Vocab list 3 (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
Basic vocabulary - Vocab list 3
This vocabulary list covers essential German words you'll need for your GCSE exam. These terms appear frequently in reading, listening, and speaking tasks, so learning them thoroughly will boost your confidence across all exam components.
These vocabulary items are considered high-frequency words that appear regularly in GCSE German examinations. Mastering them early will provide a solid foundation for more advanced language learning.
Useful everyday words
These common words help you express quantities, make generalisations, and refer to people or things. Many of them are used constantly in German conversation and writing.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| alle | all |
| beide | both |
| danach | afterwards |
| dies- (er, e, es) | this, that |
| einige | some, a few |
| jed- (er, e, es) | every, each |
| jemand | someone |
| kein | not a, no |
| keine | not a, not any, no |
| niemand | no one |
Worked Example: Using Quantifiers
- Alle Schüler müssen pünktlich sein. (All students must be punctual.)
- Beide Filme waren interessant. (Both films were interesting.)
- Ich kenne niemand hier. (I don't know anyone here.)
- Jeder Student hat ein Buch. (Every student has a book.)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| solch | such |
| viel | much |
| viele | many |
Worked Example: Expressing Quantities
- Solche Probleme sind schwierig. (Such problems are difficult.)
- Ich habe viel Arbeit. (I have much work.)
- Viele Menschen sprechen Deutsch. (Many people speak German.)
Parts of the body
Body vocabulary is essential for describing health problems, physical appearance, and daily activities. Note the grammatical genders - these are crucial for using the correct articles and adjectives.
Critical Grammar Point: Always learn body parts with their grammatical genders! The gender determines which articles (der, die, das) and adjective endings you must use. This is one of the most common areas where students lose marks in GCSE exams.
Masculine body parts (der)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Arm (m) | arm |
| Bauch (m) | stomach |
| Finger (m) | finger |
| Fuß (m) | foot |
| Kopf (m) | head |
| Mund (m) | mouth |
| Rücken (m) | back |
| Zahn (m) | tooth |
| Körper (m) | body |
Neuter body parts (das)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Auge (nt) | eye |
| Bein (nt) | leg |
| Gesicht (nt) | face |
| Haar (nt) | hair |
| Herz (nt) | heart |
| Ohr (nt) | ear |
Feminine body parts (die)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Hand (f) | hand |
| Haut (f) | skin |
| Nase (f) | nose |
| Schulter (f) | shoulder |
| Stimme (f) | voice |
Worked Example: Using Body Parts in Context
- Mein Kopf tut weh. (My head hurts.)
- Sie hat blaue Augen. (She has blue eyes.)
- Er wäscht seine Hände. (He washes his hands.)
- Der Körper braucht Wasser. (The body needs water.)
Prepositions
German prepositions can be tricky because many have multiple meanings depending on the context. These are essential for describing location, time, and relationships between things.
Understanding Context: German prepositions are highly context-dependent. The same preposition can mean different things depending on whether you're talking about time, location, or direction. Always learn them in phrases rather than as isolated words.
Location and direction prepositions
| German | English |
|---|---|
| an | on, at |
| auf | on, onto, at, to |
| aus | out, out of, from |
| bei | with |
| bis | until, till, up to |
| durch | through |
| für | for |
| in | in, into |
| mit | with |
| nach | to, after |
Worked Example: Prepositions in Location Sentences
- Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (The book lies on the table.)
- Wir fahren nach Berlin. (We're travelling to Berlin.)
- Ich komme aus Deutschland. (I come from Germany.)
- Er geht durch den Park. (He walks through the park.)
Additional prepositions
| German | English |
|---|---|
| ohne | without |
| pro | by, per |
| um | at (+ time), around |
| von | from, of |
| vor | in front of, before, ago |
| zu | to, too |
| zum (m, nt) | to the |
| zur (f) | to the |
Worked Example: Time and Contracted Prepositions
- Der Zug fährt um acht Uhr. (The train leaves at eight o'clock.)
