G1. Introduction to German

Introduction to German 🇩🇪✨

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1. Overview of the German Language

• Significance of the German Language:

  • German is one of the most widely spoken languages in Europe, with over 100 million native speakers.
  • It is the official language of Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein, and one of the official languages of Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Belgium.
  • Known as the language of science and philosophy, German has a rich history in literature, music, and innovation.
  • Learning German opens doors to career opportunities, especially in engineering, business, and international relations.

• Regions Where German is Spoken:

  • Germany
  • Austria
  • Switzerland (alongside French, Italian, and Romansh)
  • Liechtenstein
  • Parts of Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy (South Tyrol), and Namibia (historically).

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2. Introduction to the German Alphabet and Pronunciation Basics

German uses the Latin alphabet with a few unique additions:
ß (Eszett) and Umlauts (ä, ö, ü).

The German Alphabet

Letter	Pronunciation Example
A	“Ah” as in father
B	“Beh” as in ball
C	“Tseh” as in cell or cat
D	“Deh” as in dog
E	“Eh” as in bed
F	“Eff” as in fish
G	“Geh” as in go
H	“Ha” as in house
I	“Ee” as in see
J	“Yot” as in yes
K	“Kah” as in kite
L	“Ell” as in lamp
M	“Em” as in man
N	“En” as in nice
O	“Oh” as in open
P	“Peh” as in pen
Q	“Koo” as in queue
R	“Err” (slightly rolled)
S	“Ess” as in sun
T	“Teh” as in top
U	“Oo” as in moon
V	“Fau” (sounds like f)
W	“Veh” (sounds like v)
X	“Iks” as in box
Y	“Ypsilon” (sounds like ü)
Z	“Tset” as in pizza

Special Characters

• ß (Eszett): Sounds like ss (e.g., Straße = street).
• Umlauts (ä, ö, ü):
  • Ä sounds like "eh" (e.g., Käse = cheese).
  • Ö sounds like "er" (e.g., schön = beautiful).
  • Ü sounds like "ue" (e.g., über = over).

Pronunciation Tips

• The letter "V" is pronounced like "F" in most words (e.g., Vogel = bird).
• The letter "S" is often pronounced like "Z" when at the start of a word (e.g., Sonne = sun).
• Roll the "R" lightly, especially at the end of syllables (e.g., Lehrer = teacher).

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3. Essential Greetings and Polite Expressions

Basic Greetings

• Hallo! – Hello!
• Guten Morgen! – Good morning!
• Guten Tag! – Good day!
• Guten Abend! – Good evening!
• Tschüss! – Bye!
• Auf Wiedersehen! – Goodbye! (formal)
• Bis später! – See you later!

Introducing Yourself

• Wie heißt du? – What’s your name? (informal)
• Wie heißen Sie? – What’s your name? (formal)
• Ich heiße [Name]. – My name is [Name].

Polite Expressions

• Bitte. – Please / You’re welcome.
• Danke. – Thank you.
• Entschuldigung. – Excuse me. / I’m sorry.
• Wie geht’s? – How are you? (informal)
• Wie geht es Ihnen? – How are you? (formal)
• Mir geht’s gut, danke. – I’m good, thank you.
• Und dir? – And you? (informal)
• Und Ihnen? – And you? (formal)

Common Phrases for Everyday Use

• Ich verstehe nicht. – I don’t understand.
• Sprechen Sie Englisch? – Do you speak English?
• Wie sagt man [word] auf Deutsch? – How do you say [word] in German?
• Ich lerne Deutsch. – I’m learning German.

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Tutorial Video Suggestions

1. Video 1: "The German Alphabet: Learn to Pronounce Like a Native!"
2. Video 2: "Top 10 German Greetings for Beginners!"
3. Video 3: "How to Introduce Yourself in German – A Simple Guide."