Grammar ♥︎ Practice auf Deutsch: 3 Twists That Trip Up German Learners (And How to Overcome Them Easily)

Before I dive deeper into German grammar for this week's useful blog post, I want to take a minute to say "I know!" to all of you who think that German is a hard language to learn. Today's article is about to prove that you guys are not entirely wrong. Yes, the German language has some Tücken (twists).

But read on to discover how to get over each of these twists without ever worrying about them again.

Just like I did in our French Grammar Practice, I've selected 2 topics for German beginners and 1 twist for advanced learners. So there's something here for everyone.

Twist #1: sie is not Sie is not sie

The little words that can take the place of a noun or a name in language are called pronouns. They are placeholders that make it easier for us to communicate - just imagine how that previous sentence would work if I didn't have the words "they" and "us" for example! When you learn a foreign language, you start picking up its pronouns very early.

In German, this is particularly true as the verb doesn't do all that much by itself. The way pronouns are used is pretty similar to English, but here's the sting: 3 German pronouns look similar when they are not similar at all. I'm talking about the word sie, which you'll spot 3 times in the German pronoun table.

Many German learners are aware that Sie is the polite "you" in the German language, addressing a person from a point of distance or respect. It's corresponding to the French vous in this way. But if you think that's all you need to understand sie, it is time to take a look at the full verb table:

Sie pops up three times, but each time this word stands for a different person. There is more to it than just the polite "you".

There are three different kinds of sie

• It stands for the female 3rd person singular pronoun - that's "she" in English

Examples:
Sie heißt Melanie. - Her name is Melanie.
Das ist meine Schwester. Sie kann auch Spanisch. - This is my sister. She speaks Spanish too.

• It stands for the 3rd person plural pronoun - that's "they" in English

Examples:
Sie kommen aus Deutschland. - They are from Germany.
Das sind meine Geschwister. Sie können auch Spanisch. - Those are my siblings. They speak Spanish too.

• It stands for the polite "you" (grammatically that's also the 3rd person plural, kinda like addressing a royal "we")

Sie kommen aus Deutschland, Frau Krämer. - You are from Germany, Ms Krämer.
Wie heißen Sie? - What is your name?

How To Know The Difference

The first distinction is so easy to spot that I wouldn't even call it a "language hack". When you see Sie and the first letter is a capital letter, it's the polite you. Make sure you use it this way in your writing too.

If you're in a conversation (and you can't hear the capital letter), check out what the verb is doing.

When the verb ends in -t, you're looking at a "she".
When the verb ends in -en, it's most likely "they" or "you"...and then you have to figure out what the sentence is about and take other clues.

Twist #2: Prefixes are Everything

If you're going to learn one thing about German at an early stage, it's that the little things make all the difference. For example, take the concept of the separable verb. At the heart of it, you've got a verb like machen (to make, to do) or kommen (to come). Add a little prefix (usually 2-4 letters) to the verb, and suddenly you've twisted the meaning.

The good news here is that learning prefixes pays off a billion times over, as you'll be able to add them to pretty much any verb going to make yourself understood in spoken German. Prefixes split off when a verb is used in the sentence, so make sure you look out for them at the end of the sentence. So in other words, the final word in a sentence is very important in German. Sometimes it can twist the whole meaning.

Check out the following video from my German Grammar video Course for a detailed explanation.

Here are a few example sentences:
Wir kommen am Freitag. - We're coming on Friday.
Wir kommen am Freitag an. - We're arriving on Friday.
Ich komme heute. Er kommt am Freitag nach. - I'm coming today. He'll follow on Friday.
Wir fahren nach Berlin. Kommst du mit? - We're going to Berlin. Are you coming?

Test Yourself

How many words can you spot that carry the prefix auf? When you think of it's generic meaning "up", how many meanings can you guess from the following list?

• aufmachen
• aufgehen
• aufstehen
• auflegen

Let me know what your guesses are in the comments.

Twist 3: For Advanced Learners, werden becomes complex

The dictionary meaning of the German verb werden is "to become", plain and simple.

