Free German level test · about 3 minutes
Think you know your German level? Let’s put a number on it.
Sixty words, from die Frau to das Feuerwerk. Tap the ones you know. A few of them are made up, so any guessing shows in the score.
- Drawn from the 8,000 most-used German words
- Guessing check built in
- Works on your phone
How to answer
- I know it means you could use the word in a sentence.
- Not sure counts as no. Nobody sees your answers but you.
- Some words are invented. Saying yes to those lowers your score.
Keyboard: ← not sure, → I know itOr swipe the card left or right
How it works
How the test works
Six words from every thousand
The 8,000 most-used German words are split into eight blocks of 1,000. The test takes six from each, spread across the block, so die Frau and das Feuerwerk both get a say.
Twelve of them are made up
They follow German spelling and mean nothing. Everyone says yes to one now and then, usually when it looks like a word they half know.
Your count is corrected
Each made-up word you claim discounts your real answers at the same rate. What remains is the number of words you would actually recognise.
CEFR levels
What your number means
Vocabulary size rises steadily with CEFR level. A1 to C1 are read from the 5,000 most common German words. C2 counts all 8,000.
| Level | Words you know | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Under 1,000 | Greetings, numbers, ordering a coffee. Gestures do a lot of the work. |
| A2 | 1,000–1,750 | Shops, directions, slow conversations about familiar things. |
| B1 | 1,750–2,500 | Everyday conversation, your job, your plans. Films with subtitles. |
| B2 | 2,500–3,250 | You can argue a point and follow most of the news. |
| C1 | 3,250–5,000 | You can work in German and catch most of the jokes. |
| C2 | 5,000+ | Close to everything. What remains is rare words and style. |
These ranges are our ladder, informed by research. Learners of French tested on the 5,000 most common words knew about 2,200–2,400 of them at B1 (Milton 2010, small samples). Above B2 the edges are our estimate: reading research suggests advanced readers know several thousand word families. Treat the ranges as a guide. Nobody has measured German learners this way yet, so these ranges borrow the French figures. Read the study
Inside the bands
What each band looks like
Five words from every block of 1,000, ranked by how often they appear in German. The test uses different ones, so nothing here gives it away.
Words 1–1,000
- die Frauwoman
- spielento play
- schönbeautiful, nice
- der Freundfriend
- das Kindchild
Words 1,001–2,000
- die Katzecat
- das Handymobile phone
- dickthick, fat
- die Regelrule
- die Umgebungsurroundings
Words 2,001–3,000
- die Haltungattitude, posture
- schrecklichterrible
- der Humorhumour
- die Menschheithumanity
- der Ansatzapproach
Words 3,001–4,000
- der Fuchsfox
- die Mausmouse
- der Streitargument, quarrel
- unsicherunsure
- die Trennungseparation
Words 4,001–5,000
- das Gemäldepainting
- der Salatsalad; lettuce
- der Verkäufersalesperson
- die Nachbarschaftneighbourhood
- wöchentlichweekly
Words 5,001–6,000
- die Bienebee
- die Mühlemill
- der Atembreath
- der Elefantelephant
- der Hubschrauberhelicopter
Words 6,001–7,000
- die Pistolepistol
- die Überschriftheadline
- das Komplimentcompliment
- der Ruhmfame
- die Umfragesurvey
Words 7,001–8,000
- das Feuerwerkfireworks
- der Diktatordictator
- die Heilunghealing, cure
- die Broschürebrochure
- die Auszeittime out, break
Word ranks from wordfreq, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, grouped by dictionary form.
Questions
Questions about the test
How accurate is this test?
Treat your number as a range. It comes from a sample of sixty words, so two attempts can land a few hundred words apart. It’s built to separate levels, like B1 from C1, and it can’t separate 2,410 from 2,450.
Why are some of the words fake?
To measure guessing. People say yes to words that feel familiar, and made-up words are the only way to see how often that happens. Your score is adjusted for it.
Does vocabulary size really tell me my level?
It tells you a lot. Grammar, listening and speaking all count towards a CEFR level, but studies have found the number of words you know rises with each level in a steady, predictable way.
How long does it take to reach the next level?
It depends on your pace. At 6 new words a day, B1 to B2 takes about 18 weeks. Remembering them takes longer, and that’s the part spaced repetition handles.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
It’s free, and your score shows without an account. You only need one if you want to learn the words you missed.
Can I take it again?
As often as you like. The words come in a different order every time.
Why are nouns shown with der, die or das?
Because in German the article is part of knowing the word. If you know Tisch but not that it’s der Tisch, you’ll trip over it in every sentence. The colours match the app: blue for der, pink for die, green for das.
Will it work if I learned Austrian or Swiss German?
Mostly, yes. The test sticks to standard German and leaves regional words out, so where you learned shouldn’t move your score much.
Where does your German actually sit?
Sixty words, about three minutes. You’ll know before your coffee goes cold.
