Guten Tag!
Learn German
in 7 Steps
A step-by-step formula for
learning basic German
the fun, fast, and easy way
BY MY GERMANIZED LIFE
www.mygermanizedlife.com
GUTEN TAG!
Learn German in 7 Steps
What You’ll Learn in This eBook
You can use these tips to make learning German easier. By the end of this eBook,
you’ll know step-by-step how to learn the German language basics. Instead of
starting with any random lesson and getting confused by various concepts, you’ll
know where to start your language journey and how to make continual progress
toward becoming fluent.
When I tried learning German as a teenager, the most challenging part was
knowing what to learn and in which order. But my experience learning German at
the university was completely different. I had excellent teachers that paved the
path for absorbing the German language like a sponge. Learning German was fun
and felt effortless with guidance.
I want to share the formula for learning German with you in an original eBook that
I wrote myself. Many courses are thrown together by freelancers who will work
for the cheapest rates. I know because I’ve ghostwritten such content for clients
before. Eventually, I thought it would be a better idea to put my knowledge out
there directly by creating my website,
www.mygermanizedlife.com
where anyone can learn German from my comprehensive resources. My goal is to
create extensive written posts with audio samples, videos, and exercises for all
the essential German topics. I hope to show you how enjoyable the German
language can be and how easy it is for English speakers to learn.
Follow me on TikTok at
www.tiktok.com/@thealexandraabroad
for German language jokes.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
WITH GERMAN, YOU GET MORE THAN
5 YOU BARGAINED FOR
6 IS LEARNING GERMAN DIFFICULT?
7 HOW DOES GERMAN COMPARE TO
ENGLISH?
HOW LONG DOES LEARNING GERMAN
8 TAKE?
HOW TO LEARN GERMAN
9 THE 7 STEPS
STEP 1: LEARN TO
10 PRONOUNCE LETTERS AND
WORDS CORRECTLY
STEP 2: DEVELOP YOUR
11 VOCABULARY BASE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
STEP 3: FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH
12 THE ARTICLES
STEP 4: STUDY BASIC GRAMMAR AND
13 SENTENCE STRUCTURE
14 STEP 5: PRACTICE MAKING SENTENCES
AND SPEAKING IN CONTEXT
15 STEP 6: GROW YOUR VOCABULARY
STEP 7: DISCOVER THE KEY TO
17 LEARNING ANY LANGUAGE, UTILIZING
THE RESOURCES AROUND YOU
18 GERMAN LANGUAGE FAQ
GERMAN LEARNING
19 RESOURCES
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With German, You Get More
Than You Bargained For
One reason to learn German is that learning any
foreign language improves your general language
skills, not just your knowledge of German. This
ability correlates with improved English
vocabulary, spelling, reading comprehension, and
understanding.
Another benefit of learning German is gaining
insight into different cultures and world
perspectives. Learning about new cultures and
languages expands your thought processes,
giving you a better grasp of concepts taught on
With a basic understanding of
other topics (such as sociology), which may be
German, you’ll recognize the
presented differently in another culture or
language.
most common words and learn
everyday phrases to get you
Finally, once you have learned one foreign conversing with native speakers.
language, learning a third or fourth one becomes
- MY GERMANIZED LIFE
easier as you build upon similar grammar and
vocabulary structures.
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Is Learning
German Difficult?
You may find German grammar rather
complicated, as it has a different word order
and has three grammatical genders
(masculine/feminine/neuter).
But once you understand these rules and
patterns, you might find them more logical
than in English! Learning any new language
will always be challenging - but learning
German isn’t as difficult as it seems.
Tip: Always capitalize Most people agree that learning German is
easier than languages like Japanese or
nouns in German Chinese - mainly because they have different
alphabets that take longer to learn. There are
Learning German won’t be too difficult if no strange characters like in Japanese or
you know English (or another western Chinese. Instead, the alphabet is a
European language). There are many combination of 26 letters with a few added
similar words. For example, in English, symbols, called umlauts: ä, ȍ, and ü.
you say “father”; it’s “Vater.”