But watch out for two other ways that the verb is used. It teams up with another verb to build two advanced structures.

When werden works with another verb, the sentence structure is always:

Subject + werden + (any adverbs) + (any object) + the other verb

The other verb is what's really happening. If it stands in the infinitiv (that means it's not changed at all from how you find it in the dictionary), the sentence is in the future tense. For example, Ich werde etwas essen means "I will eat something". If it stands in the participle (this is that past tense form with ge-), then you're looking at the passive voice! For example, Etwas wird gegessen is not future tense at all

Examples:

Ich werde nach Berlin fahren. - I will drive to Berlin.
Ich werde nach Berlin gefahren. - I'm being driven to Berlin.

Ich werde den Käse kaufen. - I will buy the cheese.
Der Käse wird gekauft. - The cheese is being bought.
Der Käse wird gekauft werden - (combining future and passiv) The cheese will be bought.

So whenever your form of werden pops up, pay attention and make sure that you don't end up confusing future and passive. They're pretty different.

How to Escape The Werden Trap

One easy tip to speak German without the pains of werden is to avoid using the future tense altogether. That's what native speakers do all the time, simply using the present tense together with words like morgen (tomorrow) or gleich (in a minute). It's so simple, it's practically Chinese grammar! (Someone once told me Chinese doesn't have conjugation. I was like "whoah"!)

Where To Look For More German Grammar Explanations

If you're studying German grammar in your first year, you will find answers to every grammar question in my video course Easy German Grammar for Beginners. It contains dozens of simple videos, quizzes and workbooks to help you become a confident speaker.

Learning German With TV Shows: The Most Effective Strategies and Resources for Your Study Routine

Here's a dream scenario: Watch an hour of German TV every day. Within two months, you will understand everything.

Think that's impossible? Well, you're kind of right. No passive activity is going to give you a huge result if that's all you do.

But working with TV, podcasts and radio shows does deliver excellent results. It's not just a great addition to language learning routines that lack interaction. Using content like this also saves your lessons and study time from terrible dullness.

Contents

Understand German Grammar In Minutes Without Frustration
So How Difficult Should A Show Be?
How To Find a Show That Works For You
Designed for German Learners:
How To Use Your Time Wisely
What are your views about studying with TV shows and radio?
Frequently Asked Questions

If you are interested in mastering the German language using podcasts, make sure to take a look at these 9 of the Best Podcasts for Learning German.

Just remember to do your work and think about where these fit into your study routine.

In today's article, I'm sharing recommendations for German shows that fit into your study plan and help you get big results.

Understand German Grammar In Minutes Without Frustration

So How Difficult Should A Show Be?

Opinions vary on how much of your input you should understand in depth for it to count as helpful for your language learning.

Intensive Listening

Intensive listening and watching helps learners develop better listening comprehension. You should want to work more in-depth with your materials, and aim for shows that you understand well. Make sure you are happy to spend an hour or two on the subject. The key expression here is comprehensible input, meaning you work with language that you actually understand.

There is no embarrassment in going for the "this is right for me" label, let’s not be over-ambitious. Slower speeds and easier vocabulary are helpful and mean that you can get the full effect out of the time you put in. Understanding more words is going to help you absorb German grammar naturally.

Extensive Listening

Got no patience for feeling like a learner? Then watch and listen a little above your level. No need to go straight for the intellectual talk rounds, keep it realistic and find a show about what you love.

This approach is best if you’re all gung ho about your learning and want to approach it with zest, speed, and intense practice sessions. You’ll be pushing your boundaries and get a fast sense of progression. The cost? Rapid learning loses thoroughness. The benefits of working with natural input are fast vocabulary expansion.

So pick your level of challenge first. Now, let’s think about the topics and materials that are likely to work for you.

How To Find a Show That Works For You

Millions of language learners have bought books of short stories and graded readers in many languages. Materials that are written for learners help you enjoy a good story while learning a language, and often give you extra vocab help. And what's more motivating than wanting to know what happens next? I think it’s brilliant, and encourage you to look for the kinds of things you enjoy in a foreign language.

