Blog Summary: Is German easy to learn, or how hard is it to learn German? Everyone has to find the answers to these types of important questions. German is one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. In this blog, we will break down the reasons why German is easy to learn.
Learning the German language is essential if you are planning to move to Germany. And if you are thinking of questions like Is German easy to learn? Or what is the best way to learn German? How to learn German language quickly? Then do not worry! We have got you covered.
We will provide you with the answer to every question. In this article, we will give you the best reasons that show that German is easy to learn for English speakers.
Learning any new language takes time. The same goes with the German language. However, having the right motivation and dedication can help you reach your goal.
One of the primary reasons German is easy to learn is because it comes from the same language family as English and has more similarities than you may realize. Approximately 40% of German vocabulary is comparable to English vocabulary. Let’s find out some major reasons that make German easy to learn.
7 Reasons that makes German is easy to learn
Here are some major reasons that make the German language easy to learn.
1. German has phonetic spelling
German sounds are predictable in pronunciation, which makes German easy to learn. Once you’ve figured out which letters or letter combinations represent particular sounds, you’ll be able to accurately pronounce new words without ever hearing them or memorizing how they sound.
Furthermore, most German sounds are already known to English speakers, even if they are represented by different letters or letter combinations.
2. All nouns are capitalized
Separating the nouns from the rest of the phrase makes it easy to figure out what word is performing which tasks. All German nouns are capitalized, making it simple to determine which ones are nouns.
Furthermore, the initial word in a phrase is capitalized, which implies that it may or may not be a noun. The following phrases have nouns that are easy to identify, even if you don’t speak a word of German.
Berlin ist eine der wasserreichsten Städte in Deutschland: Spree, Havel, eine Vielzahl an Kanälen und Flussläufen durchziehen das Stadtgebiet und werden jeden Tag überquert.
3. Related words are easy to recognize
Adding prefixes, suffixes, or roots to existing words is one method German generates new words. For example, the verb verspielen (to waste), the adjective spielerisch (playful), and the nouns das Spiel (game) and der Spieler (player) can all be formed from the root of the verb spielen (spiel) to play.
The nouns die Neuheit (novelty) and die Neuerung (reform), the verb erneuern (to renovate, refresh), and the adjective neulich (recent) can all be formed from the adjective neu (new).
Inflected roots can occasionally give rise to new words. For instance, we can more easily identify the verb gehen to go’s affinity with der Gang (walk, gait) if we are familiar with its basic elements (ging, gegangen).
Although the origins are still identifiable, contemporary terms have occasionally been developed from vowel modifications that are no longer used in the language. The verb schließen (schloss, geschlossen) results in the words das Schloss (lock), der Schluss (end, closure), and der Verschluss.
English often borrows words from other languages, although these terms—like expel, reject, interject, and conjecture—have unclear definitions and are often Greek or Latin in origin rather than English. German roots usually have German roots. As a result, if you know one word in German, you might be able to understand many more.
4. Compound words make learning new words easy.
German frequently forms new words by combining two or more existing words. This process is called compounding. A concept that requires a lengthy-phrase in English is sometimes conveyed by a single compound word in German:
A Geisterfahrer (“ghost driver”) is a driver going in the wrong direction, against the direction of traffic.
One benefit of compounding for German learners is that you can understand new words if you already know the individual words that form a compound.
Because of compounding, the meanings of German words can be more readily predictable than their English counterparts. This also makes the German language easy to learn.
5. English is a Germanic language.
The fact that English and German emerged from the same linguistic roots is advantageous to English speakers. There are irregular indications of their origin in both languages today.
Their shared history has resulted in cognates such as Haus home, Mutter mother, Sommer summer, Braun brown, Garten garden, and Apfel apple, to mention just a few.
In addition to having a 26-letter alphabet (German includes four extra letters: ä, ö, ü, and ß), German and English also have a lot of comparable sounds, as well as similar patterns of stress and pronunciation.
The categories and patterns of regular (weak) and irregular (strong and mixed) verbs are the same in both languages. Regular verbs use fixed suffixes (usually -ed in English and -te/-t in German) to indicate tense, whereas irregular verbs use internal sound changes and perhaps suffixes (-t in English and -te/-t in German).