- Das Geschäft ist vor der Schule. (The shop is in front of the school.)
- Ich gehe zum Supermarkt. (I'm going to the supermarket.)
Conjunctions
Conjunctions connect words, phrases, and clauses together. They're vital for creating complex sentences and expressing relationships between ideas.
Building Complex Language: Using conjunctions effectively is one of the key ways to demonstrate higher-level German skills in your GCSE exam. They show you can express complex ideas and relationships between different concepts.
Basic conjunctions
| German | English |
|---|---|
| aber | but, however |
| als | than, when, as |
| dann | then |
| dass | that |
| denn | because |
| entweder | either |
| ob | whether, if |
| obwohl | although |
| oder | or |
| so | so, thus, in this way |
Worked Example: Connecting Ideas with Conjunctions
- Ich lerne Deutsch, aber es ist schwierig. (I'm learning German, but it's difficult.)
- Er ist größer als sein Bruder. (He's taller than his brother.)
- Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt. (I don't know whether he's coming.)
- Obwohl es regnet, gehen wir spazieren. (Although it's raining, we're going for a walk.)
Advanced conjunctions
| German | English |
|---|---|
| damit | so that |
| falls | in case, if |
| nachdem | after |
| sobald | as soon as |
| sondern | but rather |
| sowie | as well as |
| während | during, while |
| weder | neither |
Question words
These interrogative words are essential for asking questions and understanding what's being asked in listening and reading exercises.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| wann? | when? |
| warum? | why? |
| was? | what? |
| wer? | who? |
| welch- (er, e, es), welche (pl)? | which? |
| wieviel(e)? | how much/how many? |
| wo? | where? |
Worked Example: Forming Questions
- Wann kommst du? (When are you coming?)
- Was machst du heute? (What are you doing today?)
- Wer ist das? (Who is that?)
- Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?)
- Welches Buch liest du? (Which book are you reading?)
Exam Alert: Question words appear in every single GCSE German listening and reading paper. If you don't know these thoroughly, you'll struggle to understand what's being asked in exam questions.
Practice exercises
Translation Practice: German → English
- Viele Menschen haben blaue Augen.
- Ich gehe durch den Park zum Supermarkt.
- Wann kommst du nach Hause?
- Er lernt Deutsch, obwohl es schwierig ist.
Translation Practice: English → German
- Both students are very clever.
- My head hurts, but I'm going to school.
- Where do you come from?
- I don't know anyone here.
Answers
German → English:
- Many people have blue eyes.
- I'm going through the park to the supermarket.
- When are you coming home?
- He's learning German, although it's difficult.
English → German:
- Beide Schüler sind sehr klug.
- Mein Kopf tut weh, aber ich gehe zur Schule.
- Wo kommst du her?/Woher kommst du?
- Ich kenne niemand hier.
Exam tips
Strategic Learning Approach:
- Learn body parts with their genders - this is crucial for using correct articles
- Practice prepositions in context - many have multiple meanings, so focus on common phrases
- Use conjunctions to create complex sentences - this will improve your writing and speaking grades
- Memorise question words thoroughly - they appear in every listening and reading paper
Study Suggestion: Visual Learning Method
Draw a picture of a person and label all the body parts in German with their correct articles (der, die, das). This visual method helps with memorisation and makes the vocabulary more memorable.
Why this works: Visual learners retain information better when they can associate words with images, and the physical act of drawing reinforces memory formation.
Key Points to Remember:
- Master the genders of body parts - they're essential for correct German grammar
- Learn prepositions through example phrases - don't just memorise isolated meanings
- Use conjunctions to link your ideas - they make your German sound more natural and fluent
- Practice question words regularly - they appear in every exam component
- Focus on the most common words first - alle, viel, aber, and wann appear very frequently in GCSE exams