In der Schule - At School 2
School and Education Vocabulary
An annotated English-German Glossary
with a self-scoring quiz
Glossary A-L | M-Z | Quiz
Types of Schools | Phrasebook 1 | Phrasebook 2
M
M.A./M.S. (see "Master of.." below)
map die Karte (-n), die Landkarte
geographic map geographische Karte
political map politische Karte
world map die Weltkarte
mark, grade die Note
good/bad marks, grades gute/schlechte Noten
marker, felt-tip pen der Filzstift (-e)
master's degree der Magister
Master of Arts der Magister der philosophischen Fakultät
Master of Science der Magister der wissenschaftlichen Fakultät
Kultur: One can't directly compare the different academic degrees in Germany with those in the Anglo-American system. A German Magister is not really the same thing as an American "master's degree." Also see the entries for B.A., degree and doctorate.
math die Mathe, die Mathematik
music die Musik
music teacher (m.) der Musiklehrer (-)
music teacher (f.) die Musiklehrerin (-nen)
N
notebook das Heft (-e)
notepad der Notizblock (-s)
notes die Notizen (pl.)
take notes Notizen machen
O
office das Büro (-s)
P
paper das Papier (-e)
Please turn in your papers. Die Arbeiten bitte.
Kultur: The German plural Papiere usually refers to official documents or papers. It can't be used for "papers" except in an official way. A "paper" (theme, composition) is an Aufsatz. A "piece/sheet of paper" is ein Blatt Papier or ein Zettel.
pen die Feder (-n), der Füller (-), der Kuli (ballpoint)
pencil der Bleistift (-e)
pencil case das Etui (-s)
pencil sharpener der Spitzer, der Bleistiftspitzer (-)
poster das Poster (-s)
podium das Podest
principal, headmaster der (Schul)Direktor/die Direktorin
principal's office die Verwaltung, das Verwaltungsbüro
professor (f.) die Professorin (-nen), die Hochschullehrerin (-nen)
professor (m.) der Professor (-en), der Hochschullehrer (-)
Q
question die Frage (-n)
ask a question fragen, eine Frage stellen
answer a question eine Frage beantworten, auf eine Frage antworten
quiz das Quiz (-), die Kurzarbeit (-en)
take a quiz ein Quiz/eine Kurzarbeit schreiben
quiz (v.) abfragen (orally)
The teacher quizzed us (orally) on the vocabulary. Der Lehrer hat uns die Vokabeln kurz abgefragt.
R
read lesen
recess, break die Pause (-en)
religion, religious instruction die Religion, der Religionsunterricht
report card das Zeugnis (-se)
roll book, class register das Klassenbuch
room das Zimmer (-)
in the room im Zimmer
into the room ins Zimmer
ruler (measure) das Lineal
Also see the
School Phrasebook
and Types of Schools
After you've studied this glossary,
take the School and Education Quiz!
S
schedule (school) der Stundenplan (-pläne)
in/on the schedule im Stundenplan
Kultur: German secondary schools follow a college-style schedule with some classes meeting only twice a week, while others are held three or four times a week. Some German schools have classes on Saturday or every other Saturday.
scholar der/die Gelehrte (-n); der Student
scholarship (learning) die Gelehrsamkeit
scholarship (money) das Stipendium (-dien)
He won a scholarship to Yale. Er bekam ein Stipendium für Yale.
scholastic schulisch, Schul- (in compounds)
school die Schule
at school in der Schule, an/auf der Uni
to school in die Schule, zur Uni
school (univ. dept.) der Fachbereich
school of medicine die medizinische Fakultät
school bag die Schultasche (-n)
school bus der Schulbus (-se)
school cone die Schultüte (-n) - See below.
school subject das Fach (Fächer) - See "subjects" below.
school supplies die Schulsachen (pl.)
school yard der Hof, der Schulhof
school year das Schuljahr
Die Schultüte - It is the custom in Germany to give a colorful, cone-shaped Schultüte ("school cone") filled with candy and small gifts to children on their very first day of school. The tradition began in the the early 19th century in Dresden and Leipzig.
