The surest way to learn German is a daily habit: learn how the letters sound, read stories at your level, and keep every noun with its der, die or das. These guides take you through it, from how hard German is and how long it takes to pronunciation, the first 100 words, exam levels and a 30-day reading plan.
- German taught
- Germany German
- Covers
- Complete beginner to B2
- Sources
- Goethe-Institut, telc, FSI, Duden and vocabulary research, cited on each guide
- Contos data
- Word counts and examples measured from the Contos German library
- A 30-day German reading planA day-by-day 30-day German reading plan built on real A1 and A2 Contos stories: one short chapter a day, weekly reread days, and a route that is entirely free.
- Your first 100 German wordsThe 100 German words beginners meet most, counted from real A1 and A2 stories, with der, die or das for every noun and the dictionary form of every verb.
- German CEFR levels explained: A1 to B2What A1, A2, B1 and B2 mean in German, how the Goethe-Zertifikat and telc exams test each level, and one story written at all four levels.
- German pronunciation for beginnersGerman pronunciation for English speakers: umlauts, the two ch sounds, final devoicing (Tag sounds like Tak), sp and st, and which syllable to stress.
- German reading practice: a 15-minute daily routineA 15-minute daily German reading routine: what to do minute by minute, how to plan the week, and how to tell when a story is too hard or too easy.
- German vs Dutch: which should you learn?German or Dutch? FSI difficulty, grammar, how close the two are word for word, and how to choose, with lines from Contos stories in both languages.
- How long does it take to learn German?Realistic German timelines by CEFR level and daily study time, from Goethe-Institut and FSI figures, plus what Contos German stories show at each level.
- How many German words do you need?How many German words you need to read, talk and move up a level: vocabulary research, why cases and compounds inflate counts, and Contos library data.
- Is German hard to learn for English speakers?How hard German really is for English speakers: FSI and Goethe-Institut timelines, the grammar that slows you down, and what Contos's German stories show.
- How to learn German by readingA practical way to learn German by reading: what to read at each level, how to untangle German sentences, and why staying with one series pays off.
Which German guide should you read first?
Each guide answers one question. Taken in this order, they follow a learner's first months:
- Is it worth it? Is German hard? is honest about cases and word order; how long it takes turns course hours into days. Choosing between neighbours? German vs Dutch.
- Letters and sounds. German pronunciation: umlauts, the two ch sounds, and why Tag ends in a k sound. German spelling is regular, so an hour here pays back for years.
- The first words. Your first 100 German words, with the article for every noun.
- Reading every day. How to learn German by reading shows how to untangle long sentences; the 15-minute routine and the 30-day plan make it a habit.
- Levels and exams. German CEFR levels explains A1 to B2 and the Goethe-Zertifikat and telc exams; how many words you need shows when to move up.
What does a first German story look like?
Two short sentences, verb in second place, nothing an A1 learner can't handle. This is how the A1 version of Die WG in der Bergmannstraße, the Contos flagship series, opens:
Lena sitzt in der Küche. Sie trinkt Kaffee und wartet.By B2 the same series runs to long sentences packed with detail and asides. The CEFR levels guide puts one story side by side at all four levels.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to start learning German?
Learn the sound of each letter first, then start reading simple stories straight away rather than waiting until you have finished the grammar. Learn every noun with its article, and review the words you look up as flashcards. Add listening and speaking as your vocabulary grows.
Is German harder than French or Spanish?
For English speakers, a little. The US Foreign Service Institute lists German at 36 weeks of full-time training against 30 for Spanish and French, mostly because of cases and word order. German vocabulary, though, shares a lot with English. Is German hard? goes through both sides.
Which German exam should I take?
The Goethe-Institut and telc both offer certificates at every level from A1 to B2 and beyond. Which one suits you depends on what the certificate is for; the CEFR levels guide compares them.
Can reading help with German grammar?
Yes. Seeing the same patterns again and again in stories, such as the verb moving to the end after weil or dass, builds a feel for word order that tables alone rarely give. Look up a rule when a pattern puzzles you, then read on.