6. Easily identify different words
In contrast to English, many German words are easily recognized by how they appear. For instance, all nouns are always written in capital letters, which makes it much simpler to identify them when reading a document. (Deutsch, Frau, Mann, Apfel, etc.)
Additionally, German verbs are much easier to recognize, with nearly all verbs beginning with the prefix ge- in the past tense (gesungen, getanzt, gemacht) and ending with -en in the infinitive form (singen, tanzen, machen). As a result, it becomes simpler to understand the function of words in those lengthier, more complex phrases.
7. Consistent Pronunciation
Unlike English, which has numerous quiet beginnings, middles, and ends, no letter in German remains unsaid! You can pronounce words correctly after you know the alphabet and a few special letter combinations.
Naturally, it will take some time for your tongue to adjust to these new sounds, but once you do, you will be able to pronounce any word that is placed in front of you with ease. Here, you won’t have to worry about mispronouncing words all the time!
5 Reasons to Learn German
Now that you have found out why German is easy to learn let’s look at the important reasons why one should learn the German language.
1. Access to universities in Germany
Germany is the home of some of the best universities. Gaining proficiency in German will enable you to get admission to these colleges and obtain a top-notch education.
Although many German universities also offer English-taught programs, it is still advisable to study German before applying to these programs.
2. The ease of day-to-day living
If all your friends speak English and your lessons are taught in English, you might not believe learning German is necessary, but there are better perspectives than that!
Only some people you encounter outside of university will speak English, even though you speak it on campus. Being able to communicate with Germans in their native tongue would greatly simplify your everyday life.
Knowing even the basics of German can make your life much simpler because even items like maps, restaurant menus, and store labels may need to be in English.
3. The ability to make new friends
Making friends with other international students is really simple when studying abroad, but remember to include German students as well!
Some German students may feel uncomfortable socializing in English, so don’t miss out on meeting a new friend simply because you don’t speak German.
4. Traveling around the EU
Having some knowledge of German increases your chances of being able to communicate with individuals in other nations who might need help understanding English because it is the second most spoken language in the EU after English.
5. Career prospects
Speaking German will set you apart from the competition if you intend to remain in Germany after your study program in order to find employment, even if the company you are applying to uses English.
Speaking a little German can help you take advantage of the various employment options available to international students in Germany.
How Long Does It Take to Learn German?
Learning the German language is always a good idea, especially if you are thinking of moving to Germany. However, one thing you should know is that your chances of becoming fluent in a language increase with its ease of learning. Therefore, you can measure the ease of learning a language by looking at how long it takes.
The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) ranked languages according to their level of difficulty and calculated the time required to master each one. German is the only language that falls into Category II (out of five categories). It is said that mastering German requires 750 hours or 30 weeks of study. German is not challenging when compared to other languages.
Remember that with the right motivation, approach, and language learning technique, you can always make your studies quicker and simpler.
Is it hard to learn the German language?
The German language falls under the Category 2 language. Thus, being proficient in German will require a lot of time and patience, just like studying any other language.
Due to its significant differences from English, including complex words, masculine and female word forms, and distinct linguistic conventions, the German language can be intimidating. Nonetheless, German has many characteristics with other European languages, such as French and Italian.
You may easily pick up conversations and comprehend German if you first learn the fundamentals and then gradually add to your knowledge.
The most effective strategy or the best way to learn the German language is to combine online or tutored learning with practical experience.
How Kochiva Can Help You Learn German
Learning German can open countless doors for education, career, and personal growth, and Kochiva is here to make that journey simple and effective for you. If you are thinking of how to study German language, then Kochiva has got you covered. With our comprehensive German language courses, designed by certified experts, you can move from the A1 level of German to the advanced, i.e., C1/C2 level of the German language.
At Kochiva, we focus on delivering a unique learning experience with features like:
- Interactive classes with real-time discussions.
- Doubt-clearing sessions to ensure no confusion lingers.
- Gamified lessons and activities to keep the process engaging.
- Small batch sizes (9-12 learners) to provide personal attention to each student.
Our German language syllabus covers all essential aspects, including reading, writing, speaking, and listening competencies, along with grammar and vocabulary.
