Common Difficulties when Learning a German Language

It is not just your genes that determine your chances of learning a foreign language. Several different factors come into play while most of them are fully within your control. Even if you have no gift for languages you can overcome this handicap with focus and dedication. Remember, once you have decided to learn German, you are investing your time and effort. If you fail for any reason, you wasted time that could have been Read more…

German-English False Friends: Top 100 List with Explanations

Trying to guess the meaning of seemingly familiar foreign words in German texts rather than using a dictionary can sometimes lead to serious misinterpretations. There are quite a few words in German that look or sound similar in English but they have a different meaning in each of the two languages. In linguistics these words are known as false friends. Read more…

German Dialects: A Nightmare for German Learners?

One of the greatest challenges faced by German learners is the variety of regional dialects used in German speaking countries that are practically unintelligible to non-native German speakers. Some German dialects can at first hearing sound to you like a completely different language. Even texts written in a German dialect may seem impossible to decipher. But don’t despair, the locals themselves also find it difficult Read more…

German Curse Words: Swearing and Insults as Part of German Slang

One of the biggest headaches for distance learners of German is the comprehension of German slang and foul language. To decode the German street jargon it helps to be familiar with the most common German curse words as they represent a major part of the slang vocabulary. Some German words used as swearwords are harmless when part of regular vocabulary but can also be used offensively while others Read more…