German vocabulary: upper intermediate (B2)
The 167 words and phrases taught in the upper intermediate chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.
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1. Discussing and debating
From chapter 1: learn these words in context
- das Tempolimitspeed limit · neuter, plural: ; = a 130 km/h limit; = It's high time.
- die Autobahnmotorway · feminine, plural:
- sichersafe · also “sure”; = safer
- bezweifelnto doubt · = I doubt that.
- der Unfallaccident · masculine, plural: ; = serious, heavy; = fewer, less
- nicht …, sondern …not …, but (rather) … · = not at all
- die Landstraßecountry road · feminine, plural:
- sich lohnento be worth it · = It's worth it.
- einerseits … andererseitson the one hand … on the other hand
- ausreden lassento let (someone) finish speaking ·
- sich halten anto stick to, to keep to (a rule) · + accusative: ; = to it
- unterbrechento interrupt · Präteritum: ; Perfekt:
- entspanntrelaxed · → = more slowly; = to arrive
- sich einig seinto agree, to be in agreement · = We agree.
2. Work in depth
From chapter 2: learn these words in context
- zufrieden mithappy with, satisfied with · + dative:
- der Erfolgsuccess · masculine, plural: ; = campaign
- Bescheid geben / sagento let (someone) know · + dative:
- die Hilfehelp · feminine; = on your own
- das Anliegenrequest, concern · neuter, plural:
- das Homeofficeworking from home · neuter;
- die Besprechungmeeting · feminine, plural:
- selbstverständlichof course, naturally · a stronger, more formal
- infrage kommento be possible, to be considered · = That's out of the question.
- die Geschäftsführungmanagement · feminine; / = managing director
- allerdingshowever, mind you · counts as position one: …
- der Vertriebsales (department) · masculine
- zur Verfügung stehento be available · = I'm at your disposal.
- hilfreichhelpful
3. Film, books and media
From chapter 3: learn these words in context
- enttäuschtdisappointed
- spannendexciting, gripping · a thriller is
- der Romannovel · masculine, plural:
- Worum geht es?What's it about? · … = It's about …
- erbento inherit · = grandmother
- versteckento hide · = war; = during the war; = someone
- erfahrento find out, to learn (news) · , , ; = little by little
- kitschigcheesy, sentimental · ; = scene
- die Kritikreview; criticism · feminine, plural: ; / = critic
- überzeugendconvincing · = to convince; = fitting
- drehento shoot (a film) · also “to turn”;
- sehenswertworth seeing · = worth reading
- leihento lend; to borrow · = Will you lend me the book? Perfekt:
- beschreibento describe · Perfekt:
4. Science and technology
From chapter 4: learn these words in context
- entladento discharge (a battery) · ; Perfekt: ; = to charge
- gefährlichdangerous · = danger
- erst wennonly when, not until · …, … = Only when … can …
- öffnento open · = , a little more formal; = open
- zerkleinernto shred, to break into small pieces · = small
- trennento separate · = from each other
- das Verfahrenprocess, method · neuter, plural:
- entwickelnto develop · Perfekt:
- zurückgewinnento recover (materials) · separable; Perfekt:
- vor allemabove all, especially
- rundaround, about (with numbers) · also “round”; = about 90 per cent
- beeindruckendimpressive · = to impress
- ersetzento replace · Perfekt: ; = earth, ground
- die Anlageplant, facility · feminine, plural:
5. Society and the environment
From chapter 5: learn these words in context
- der Hofcourtyard · masculine, plural: ; = inner courtyard
- einzigsingle, only · = not a single tree
- der Parkplatzparking space; car park · masculine, plural:
- der Asphalttarmac, asphalt · masculine
- sich Sorgen machen umto worry about · + accusative:
- die Hitzeheat · feminine; = hot
- pflanzento plant · = plant
- kühlcool · = cooler
- befürchtento fear, to be afraid (that) · … = I'm afraid that …
- der Nachbar / die Nachbarinneighbour · plural: / ; ,
- mitmachento take part, to go along with it · separable:
- unerträglichunbearable
- einverstandenin agreement · = I agree. / That's fine by me.
- der Antragapplication (to an authority) · masculine, plural: ; = to apply
6. Public life
From chapter 6: learn these words in context
- der Stadtratcity council · masculine; = meeting, session; = article
- das Zitatquotation, quote · neuter, plural:
- ändernto change · Perfekt:
- der Satzsentence · masculine, plural:
- der Oberbürgermeister / die Oberbürgermeisterinmayor (of a larger city) · = line; = tram line
- wiedergebento report, to reproduce · separable: ; Perfekt:
- besondersespecially, particularly · = political; , = topic
- betonento stress, to emphasise
- fertigfinished, ready
- der Vorortsuburb · masculine, plural: ; = too little
- aufpassento be careful, to pay attention · separable: = Be careful!
- der Anwohner / die Anwohnerinresident (of a street or area) · plural: /
- die Angstfear · feminine, plural: ; + dative = to be afraid of
- der Sprecher / die Sprecherinspokesperson; speaker · = citizen; = citizens' action group
7. Education and learning
From chapter 7: learn these words in context
- die Prüfungexam · feminine, plural: ; = maths exam
- das Abiturschool-leaving exam (like A levels) · neuter; informally
- die Notegrade, mark · feminine, plural:
- der Krankenpfleger / die Krankenpflegerinnurse · plural: /
- verdienento earn · = to earn money
- bereuento regret · = Do you regret it?
