How To Speak German Fluently: Ultimate Guide with Conversation Based Chunking
You start learning German, you’re getting on top of all the grammar rules and definitions, you’re writing emails in German, but you ask yourself the question: how to speak German?
And how to speak German fluently? Well, it definitely takes time! For a start, you can prepare some responses about your daily routine in German. If you want to learn more about how you can learn about your daily routine, you can check the video made by Denisa from Spring German (a project I co-founded):
In this post, we’ll explain why it’s good to learn to speak German, and also give you tips on how to do it.
Los geht’s! (Let’s go!)
1. How to speak German and why learn it?
Truth be told, learning to speak German opens up a world of opportunities, both on a personal and on a professional level.
German has over 100 million native speakers worldwide, so it connects you with a huge community.
Germany is the powerhouse of the European Union, and it is one of the biggest economies in the world, too – especially in fields like engineering, science, and business. The benefits of this are clear and understandable but they go way beyond the workplace. If you speak German, you understand complex German literature, philosophy and maybe even German music in their original form.
Wouldn’t it be nice to understand the works of Goethe, Kafka, and read about the interesting life of Beethoven?
For travel enthusiasts, being able to speak German makes your experiences better in German-speaking countries: you will know how to order food in German, how to order coffee in German, and – if you’re really chilling – how to order beer in German.
So why not give it a try?
You might be surprised at how rewarding it can be to speak German.
2. How long does it take to learn the German language?
The journey to German fluency is different for everyone. Ultimately, you would benefit from setting a general time – whether in your mind or in a digital form, that’s up to you!
According to the Foreign Service Institute, German is categorized as a Category II language, meaning it’s somewhat challenging for English speakers to learn.
On average, it takes about 30 weeks or 750 classroom hours to reach professional working proficiency. However, this estimate assumes intensive study and doesn’t account for individual factors.
Your progress depends on a lot of things, such as your native language, previous language learning experience, study methods, and time commitment.
On Effortless Conversations, we teach you with the Conversation Based Chunking method which focuses a lot more on actual speaking and writing exercises rather than teaching you all the grammar concepts in German.
And fluency is a spectrum, not a fixed point. You’ll likely find yourself understanding and speaking basic German much sooner than you achieve full fluency.
3. Basic German lessons about German pronunciation
German sounds may seem and sound challenging at first.
You can check the German alphabet and look for interesting things, like the German umlauts (ä, ö, ü) which don’t exist in English.
For ‘ä‘, think of the ‘e’ in “bed”.
The ‘ö‘ is like saying “er” with rounded lips, and ‘ü‘ is similar to saying “ee” while puckering your lips as if to whistle.
These are the basics! But there are some other tricky German letters or word combinations. Take the German ‘r’ for example: it’s often pronounced at the back of the throat, similar to the French ‘r’.
The ‘ch‘ sound varies: after ‘a’, ‘o’, and ‘u’, it’s a guttural sound like in “Loch“, while after ‘e’, ‘i’, and consonants, it’s softer, like the ‘h’ in “huge”.
The ‘v’ is pronounced like an ‘f’, so “Vater” (father) sounds like “fater”.
This might be a bit overwhelming at first, but you immerse yourself in the German language, and your ear will get accustomed.
One of the most important aspects of German pronunciation is word stress.
Generally, the stress falls on the first syllable of native German words, like in “Apfel” (apple) or “Tisch” (table); and many borrowed words keep their original stress, such as “Musik” (music) or “Idee” (idea).
4. Learn German fast with basic German words
It’s always helpful to have a few key German phrases in your pocket.
These essential expressions will help you in basic German conversations.
Practice these phrases regularly, and you’ll find yourself more confident in your early German conversations.
Here’s a handy table of some must-know German phrases to get you started:
German | English |
---|---|
Hallo | Hello |
Auf Wiedersehen | Goodbye |
Bitte | Please / You’re welcome |
Danke | Thank you |
Ja / Nein | Yes / No |
Entschuldigung | Excuse me / Sorry |
Wie geht’s? | How are you? |
Ich verstehe nicht | I don’t understand |
Sprechen Sie Englisch? | Do you speak English? |
Wo ist…? | Where is…? |
Ich heiße… | My name is… |
Prost! | Cheers! |
5. Beginner vocabulary in German
Start learning German with common everyday words, and gradually build more complex terms in time.
