Learn German Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Learn German facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which German philosopher wrote 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra'? → Friedrich Nietzsche
2. What is the correct reflexive pronoun for 'er/sie/es' (he/she/it) in German? → sich
3. What is the significance of 'Tatort' in German culture? → A long-running German crime TV series watched communally on Sundays
4. Which modal verb means 'must' or 'to have to' in German? → müssen
5. What is the most natural German response to 'Danke schön' (Thank you very much)? → Bitte schön
6. What does 'Ich habe meinen Pass verloren' mean in English? → I have lost my passport.
7. What phrase would you use to make a reservation at a German restaurant? → Ich möchte einen Tisch reservieren.
8. What does 'Gesundheit' literally mean when said after a sneeze? → Health
9. What role does the genitive case primarily serve in German? → Shows possession or relationship between nouns
10. What is 'Gemütlichkeit' in German culture? → A feeling of warmth, coziness, and good cheer
11. I apologize; I guess I have the wrong number. → Entschuldigung, ich glaube ich habe die falsche Nummer gewählt.
12. What does 'die Arbeit' mean? → Work/Job
13. Which phrase correctly expresses agreement in an informal German conversation? → All of the above
14. What does the verb 'warten' mean? → To wait
15. How is the 24-hour clock used in German daily life? → Commonly in everyday speech, schedules, and digital devices
16. How do you say 'Monday' in German? → Montag
17. What gender is the German noun 'die Sonne' (the sun)? → Feminine
18. What does 'der Freund' mean? → Friend/Boyfriend
19. Which preposition always takes the dative case in German? → mit
20. What is 'Wanderlust' and what does it reveal about German culture? → A deep desire to travel and explore the world — a concept rooted in German Romanticism
21. What does the word or signify in German? → or
22. What does 'Können Sie mir bitte helfen?' mean in English? → Could you please help me?
23. How do you say 'I don't understand' in German? → Ich verstehe nicht.
24. Which German word means 'to need'? → Brauchen
25. What is "to write" in german? → Schrieben
26. Which German phrase means 'The flight is delayed'? → Der Flug ist verspätet.
27. What does 'Ich bin müde' mean in English? → I am tired
28. Which German word means 'water'? → Wasser
29. What does the modal verb 'müssen' express? → Necessity or obligation
30. Which of these German terms signifies yesterday? → Gestern