- der Elektriker / die Elektrikerinelectrician · plural: /
- sich informierento find out, to get information · + accusative:
- Man lernt nie aus.You're never too old to learn. · a saying; literally “you never finish learning”
- der Student / die Studentinstudent (at university) · plural: / ; n-declension:
- jeder / jede / jedesevery, each; everyone · = That can happen to anyone.
- neben der Arbeitalongside your job, while working · = next to; besides
- beideboth · = both of us
- die Uniuniversity · informal for
8. Idioms and everyday speech
From chapter 8: learn these words in context
- Keine Ahnung.No idea. · = idea, notion
- ins Fettnäpfchen tretento put your foot in it · Perfekt:
- der Anfangbeginning, start · masculine, plural: ; = at first
- gut laufento go well · Präteritum: ; Perfekt:
- der Chef / die Chefinboss · plural: /
- erst malfirst, for now · spoken form of
- auf dem Schlauch stehento not get it, to have a blank · = hose
- der Menschperson, human being · masculine, n-declension: ; plural:
- peinlichembarrassing · = I'm embarrassed about it.
- sich keinen Kopf machento not worry · = Don't worry!
- klappento work out, to go well · informal: = Did it work out?
- jemandem die Daumen drückento keep your fingers crossed for someone ·
- der Weltuntergangthe end of the world · masculine; = world
- einladento invite; to treat (someone) · = It's my treat. / I'll pay.
9. Humour and informal language
From chapter 9: learn these words in context
- fertigexhausted, wiped out (informal) · also “finished, ready”
- kaumhardly, barely · = I hardly slept.
- pennento sleep, to kip (informal) · neutral:
- krasswow, crazy, extreme (informal) · used for good and bad surprises
- sich beschwerento complain · + accusative:
- Bock haben (auf)to fancy (doing something) (informal) · neutral: ; = I don't feel like it.
- irgendwiesomehow
- unmöglichimpossible · = You're impossible!
- wenigstensat least
- der Vermieter / die Vermieterinlandlord / landlady · plural: / ; = rent
- vorbeikommento come round, to drop by · separable:
- Na super.Great. (usually ironic) · also:
- sich benehmento behave · ; Perfekt:
- mitkriegento notice, to find out (informal) · separable; neutral: ,
10. Formal writing
From chapter 10: learn these words in context
- die Hausverwaltungproperty management (company) · feminine, plural:
- der Aufzuglift · masculine, plural: ; also
- klingento sound · Präteritum: ; Perfekt:
- sachlichneutral, factual, objective · = unfriendly
- außer Betriebout of order · = operation; also company
- aufgrundbecause of, due to · + genitive: ; = age
- die Treppestairs, staircase · feminine, plural: ; = climbing stairs
- der Anrufphone call · masculine, plural: ; = several
- bisherso far, until now
- erhaltento receive · formal for ; Perfekt:
- der Mieter / die Mieterintenant · plural: / ; = to affect; = the same problem
- reparieren lassento have (something) repaired · + infinitive = to have something done
- höflichpolite · = tenants' association
- dankbargrateful · = I would be grateful.
11. Giving a presentation
From chapter 11: learn these words in context
- das Ergebnisresult · neuter, plural:
- vorstellento present, to introduce · separable:
- die Folieslide (in a presentation) · feminine, plural:
- die Zahlnumber, figure · feminine, plural: ; = sick day
- sinkento fall, to go down · Präteritum: ; Perfekt:
- Folgendesthe following · : …
- sogareven · = It even got shorter.
- entscheidenddecisive, key · = the key thing
- kürzento shorten, to cut · = short
- zusätzlichadditional(ly), extra
- einstellento hire, to take on (staff) · separable; = staff
- die Abteilungdepartment · feminine, plural: ; = further, more
- die Aufmerksamkeitattention ·
- sich bedankento say thank you · + accusative:
12. Final review
From chapter 12: learn these words in context
- übertreibento exaggerate · ; Perfekt:
- der Sender(radio or TV) station · masculine, plural: ; = radio station
- jemandem ans Herz wachsento grow fond of, to become dear to someone · = heart;
- unterrichtento teach · Perfekt: ; = academic secondary school
- der Ärgertrouble; annoyance · masculine; = to be in trouble with someone
- die Überraschungsurprise · feminine, plural: ; = full of surprises
- der Lehrer / die Lehrerinteacher · plural: / ; = staffroom
- so tun, als obto act as if, to pretend ·
- vergessento forget · ; Perfekt:
- herrlichwonderful, delightful · also ironic:
- wegziehento move away · separable; Perfekt:
- das Auslandabroad, foreign countries · neuter; = to go abroad; = abroad
- ernstserious · = Are you serious?
- Was ist aus … geworden?What became of …? · = What happened to him?
Other levels: Beginner (A1) · Elementary (A2) · Intermediate (B1)