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German language

German is the first language of almost 100 million people worldwide and the most widely spoken native language in the European Union. Proof of proficiency in German is a prerequisite for getting German citizenship.

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Reports & Analysis

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Why more and more Southeast Asians want to learn German

Why more and more Southeast Asians want to learn German

Germany is tapping growing numbers of the region's skilled labor to work in sectors facing severe worker shortages.
SocietyJanuary 9, 2024
Meet the Germans | Shabnam Surita

A survivor's guide to the German language

A survivor's guide to the German language

In this episode, Shabnam shares her German language survival tips, from useful "little words" to pronunciation tricks.
CultureOctober 7, 202304:37 min
young woman holding small Germany, UK and US flags

English language use gets a boost in Germany

English language use gets a boost in Germany

From courts to classrooms to politics, Germany is embracing the English language. The linguistic jump comes at a price.
SocietyAugust 26, 2023
A poster shows a child with his hand in front of his mouth and includes the slogans 'Give our children back their language!' and 'one is not equal to three'

German classes used as a weapon in Polish election campaign

German classes used as a weapon in Polish election campaign

Poland's German minority is angered by the government's decision to slash German language classes for its community.
PoliticsAugust 9, 2023
A mix of apples, pears, grapes and nuts.

6 'fruity' German expressions

6 'fruity' German expressions

You'll probably need to bite the sour apple to learn German properly! Discover expressions to tickle your taste buds.
CultureJuly 24, 2023
Three people running through a park, wearing black shorts and t-shirts.

German expressions to run away from it all

German expressions to run away from it all

Sometimes, we just want to escape from the challenges of life. Learn German expressions with "running."
OffbeatMarch 1, 2023
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Skip next section In the spotlight

In the spotlight

A blue and gold clock in Prague.

German expressions using time

The German language is rich in idioms to reflect on an abstract concept that has turned concrete during the pandemic.
LifestyleJanuary 12, 2022
Goethe-Institut sign on a building

Goethe-Institut marks its 70th anniversary

For Goethe-Institut President Carola Lentz, the cultural institution's history is marked by permanent reinvention.
CultureNovember 23, 2021
Rachel Stewart sits on stairs by desks in what appears to be a lecture hall and smiles

English words the Germans use wrongly: Part 2

Rachel Stewart is back with more English words that have been given a new meaning in Germany.
CultureNovember 17, 202102:09 min
Yellow, blue, pink and white letter beads with the word 'Sprache' in the center

How to combine German and English

The German language is riddled with all sorts of Anglicisms that can be confusing at times, says DW's Louisa Schaefer.
CultureSeptember 1, 2021
A pile of books in a library.

20 books longlisted for German Book Prize

The prestigious literary award recognizes the year's best novel in the German language.
LiteratureAugust 24, 2021
Person setting a clock with their fingers with smaller clocks from other time zones surrounding the larger one (Copyright: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Seeger)

German expressions about time during the pandemic

The German language features various expressions with the notion of time. Take a few minutes to learn some here.
CultureDecember 4, 202014 images