German-speaking nations such as Switzerland, Austria, and of course Germany, are a major draw for those touring or visiting Europe. While it is easy enough to take in the sights without speaking the language, it is always helpful to have a few key phrases in your back pocket to help you get around. While the pronunciation may seem challenging at first, many find that learning this influential language is not as tough as it seems.
German Language Facts & Statistics:
- German is a West Germanic language, closely related to Dutch and English.
- It is spoken by 100 million native speakers worldwide and is the third most taught second language around the globe.
- Outside of Germany it is also the official language of Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein, and Belgium.
- It is a recognized minority language in over a dozen other European countries, making German the most spoken language in the European Union.
- Immediately following the American Revolution German was almost chosen as the official language of the United States in an attempt to shed British influence.
German Language History:
- German is a member of the Indo-European language family.
- Various forms of German have been spoken for centuries by monks, aristocrats and clerics. In 1455, the world’s first printed book, a 42 page version of the Bible, was written in German, beginning a new age of literacy.
- Countless important historical figures were native German speakers, including Freud, Beethoven, Mozart, and Einstein.
- Many English words have their roots in German including “kindergarten,” “blitz,” “delicatessen,” “doppelganger,” “uber,” and of course our personal favorite, “wanderlust.”
Useful German Language Immersion Phrases:
| German | Phonetic Spelling |
English |
| Hallo | hal-OH | Hello |
| Dankeschön/Danke | DAN-kuh-shern/DAN-kuh | Thank you |
| Sprechen Sie Englisch? | SHPREK-en ZEE EN-glish? | Do you speak English? |
| Bitte | BIT-uh | Please |
| Woher kommst du? | VOH-hair KOHMST DOO? | Where are you from? |
| Auf Wiedersehen | OWF VEE-der-zain | Goodbye |
| Ich verstehe nicht | IK fair-SHTEH-uh NICKT | I don’t understand. |
| Wieviel kostet das? | VEE-feel KOHST-et DASS? | How much is it? |
| Wo ist die Toilette? | VO IST DEE toy-LET-uh? | Where is the bathroom? |
And Now Some German Slang:
| German | Phonetic Spelling |
English |
| Gediegen | Ge-DEEG-en | Cool |
| Atze | AHTZ-uh | Buddy |
| Banane | Ba-NA-neh | That’s crazy! |
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