German B1 vocabulary list
264 words from our 780-word B1 bank, sorted into 23 topics, with article, English meaning and audio pronunciation.
This is not an official exam word list. The Goethe-Institut publishes its own B1 word list (Wortliste) in its exam documents; the words here come from the Level Exams word bank, compiled by level as a study list.
B1 is the level of independent everyday use: giving your opinion, planning something together, writing a complaint or a suggestion. Feelings, work and the economy, home, culture, society and law stand out in this list.
telc B1, the joint Goethe/ÖSD Zertifikat B1 and the B1 requirement for German citizenship all expect you to understand and use these words: stating your view in Schreiben, presenting and discussing a topic in Sprechen. Learning adjectives with their opposites makes them stick: einfach – schwierig.
Time, days and months
12 of 23 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
die Kindheit | childhood | noun |
aktuell | current | adjective |
das Jahrzehnt | decade | noun |
schließlich, eventuell | finally, eventually | adverb |
für immer | forever | phrase |
häufig | often, frequently | adverb |
sofortig, unmittelbar | immediate | adjective |
neueste, letzte | latest, last | adjective |
die Freizeit | free time | noun |
inzwischen | meanwhile | adverb |
jetzt, nun | now | adverb |
einmal | once | adverb |
People
12 of 15 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
der Champion | champion | noun |
im Ruhestand, pensioniert | retired | adjective |
der Herr | gentleman | noun |
der Gastgeber, der Moderator | host | noun |
der Immigrant, die Einwanderer | immigrant | noun |
der Organisator | organizer | noun |
der Fotograf | photographer | noun |
das Personal, die Belegschaft | staff, personnel | noun |
der Fremde, die Fremde | stranger | noun |
der Unterstützer | supporter | noun |
das Talent | talent | noun |
der Zuschauer | viewer, spectator | noun |
Body and health
12 of 17 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
alkoholisch, alkoholabhängig | alcoholic | adjective |
der Atem | breath | noun |
atmen | to breathe | verb |
die Atmung | breathing | noun |
die Brust, die Kiste | chest | noun |
verletzt, verwundet | injured, wounded | adjective |
die Lippe | lip | noun |
mental | mental | adjective |
der Muskel | muscle | noun |
schmerzhaft | painful | adjective |
giftig | poisonous | adjective |
das Symptom | symptom | noun |
Home and household
12 of 26 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
die Heizung | heating | noun |
die Zutat, der Bestandteil | ingredient, component | noun |
die Pfanne | pan | noun |
das Regal | shelf | noun |
die Glocke, die Klingel | bell | noun |
die Blase | bubble | noun |
die Kette | chain | noun |
der Stoff, das Tuch | cloth, fabric | noun |
die Sammlung | collection | noun |
der Behälter, der Container | container | noun |
der Tropfen | drop | noun |
die Nadel | needle | noun |
Places and directions
7 of 8 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
der Rand | edge | noun |
der Eingang | entrance | noun |
der Eintrag, der Zugang | entry, access | noun |
Innen-, drinnen | indoor | adjective |
drinnen, im Haus | indoors | adverb |
die Reihe | row, series | noun |
der Fleck, die Stelle | spot, stain | noun |
Travel
8 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
die Unterkunft | accommodation | noun |
die Ankunft | arrival | noun |
die Attraktion, die Anziehung | attraction | noun |
der Abflug | departure | noun |
das Ziel | destination | noun |
die Expedition | expedition | noun |
die Reservierung | reservation | noun |
bereisen | to travel (through) | verb |
Education
11 of 12 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
akademisch | academic | adjective |
die Aufgabe, der Auftrag | task, assignment | noun |
der Campus | campus | noun |
bilden, erziehen | to educate | verb |
gebildet | educated | adjective |
pädagogisch, bildend | pedagogical, educational | adjective |
die Note, die Stufe, die Qualität | grade, level, quality | noun |
die Präsentation | presentation | noun |
die Qualifikation | qualification | noun |
qualifiziert | qualified | adjective |
qualifizieren | to qualify | verb |
Jobs
9 of 10 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
der Agent, der Vertreter | agent, representative | noun |
der Kapitän | captain | noun |
der Redakteur | editor | noun |
der Dichter, die Dichterin | poet | noun |
der Politiker, die Politikerin | politician | noun |
der Priester | priest | noun |
der Produzent, die Produzentin | producer | noun |
der Beruf | profession | noun |
der Seemann, der Matrose | sailor | noun |
Work and economy
12 of 38 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
profitieren, nützen | to benefit, to profit | verb |
kommerziell, der Werbespot | commercial | adjective |
konsumieren, verbrauchen | to consume | verb |
der Konsument | consumer | noun |
die Währung | currency | noun |
das Geschäft | deal, business | noun |
der Rabatt | discount | noun |
wirtschaftlich | economic | adjective |
die Wirtschaft | economy | noun |
finanziell | financial | adjective |
die Waren, die Güter | goods | noun |
mieten, einstellen | to hire, to rent | verb |
Media and communication
12 of 18 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
