In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the essential books for learning German. These books have been carefully selected by experts to help you master the German language.
From grammar guides to vocabulary builders, these books will provide you with the tools you need to confidently communicate in German.
Don’t waste any more time trying to figure out which resources are the best – we’ve done the research for you.
Start learning German today with these must-have books.
Basic German by Heiner Schenke, Anna Miell, Karen Seago
“Basic German” book teaches German grammar and includes exercises for practice. It covers the core material that students typically encounter in their first years of learning German and includes explanations of grammar points, authentic language samples, and checklists to reinforce key points.
The book is suitable for independent study or for use in a class and is designed for beginners or students with some knowledge of the language.
GERMAN in 10 minutes a day by Kristine K. Kershul
“GERMAN in 10 minutes a day” is a complete German language learning program that is designed to be completed in just 10 minutes per day.
It includes a workbook, digital learning software, sticky labels, flashcards, a menu guide, a pronunciation guide, and a glossary.
The program is designed to be approachable and engaging for learners of all ages, with interactive activities and visual aids to support learning.
It focuses on vocabulary that is useful for travel, including key question words, money and numbers, and directions.
The program is flexible and allows learners to progress at their own pace. It also includes resources to help with pronunciation and includes “free words” that sound similar to their English counterparts.
The goal of the resource is to help learners learn and speak German quickly and effectively, so they can have more enjoyable travel experiences.
Dictionary of 501 German Verbs by Henry Strutz
“Barron’s 501 German Verbs” is a book that helps people learn the German language. It has a list of 501 commonly used verbs, which are arranged in an easy-to-follow chart.
The book also includes explanations and examples of verb usage, as well as online exercises to practice using the verbs in different tenses and contexts.
It is useful for students, travelers, and adult learners who want to improve their German language skills.
Complete German by Heiner Schenke, Paul Coggle
This course teaches German language skills including reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It is designed for beginner to intermediate learners and can be used for self-study or in a classroom setting.
The course includes 23 units, a verb reference, a word glossary, and a revision section. It also includes cultural notes about Germany, listening activities, and progress tracking.
German Grammar Explained Easily by Jan Richter
This resource includes 120 lessons with simple explanations of German grammar written for learners.
It also includes step-by-step guides to help with various aspects of grammar and emphasizes understanding the rules rather than memorization.
It claims that German grammar is logical with few exceptions.
Enjoy German by Heiner Schenke, Paul Coggle
This course is designed to help learners improve their German language skills and feel comfortable using the language in a variety of situations.
It is based on authentic texts such as songs, poems, and conversations and includes information about the culture, history, and geography of Germany.
By the end of the course, learners will be able to understand and communicate with German speakers at an intermediate level.
The coursebook with audio on CD features ten units that cover more complex situations, authentic texts, and a workbook.
It is suitable for self-study or use in a post-beginner classroom.
German All-in-One For Dummies by Wendy Foster, Paulina Christensen, Anne Fox
“German All-in-One For Dummies” is a book and CD combo that combines several other German language resources into one guide.
It includes content on speaking, writing, and understanding German, as well as additional grammar and usage information.
The CD allows for additional practice in speaking the language. The goal of the resource is to help learners improve their German skills and feel confident in their ability to speak and understand conversational German.
It is suitable for those who want to learn German for work, travel, or personal enjoyment.
German Grammar For Beginners by My Daily German
“German Grammar for Beginners” is a reference and practice book that covers beginner-level German grammar.
It includes 30 lessons with straightforward explanations and an embedded workbook with over 300 exercises.
The lessons are designed to be completed in 30 minutes per day for 30 days to form an effective learning habit.
The book also includes audio narrated by a native speaker for pronunciation and listening practice.
The goal of the resource is to help learners understand and practice basic German grammar in a more engaging and effective way.
German made simple by Eugene Jackson
“German Made Simple” is designed to help readers learn German on their own. It includes information on the basics of German grammar, modern vocabulary, pronunciation, reading exercises, economic information, common expressions, and review exercises.
The book also includes a complete answer key and a German-English dictionary. It is suitable for learners who are studying German in school, planning a trip to Germany or Austria, or just trying to learn the basics of the language.
The goal of the resource is to provide an easy-to-understand guide to learning German.
Lonely Planet German Phrasebook & Dictionary by Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet German Phrasebook & Dictionary is designed to help travelers communicate with locals and make the most of their trips.
It includes a menu decoder, a two-way dictionary with 3500 words, key phrases, common questions and answers, and information on culture and manners.
The phrasebook covers a range of topics including basic phrases, practical information, social situations, safe travel, and food.
It is written and researched by Lonely Planet and is intended to provide reliable and accurate information for travelers.
Hammer’s German Grammar and Usage by Martin Durrell
“Hammer’s German Grammar and Usage” is a comprehensive guide to German grammar. It includes clear and concise descriptions of all the main grammatical features of the language and provides examples of both formal and informal usage.
It is intended for use by students and teachers and will be valuable as both a reference grammar and a manual of current usage.
Intermediate German by Anna Miell, Heiner Schenke
“Intermediate German” is a resource for learners who have already achieved basic proficiency in German and want to improve their skills further.
It includes grammar explanations and exercises to help build confidence and fluency.
The book includes cultural information about German-speaking countries, expanded entries on adverbs and the imperative, and additional exercises to help with retention. It is intended for learners who are looking to progress to a more complex language.
Language Hacking German by Benny Lewis
The #LanguageHacking method is a way of learning a new language that focuses on speaking and conversation from the start.