Another benefit of learning German is that it’s
Some letters or sounds don’t exist in all about logic! The structure of the language
English. For example, the letter ß is makes perfect sense once you get used to it!
pronounced like an s after a long vowel So even though it may seem scary at first,
sound - and before you ask, yes, it can be there’s nothing to worry about! After all, I’m a
tricky to pronounce at first! native English speaker teaching you German!
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How Does German Compare
to English?
Compared to English, German tends to be a Spoken German is different from written
bit more phonetic, which means that you can German: it’s less formal and relatively
read fluently once you know the rules of how informal in many situations. Germans tend
letters and letter combinations are not to pronounce all the sounds in words.
pronounced. The same applies to writing if Instead, they replace them with sounds that
you learn the basic rules of spelling. are easier for them.
English has endless spelling and Because of this phenomenon, it’s essential
pronunciation rule exceptions nearly to work on your listening comprehension
impossible to understand unless you’re a and your pronunciation if you want to be
native speaker. For example, consider the understood.
pronunciations of “ear” and “pear.” They
have the exact spelling but different Finally, German has many different dialects,
pronunciations. just like English sounds different in England,
the USA, and Australia. Fortunately, you
German grammar may seem intimidating at don’t have to learn local dialects for
first but take a closer look, and you’ll see it’s Germans to understand you and for you to
both logical and consistent. There are understand Germans.
grammatical rules for sentences (e.g., word
order) that are easy enough once you’ve
learned them. Most importantly, you don’t
have to memorize long declension tables like
Latin or Greek! And compared with some
other European languages, German grammar
is relatively simple with its four cases
(nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive).
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How Long Does Learning
German Take?
For native English speakers, German is one of
the easier languages for English speakers to
learn. The answer to this question is as
unique as your goals, but you can achieve
many things in relatively little time if you set
yourself up for success.
Let’s say that you want to be able to talk with
someone in Germany when you visit rolls
around in three months. It helps to block out
time each day to study now so that by the Answer:
time your trip rolls around, all you’ll have left Learn basic German in
to do is practice your conversation skills with
others through a language exchange program
3 months to 1 year
or even with native speakers.
Don’t save your learning for one specific
It’s important because it keeps your hour per day or two hours per week;
motivation levels up and because the more instead, try to incorporate German into
time you spend on learning, the faster you every aspect of your life, even on days
will master it! when other people would tell themselves:
So, how does one become an effective “I don’t have any time today.”
language learner? I believe that the most
crucial factor is being able to adopt a lifestyle People who reach their goals aren’t
that supports your goals. If you want to learn necessarily more intelligent than those
German and reach fluency more quickly than who don’t; they’re just willing to set aside
most, then use every moment of your free some time every day and create habits that
time for this purpose only. eventually become second nature.
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How to Learn German
in 7 Steps
In Step One, begin by learning the German alphabet. Begin by learning how to
pronounce the letters of the German alphabet and their names. Memorize
them in sets that share similar sounds, and write out each letter at least three
times a day until you can commit them to memory.
In Step Two, learn common phrases with audio lessons. The key is finding
lessons that teach both vocabulary and pronunciation simultaneously. This step
will save you time since you are gaining vocabulary and practicing being able to
express yourself in German. Use audio lessons every day to build up your
comprehension and speaking skills before moving on to more advanced topics
like grammar or sentence structure.
In Step Three, get yourself a book that can help guide your German lessons for
beginners using basic vocabulary and sentence structure. Make sure this book
has audio so that you can practice pronouncing words and phrases from it daily.
If you want to improve your German-speaking abilities even more quickly, try
going back through each chapter after doing your lesson for that day or week.
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Step 1: Learn to pronounce
letters and words correctly
German is one of the easier languages to pronounce. The alphabet consists of 26 letters,
all pronounced as written, including the Ä, Ö, and Ü. If you get consonants and vowels
wrong, your attempt at speaking German will be meaningless. People will struggle to
understand what you’re saying if your pronunciation is terrible. To avoid significant
mistakes, learn the German alphabet from the start.
