At A1 level you need roughly 500–700 words to get by in German. But trying to memorize them all at once is counterproductive. Learning by category is far more effective. Below are the 200 most frequently used words, grouped into clear themes.
Gender color code: der masculine · die feminine · das neuter — Every German noun has a grammatical gender, and learning it together with the word is essential.
Greetings & Everyday Phrases
HalloHello
Guten MorgenGood morning
Guten TagGood day
Guten AbendGood evening
Auf WiedersehenGoodbye
TschüssBye
BittePlease / You're welcome
DankeThank you
Ja / NeinYes / No
EntschuldigungExcuse me / Sorry
Personal Information
der NameName
das AlterAge
die AdresseAddress
die SpracheLanguage
das LandCountry
die StadtCity
der BerufProfession
die FamilieFamily
Home & Living
das HausHouse
die WohnungApartment
das ZimmerRoom
die KücheKitchen
das BadBathroom
der TischTable
der StuhlChair
das BettBed
die TürDoor
das FensterWindow
Food & Drink
das WasserWater
der KaffeeCoffee
der TeeTea
die MilchMilk
das BrotBread
der ApfelApple
das FleischMeat
der KäseCheese
das EiEgg
die SuppeSoup
Transport & Directions
der BusBus
der ZugTrain
das AutoCar
der BahnhofTrain station
linksLeft
rechtsRight
geradeausStraight ahead
die StraßeStreet / Road
Time & Days
heuteToday
morgenTomorrow
gesternYesterday
jetztNow
MontagMonday
DienstagTuesday
MittwochWednesday
DonnerstagThursday
FreitagFriday
Samstag / SonntagSaturday / Sunday
Numbers
eins1
zwei2
drei3
vier4
fünf5
zehn10
zwanzig20
hundert100
Most Common Verbs
seinto be
habento have
machento do / make
gehento go
kommento come
sehento see
wohnento live / reside
arbeitento work
essento eat
trinkento drink
sprechento speak
lernento learn
How to Memorize These Words
Instead of trying to memorize the whole list at once, try this strategy:
- 10 words per day — you'll cover the full list in 20 days
- Always learn with the gender — "der Tisch", not just "Tisch" — correcting article mistakes later is very hard
- Use them in sentences — short sentences like "Das Buch ist groß" make words stick far better
- Spaced repetition — apps like DeutschGo repeat words at scientifically optimal intervals
Practice These Words with DeutschGo
Flashcards, mini games and AI conversation practice to truly master A1 vocabulary.
Download Free