So, why wait? Start your German learning journey with Kochiva today and take a step closer to your dreams of studying, working, or living in Germany.
Blog Summary: Is German easy to learn, or how hard is it to learn German? Everyone has to find the answers to these types of important questions. German is one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. In this blog, we will break down the reasons why German is easy to learn.
Learning the German language is essential if you are planning to move to Germany. And if you are thinking of questions like Is German easy to learn? Or what is the best way to learn German? How to learn German language quickly? Then do not worry! We have got you covered.
We will provide you with the answer to every question. In this article, we will give you the best reasons that show that German is easy to learn for English speakers.
Learning any new language takes time. The same goes with the German language. However, having the right motivation and dedication can help you reach your goal.
One of the primary reasons German is easy to learn is because it comes from the same language family as English and has more similarities than you may realize. Approximately 40% of German vocabulary is comparable to English vocabulary. Let’s find out some major reasons that make German easy to learn.
7 Reasons that makes German is easy to learn
Here are some major reasons that make the German language easy to learn.
1. German has phonetic spelling
German sounds are predictable in pronunciation, which makes German easy to learn. Once you’ve figured out which letters or letter combinations represent particular sounds, you’ll be able to accurately pronounce new words without ever hearing them or memorizing how they sound.
Furthermore, most German sounds are already known to English speakers, even if they are represented by different letters or letter combinations.
2. All nouns are capitalized
Separating the nouns from the rest of the phrase makes it easy to figure out what word is performing which tasks. All German nouns are capitalized, making it simple to determine which ones are nouns.
Furthermore, the initial word in a phrase is capitalized, which implies that it may or may not be a noun. The following phrases have nouns that are easy to identify, even if you don’t speak a word of German.
Berlin ist eine der wasserreichsten Städte in Deutschland: Spree, Havel, eine Vielzahl an Kanälen und Flussläufen durchziehen das Stadtgebiet und werden jeden Tag überquert.
3. Related words are easy to recognize
Adding prefixes, suffixes, or roots to existing words is one method German generates new words. For example, the verb verspielen (to waste), the adjective spielerisch (playful), and the nouns das Spiel (game) and der Spieler (player) can all be formed from the root of the verb spielen (spiel) to play.
The nouns die Neuheit (novelty) and die Neuerung (reform), the verb erneuern (to renovate, refresh), and the adjective neulich (recent) can all be formed from the adjective neu (new).
Inflected roots can occasionally give rise to new words. For instance, we can more easily identify the verb gehen to go’s affinity with der Gang (walk, gait) if we are familiar with its basic elements (ging, gegangen).
Although the origins are still identifiable, contemporary terms have occasionally been developed from vowel modifications that are no longer used in the language. The verb schließen (schloss, geschlossen) results in the words das Schloss (lock), der Schluss (end, closure), and der Verschluss.
English often borrows words from other languages, although these terms—like expel, reject, interject, and conjecture—have unclear definitions and are often Greek or Latin in origin rather than English. German roots usually have German roots. As a result, if you know one word in German, you might be able to understand many more.
4. Compound words make learning new words easy.
German frequently forms new words by combining two or more existing words. This process is called compounding. A concept that requires a lengthy-phrase in English is sometimes conveyed by a single compound word in German:
A Geisterfahrer (“ghost driver”) is a driver going in the wrong direction, against the direction of traffic.
One benefit of compounding for German learners is that you can understand new words if you already know the individual words that form a compound.
Because of compounding, the meanings of German words can be more readily predictable than their English counterparts. This also makes the German language easy to learn.
5. English is a Germanic language.
The fact that English and German emerged from the same linguistic roots is advantageous to English speakers. There are irregular indications of their origin in both languages today.
Their shared history has resulted in cognates such as Haus home, Mutter mother, Sommer summer, Braun brown, Garten garden, and Apfel apple, to mention just a few.
In addition to having a 26-letter alphabet (German includes four extra letters: ä, ö, ü, and ß), German and English also have a lot of comparable sounds, as well as similar patterns of stress and pronunciation.
The categories and patterns of regular (weak) and irregular (strong and mixed) verbs are the same in both languages. Regular verbs use fixed suffixes (usually -ed in English and -te/-t in German) to indicate tense, whereas irregular verbs use internal sound changes and perhaps suffixes (-t in English and -te/-t in German).
