The 500 essential German words for A1 level (2026)
500 words — that's the threshold that lets you hold a daily conversation in German, validate any A1 exam (Goethe, TELC, ÖSD, ECL) and understand 85% of simple texts. This guide gives you the complete list organized by 12 themes (family, numbers, body, food, home…), the scientifically proven SM-2 method to memorize it all in 30 days, and 5 pitfalls to avoid when learning German vocabulary.
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Quick answer.
A1 level in German requires ~500 active words spread across 12 themes (family, numbers, body, food, home, transport, work, hobbies, weather, etc.) + base verbs + articles. Optimal method: SM-2 (spaced repetition), 20 min/day for 30 days. Always memorize der/die/das with each noun.
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Summary.
- 500 words cover 85% of A1 vocabulary.
- Spread across 12 themes + verbs + adjectives + function words.
- Method: SM-2 (spaced repetition), 20 min/day.
- 30 days is enough with daily discipline.
- Always associate der/die/das article with each noun.
1. Why 500 words for A1 level?
The 500-word threshold comes from the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) and corresponds to the ability to "understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very simple statements."
Concretely, with 500 words you can:
- Introduce yourself, talk about you, your family, your work.
- Order at a restaurant, do shopping.
- Ask for directions, take a taxi or a train.
- Understand 85% of simple texts (menus, schedules, signs).
- Validate A1 exams (Goethe, TELC, ÖSD, ECL) at ~70/100.
2. The SM-2 method (spaced repetition) — 20 min/day
Spaced repetition (Spaced Repetition System, SRS) is the most scientifically effective learning method, popularized by Prof. Sebastian Leitner and Piotr Wozniak's SM-2 algorithm. Principle: a word is reviewed at increasing intervals that double with each success.
| Review | Interval | Action if forgotten |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (introduction) | D0 | — |
| 2nd | D+1 | Back to D0 |
| 3rd | D+3 | Back to D+1 |
| 4th | D+7 | Back to D+3 |
| 5th | D+15 | Back to D+7 |
| 6th | D+30 | Back to D+15 |
| Mastered | D+90 | — |
3. Greetings & politeness (25 words)
| German | English | German | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallo | Hi | Guten Morgen | Good morning |
| Guten Tag | Good day | Guten Abend | Good evening |
| Gute Nacht | Good night | Tschüss | Bye |
| Auf Wiedersehen | Goodbye | Bis bald | See you soon |
| Bitte | Please / you're welcome | Danke | Thank you |
| Entschuldigung | Excuse me / sorry | Ja | Yes |
| Nein | No | Vielleicht | Maybe |
| Wie geht's? | How are you? | Gut, danke | Fine, thanks |
4. Family (30 words)
| German | English | German | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| die Familie | family | der Vater | father |
| die Mutter | mother | die Eltern | parents |
| der Sohn | son | die Tochter | daughter |
| der Bruder | brother | die Schwester | sister |
| die Großmutter | grandmother | der Großvater | grandfather |
| der Onkel | uncle | die Tante | aunt |
| der Cousin | cousin (male) | die Cousine | cousin (female) |
| der Mann | man / husband | die Frau | woman / wife |
| das Kind | child | das Baby | baby |
| der Freund | friend (boyfriend) | die Freundin | friend (girlfriend) |
5. Numbers and time (40 words)
| Numbers 0-20 | Tens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| null (0), eins (1), zwei (2), drei (3), vier (4) | zwanzig (20), dreißig (30), vierzig (40) | die Uhr (hour/clock) |
| fünf (5), sechs (6), sieben (7), acht (8) | fünfzig (50), sechzig (60), siebzig (70) | die Minute, die Sekunde |
| neun (9), zehn (10), elf (11), zwölf (12) | achtzig (80), neunzig (90), hundert (100) | halb, viertel |
| dreizehn, vierzehn, fünfzehn (13-15) | tausend (1000) | vor, nach |
| sechzehn, siebzehn, achtzehn, neunzehn | eine Million | Wie spät ist es? / Um wie viel Uhr? |
6. Days, months, seasons (35 words)
| Days | Months | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Montag (Monday) | Januar, Februar, März | der Frühling (spring) |
| Dienstag (Tuesday) | April, Mai, Juni | der Sommer (summer) |
| Mittwoch (Wednesday) | Juli, August, September | der Herbst (autumn) |
| Donnerstag (Thursday) | Oktober, November, Dezember | der Winter (winter) |
| Freitag, Samstag, Sonntag | der Monat (month) | heute, morgen, gestern |
7. Body and health (40 words)
| German | English | German | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| der Kopf | head | das Haar | hair |
| das Auge | eye | die Nase | nose |
| der Mund | mouth | das Ohr | ear |
| die Hand | hand | der Fuß | foot |
| der Arm | arm | das Bein | leg |
| der Bauch | belly | das Herz | heart |
| krank | sick | gesund | healthy |
| der Arzt | doctor | die Apotheke | pharmacy |
Memorize these 500 words in 30 days with the SM-2 app
The Deutsch Exam app integrates an SM-2 system in English-German: each word is presented at the right moment to maximize retention. 20 minutes per day = the 500 A1 words mastered in 30 days, with progress tracking. 100% free, offline.