To pronounce words correctly in German helps to learn about the German phonetic
system and how to practice the pronunciation of individual sounds (phonemes). If the
following sections look daunting at first sight, don’t worry! It’s not so hard once you’ve
got your head around it. You can find more information on German phonetics in this guide
and YouTube video.
https://www.mygermanizedlife.com/speak-german-basic-pronunciation-guide/
German has long and short vowels; these are important for getting vowel sounds right:
e* pronounced as /ɛ/ (like e in bed) or /eː/ (as in English they)
a* pronounced as /a/ (like a in father) or /aː/ (as in English all)
The hardest letter to pronounce is “R”: rolling your rrrr will do! A new breed of teachers
has emerged who use phonetic symbols in their lessons. If you go for this approach, you’ll
learn to pronounce every German sound correctly right at the beginning.
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Step 2: Develop your base
vocabulary
In step two, you will develop your German vocabulary base. This step is crucial before
learning grammar and sentence structure but after getting familiar with German
pronunciation. Build up your vocabulary step by step with these word lists.
Learn:
The 100 most common German words
Words that are the same in German and English
https://www.mygermanizedlife.com/german-vocabulary-words-that-are-the-same/
Words that are almost the same in German and English
https://www.mygermanizedlife.com/common-german-words-nearly-identical-in-english/
Useful everyday phrases
False friends
Because German and English are so similar, many words sound alike in both languages,
which means they share the same etymology and therefore have the same meaning.
Other words are “false friends”: they sound very similar to their English counterparts, but
they have different meanings!
If you master this section, you will understand a lot of what is said around you, even if
you do not know how to form sentences yet.
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Step 3: Familiarize yourself
with the articles
The article is a word that indicates whether the noun is specific or general. In German, it’s
used before the noun. An article has a grammatical gender and can be masculine,
feminine, or neuter, which you learn by heart.
You might have noticed one new word in the following sentence: “ich bin eine Frau.” That
word, “eine,” means “a,” so the entire sentence translates to: “I am a woman.” This eine
introduces you to articles, which are words like “the” and “a” in English.
The German Articles Der, Die, and Das
https://www.mygermanizedlife.com/german-definite-and-indefinite-articles/
The indefinite articles include “ein,” “eine,” “einen,” “einem,” “einer,” etc. When you study
new vocabulary words, it’s essential to memorize their gender. Once you have done so, it
will come naturally to use the correct article before each word. The definite articles are
“der” for masculine, “die” for feminine, and “das” for neuter.
Articles are an essential part of speech in German (and many other languages). They can
be tricky because they change depending on their gender (masculine, feminine or neutral)
and whether they are singular or plural.
You also need to identify if a noun is a subject, direct object, or indirect object. So, while
the meaning of each article stays the same, you must keep track of how it changes
according to its gender and number.
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Step 4: Learn Basic Grammar
and Sentence Structure
German is full of grammar rules, like the different ways you can conjugate words and
how they form questions. You don’t have to know them all right away, but it’s handy to
understand the basics.
The fundamental difference between a subject and an object is that the subject must do
something, while objects are what something does.
In English, it’s not always clear who the subject and object are in sentences; for example,
“I thought you’d like this” is a sentence with a subject (I) but no object at all (like that
jacket); “you liked that jacket” is another example with an object (you) for the subject.
Tip: Follow the Time, Manner, and Place rule
Next, learn the German case system. The German case system describes the grammatical
function of nouns and articles in a sentence. It has four cases: nominative, accusative,
dative, and genitive.
What’s important to know is that the cases significantly impact how you form your
sentences. For example, in English, you would say, “I play soccer,” or “He plays soccer.” In
German, you would say “ich spiele Fußball” and “er spielt Fußball.”
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Step 5: Practice listening and
speaking
Once you feel comfortable stringing words together and forming basic sentences, it’s
time to put your language skills into action. Practice is the best way to improve German
speaking skills. If Germans already surround you, you won’t have to search far for
speaking opportunities. Otherwise, you might have to get creative when practicing
speaking German.
Read aloud at every opportunity. This step will help with pronunciation, which can be
tricky for English speakers learning German due to the different sounds that the
language uses.
