Vocab list 2 (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
General vocabulary - Vocab list 2
This vocabulary list contains essential German words that you'll need for your GCSE exam. These terms cover a wide range of everyday topics and situations, making them extremely valuable for both speaking and writing tasks.
German vocabulary becomes much more manageable when you learn words in thematic groups. This approach helps you make connections between related concepts and improves retention for exam situations.
People and relationships
Understanding how to talk about people and relationships is fundamental for German conversation. These words form the basis for describing family, friends, and social interactions.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Leute (pl) | people |
| Mensch (m) | person, human |
| Person (f) | person |
| Lieblings- (prefix) | favourite |
| persönlich | personal |
The prefix Lieblings- is extremely productive in German. You can combine it with almost any noun to create "favourite" versions: Lieblingsfilm (favourite film), Lieblingsfach (favourite subject), Lieblingsfarbe (favourite colour).
Example sentences:
- Die Leute in Deutschland sind sehr freundlich. (The people in Germany are very friendly.)
- Mein Lieblingsessen ist Pizza. (My favourite food is pizza.)
- Das ist eine persönliche Frage. (That is a personal question.)
Actions and movement
These verbs describe essential daily actions and are among the most frequently used words in German conversation and writing.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| machen | (to) do, make |
| nehmen | (to) take |
| mitnehmen | (to) take along |
| stehen | (to) stand |
| stellen | (to) put, place |
| sitzen | (to) sit |
| treten (auf) | (to) step (on) |
| vergessen | (to) forget |
Pay special attention to stehen vs stellen - this is a common source of confusion. Stehen means "to stand" (a state), while stellen means "to put/place" (an action).
Example sentences:
- Was machst du heute Abend? (What are you doing this evening?)
- Ich nehme den Bus zur Schule. (I take the bus to school.)
- Kannst du deine Tasche mitnehmen? (Can you take your bag along?)
Places and locations
Describing locations and spatial relationships is crucial for giving directions and describing where things are in German.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Platz (m) | square, seat, space, place |
| Raum (m) | room, space |
| Seite (f) | side, page |
| Süden (m) | south |
| nah | near, nearby |
| näher | closer, nearer |
Example sentences:
- Der Marktplatz ist sehr schön. (The market square is very beautiful.)
- Mein Zimmer ist ein kleiner Raum. (My room is a small space.)
- Die Schule ist nah von meinem Haus. (The school is near my house.)
Describing things and qualities
Adjectives are essential for detailed descriptions in both speaking and writing tasks. These words help you express opinions and make comparisons.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| positiv | positive |
| praktisch | practical |
| richtig | right, correct |
| schön | beautiful |
| stark | strong |
| stolz (auf) | proud (of) |
| total | total |
| traurig | sad |
| typisch | typical |
| üblich | usual |
When using stolz (proud), remember it takes the preposition auf + accusative case. This is a fixed expression that you should memorise as a unit: stolz auf etwas sein.
Example sentences:
- Das Wetter ist heute sehr schön. (The weather is very beautiful today.)
- Diese Idee ist sehr praktisch. (This idea is very practical.)
- Ich bin stolz auf meine Noten. (I am proud of my grades.)
Communication and media
In our digital age, knowing how to discuss communication and technology is increasingly important for GCSE German.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Medien (pl) | media |
| Nachricht (f) | news, message |
| Telefon (nt); am Telefon | telephone; on the phone |
| sprechen | (to) speak |
| Sprecher (m) | speaker |
| schreiben | (to) write |
Example sentences:
- Ich bekomme eine Nachricht von meiner Freundin. (I receive a message from my friend.)
- Meine Mutter ist am Telefon. (My mother is on the phone.)
- Wir sprechen Deutsch in der Schule. (We speak German at school.)
Time and frequency
Expressing when and how often things happen is fundamental for storytelling and describing routines in German.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Mal (nt) | time, occasion |
| Moment (m); im Moment | moment; at the moment |
| nächst- (-er, -e, -es) | next |
| oft | often |
| Vergangenheit (f) | past |
Example sentences:
- Das erste Mal war schwierig. (The first time was difficult.)
- Im Moment lerne ich für die Prüfung. (At the moment I am studying for the exam.)
- Ich gehe oft ins Kino. (I often go to the cinema.)
Problems and solutions
Being able to discuss challenges and solutions is particularly valuable for opinion-based writing tasks and problem-solving conversations.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Problem (nt) | problem |
| Projekt (nt) | plan, project |
| probieren; anprobieren; ausprobieren | (to) try; (to) try on; (to) try out |
| Schwierigkeit (f) | difficulty |
| Situation (f) | situation |
| lösen | (to) solve |
The verb probieren has several related forms with prefixes:
- probieren = general trying
- anprobieren = trying on clothes
- ausprobieren = testing something out
Example sentences:
- Dieses Problem ist sehr schwer. (This problem is very difficult.)
- Wir müssen das Problem lösen. (We have to solve the problem.)
- Ich möchte diese Jacke anprobieren. (I would like to try on this jacket.)
Translation practice
Translation Practice: Test Your Understanding
German to English:
- Die Leute sind sehr nett.
- Ich vergesse oft meine Hausaufgaben.
English to German:
- The situation is difficult.
- I am proud of my family.
Solutions:
- The people are very nice.
- I often forget my homework.
- Die Situation ist schwierig.
- Ich bin stolz auf meine Familie.
Pronunciation Guide
German pronunciation follows consistent patterns that, once learned, make reading aloud much easier:
- ch in words like machen, nächste sounds like the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch'
- sch in schön, schreiben sounds like 'sh' in English
- The ü in üblich, Tür is pronounced like the 'u' in French 'tu'
- ie in probieren sounds like 'ee' in English
Effective Study Strategy: The "Now Try This" Method
The approach shown in your textbook is proven to improve retention:
- Cover the German words and try to say them from the English
- Cover the English words and translate from German to English
- Practice regularly with short sessions rather than cramming
This method engages both recognition and recall, making your knowledge more robust for exam conditions.
Key Points to Remember:
- Learn vocabulary in context - use new words in sentences rather than memorising lists
- Group words by themes to make connections and improve memory
- Practice both directions - German to English AND English to German
- Use the prefix system - words like Lieblings- can combine with many nouns
- Regular review is essential - revisit vocabulary weekly to maintain your knowledge