8. Food and drinks (60 words)
| Food | Drinks | Meals |
|---|---|---|
| das Brot (bread), das Ei (egg) | das Wasser (water) | das Frühstück (breakfast) |
| der Käse (cheese), die Butter | der Kaffee, der Tee | das Mittagessen (lunch) |
| das Fleisch (meat), der Fisch | die Milch, der Saft | das Abendessen (dinner) |
| das Gemüse (vegetables), das Obst | das Bier, der Wein | essen (to eat), trinken (to drink) |
| der Apfel, die Banane, die Kartoffel | die Cola, die Limonade | hungrig, durstig, lecker |
| der Zucker, das Salz, der Reis | heiß, kalt, warm | das Restaurant, die Rechnung |
9. Home and objects (50 words)
| Rooms | Furniture | Objects |
|---|---|---|
| das Haus, die Wohnung | der Tisch (table), der Stuhl | das Buch, der Stift |
| das Zimmer, das Schlafzimmer | das Bett, der Schrank | das Telefon, der Computer |
| die Küche, das Bad | das Sofa, der Sessel | der Schlüssel, die Tasche |
| der Balkon, der Garten | die Lampe, der Teppich | die Uhr, das Handy |
| die Tür, das Fenster | der Fernseher, der Kühlschrank | das Geld, das Ticket |
10. The 8 other themes at a glance (220 words)
| Theme | Number of words | Key examples |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | 25 | die Hose, das Hemd, die Schuhe, der Mantel |
| Transport & travel | 30 | das Auto, der Zug, das Flugzeug, die Reise |
| Work & school | 30 | die Arbeit, die Schule, der Lehrer, der Schüler |
| Hobbies & sports | 25 | die Musik, der Film, der Sport, das Buch |
| Weather | 15 | die Sonne, der Regen, der Schnee, kalt, warm |
| Colors & adjectives | 40 | rot, blau, groß, klein, alt, neu, schön |
| Base verbs | 35 | sein, haben, gehen, kommen, machen, sagen |
| Function words | 20 | und, oder, aber, weil, mit, ohne, in, auf |
11. The 5 pitfalls to avoid when learning vocabulary
- Forgetting the der/die/das article. Each noun must be learned with its article, otherwise impossible to make correct German sentences.
- Learning 100 words at once. The brain retains max 15-20 words per session. Beyond that, you forget more than you memorize.
- Using random lists. Thematic grouping multiplies retention by 2 to 3.
- Not pronouncing out loud. Auditory-motor memorization anchors 3× deeper than silent reading.
- Skipping D+3 and D+7 reviews. These reviews are critical in SM-2. Without them, you lose 70% of vocabulary at 30 days.
12. 30-day plan to master the 500 words
| Days | New words/day | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| D1-D7 | 20/day = 140 words | Greetings, family, numbers, days, body |
| D8-D14 | 20/day = 140 words | Food, home, clothing, transport |
| D15-D21 | 20/day = 140 words | Work, school, hobbies, colors, adjectives |
| D22-D28 | 10/day = 70 words | Base verbs, function words, weather + reviews |
| D29-D30 | 0 new | Massive reviews + vocabulary mock test |
To go further in A1, check our guides modal verbs, pronunciation, and our article on the 9-month plan to move from A1 to B1.
Sources and references
- CEFR — A1 level descriptors
- Goethe-Zertifikat A1 — Official Wortliste
- Anki — Spaced repetition software
- SuperMemo / SM-2 algorithm (Piotr Wozniak)
Last verified: July 27, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
500-700 active words per CEFR. Tested in Goethe, TELC, ÖSD, ECL A1 exams.
30 days with SM-2 method (20 min/day). Without method: 3 to 6 months.
12 themes: greetings, family, numbers, days, body, food, home, clothing, transport, work, hobbies, weather.
SM-2 (spaced repetition). Apps: Anki, Deutsch Exam, Quizlet. Always associate der/die/das.
YES absolutely. Gender changes declensions. Trick: mental color (blue der, red die, green das).
Yes 90%. Complete with 2 official A1 Modellsätze + 20 conjugated verbs + 6 modals.
By themes of 15-20 words. Retention ×2 to ×3 vs random lists. 20 min/session, never 100 words at once.