Practice with a native speaker, preferably someone who speaks slowly and clearly or
has experience teaching a language. Working with a native speaker is significant
because the person will correct any mistakes and answer your questions about
grammar and pronunciation.
Try a conversation class. You can try an in-person class through your local community
college or continuing education program (you’ll meet other novices like yourself). An
online course (this gives you more flexibility since you’re learning from home) or an
on-demand app that offers fully immersive courses for beginners.
If you’re not feeling talkative, how about listening instead? Listening to podcasts or
interviews by native speakers improves your German skills too.
Check out Coffee Break German or get cozy on the couch with some bratwurst takeout
and binge-watch some German films dubbed in Deutschland’s native tongue. Ideally, you
want to practice listening and speaking in German using content that interests you.
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Step 6: Grow your
vocabulary
One way to learn vocabulary is by writing words down and making flashcards until they
become familiar. It takes a lot of practice, but once you start using these words in context,
they will stick with you forever! Practice makes perfect so try your best not to give up
when things get tricky!
Start with themes that interest you. For example, German foods are easy to learn because
they taste good! You can find the ultimate German food vocabulary guide on my website
and free downloadable and printable flashcards.
Learning simple vocabulary like colors and shapes in German or numbers in German is an
effective way to boost conversational fluency. You can find lessons with free flashcards
under each of the links on the following page.
Learn This German Vocab First
Colors and Shapes in German
https://www.mygermanizedlife.com/german-colors-and-shapes-vocabulary/
Numbers in German
https://www.mygermanizedlife.com/all-the-numbers-in-german-and-how-to-use-them/
Foods in German
https://www.mygermanizedlife.com/the-ultimate-german-food-vocabulary-list/
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Learning German Idioms
Another way to become fluent in any But you don’t have to feel as though you
language is to learn idiomatic expressions. need to become an expert on German
Idioms are phrases and expressions with idioms before you can begin communicating.
symbolic meanings that are different from You will pick up on common idiomatic
the literal meanings of the words. For phrases with time and exposure.
example, in English, if somebody says,
“break a leg,” they’re not implying that you For example, if someone said “Es regnet
should have an accident. They’re wishing Bindfäden” in Germany or Austria, it would
you luck. mean it’s raining very hard.
Idioms can help you understand a culture The direct translation means something like
more easily. Many are based on cultural “It rains thread ends,” but this has no literal
references or analogies. meaning in English.
For instance, Germans might say something Expose yourself to the language through
is “die Daumen drücken,” or thumb pressing authentic media in German films, books,
to wish you luck. Idioms can be unexpected, games, and podcasts, and practice with
which makes them fun and interesting to native speakers whenever possible.
learn! They also allow more creative
freedom when writing and speaking.
Understanding and utilizing idioms is a big
part of learning any language because they
are used in everyday speech.
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Step 7: Learn the key to
mastering any language
utilize the resources around you
After you’re familiar with the language and its different parts, it’s time to utilize your
knowledge in daily life. To keep expanding your German vocabulary, you must learn new
words in context. You might find more resources around you than you noticed before.
Turn on your favorite TV show, soap opera, cartoon, or movie in German
Read a page from a children’s book – These books tend to be easier for intermediate
learners of any language.
Keep a journal – Write about your day, keep track of words you look up and write
down any new grammar patterns you notice.
Listen to German music – In the car or while cleaning the house, listen to German
radio stations, podcasts, or singers and try to understand what they’re talking about
without reading the lyrics.
Try a free app – You can find plenty of German language learning apps for free to help
you study.
Watch YouTube videos with subtitles – This is a great way to get used to hearing the
language spoken in various accents by different people.
Use flashcards to learn vocabulary – You can make them yourself or find them online!
Flashcards are easy to carry around, so you can do some studying on the go when
you have time for it.
Network on social media – Find a native German speaker that can help you practice
German while you help them sharpen their English skills.
Immerse yourself in the culture as often as you can
Set goals for yourself and track your progress every week to stay motivated and don’t
give up too soon!