ankündigen, bekannt geben | to announce | verb |
die Ankündigung, die Bekanntmachung | announcement | noun |
kommentieren | to comment | verb |
die Kommunikation | communication | noun |
die Beschwerde | complaint | noun |
der Kontakt, kontaktieren | contact; to contact | noun |
die Erwähnung | mention | noun |
gesprochen, mündlich | spoken, oral | adjective |
Mit freundlichen Grüßen | Best regards | phrase |
telefonieren | to phone, to call | verb |
die Anzeige, die Werbung | advertisement, ad | noun |
der Dokumentarfilm | documentary | noun |
Technology
8 of 10 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
der Zugang, zugreifen | access; to access | noun |
die Batterie, der Akku | battery | noun |
klicken, der Klick | to click, click | verb |
die Tastatur | keyboard | noun |
programmieren | to program | verb |
der Roboter | robot | noun |
die Software | software | noun |
die Version | version | noun |
Arts and culture
12 of 22 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
das Album | album | noun |
kulturell | cultural | adjective |
der Brauch | custom | noun |
die Trommel | drum | noun |
die Literatur | literature | noun |
das Musical | musical | noun |
die Fotografie | photography | noun |
das Gedicht | poem | noun |
die Poesie | poetry | noun |
das Porträt | portrait | noun |
zitieren, das Zitat | to quote, quote | verb |
die Skulptur, die Bildhauerei | sculpture, sculpting | noun |
Nature and environment
12 of 19 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
umweltbedingt, umweltbezogen | environmental | adjective |
die Atmosphäre, die Stimmung | atmosphere, mood | noun |
das Ufer | shore, bank (river) | noun |
der Ast, die Filiale, der Zweig | branch (tree), branch (shop) | noun |
die Landschaft | landscape | noun |
der Staub | dust | noun |
das Erdbeben | earthquake | noun |
der Fluss | river | noun |
jagen | to hunt | verb |
der Hurrikan | hurricane | noun |
das Blatt | leaf | noun |
der Schlamm | mud | noun |
Feelings
12 of 49 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
bewundern | to admire | verb |
erstaunt, verblüfft | astonished, amazed | adjective |
ärgern, stören | to annoy, to bother | verb |
verärgert, genervt | annoyed, irritated | adjective |
ärgerlich, nervig | annoying, irritating | adjective |
schätzen, würdigen | to appreciate, to value | verb |
stören, belästigen | to disturb, to bother | verb |
fröhlich | cheerful | adjective |
zuversichtlich | confident | adjective |
verwirren | to confuse | verb |
verwirrt | confused | adjective |
grausam | cruel | adjective |
Society
12 of 15 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
sich entschuldigen | to apologize | verb |
der Termin, die Ernennung | appointment | noun |
spenden | to donate | verb |
ermutigen, fördern | to encourage, to promote | verb |
die Generation | generation | noun |
der Einheimische | local | noun |
die Nation | nation | noun |
die Armut | poverty | noun |
die Rasse | race (ethnicity) | noun |
arbeitslos | unemployed | adjective |
die Arbeitslosigkeit | unemployment | noun |
die Gewerkschaft | union, trade union | noun |
Politics and government
8 of 10 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
der Kandidat, die Kandidatin | candidate | noun |
die Wahl | election, choice | noun |
die Politik, die Richtlinie | policy | noun |
politisch | political | adjective |
die Politik | politics | noun |
der Protest, protestieren | protest, to protest | noun |
vertreten | to represent | verb |
regieren, herrschen | to rule, to govern | verb |
Law
11 of 13 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
der Akt, die Handlung, das Gesetz | act, law | noun |
die Vereinbarung, die Einigung | agreement | noun |
die Verhaftung, verhaften | arrest, to arrest | noun |
behaupten, der Anspruch | to claim, claim | verb |
das Gericht | court | noun |
illegal, ungesetzlich | illegal, unlawful | adjective |
der Mord, die Tötung | killing, murder | noun |
legal, rechtlich, gesetzlich | legal | adjective |
der Gefangene, die Gefangene | prisoner | noun |
bestrafen | to punish | verb |
die Strafe | punishment | noun |
Science
12 of 13 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
analysieren | to analyze | verb |
die Analyse | analysis | noun |
chemisch, die Chemikalie | chemical | adjective |
das Diagramm | diagram | noun |
das Ingenieurwesen | engineering | noun |
experimentieren | to experiment | verb |
nuklear | nuclear | adjective |
die Realität | reality | noun |
wissenschaftlich | scientific | adjective |
die Statistik | statistics | noun |
die Substanz, der Stoff | substance | noun |
die Technik | technique | noun |
Abstract concepts
12 of 16 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
die Herausforderung | challenge | noun |
der Hinweis | clue | noun |
der Vergleich | comparison | noun |
die Schlussfolgerung | conclusion | noun |
die Verbindung | connection | noun |
die Konsequenz, die Folge | consequence | noun |
die Verantwortung | responsibility | noun |
der Anstieg, die Erhöhung | rise, increase | noun |
das Risiko, riskieren | risk, to risk | noun |
die Sicherheit | safety, security | noun |
der Satz, das Set, die Gruppe | set, group | noun |
ähnlich, gleichermaßen | similarly, likewise | adverb |
Verbs
12 of 72 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