Books have a huge advantage: They move at your speed and allow you to pick your own level of engagement. You can skim or speed-read for that immersion effect ("extensive reading"). For "intensive reading", give your text the full study treatment.

Reading and listening are both important, of course. They are two of the four core language skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing). If you want to learn more about core language skills and get tips on how to focus on them, check out my book Fluency Made Achievable.

Right now of course, you're not looking for a book. We're ready to listen! I have written an article on The 9 Brilliant German TV Shows and Movies. These shows will offer you enough entertainment in German to keep you on the couch for weeks in German binge-mode. Los geht’s!

Here are my favourite shows to add to your learning routine:

Designed for German Learners:

Learn Out Live Audiobooks

André Klein is awesome, you already know that if you’ve checked out his written materials in the Dino lernt Deutsch and Aschkalon Fantasy book series. Over the last year, André has also worked on adding audio versions of his popular stories. If you like an engaging story, these audiobooks are perfect practice material and the right choice for learners at A2 or higher. The books are read by the author himself and put you right into the middle of the story. The background sounds bring the story to life. André focuses on practice and pronunciation to help you learn German.

Here’s a sample so you can try it for yourself:

Yabla

I reviewed Yabla here on Fluent Language a little while ago and I'm still ever impressed with their language learning content. The Yabla player offers one of the best multi-media experiences for learning that I've seen so far. Slower speed, multilingual subtitles and regular reports from all walks of life make this more than just one show.

Yabla is the kind of thing you should check out if you wish there was a whole TV channel just for language learners.

Jojo sucht das Glück

With this telenovela, Deutsche Welle has produced something incredible for language learners. The show is a professionally produced telenovela. Its story focuses on the adventures of Brazilian student Jojo as she moves to Germany and starts her new life in Cologne. There’s romance, music, and grocery shopping. It’s great for speakers upwards of B1 level. The website offers worksheets and exercises to make each episode into a full learning experience. If you’re working with a tutor, this is a great one to share. The addictive Jojo effect is good for extensive learning, because every short episode will make you want to watch the next one. German teachers, check out this page for guidance on how to teach with Jojo.

Slow German

Slow German with Annik Rubens is a culture and language podcast narrated by a native German speaker. Annik tells stories about what Germans get up to in everyday life. She talks about current affairs and offers transcripts and exercises in the paid premium edition.

Langsam Gesprochene Nachrichten

Ready to engage with German at a higher level? Then this podcast from Deutsche Welle is a great resource. This slow news show comes out every day and offers German learners an insight into current affairs. It's recorded at slow speeds to help you focus on understanding as much as possible. The language is not simplified, so this podcast is suitable for learning levels C1/C2. And if you’re not finding this enough of a challenge, you can check out the same broadcast at the original speed.

Logo

Logo is a kids’ news show that has been going since 1988 and enjoys huge popularity in Germany. The show’s web version features written articles, videos and images to help explain what's going on in the world. I like using Logo’s written articles because they have a great way of explaining current affairs and offering background insights and straightforward answers. If read things like Reddit’s “ELI5” (Explain like I’m Five), this news show is perfect for you.

When listening to radio shows or watching TV in German, remember materials for children are not designed for learners. The speakers will be talking quickly, and sentence structures are not be simplified. These materials don't offer transcripts or exercises, either.

Logo is made for native speakers, but its clear explanations make it a fab choice for German learners.

How To Use Your Time Wisely

No matter which of these programmes you choose to check out, remember the purpose of your activity.

• Are you taking a serious study approach to your material?
• Or is this something you're adding onto basic study to give yourself more motivation?

Each approach is valid. Still, you can't expect great results from minimal input. An hour of watching German TV with English subtitles is fun and keeps you interested. An hour of watching Jojo sucht das Glück while reading the transcript, adding new words to your notebook or flashcard deck, and then working through every exercise? Yep, that's going to deliver a BIG result. It's also going to make you more tired.

The key is for you to think about what you really want. If you want to understand more spoken German, it's pointless to work with materials above your level. That is just not how immersion works.

