Today's words · ✏️ In class
Survive your German class: 10 must-have words
A1B1
The scariest part of a language class isn't grammar — it's not understanding and not knowing how to say so.
First day at language school. The teacher explains something quickly and everyone nods. You seem to be the only one who's lost… so how do you say “one more time, please” in German?
Today's ten words are the ones you'll use in every lesson. With them you can ask the teacher to repeat, explain or spell something without feeling shy. The students who ask questions learn fastest! ✏️
📋 The ten words at a glance
🧠 Words, examples and memory tricks
wiederholen
[vee-der-HOH-len]to repeat(wiederholt – hat wiederholt)
📌 Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
→ Could you repeat that, please?
💡 wieder (again) + holen (fetch) = fetch the words again 🔁
⚠ In this sense it's inseparable: Ich wiederhole. (perfect: hat wiederholt)
erklären
[air-KLAIR-en]to explain(erklärt – hat erklärt)
📌 Kannst du mir das noch einmal erklären?
→ Can you explain that to me again?
💡 klar (clear) is hiding inside 💡 To explain is to make it klar.
Bonus The listener is in the dative: Kannst du mir das erklären?
die Frage
[FRAH-guh]question(Pl. die Fragen)
📌 Darf ich eine Frage stellen?
→ May I ask a question?
💡 The noun from fragen (to ask) ❓ Nouns ending in -e are very often die.
Bonus to ask a question = eine Frage stellen (not machen!)
verstehen
[fair-SHTAY-en]to understand(versteht – hat verstanden)
📌 Entschuldigung, das habe ich nicht verstanden.
→ Sorry, I didn't understand that.
💡 Like under-stand, it contains stehen (to stand) 🧍
Bonus When you're lost: Das habe ich nicht verstanden.
die Übung
[UE-boong]practice; exercise(Pl. die Übungen)
📌 Übung macht den Meister.
→ Practice makes perfect.
💡 üben (to practise) + -ung 🏋️ -ung words are always die.
Bonus Übung macht den Meister. = Practice makes perfect.
die Antwort
[ANT-vort]answer(Pl. die Antworten)
📌 Ich warte noch auf eine Antwort.
→ I'm still waiting for an answer.
💡 ant- (back) + Wort (word) = a word sent back 🗨️ English answer is built the same way.
Bonus an answer to = eine Antwort auf + accusative
bedeuten
[beh-DOY-ten]to mean(bedeutet – hat bedeutet)
📌 Was bedeutet dieses Wort?
→ What does this word mean?
💡 From deuten (to point) 👉 What does this word point to?
Bonus Classroom essential: Was bedeutet das?
buchstabieren
[bookh-shta-BEE-ren]to spell(buchstabiert – hat buchstabiert)
📌 Können Sie Ihren Namen bitte buchstabieren?
→ Could you spell your name, please?
💡 Saying each Buchstabe (letter) one by one 🔤 You'll need it for your name.
Bonus How do you write that? = Wie schreibt man das?
der Fehler
[FAY-ler]mistake, error(Pl. die Fehler)
📌 Ich habe einen Fehler gemacht.
→ I made a mistake.
💡 From fehlen (to be missing) ❌ When something's missing, it's a mistake.
Bonus to make a mistake = einen Fehler machen
sich melden
[zikh MEL-den]to get in touch; to report; to put one's hand up(meldet sich – hat sich gemeldet)
📌 Melde dich, wenn du angekommen bist!
→ Get in touch when you've arrived!
💡 In class it means putting your hand up 🙋 Elsewhere it means getting in touch.
Bonus When saying goodbye: Ich melde mich! = I'll be in touch!
🇩🇪 A spoonful of German culture
In German schools, pupils often put up just their index finger rather than a flat hand when they want to answer. That's sich melden.
At the end of a university lecture, students often knock on their desks instead of clapping. It can be startling the first time, but it simply means “thanks, good lecture”.
On the phone, people sometimes spell names with words for each letter: Anton, Berta, Cäsar… Try spelling your own name that way! 📞
✅ Quick quiz
Q. The teacher spoke too fast and you missed it. What do you say?
- ① Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
- ② Ich habe einen Fehler gemacht.
- ③ Melde dich, wenn du angekommen bist!
Show the answer
① Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
wiederholen = to repeat — the request you'll make most in class.
Use at least one of today's phrases in your next lesson. The first question is the hardest; after that it gets easy! 🙋
🔜 Tomorrow's topic: 🌍 Studying abroad