science die Wissenschaft (-en)
senior (high school) der Abiturient (-en), die Abiturientin (-nen)
senior ball (high school) der Abiball
senior class (high school) die Abiturklasse
Kultur: The German Abitur (das) is a high school diploma or secondary leaving certificate (A-level), received after passing a written and oral examination during the 12th or 13th year of school (depending on the state). It entitles a student to university attendance, although not necessarily in the field of his/her choice. Die Matura is the Austrian equivalent. Also see "graduation."
sex education die Sexualerziehung, die Aufklärung
snack sandwich das Pausebrot (-e) - sandwiches bought or brought by students for the "long" school break (große Pause)
social studies die Sozialkunde
student, pupil der Student, der Schüler
Kultur: German makes a distinction between a student in college (Student/in) and a student or pupil in school (Schüler/in).
student teacher (m.) der Studienreferendar (-e)
student teacher (f.) die Studienreferendarin (-nen)
Kultur: A Studienreferendar has passed the first Staatsexamen and must teach at least two years and pass a second exam before becoming a Studienassessor, and only later a (tenured) Studienrat.
study (v.) lernen, studieren
Note: The German verb studieren is limited to a formal course of study at a university. To study for a test is lernen. To conduct a study is forschen. - See Confusing Word Pairs for more examples.
subject (school) das Fach (Fächer)
Which subjects do you have? Welche Fächer hast du?
Italian is an elective subject. Italianisch ist ein Wahlfach.
Math is a required subject. Mathe ist ein Pflichtfach.
Fächer: Some typical German subjects are: Bio (biology), Chemie, Deutsch (like English in the U.S. or Britain), Erdkunde (geography), Geschichte (history), Kunst (art), Mathe, Physik, Religion (a required subject!), Sport (physical education). These subjects are not commonly offered in German schools: driver's education, home economics, typing/computers, shop, auto mechanics and other "non-academic" subjects.
substitute (teacher), substitution die Vertretung (collective noun)
die Vertretungsstunde (-n) = a class taken over temporarily by another teacher
Vertretung: When a teacher is absent in the German school system, either another teacher at the school fills in for a day or two, or the class is canceled (fällt aus). A substitute would be hired only for a long-term absence.
T
table der Tisch (-e)
teach, instruct lehren, unterrichten
Ms./Mrs. Meier teaches English. Frau Meier unterrichtet Englisch.
teacher der Lehrer (-), die Lehrerin (-nen)
Kultur: Especially in southern Germany and Austria, a tenured secondary teacher may be called Professor. A new German teacher must first become a probationary Studienreferendar, teach at least two years and pass a second exam before becoming a Studienassessor. Only later can he/she become a tenured Studienrat/Studienrätin.
teaching das Lehren, das Unterrichten, der Lehrberuf
test die Klassenarbeit (-en), die Klausur (-en), die Prüfung (-en)
take a test eine Arbeit/Klausur schreiben
She gave a vocabulary test. Sie ließ eine Vokabelarbeit schreiben.
test (v.) prüfen, eine Klassenarbeit/Klausur schreiben lassen
He tested us on the chapter. Er hat uns über das Kapitel geprüft.
theme (written) der Aufsatz
trash can, wastepaper basket der Abfallkorb, der Papierkorb
tutor (n.) der Privatlehrer (-), der Hauslehrer (-)
tutor (v.) privat unterrichten
to give extra tutoring (after school) Nachhilfe geben
tutoring, tutelage der Privatunterricht, die Nachhilfe
U
uniform (n.) die Uniform (-en)
school uniform die Schuluniform
university die Uni (-s), die Universität (-en)
W
waste(paper) basket der Abfallkorb, der Papierkorb
write schreiben
NEXT > Schools | Phrasebook 1 | Phrasebook 2
BACK > Glossary A-L (Part 1)
QUIZ > School and Education Quiz
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