6. Easily identify different words
In contrast to English, many German words are easily recognized by how they appear. For instance, all nouns are always written in capital letters, which makes it much simpler to identify them when reading a document. (Deutsch, Frau, Mann, Apfel, etc.)
Additionally, German verbs are much easier to recognize, with nearly all verbs beginning with the prefix ge- in the past tense (gesungen, getanzt, gemacht) and ending with -en in the infinitive form (singen, tanzen, machen). As a result, it becomes simpler to understand the function of words in those lengthier, more complex phrases.
7. Consistent Pronunciation
Unlike English, which has numerous quiet beginnings, middles, and ends, no letter in German remains unsaid! You can pronounce words correctly after you know the alphabet and a few special letter combinations.
Naturally, it will take some time for your tongue to adjust to these new sounds, but once you do, you will be able to pronounce any word that is placed in front of you with ease. Here, you won’t have to worry about mispronouncing words all the time!
5 Reasons to Learn German
Now that you have found out why German is easy to learn let’s look at the important reasons why one should learn the German language.
1. Access to universities in Germany
Germany is the home of some of the best universities. Gaining proficiency in German will enable you to get admission to these colleges and obtain a top-notch education.
Although many German universities also offer English-taught programs, it is still advisable to study German before applying to these programs.
2. The ease of day-to-day living
If all your friends speak English and your lessons are taught in English, you might not believe learning German is necessary, but there are better perspectives than that!
Only some people you encounter outside of university will speak English, even though you speak it on campus. Being able to communicate with Germans in their native tongue would greatly simplify your everyday life.
Knowing even the basics of German can make your life much simpler because even items like maps, restaurant menus, and store labels may need to be in English.
3. The ability to make new friends
Making friends with other international students is really simple when studying abroad, but remember to include German students as well!
Some German students may feel uncomfortable socializing in English, so don’t miss out on meeting a new friend simply because you don’t speak German.
4. Traveling around the EU
Having some knowledge of German increases your chances of being able to communicate with individuals in other nations who might need help understanding English because it is the second most spoken language in the EU after English.
5. Career prospects
Speaking German will set you apart from the competition if you intend to remain in Germany after your study program in order to find employment, even if the company you are applying to uses English.
Speaking a little German can help you take advantage of the various employment options available to international students in Germany.
How Long Does It Take to Learn German?
Learning the German language is always a good idea, especially if you are thinking of moving to Germany. However, one thing you should know is that your chances of becoming fluent in a language increase with its ease of learning. Therefore, you can measure the ease of learning a language by looking at how long it takes.
The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) ranked languages according to their level of difficulty and calculated the time required to master each one. German is the only language that falls into Category II (out of five categories). It is said that mastering German requires 750 hours or 30 weeks of study. German is not challenging when compared to other languages.
Remember that with the right motivation, approach, and language learning technique, you can always make your studies quicker and simpler.
Is it hard to learn the German language?
The German language falls under the Category 2 language. Thus, being proficient in German will require a lot of time and patience, just like studying any other language.
Due to its significant differences from English, including complex words, masculine and female word forms, and distinct linguistic conventions, the German language can be intimidating. Nonetheless, German has many characteristics with other European languages, such as French and Italian.
You may easily pick up conversations and comprehend German if you first learn the fundamentals and then gradually add to your knowledge.
The most effective strategy or the best way to learn the German language is to combine online or tutored learning with practical experience.
How Kochiva Can Help You Learn German
Learning German can open countless doors for education, career, and personal growth, and Kochiva is here to make that journey simple and effective for you. If you are thinking of how to study German language, then Kochiva has got you covered. With our comprehensive German language courses, designed by certified experts, you can move from the A1 level of German to the advanced, i.e., C1/C2 level of the German language.
At Kochiva, we focus on delivering a unique learning experience with features like:
Our German language syllabus covers all essential aspects, including reading, writing, speaking, and listening competencies, along with grammar and vocabulary.
So, why wait? Start your German learning journey with Kochiva today and take a step closer to your dreams of studying, working, or living in Germany.
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