Level 1 of 6 · start here
German A1: Beginner
Your first German: everyday words, der/die/das, and short sentences you can use on day one.
Free, no account. Make A1 your dashboard · Not sure A1 is your level?
How to use this level
Do these five, in order
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Learn the letters and their sounds
Thirty characters, four of them not in English.
Open the alphabet -
Learn the A1 words
606 words, the commonest ones first. Each one shows what it means, how it changes, and a real sentence using it.
Open the word listOr study themA1 flashcardsA1 daily plan
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Read an A1 text
46 short texts, easiest first. In the first one you already know almost every word, and the English is one tap away.
Read “Mein Tag” · 1 min -
Check the form
452 conjugation and declension tables for the A1 words, and 437 mistakes real learners made at this level.
Open A1 grammar -
Test what you remember
576 questions, every answer explained.
Start practiceOr pick one typeGrammar Gap-FillVocabulary Gap-Fillder, die or dasVerb ConjugationWord OrderReading ComprehensionTrue or False
Once these five are behind you: German A2: Elementary → Everyday German: shopping, travel, family and work, plus the past tense and modal verbs.
Or jump to another level
Common questions
What is German A1?
A1 is the beginner level of the CEFR, formally "Breakthrough". Understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases.
How many words do you need for A1 German?
A1 itself adds 606 words to what you already have; cumulatively from A1 that is about 606. Syllabuses vary by a few hundred either way, but the order matters more than the total: the commonest words carry most of the meaning.
How long does A1 German take?
The Goethe-Institut's own rule of thumb is roughly 80–200 hours of guided study to reach A1 from zero, assuming you also work outside class. Someone who already speaks another Germanic language will be at the low end.
Which exam matches A1?
Goethe-Zertifikat A1 and telc Deutsch A1 both map directly onto this level.