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Vocabulary

Advanced German Dictionaries
A comparative look at two "serious" German-English dictionaries. Also see our Reviews page for more book and dictionary reviews.

Am Telefon
Using the telephone auf Deutsch. Vocabulary, links, advice.

The Bible in German
From Ulfilas to Luther - die Bibel auf Deutsch. With resources, links.

Congratulations! Good luck!
Wish people the best in German--for any occasion. With good wishes glossary.

Day by Day: German "Day" Expressions
A detailed look at day-to-day and daily vocabulary - with two self-scoring quizzes.

Deutsche im Weltall
Gerhard Thiele, aboard the Endeavour in February 2000, was the 10th German astronaut. With glossary.

Dialects - Part 1
The German you learned may not be the German you'll hear when you find yourself in Austria, Germany, or Switzerland.

Dialects - Part 2
The second part of our focus on dialects. Includes a dialect map.

English-German Glossaries
All of our annotated English-German glossaries – from aerospace to travel.

False Friends/falsche Freunde
Linguistic false friends can be just as dangerous as the human variety. These treacherous words pretend to be something they aren't.

Farbenfroh: Colorful Expressions
German expressions that are colorful in a literal sense.

Favorite German Expressions
Readers send us their own favorite idioms and proverbs.

Finding Computer and Internet Terms
Where to find German and English-German glossaries for computer-related vocabulary.

German Dictionaries
Sometimes a German-only dictionary is better than a German-English one. A guest article.

German and Genealogy (1)
Part One of a two-part guide to German vocabulary related to tracing your Austrian, German, or Swiss roots.

German and Genealogy (2)
Part Two of a two-part guide to German vocabulary related to tracing your Austrian, German, or Swiss roots.

A German Christmas
Vocabulary for Weihnachten in German and English, an annotated glossary. With German Christmas customs.

German for Beginners
An introduction to our online course for beginners.

German Names (1)
Part One of a three-part guide to German names looks at the origin and meaning of first names.

German Names (2)
Part Two of a three-part guide to German names looks at the origin and meaning of surnames.

German Names (3)
Part Three of a three-part guide to German names looks at the origin and meaning of place names.

German for Travelers: The Basics
Often travelers forget one of the most important elements in planning their German trip: Deutsch.

German Strong Verbs
A chart with the principal parts of the irregular verbs - with their English meanings.

German Word of the Day
Each and every day, das Wort des Tages - a new word or expression with its English meaning. Also see the Zitat des Tages (Quotation of the Day).

German Words of the Year
What were the top ten German words for 1999? And in 1998? With links.

Das Goethe-Institut
This worldwide institution is an indispensable resource for anyone learning or teaching German. German courses, software, info, links, and more.

Harry Potter in German
Join the Hogwarts craze auf Deutsch! Learn how Harry and friends can help you expand your vocabulary.

Idioms: Talk Like a German
About German idioms (Redewendungen) and how they often differ from their English equivalents.

The "Klammeraffe" and Other Interesting Items
Two free "eNewsletters" in German can help you find interesting Web sites in German and English.

Lachend lernen: Laughing and Learning German
How to laugh your way to a larger German vocabulary. Using cartoons, jokes and other German humor to learn the language.

The Last Eclipse of the Century
Germany, Austria, and die letzte Sonnenfinsternis des Jahrhunderts. With glossary.

Latin in German
Take advantage of the fact that German and English share much common Latin-based vocabulary.

Listening to Germany
A review of the German audio magazine "Schau ins Land." A great vocabulary-builder.

"Mfg" and the Fanta4
A German song full of abbreviations! Read, listen, laugh, and learn your German ABCs!

A Perfect German Translation?
Is there such a thing? A look at the present and future of machine translation.

Photo Fun
A fun exercise based on photographs of everyday sights in German Europe.

Playing Games
Board games and other Spiele in German. A fun way to expand your vocabulary.

Proverbs and Idioms
A short quiz on German sayings and proverbs. With links, of course.

Die Reform der Reform: Spelling Reform - Again!
When Germany's leading daily newspaper threw spelling reform out the window, the debate over Rechtschreibreform raged on once again.

The Sound of Music... and Lyrics
German popular music and songs can be a fun way to learn German.

Spelling Reform - Double-S Words
Rechtschreibreform is new and controversial. Here's a look at one aspect of the reforms.

Spelling Reform Hits the Newsstand
The German media began using die neue Rechtschreibung on Aug. 1, 1999. What does it mean for German-learners? Take our poll!

STERN - An In-depth Look
STERN is one of Germany's leading weekly illustrated magazines. This feature examines the periodical's multifaceted online version from a language-learning perspective.

Taking Things Too Literally
Don't assume that common expressions are the same in German and English! Guest feature. With quiz.

Travel Glossary
An annotated English-German glossary of travel-related terms.

Verb Reviews 1-3
A three-part review of German verbs - with self-scoring quizzes.

Vocabulary: Silvester/Neujahr
A New Year's Glossary with vocabulary and customs related to das neue Jahr.

When the Plural is Singular!
Avoiding English-German noun confusion. Some English nouns are used in the singular, while the German equivalent is plural – and the other way around.

Word of the Day Archive
A collection of the daily German vocabulary displayed on our Word of the Day page.

Words and Expressions from a Deutschlandreise
What expressions did your Guide encounter on a recent trip to Germany? Well, "Coke bei drei Grad" was one of the coolest!

Wort des Tages
Each and every day, the Word of the Day - a new word or expression with its English meaning. Also see the Zitat des Tages (Quotation of the Day).

You Already Know German!
If you speak English, you already know some German. Learn what you already know - but don't know it!