betrügen | to cheat, to deceive | verb |
klären, räumen | to clarify, to clear | verb |
der Aufstieg | climb, ascent | noun |
kombinieren, verbinden | to combine, to merge | verb |
begehen, sich verpflichten | to commit, to pledge | verb |
abschließen, folgern | to conclude | verb |
bestehen aus | to consist of | verb |
teilen, dividieren | to divide | verb |
leeren | to empty | verb |
untersuchen, prüfen | to examine, to inspect | verb |
sammeln | to collect, to gather | verb |
der Versuch | attempt | noun |
Adjectives
12 of 48 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
wettbewerbsfähig | competitive | adjective |
komplex | complex | adjective |
effektiv, wirksam | effective | adjective |
wesentlich, unerlässlich | essential, indispensable | adjective |
offensichtlich | obvious | adjective |
seltsam, ungerade | strange, odd | adjective |
offiziell | official | adjective |
altmodisch | old-fashioned | adjective |
organisiert | organized | adjective |
Außen- | outdoor, exterior | adjective |
blass, hell | pale, light | adjective |
friedlich | peaceful | adjective |
Pronouns, prepositions and conjunctions
10 of 11 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
ernsthaft | seriously | adverb |
ihres | theirs | pronoun |
deshalb | therefore | adverb |
es sei denn, wenn nicht | unless | conjunction |
ungleich, im Gegensatz zu | unlike | preposition |
auf, an | upon, on | preposition |
was auch immer | whatever | pronoun |
wann immer | whenever | conjunction |
ob | whether | conjunction |
innerhalb | within | preposition |
More common words
24 of 307 words| German | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
die Anzahl | number | noun |
der Prozentsatz | percentage | noun |
farbig | colored | adjective |
cremefarben | cream-colored | adjective |
die Braut | bride | noun |
die Ehe | marriage | noun |
der Prinz | prince | noun |
die Prinzessin | princess | noun |
backen | to bake | verb |
das Mehl | flour | noun |
das Getreide, das Korn | grain | noun |
scharf, würzig | spicy, hot | adjective |
der Vorhang | curtain | noun |
der Zaun | fence | noun |
der Topf | pot | noun |
die Kappe, der Deckel | cap, lid | noun |
das Kostüm | costume | noun |
gekleidet | dressed | adjective |
modisch | fashionable | adjective |
der Handschuh | glove | noun |
die Unterwäsche | underwear | noun |
die Biene | bee | noun |
bestätigen | to confirm | verb |
der Pelz | fur | noun |
The full list is in the app
All 780 words of level B1, in topic packs with picture cards. The vocabulary cards are part of the B1 Lesson Package; with a free account you can take a mock exam first.
- A picture for every word
- Pronunciation in a natural German voice
- Auto-play study mode at your own pace
- Words you mark as ‘I know this’ are set aside and your progress is saved
How to study these words
- 1
Learn every noun with its article
Not ‘Tisch’ but ‘der Tisch’. The article (der, die, das) is not added later; memorize it as part of the noun.
- 2
Listen first, then repeat aloud
A word you have never heard will not be recognised in Hören. Listen to each word and say it out loud.
- 3
Topic by topic, in your own sentences
Words from the same topic remind you of each other. Make a short sentence about yourself with a few words from each topic.
- 4
Set aside what you know, repeat what you don't
Short daily reviews work better than one long weekly session. Spend your time on the words you do not know yet.
Try the words under exam conditions
Knowing a word is one thing; recognising it while the exam clock runs is another. Our B1 mock exams follow the telc, Goethe and ÖSD formats, with real timing, locked section order and real scoring.
Not sure about your level? Take the free placement test →
Frequently asked questions
›Is this the official telc or Goethe B1 word list?
No. The Goethe-Institut publishes its own B1 word list (Wortliste) in its exam documents; this page is not a copy of it. The words here come from the Level Exams word bank, compiled for level B1 and sorted by topic as a study list. There is no guarantee that every word will appear in the exam; the aim is to cover the core words of the level topic by topic.
›How many words do I need for B1?
There is no official number: the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) defines levels by what you can do with the language, not by a word count. Our B1 bank has 780 words. More important than the number is recognising these words when you hear them and using them in your own sentences.
›How should I learn the articles der, die and das?
Learn every noun together with its article and repeat it aloud. A few rules help: nouns ending in -ung, -heit, -keit, -schaft and -ion take die; nouns ending in -chen and -lein take das; days, months and seasons take der. Note the exceptions separately.
›Which part of the exam do these words help with?
All of them. In Hören and Lesen you need to recognise the word to understand the text; in Schreiben and Sprechen you need to use it with the right article and form, which directly affects your score.
›Where can I study the whole list?
All 780 words are in the Level Exams app, in topic packs: a picture for every word, audio pronunciation, an auto-play mode and progress tracking with ‘I know this’. The vocabulary cards are part of the B1 Lesson Package.