Ultimately language learning isn't down to genius or age or talent. You do the work and you get the results. There could be nothing simpler in the world, and still it's tough to consider.

What are your views about studying with TV shows and radio?

Which do you use for your own language lessons? And what are YOUR real results from building these into your learning routine?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Learn German Just by Watching TV?

While watching TV can certainly be a helpful supplement to your language learning, it won’t be sufficient on its own to fully learn a language like German. Relying solely on passive activities won't give you a huge result if that's all you do. 

However, incorporating TV, podcasts, and radio shows into your language learning routine along with a practice of speaking and reading does deliver excellent results. It's not just a great addition to language learning routines that lack interaction. Using content like this also saves your lessons and study time from terrible dullness.

How Long Does It Take to Learn German on Your Own?

It doesn’t have to take you very long to learn basic German. For example, with my recommended resources, you’ll have the basics down in just a few hours. German is a beautiful language with many words that will be familiar to you as an English speaker, and the people are welcoming and friendly.

Stick to your new routine for 3-4 months and you’ll soon be having your first conversations. Learning a language to the highest level will take many years, but don’t let that put you off, because learning is a lot of fun!

Does Watching German Shows Help You Learn German?

Yes, watching German shows can be a super valuable and enjoyable add-on to supplement your German learning routine. watching German shows, you get exposed to authentic spoken language, helping you become more familiar with the nuances of the language.

The entertainment factor of watching shows in German can make the learning experience more enjoyable and less of a boring and daunting task. Learning a new language can sometimes be challenging, but incorporating fun elements like watching TV can turn it into a rewarding and entertaining activity.

Essential German to Celebrate St Martin's Day in November

Full of candy, scared and spooked, disguised as a creature of the night…that's Halloween. The festival is very popular in the English speaking world.

But have you heard about Martinstag (St Martin’s Day)? It’s a great way to celebrate as the autumn season begins in Germany, so you can talk to your German friends about the St Martin’s lanterns, bonfires, and songs.

Contents

1. What is St Martin's Day?
2. Essential German for St Martin's Day
3. How Germans Celebrate St Martin's Day
4. St Martin's Day Songs
5. What to Eat on St Martin's Day in Germany
6. Quick Q&A About St Martin's Day
7. Where to Learn German for St Martin's Day

What is St Martin's Day?

St Martin’s Day is (you guessed it from the name) a religious feast inspired by the story of St Martin of Tours.

Here’s the story of St Martin:

Martin is riding along a path on a cold November night. He comes across a beggar by the roadside and even though he's got nothing on him, he decides to help the poor man out by ripping his cloak in two and sharing it.

Well, this is the version of the story that I remember from Kindergarten anyway. If you read up on it on Wikipedia, the tale becomes a LOT more religious. Religious references aside, what the feast day celebrates today is the value of generosity and sharing with those in need.

Essential German for St Martin's Day

If you love learning German with stories, I recommend German Uncovered, my super comprehensive course loved by German learners all over the world. It was created in collaboration with StoryLearning, and will help you learn German in context without having to cram and rote learn.

Martinstag - St Martin’s Day

der Umzug, die Parade - procession

die Laterne - lantern

eine Laterne basteln - to make your own lantern

basteln - crafting

leuchten - to shine, to glow

das Licht - light

das Martinsfeuer - bonfire to celebrate the day

die Sterne - the stars

der Soldat - soldier

der Bettler - beggar

teilen - to share

Need ideas for remembering vocabulary better? Click here to read how to get great vocab memory.

How Germans Celebrate St Martin's Day

Danke an laterne-basteln.de

St Martin's Day is celebrated in Germany around 11 November. It’s particularly common in the Rhineland.

Many children celebrate by carrying little lanterns (often homemade), and following a procession with music, warm drinks, and sweet treats. Sometimes, the procession is led by a "St Martin" wearing a red coat and riding a horse. Often they are accompanied by a local band playing the famous St Martin's songs.

My own rural German background includes happy memories of lanterns, songs, and a big Martinsfeuer (bonfire) at the end, where people would gather and enjoy seasonal treats. For the adults, I’m pretty sure there was some warm Glühwein (mulled wine) involved.

