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A2 German: From Phrases to Conversations

A2 is the elementary level. You move from memorized phrases to building your own sentences, talking about the past and handling everyday errands on your own. Here’s exactly what A2 covers and how to get there.

See all A2 lessonsReview A1 first
A1BeginnerA2ElementaryB1IntermediateB2Upper intermediateC1AdvancedC2Mastery

A2 in one sentence

At A2 you can understand frequently used sentences about familiar topics (family, shopping, work, your area), communicate in simple routine tasks, and describe your background and immediate needs in simple terms. Expect about 3-4 months of study after A1.

What you can do at A2

  • Talk about what you did last weekend using the Perfekt (Ich habe … gemacht, Ich bin … gefahren)
  • Describe your job, home, hobbies and daily routine in more detail
  • Make and change appointments, by phone or in person
  • Write short emails and messages: invitations, thank-you notes, simple requests
  • Understand the main point of short, clear announcements and messages
  • Give simple opinions and reasons (Ich finde …, weil …)

A2 grammar checklist

TopicExamples
Perfekt with haben and seinIch habe gegessen. Ich bin gegangen.
Präteritum of sein, haben and modal verbsIch war müde. Ich musste arbeiten.
Dative caseIch gebe dem Mann das Buch.
Dative and accusative prepositionsmit dem Bus, für meinen Bruder
Two-way prepositionsIch gehe in die Stadt. Ich bin in der Stadt.
Possessive pronouns in all casesmein, dein, sein, ihr, unser
Reflexive verbssich freuen, sich waschen
Subordinate clausesweil, dass, wenn send the verb to the end
Comparatives and superlativesschneller, am schnellsten
Adjective endings (introduction)ein großer Hund, die kleine Katze

All of these are explained step by step in our German grammar guide and German verbs guide. Adjective endings get their own lesson: Adjektivdeklination made simple.

A2 vocabulary

By the end of A2 most learners know roughly 1,000-1,500 words. Focus on: work and jobs, health and the body, travel and transport, clothes, weather, feelings, and the house. Keep adding nouns with article and plural, and start collecting verbs with their Perfekt form (fahren – ist gefahren).

A 12-week A2 study plan

WeeksFocus
1-2Perfekt: Partizip II, haben or sein; talking about your weekend
3-4Dative case, dative verbs, possessive pronouns
5-6Prepositions: dative, accusative and two-way
7-8Subordinate clauses with weil, dass, wenn; reflexive verbs
9-10Comparatives, adjective endings, writing short emails
11-12Review, mock exam, speaking practice on everyday topics

The A2 plateau

Many learners feel stuck at A2 because their vocabulary grows faster than their speaking. That’s a retrieval problem: the words are there, but you haven’t practised pulling them out yet. Practice producing German: describe your day out loud, or write five sentences each evening. Recall is what turns passive words into active ones.

A2 exams

Common certificates are the Goethe-Zertifikat A2, telc Deutsch A2 and ÖSD Zertifikat A2. The DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer), used in German integration courses, awards A2 or B1 depending on your score. See German language exams explained.

All A2 lessons

A2 German FAQs

How long does it take to go from A1 to A2?

Usually 3-4 months with daily study, or 6-8 weeks in an intensive course.

Is A2 German good enough for a job?

For some hands-on jobs, yes, but most employers in Germany expect at least B1, and roles with customer contact usually need B2.

What is the biggest difference between A1 and A2?

The past tense and the dative case. Once you can say what you did and who you did it for, conversations open up.

Next level → B1 German: the level that changes everything

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