Focus on words that are relevant to your interests or profession, as you’re more likely to remember and use them.
Don’t shy away from those famously long German compound words – they’re often quite logical when broken down into their components. Also, learning German cognates (words that are similar in German and English) can give your vocabulary a quick boost.
As you progress, try to learn words in context rather than in isolation – this is what Conversation Based Chunking is all about.
German | English |
---|---|
der Mann | the man |
die Frau | the woman |
das Kind | the child |
der Hund | the dog |
die Katze | the cat |
essen | to eat |
trinken | to drink |
schlafen | to sleep |
arbeiten | to work |
spielen | to play |
gut | good |
schlecht | bad |
groß | big |
klein | small |
schnell | fast |
langsam | slow |
der Freund | the friend |
die Familie | the family |
das Haus | the house |
die Zeit | the time |
der Tag | the day |
die Nacht | the night |
sprechen | to speak |
lernen | to learn |
lieben | to love |
And here’s a table of funny German words to spice up your conversations:
German | English |
---|---|
Kummerspeck | Literally “grief bacon”, weight gained from emotional overeating |
Fernweh | A longing for far-off places |
Ohrwurm | Literally “ear worm”, a catchy tune stuck in your head |
Backpfeifengesicht | A face in need of a slap |
Schnapsidee | A crazy idea (usually thought of while drunk) |
Fremdschämen | To feel embarrassed for someone else |
Treppenwitz | A witty comeback you think of too late |
Verschlimmbessern | To make something worse while trying to improve it |
Katzenjammer | A hangover |
Sturmfrei | Literally “storm-free”, having the place to yourself |
Lebensmüde | Literally “life-tired”, daredevil or reckless |
Kuddelmuddel | A mess or chaos |
These words not only add some fun to your German vocabulary but also give you insight into the German sense of humor and way of thinking!
6. German Sentence Structure: The Basics
German sentence structure follows logical patterns.
The basic structure is similar to English:
Subject (S) | Verb (V) | Object (O) |
---|---|---|
Ich | esse | einen Apfel |
I | eat | an apple |
But German has some unique features, so we think it’s best to check out the dedicated article about German sentence structures.
In subordinate clauses, the verb moves to the end: Ich weiß, dass er einen Apfel isst” (I know that he eats an apple).
Just take it slow, focus on creating simple German sentences, and gradually turn everything into more complex patterns.
7. Learn to speak with German idioms and sayings
To truly sound like a native German speaker, you want to include German sayings and German idioms in your sentences.
These German sentences add color to your language and they help you connect with native speakers on a personal level.
So, next time you’re talking, instead of saying “Das ist einfach” (That’s easy), you can say “Das ist ein Kinderspiel” (That’s a child’s play).
Or if something goes wrong, try “Da liegt der Hund begraben” (That’s where the dog is buried), which is similar to the English “That’s the crux of the matter.”
Don’t be afraid to use these German expressions, even if you make mistakes. Native speakers will appreciate your effort to learn their language.
8. Best way to learn German: Conversation Based Chunking method
Learning to speak German is an exciting journey that opens doors to new cultures, opportunities, and ways of thinking.
As you continue your German language adventure, consider trying the Conversation Based Chunking method. This innovative approach can help you learn German faster and in a more engaging way.
Instead of focusing on isolated grammar rules or vocabulary lists, Conversation Based Chunking teaches you natural language patterns and expressions as they’re used in real-life situations. This method makes learning more fun and helps you speak more naturally, like a native.
With Conversation Based Chunking, you’ll learn to use common phrases and expressions in context, making it easier to remember and apply them in your own conversations. It’s a more intuitive way to grasp the language, allowing you to pick up on colloquialisms that traditional methods might miss.
To help you on this journey, we’ll send you the first FREE German Conversation Based Chunking Guide: click the button below to request it!