Martin’s parade (photo via mexicanosenalemania.de)

Read on to find out what sweet treats are in store if you attend a Martinsumzug (St Martin’s Day parade) yourself. And if you spot someone you’d love to chat to 😍, don’t miss my tips for how to flirt in German.

If you want to celebrate St Martin's Day too, you can build little lanterns, sing a song with the children (or with your mates!) or bake a lovely Weckmann (recipe below).

St Martin's Day Songs

The easiest song to learn is "Laterne, Laterne", with its three lines of lyrics.

Laterne, Laterne
Sonne, Mond und Sterne
Brenne auf mein Licht, Brenne auf mein Licht
Aber nur meine liebe Laterne nicht!
(Lantern, Sun, Moon and Stars. Let my light burn brightly, but not my dear lantern!)

Other great songs for this season include "Ich geh' mit meiner Laterne" and "St Martin". You’ll hear these played at processions, bonfires and sung in Kindergarten.

What to Eat on St Martin's Day in Germany

St Martin’s Day is a feast day, so there are plenty of sweet treats to be had.

Look out for these St Martin’s Treats in German Bakeries in November:

Weckmänner are pastries made with sweet dough. They come in the shape of a person, often with raisins for the eyes. The little guy also comes with a clay pipe.

The word Weckmann combines Weck (Southern German word for a bun) and Mann (man). You’ll also hear them called Stutenkerl in some parts of Germany.

Martinsbrezel are sweet dough pretzels covered in sugar.

Glühwein is mulled wine. The wine (often high quality local wine) is heated up with spices and sugar to create a comforting winter drink. If you’re not into drinking alcohol, there’s often a sober version available (look out for words like Punsch and Kinderwein).

Here is a Weckmann recipe in German, with thanks to the website chefkoch.de. How much do you understand?
Zutaten
1 Kilo Mehl, 1 Würfel Hefe, 150 Gramm Zucker, 90 Gramm Butter, 1 Teelöffel Salz und 500ml warme Milch.
Anleitung

1. Zuerst das Mehl, die Hefe und 125ml Milch vermischen und 10 Minuten gehen lassen.

2. Butter, Zucker, Salz und restliche Milch auflösen und alles mit dem gegangenen Teig verrühren. Aus dem Teig Weckmänner formen und 10 Minuten gehen lassen.

3. Mit Milch bestreichen und 15-20 Minuten bei 220 Grad backen.

Quick Q&A About St Martin's Day

Speedy questions, speedy answers!

What do you do on St Martin’s Day?

On St Martin’s Day (11 November), many people in Europe celebrate with seasonal foods, processions, and bonfires.

In Germany, children often craft lanterns and sing songs at local processions.

Why is St Martin’s Day celebrated?

St Martin’s Day commemorates St Martin of Tours, known for sharing his red cloak with a freezing beggar during a snow storm. St Martin stands for generosity and charity.

How long has St Martin’s Day been celebrated?

St Martin’s Day, also known as Old Halloween or Martinmas, has history going back over 1500 years. It falls on the end of harvest season and was celebrated throughout the Middle Ages, and all over Europe.

Where to Learn German for St Martin's Day

If you love learning German with stories, I recommend German Uncovered, my super comprehensive course loved by German learners all over the world.

It was created in collaboration with StoryLearning, and will help you learn German in context without having to cram and rote learn.

Here are some more handy links for German learners:

• My full German learning resource list for all levels

• Great websites for German beginners

• Little-known facts about speaking German to level up your pronunciation skills

• The 6 best techniques for learning vocabulary

Hope you enjoyed this article - have a great St Martin’s Day, wherever you are celebrating! 🏮

Five Things You Can Shout When Germany Is Playing Football

I am not into club matches, but I go all in when the football (soccer) World or European Cup rolls round. For a German living in England, I am unabashed in my support of die deutsche Elf  ("the German eleven" - if you don't know that a soccer/football team has 11 players, this is not your article!).

