefan'gen fängt = catch, capture
die Farbe, Farbe, Farben = the color
fassen = to grasp, to take hold of, to seize
die Fassung, Fassung, Fassungen = conception, poise
fast = almost, nearly
faul= lazy
der Februar, Februars = February
die Feder, Feder, Federn = the feather, per????broken type cant read it
fehlen = (intr. with dat.) to lack, to be wanting,to ail, to be the
matter; (tr.) to miss
der Fehler, Fehlers, Fehler = the mistake, the fault, the error
feiern = to celebrate
fein = fine, dainty
der Feind, Feindes,Feinde = enemy
das Feld, Feldes, Felder = the field
das Fenster, Fensters, Fenster = the window
die Ferien = (plur.) vacation, holidays
fern = distant, far
ferner = (adj.) farther, further; (adv.) furthermore, moreover
fertig = ready, finished
fest = firm, solid
das Feuer Feuers, Feuer = fire
finden, fand, gefun'deb = to find; deem, think
der Finger, Fingers, Finger = finger
der Fisch, Fisches, Fische = the fish
die Fläche, Fläche, Flächen = flat, level, plain
die Flasche, Flasche, Flaschen = the bottle, flask
das Fleish, Fleisches = flesh, meat
Fleißig = diligent, industrious
fliegen, floh, ist geflo'gen = to fly
fließen, floß, ist geflos'sen = to flow
der Flügel, Flügels, Flügel = the wing
der Fluß, Flußes, Flüße = the river
continue here
der Fegkerm Fehlers, Fehl//////?????????
To be continued
What would you change in the above?
Suggestions, corrections, and comments are appreciated: Contact Harold Eddleman indbio@disknet.com