Basic vocabulary (AQA GCSE German): Revision Notes
Basic German vocabulary
Introduction
This essential vocabulary forms the foundation of your German language skills at GCSE level. These words are incredibly versatile and will appear across different topics and contexts in your exams. Many of these terms can be used flexibly across various subjects, so mastering them will give you a strong advantage.
Some vocabulary items are marked as Higher tier only - these are slightly more challenging but will help you achieve the highest grades.
Numbers (0-1000)
Understanding German numbers is crucial for expressing quantities, ages, prices, and time. Here's how the German number system works:
Basic numbers (0-20)
- null (zero) - eins (one) - zwei (two) - drei (three)
- vier (four) - fünf (five) - sechs (six) - sieben (seven)
- acht (eight) - neun (nine) - zehn (ten) - elf (eleven)
- zwölf (twelve)
Teen numbers (13-19)
German teen numbers follow a pattern: number + zehn (except 13-15 which are slightly irregular)
- dreizehn (thirteen) - vierzehn (fourteen) - fünfzehn (fifteen)
- sechzehn (sixteen) - siebzehn (seventeen) - achtzehn (eighteen)
- neunzehn (nineteen)
Pattern Example: Teen Numbers
For numbers 16-19, the pattern is clear:
- 16 = sechs + zehn = sechzehn
- 17 = sieben + zehn = siebzehn
- 18 = acht + zehn = achtzehn
- 19 = neun + zehn = neunzehn
Notice how the base number combines directly with "zehn"!
Multiples of ten
- zwanzig (twenty) - dreißig (thirty) - vierzig (forty)
- fünfzig (fifty) - sechzig (sixty) - siebzig (seventy)
- achtzig (eighty) - neunzig (ninety)
- hundert (hundred) - tausend (thousand)
Grammar tip: In compound numbers over 20, German reverses the order compared to English. For example, 21 = einundzwanzig (literally "one and twenty").
Question words
These essential words help you ask questions and understand what's being asked. They're vital for both speaking and listening comprehension:
- wann? (when?) - warum? (why?) - was für? (what sort of...?)
- was? (what?) - welch- (er, -e, -es), welche (which?)
- wer? (who?) - wie? (how?) - wo? (where?)
- woher? (where... from?) - wohin? (where... to?)
- wieso? (why?)
Usage tip: Remember that question words often change their endings depending on the gender and case of the noun they're describing, particularly "welch-".
Short phrases and expressions
These common phrases will make your German sound more natural and fluent. They're essential for everyday communication:
Greetings and polite expressions
- ab und zu (now and again) - alles klar (all right, okay)
- auf Wiedersehen (goodbye) - bis bald (see you soon)
- bitte (please, you're welcome) - danke (thanks)
- hallo (hello) - herzlichen Glückwunsch (congratulations)
These basic greetings and polite expressions are fundamental for any conversation and will appear frequently in speaking assessments.
Common conversational phrases
- das geht (that's fine) - es gab (there was/were)
- es geht mir gut/schlecht (I am fine/not well)
- es gibt (there is/are) - es ist mir egal (I don't care)
- es tut mir leid (I'm sorry) - gute/schlechte Laune haben (to be in a good/bad mood)
Time and frequency expressions
- in Form sein (to be in good shape) - in letzter Zeit (recently, lately)
- jdm auf die Nerven gehen (to get on someone's nerves)
- Lust (auf + noun) haben (to feel like) - meiner Meinung nach (in my opinion)
- nach Hause (to home) - sitzen bleiben (to repeat a school year)
- so... wie (as... as) - tschüss (bye)
- und so weiter (and so on, etc.) - zu Hause (at home)
- zum Beispiel, z.B. (for example, e.g.)
Higher tier expressions
- alles (Andere) (everything else) - etwas (Nettes) (something nice)
- statt... zu (+ infinitive) (instead of + verb) - um... zu (+ infinitive) (in order to + verb)
Higher tier expressions like "statt... zu" and "um... zu" are particularly useful for achieving top grades as they demonstrate sophisticated language structures.
Prepositions
Prepositions show relationships between words and are essential for constructing meaningful sentences. Here are the most important ones:
Basic prepositions
- ab (from, as of) - an (on, at) - auf (on, onto, at, to)
- aus (out, out of, from) - außer (except) - bei (at the house of, with)
- bis (until, by) - durch (through) - für (for)
- gegen (against) - gegenüber (opposite) - hinter (behind)
- in (in, into) - mit (with, by) - nach (to, towards, after, according to)
- neben (next to, beside) - ohne (without) - per (per, by)
- seit (since, for) - über (about, above, over) - um (at o'clock, around)
- unter (under, among) - von (from, of) - vor (in front of, before, ago)
- während (during) - zu (to) - zwischen (between)
Advanced prepositions
- entlang (along) - laut (according to) - ohne... zu (+ infinitive) (without + verb)
- statt (instead of) - trotz (in spite of) - wegen (because of)
Grammar tip: German prepositions require specific cases (accusative, dative, or genitive). Some prepositions can take different cases depending on whether they show movement or position.
Pronunciation tips
Key Pronunciation Rules:
- W is pronounced like English "V" (was = "vas")
- V is usually pronounced like English "F" (vier = "feer")
- Z is pronounced "ts" (zehn = "tsayn")
- ß (Eszett) is pronounced like "ss"
- Compound numbers are pronounced as one word with stress on the first part
Practice exercises
German to English Practice
- Ich bin zwanzig Jahre alt und wohne seit fünf Jahren in München.
- Warum kommst du nicht mit uns ins Kino? Es gibt einen guten Film.
English to German Practice
- Where are you from and how old are you?
- I'm sorry, but I don't have time today. See you soon!
Answers
German to English:
- I am twenty years old and have been living in Munich for five years.
- Why don't you come with us to the cinema? There's a good film on.
English to German:
- Woher kommst du und wie alt bist du?
- Es tut mir leid, aber ich habe heute keine Zeit. Bis bald!
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- German numbers over 20 are written in reverse order compared to English (21 = einundzwanzig)
- Question words are essential for both asking and understanding questions - practise them daily
- Short phrases make your German sound more natural and confident
- Prepositions require specific grammatical cases, so learn them together with their case requirements
- These basic vocabulary items appear across all topics, so mastering them will boost your performance in every area of the exam