Want to learn some German for yourself? Be sure to check out this German course I created with the team over at StoryLearning. There’s a free 7-day trial so you can test the course risk-free!

I have my team jersey on order, I may even drink beer, and I am totally ready to go and support both the men’s and the women’s teams in our quests to the next win.

Are you getting ready to watch a German football (soccer) match yourself?

You can enjoy more than pretzels! Make it more fun and authentic with these German things to shout at your screen when Germany is playing football at the world cup, European cup, or Nations League.

Schiri!!!!

Schiri stands for "Schiedsrichter" (referee) - there is of course a feminine version of this job title ("Schiedsrichterin"), but to make it easier on everyone to pronounce and holler at the screen, Schiri is the one to use.

This is one to shout out with passion whenever you hear the ref's whistle, favourably if it's an unfair decision or a foul. Don't forget to pronounce those exclamation points.

Deutschland vor, noch ein Tor

A classic chant that every German schoolkid can produce. Often you'll hear this one with a particular player's name instead of "Deutschland" - for example we could name Germany's lone striker Miroslav Klose: Miro vor, noch ein Tor!

Before you shout this one with passion though, wait until Germany's got the first goal in: noch ein translates to "another".

Das war kein Abseits!

Do you know your offside trap? Yes, me too. Every woman has had to learn this to prove her worth, in some kind of misogynist conspiracay of football fans...but I digress! Abseits (neuter) is the German word for offside, and this phrase is a great one to say with a knowing nod when you're out in the Biergarten with your friends.

Die Spieler sind schwach wie Flasche leer

Deutsch ist schwer, by now you probably know that, right? German isn't the easiest language to master, but the key thing is to get your message across. No football coach ever did a better job of this than Giovanni Trappatoni in the 90s, when he went on a beautiful rant at a Bayern Munich press conference.Die Spieler sind schwach wie Flasche leer ("the players are weak like bottles empty") might not be grammatically right, but it is the perfect reaction when you think your team really needs to kick into gear.

What proof that you don’t need perfect grammar to express true emotion..

Das Runde muss ins Eckige

I used to have this on my favourite t-shirt many years ago and always wore it with pride. "The round thing must go into the square thing" is a classic quote from German football hero Sepp Herberger. Along with his other famous "Der Ball ist rund und das Spiel dauert 90 Minuten.", the quote represents Germany's no-nonsense approach to football. Our team isn't known for beautiful arty moves like the Brazilians - but hopefully it will get the job done!

Next Level: 13 Useful German Football Words

Fachsimpeln (playing the expert) is a hobby no one can resist entirely, and watching sports among friends is no exception. When you're among your friends and everyone is playing armchair pundits, listen out for some of the following words to help you keep up:

• Der Anstoß - kick off

• Die Schwalbe - dive (when a player feigns injury)

• Der Stürmer - striker

• Der Verteidiger - defense player

• Das Mittelfeld - mid-field

• Der Elfmeter - penalty

• Der Eckball - corner

• Der Freistoß - free kick

• Das Foul - foul

• Verlängerung (in der Verlängerung) - extra time

• Ich bin für Deutschland. - I'm supporting Germany

• Wie steht es? - what's the score?

• Der Pokal - cup (in a sporting context)

More Tips for Soccer-Loving German Learnesr

So you’re all in for the full tournament and want to host a German fan party? Perfect! Try these 3 tips to get the best match atmosphere today.

Get The Grillparty Started

Football World Cup and European Cup tournaments take place in the summer - perfect timing for millions of Germans to open up Balkonien (balconia - a German word for "holidaying at home") and invite their friends round for a BBQ and viewing party.

For the best German Grillparty, you need a venue (garden, allotment, balcony, public BBQ area), a TV to watch the match, some meat (despite the vegan trend, Germans tend to be non-veggie), salad and veggies, and a good supply of drinks. No need for spicy sauces - German foods are rarely hot and spicy.

