Is German Easy To Learn? 5 Unique Tips To Make It Easy

When you start learning German, you might have asked that question: Is German easy to learn? And a lot of people could tell you: yes. So, beginners are scared right away.

And that is actually the thing that makes the language learning process the most difficult: your mindset. If you think it’s hard – it will be hard, at least for you personally,

However, German actually isn’t as challenging as you might think or have heard others say. You just have to see and start it the right way. If you want to learn German – try it, and you’ll see how simple it can get with just enough practice and a good learning system.

To prove to you that learning German can be pretty easy, we’ve prepared a list of facts and helpful tips. Check them out – and embark on your easy German journey.

English Partially Originates In Germanic Languages

If you want to know why the German language isn’t all that hard to learn, here’s a fun fact for you. English and German originate from the same Germanic language that was spoken in ancient North-Western Europe – and both languages are more alike than you would think.

About 40% of German and English vocabulary are very similar to each other, which makes German one of the easiest languages to learn for native English speakers. So, basically, if you already know English, it should be a piece of cake for you to learn German.

Why Learn German At All?

The biggest problem is actually the other factor. English is one of the most spoken languages in the world, and you can get around quite well by speaking it anywhere. Therefore, there’s often no point for a native English speaker to learn another language – or to put much interest into it when they have to learn it at school.

However, this doesn’t mean you should continue like that. Learning different languages is highly beneficial both for your brain and for your experiences in life. Trust us – it’s great to communicate with native speakers in Germany in their language and not just stick to English.

Not only will that help you make a good first impression – but it will also allow you to embrace the German culture, make new friends, and simply enjoy your special time in another country.

And today, you can easily find a free online German course – or, for example, find a language exchange group where you can practice with German native speakers. If you really want to learn, this shouldn’t be a problem for you.

So, How to Boost the Process of Learning German?

Forget English When You Speak Another Language

First of all, we recommend you to forget as much as you can about English when you learn German or any other language. Yes, the similarities make it easier, but you can’t learn to drive a car by sitting on your bike.

The thing is, German sounds differently than English – and if it’s your first foreign language, it might be challenging for you to deal with that. English will stick strongly, and you might continue saying German words with an English accent.

You’ve got to focus on pronunciation first and then continue with grammar, vocabulary, and all the other necessary skills. This will allow you to become fluent in speaking so you won’t have to worry about it later on.

Think in German

Another thing is to find a way to think in German instead of translating all the words into English. That’s how language learning works for many people.

If a person who knows several languages were to translate English or German into Spanish, for example, French, or Thai, they might easily get lost. Some languages just can’t be translated the same way – you’ve got to think in them.

Your brain and your whole personality are actually different when you’re speaking (and thinking) English, or German, or French, or any other foreign language.

So, in order to learn easier – translate the thought before it becomes language. Translate the image of a tree instead of the English word “tree.” Try to learn the vocabulary subconsciously – this way, you won’t have to think about using the right words when needed.

Flashcards also work well when you use a picture instead of the translation. In fact, there are many different exercises and methods that allow you to learn new vocabulary without using the translation directly. You just have to find something that works for you.

Pronunciation

It might seem hard to pronounce German words in the beginning. However, what’s good about it is that, unlike in English, the way you write it is the way you pronounce it.

The English words “Thursday” and “thirsty” have the same sound in the beginning but a different vowel. Just like “umbrella” and “uniform” have the same vowel but are pronounced differently. The same happens with words like “cushion” and “clumsy,” where the “u” is a different sound in both words.

That rarely happens in the German language! The a can only be long and short – other than that, it’s always pronounced the same way, and a different sound would be made with a different vowel.

Once you know how to pronounce German, you’ll see: some words have the exact same pronunciation as in English, and sometimes even a similar spelling, like house = Haus, mouse = Maus, arm = Arm.

And sometimes, you have the same spelling in English and German for the same word, but the pronunciation is different, like hand = Hand (pronounced like ‘hund’).

As you can see, learning the German language is really easy when it comes to pronunciation – and that is what many German learners love about this language.

Something That’s Very Easy To Learn?

If you’re planning on going to Germany, you often don’t have to learn German at all. All you need is to figure out some of the basic grammar rules and learn some essential words.

We have already covered this topic on our blog – however, here are some other examples of easy German words everyone can learn:

The Months:

Other Easy Words:

German Grammar

You might have heard of or already learned the 4 German cases. Those are often the part of German grammar most people find extremely difficult, and it can seem like that in the beginning.

There is a secret behind that, though: You don’t have to be perfect at German grammar. You definitely won’t learn the language by just memorizing the rules and thinking about them when you want to form a correct sentence. Instead, if you want to become fluent in German, you simply need to practice more.

And when it comes to grammar, the only thing that is really necessary is learning the correct article and gender with every German noun. It might also be helpful to have some general knowledge about the cases.

Once you have that, listen and talk more – to your friends, German teacher, native speakers, or anyone who offers to help. Make mistakes and try to correct them as you speak. And stop worrying.

You can’t just learn German and then speak it correctly and fluently right away. You have to use it, listen, understand the inner structure of the language – knowing the rules and doing simple exercises is just not enough.

Don’t focus too much on learning and memorizing the correct grammar! Practice, practice, and practice.

And most of all: don’t be afraid to make mistakes! No toddler ever learned to walk just by watching others do so.

Learn German By Doing

The easiest way to learn German through “learning by doing” is using the Readle – Learn German App.

With this app, you can read and listen to news and stories appropriate for your current language level. On top of that, you can click on each and every word in the text and see its proper translation based on the context – this immersion method is the best for using the language intuitively.

Now, go on and start doing. Speak German, read in it, listen to it – and you’ll see that’s it’s as easy as a piece of cake.