How to speak German fluently

German is a notoriously tricky language. Mastering German grammar when speaking can feel like an uphill battle. Thankfully, there are a number of things you can do to learn German quickly and take the stress away from speaking.

Here are our top seven tips to get you speaking German with confidence.

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7 tips on speaking German fluently and confidently

1. Listen in

Every good conversation starts with good listening. Learning a language is no different. Listen carefully to the phrases native speakers use and copy them. Turn on the radio or watch movies in German to improve your pronunciation to pick up idioms or expressions you can use.

2. Learn the genders

German has three genders, so it’s important to learn nouns along with their gender. Need help remembering them? Try writing down words in each gender using a colour you associate with that gender.

3. Hack your memory

Use all your senses to help lock new words into your memory bank. Say them, spell them out loud, then write them on to sticky notes and stick them on the items they describe around the house.

4. Turn up the volume

Dive into the German music scene to find an artist you like then sing along to the lyrics. This is a great way to practise your pronunciation, intonation and fluency.

5. Record yourself

Seeing how far you’ve come is key to keeping up motivation. Record yourself speaking and then play it back in a few months. Yes, it might be cringeworthy, but if you can pick up your own mistakes, you’ll see just how much you’ve improved!

6. Create a personal phrasebook

Learn how to speak German by talking about topics that are relevant to you. If you work in healthcare, learn phrases to help you talk about your job. Do you own a dog? Prepare answers to the questions you always get asked or teach your dog to sit in German.

7. Speak up

The more you speak, the more your confidence will grow. Yes, you’ll make some mistakes, but don't let that slow you down. Even native German speakers make mistakes! Practice makes perfect, or as the Germans say: Übung macht den Meister.