Learn Some Football Quotes

Football coaches and football players are people who are often asked for their opinions, and every now and then produce a piece of wisdom second to none. You can find many quotes attributed to German coaches on this Spiegel.de page. From Der Ball ist rund und das Spiel dauert 90 Minuten, to nach dem Spiel ist vor dem Spiel, you won't need to be fluent in German to join in with your football-crazy friends this summer.

Eliminate Risk and Follow the Favourites

Germans are a risk-averse bunch. The classic British tradition of supporting the underdog is puzzling to many of them. Why go for anything but the most promising option? So if you want to get with the German mentality as a football supporter, reserve a soft spot for the most likely tournament winners.

I wish all your teams good luck in the competition. Let's hope Gary Lineker is right:

Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win.

And if you want to get into the mood with a German course, why not check out my tips for learning German?

Good luck and remember to put the round thing into the square thing!

Want to Learn the German Language?

German is a beautiful language with history and charm. And did you know that YOU can easily learn it, too? Check out my German Uncovered online course, created in collaboration with the incredible team over at StoryLearning.

How to Flirt in German (Plus: A bit of German Romance)

In celebration of Valentine's Day, Fluent is in love today and I want to teach you some fun little expressions to tell your loved one. German is not often considered a romantic language, so you may find it surprising that Germany actually had a whole romantic period in history! As a country of castles, hills and walkers this was a great time for poetry and passionate writing. You can check out more about them in Caspar David Friedrich's paintings and love letters from Goethe, a beloved German writer. You might have heard of Goethe? He wrote Faust and came out with some excellent one liners - a bit like a German Shakespeare.

Your Free Speaking Guide

Matching this topic, I've created the new guide Make Your German Sound Amazing, featuring 26 Key Phrases For Conversations with German Speakers. Pop your details into the form below to join my email list and get the guide immediately!

Set the scene for a German romance and get to know some useful expressions. I'm pretty loved up this year, so for me these three words will never get old.

3 Ways to Say "I Love You" in German

1) Ich liebe dich (I love you)

A classic - with these three words you won't put a foot wrong.

2) Dein ist mein ganzes Herz (my entire heart is yours)

No matter if you are romancing a woman or a man, this wonderful line is guaranteed to stir up happy emotions - My Whole Heart is Yours should be said over the soundtrack of this Youtube clip so that you know you'll definitely score the full romance points.

3) Ich möchte für immer bei dir sein (I want to be with you forever)

"I want to be with you forever." Ahh, that's the start of a great proposal..<3

3 Loving Nicknames to call your partner in German

1) Mein Schatz (My treasure) - it’s what I call my husband!

2) Mein Schneckchen (My little snail!)

3) Meine Herzallerliebste/Mein Herzallerliebster (My heart's favourite - adapt for feminine or masculine)

And if you're currently on the lookout for a new date, there is something I can do to help you. Try these:

The Top 3 German Conversation Starters (for Singles)

1) Ich spreche normalerweise keine Frauen/Männer an, aber.. (I don’t usually chat up women/men, but…)

The greatest way of humbling yourself and bringing in a compliment at the same time is to say "I would never do this, but for YOU it's a different story." Complimenting the person should come next, for example "du siehst so nett aus!" (you look so nice!).

2) Komm, wir brennen zusammen durch! (Let’s run away together!)

For the adventurous among you, this call for your love to run away with you could bring up romantic images of freedom, open road and romance. Perfect for suggesting a wild date...er...in the park.

3) Hi, sag mal, was hältst du denn vom Essen/Design/Kaffee hier? (Say, what do you think about the food/design/coffee here?)

Asking the other person's opinion is guaranteed to get you a response, and also some natural German language practice!

No matter where you are or if you're single or in love, I wish you a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Recommended German Courses

German Uncovered: Learn German the natural way without complex grammar explanations and boring lessons. This course is based on a story, so you’ll be reading and having fun as you progress to level A2 at high speed.

Speak German Like a Native: If you want to sound 💯 or you find spoken German hard to understand, you need this course. This  is my masterclass on every sound of German (and word stress!), suitable for all levels. No other course digs into the sounds of the German language, giving you the confidence to even say Eichhörnchen and Wechselstrom like a native.