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A1 German: Your First Real Steps

A1 is the beginner level of the Common European Framework (CEFR). It’s where you learn to introduce yourself, order a coffee, ask simple questions and understand slow, clear speech. Everything you need for A1 is on this page.

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A1BeginnerA2ElementaryB1IntermediateB2Upper intermediateC1AdvancedC2Mastery

A1 in one sentence

At A1 you can understand and use everyday expressions and very basic phrases, introduce yourself and others, and have a simple conversation if the other person talks slowly and helps you. Most learners reach A1 in about 2-3 months of steady daily study.

What you can do at A1

  • Greet people and say goodbye, formally and informally (Guten Tag, Hallo, Tschüss)
  • Introduce yourself: name, country, job, languages, age
  • Ask and answer simple questions: Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?)
  • Count, say prices, dates and the time
  • Order food and drinks, shop and ask for directions in simple words
  • Fill in a basic form with your personal details
  • Understand short, slow announcements and very simple texts

A1 grammar checklist

TopicWhat you need to knowLesson
Alphabet and sounds26 letters, ä, ö, ü, ß, ch, r, ei/ieGerman alphabet
Noun genderder, die, das and why you learn every noun with its articleDer, die, das
Personal pronounsich, du, er, sie, es, wir, ihr, sie, SieGerman pronouns
Present tenseRegular verbs, sein, haben, a few stem-changing verbsGerman verbs
Word orderVerb in position 2; yes/no questions start with the verbGerman grammar
Nominative and accusativeder → den; ein → einenGerman grammar
Negationnicht and keinGerman grammar
Modal verbs (basic)können, möchten, müssenGerman verbs
Separable verbs (basic)aufstehen, einkaufen, anrufenGerman verbs

A1 vocabulary: how many words?

A1 learners typically know around 500-700 words. That sounds small, but the most frequent few hundred words make up a large share of everyday speech. Start with our list of the 100 most common German words, then add topic lists: numbers, family, food, home, time and the days of the week. Browse them all in German Vocabulary.

Golden rule

Never learn a German noun alone. Learn der Tisch, die Tische (the table, the tables) as one unit. Fixing the article later is much harder than learning it right the first time.

Phrases every A1 learner needs

GermanEnglish
Guten Tag! Ich heiße …Hello! My name is …
Wie geht’s?How are you?
Danke schön. – Bitte schön.Thank you very much. – You’re welcome.
Ich verstehe das nicht.I don’t understand that.
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?Could you repeat that, please?
Was kostet das?How much does that cost?
Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee.I’d like a coffee.

More in German Phrases & Greetings, including when to say Guten Tag and how to say thank you.

A 10-week A1 study plan

WeeksFocus
1Alphabet, pronunciation, greetings, introducing yourself
2-3Noun gender, articles, personal pronouns, present tense of regular verbs, sein and haben
4-5Numbers, time, days, questions (W-questions), word order
6-7Accusative case, nicht vs kein, food and shopping vocabulary
8-9Modal verbs, separable verbs, daily routine, family and home
10Review, practice test, speaking practice

About 30-45 minutes a day is enough. Split it: 10 minutes of vocabulary review with spaced repetition, 15 minutes of one new grammar point, 10 minutes of listening or speaking.

Why A1 feels hard (and why that’s normal)

At the start, your brain has no “hooks” to hang new German words on, so everything feels slippery. After a few weeks, patterns appear: -ung words are feminine, the verb goes second. Each pattern makes the next word easier to store.

A1 exams

If you need proof of A1, for example for a spouse visa to Germany, the most common certificates are the Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1, telc Deutsch A1 and ÖSD Zertifikat A1. All test listening, reading, writing and speaking. Compare them in our guide to German language exams.

All A1 lessons

A1 German FAQs

How long does it take to reach A1 in German?

With 30-60 minutes of daily study, most English speakers reach A1 in 2-3 months. An intensive course (around 20 hours a week) can get you there in 4-8 weeks.

Can I learn A1 German by myself?

Yes. A1 is very learnable alone with structured lessons, a spaced repetition app for vocabulary and regular listening. Add speaking practice with a tutor or tandem partner before an exam.

Is A1 German enough to live in Germany?

A1 lets you handle simple, predictable situations. For work, official appointments and real friendships you will want B1, which is also the level required for German citizenship.

What comes after A1?

A2 German: past tense (Perfekt), dative case, more vocabulary and longer conversations about your daily life.

Next level → A2 German: grammar, vocabulary and study plan

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