Are there Germans living nearby? Talk to them! You will not only practice speaking
another language but also get to know great people.
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Fascinating German
Language Facts
German is an exciting language in more ways than one. Here are just a few facts
about the German language:
German is the most spoken native language in the European Union, with over
100 million native speakers.
Globally, German is the 11th most spoken language.
Approximately two-thirds of Germans speak a second language, and one-third
speak two foreign languages.
About 60% of German is English.
German is the 7th most common language used on the internet.
Did I mention that Germans love to travel? You can meet German-speaking people
in nearly every country worldwide and impress them when you strike up a
conversation with them in their mother tongue.
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German Learning
Resources
You can find tons of free German learning resources online to help you study German
on your own at home. Some of my favorites are listed below.
GERMAN DICTIONARIES
Bildwoerterbuch
http://www.bildwoerterbuch.com/en/home
Dict.cc
https://dict.cc/
Forvo
https://forvo.com/languages/de/
iTranslate
https://itranslate.com/
LEO
https://dict.leo.org/german-english/
Lingro
http://lingro.com/
PONS
https://en.pons.com/translate
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GERMAN LEARNING APPS
Babbel
https://www.babbel.com/
Duolingo
https://www.duolingo.com/
Language Drops
https://languagedrops.com/language/learn-
german
LingQ
https://www.lingq.com/en/
Memrise
https://www.memrise.com/
Mondly
https://www.mondly.com/
WordDive
https://www.worddive.com/en/
FIND A TANDEM
LANGUAGE PARTNER
Busuu
https://www.busuu.com/
HelloTalk
https://hellotalk.com/
iTalki
https://www.italki.com/learn-german-online
Mixxer
https://www.language-exchanges.org/
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GERMAN YOUTUBE
CHANNELS
Don’t Trust the Rabbit
https://www.youtube.com/c/DontTrustTheRabbit
Easy German
https://www.youtube.com/c/EasyGerman/featured
German With Anja
https://www.youtube.com/c/LearnGermanwithAnja/fe
atured
German With Laura
https://www.youtube.com/c/GermanwithLaura
German With Vlog Dave
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnZ0C4deOyB_
TUFSJK3L4lg
Get Germanized
https://www.youtube.com/c/MeisterLehnsherr
Hallo Deutschschule
https://www.youtube.com/c/HalloDeutschschuleZ%C
3%BCrich
Kurzgesagt
https://www.youtube.com/c/KurzgesagtDE/featured
Learn German
https://www.youtube.com/c/LearnGermanOriginal
Learn German With Herr Antrim
https://www.youtube.com/c/MrLAntrim
My Germanized Life
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEfWdMBzz3DiiX
vxI1x2vnw
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GERMAN
PODCASTS
Alltagsdeutsch
https://www.dw.com/de/deutsch-
lernen/alltagsdeutsch/s-9214
Coffee Break German
https://coffeebreaklanguages.com/coffeebreakgerma
n/
GermanPod101
https://www.germanpod101.com/
Goethe Institute
http://www.goethe.de/lrn/prj/gad/deindex.htm?wt_sc=gad
Slow German
http://www.slowgerman.com/
FREE GERMAN
COURSES
BBC Languages
https://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/german/talk/
Deutsch Akademie
https://www.deutschakademie.de/online-
deutschkurs/english
Deutsch Lernen
https://www.deutsch-lernen.com/
Deutsche Welle
https://www.dw.com/en/learn-german/german-courses/s-
2547
The German Project
https://www.thegermanproject.com/german-lessons
Notes:
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Thank you!
Ultimately, how you learn German is an
individual decision. Some people love the
classroom structure and seek it out, while
others feel more at home using online
resources or apps.
The key is to ensure you have fun while
doing it. Try not to get too tied into a
particular way of learning. Instead, mix it up
with different sources and see what works
best for you.
Viel Erfolg!
Do You Need More Help?
www.mygermanizedlife.com
Visit my website for more German lessons and resources.
Learn Basic German Facebook group
German Jokes on TikTok
My Germanized Life YouTube Lessons
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