It is different from traditional language courses because it is organized around the specific language and conversations you need to know rather than by levels of difficulty.
This method includes 10 units that help you work towards a speaking goal, 10 “language hacks” to improve fluency, model conversations, and useful phrases, and strategies for using a limited vocabulary.
There are also free audio resources available for download.
Learn German The Easy Way 2019 by Patrick Noble, Paul Mahoney
“Learn German the Easy Way 2019,” is a book for learning a new language, specifically German.
It is designed to be efficient and effective and to focus on building vocabulary through repetition and hearing and repeating words.
It is aimed at beginners and is structured to be easy to use, even for those who have never heard a German word before.
The goal is to allow users to become conversational in German at their own pace.
Learn German by Simple Language Learning
This book is a comprehensive guide to learning German for beginners. It includes grammar, short stories, and 2500 common phrases.
It is designed to be fun and effective and to give readers a sense of the soul and music of the German language.
It provides English translations and explanations to help with the learning process.
Part 1 covers topics such as greeting others, time, weather, education and work, family and friends, leisure, food and drink, clothing, accommodation, and transportation.
Part 2 covers topics such as pronunciation, useful verbs and adjectives, travel, accommodation, food, shopping, post office, bank, telephone, healthcare, beauty, art and culture, family and relationships, work and education, and emergencies.
Living Language German, Complete Edition by Living Language
Living Language German is great for learning the German language. It includes three books with 46 lessons, culture notes, a glossary, and a grammar summary, as well as nine audio CDs with vocabulary, dialogues, and audio exercises.
It also includes access to online learning resources such as flashcards, games, and quizzes.
Living Language Method focuses on building a foundation of essential words and phrases, progressing to full sentences and conversations, and helping learners retain what they have learned.
It aims to help users develop practical language skills and speak in any situation.
Complete German Grammar by Ed Swick
“Complete German Grammar” is a comprehensive guide to learning German grammar.
It includes explanations, examples, and exercises covering all aspects of German grammar, including present tense regular verbs, adverbs, and adjectives.
It also includes an answer key, interactive quizzes, and a review chapter to help reinforce what has been learned.
The book features practical and high-frequency vocabulary and is accompanied by an app with streaming audio recordings for on-the-go study.
The goal of the book is to help learners communicate effectively and confidently in German.
Sammelsurium by Franz-Joseph Wehage
“Sammelsurium” is for intermediate-level German learners. It includes 38 readings on various topics related to German culture, each with its own set of vocabulary and comprehension questions and communicative exercises.
The readings cover a range of topics, including literary texts, profiles of historical figures, contemporary German culture, soccer and golf, and the nightlife of Berlin.
The book also focuses on major historical figures in science and music and has an emphasis on the narrative past to help learners acquire and use new verbs in composition.
It aims to build competence in reading, writing, and speaking and to increase cultural awareness. It can be used as a supplementary text or as the main reader in a course.
Schaum’s Outline of German Grammar by Elke Gschossmann-Hendershot
“Schaum’s Outline of German Grammar” book is for improving German grammar skills.
It includes more than 400 exercises with answers, as well as 2.5 hours of downloadable audio files for additional practice.
It covers contemporary conversational German, including expressions, slang, and idioms, and is compatible with major textbooks for German courses.
It is intended to help students improve their scores on tests and in the classroom.
Speak German in 90 Days by Kevin Marx
“Speak German in 90 Days” is a comprehensive course for learning German. It includes 90 lessons with easy-to-understand grammar explanations, ten vocabulary words per lesson chosen from the most common 1000, and example sentences for each word.
It also includes tips and tricks for effective self-study, pronunciation guidance for American English speakers, and explanations of vocabulary nuances and idiomatic expressions.
The goal of the course is to help students quickly master the basics of elementary German grammar, achieve conversational fluency, and learn everything taught in two years of a college-level German course.
The Wunderbar World of German Idioms Vol. 2 by Emma Jackman
“The Wunderbar World of German Idioms Vol. 2” is a book that teaches 75 everyday German idioms and sayings to help improve fluency and sound more like a native speaker.
It includes a literal translation and example sentences for each idiom, as well as a free audio download of all the phrases and sentences.
It is intended for learners of German who want to have fun and improve their language skills.
Short Stories in German for Beginners by Olly Richards
“Short Stories in German for Beginners” is a collection of eight unconventional short stories for young and adult learners of the German language.
The stories are written at an intermediate level and are intended to provide enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment to learners while helping them improve their vocabulary, conversational skills, and grammar.
The book includes glossaries, bilingual word lists, plot summaries, and comprehension questions to support learners in their language learning journey.
The stories cover a range of genres including science fiction, crime, history, and thriller.
The goal of the book is to make learning German easy and enjoyable through the use of engaging stories.
Learn German With Stories by André Klein
Learn German With Stories is a collection of short stories designed to help beginners learn German through immersion.
The stories are set in various cities in Germany and Europe, and follow the journey of a protagonist as he experiences daily life in these places.
The stories include a German-English dictionary with a focus on collocative phrases, short sentences, and expressions, as well as quizzes and bonus materials such as videos, flashcards, and further exercises to aid in the learning process.
The goal of the book is to allow learners to improve their active usage of new material and make the language learning process more fluid and enjoyable.
The book is the first in a series of short stories for German learners.
FAQs
What are some good resources for learning German?
There are many resources available for learning German, including textbooks, language learning apps, online courses, and tutors. It is important to find resources that fit your learning style and goals.
How long does it take to learn German?
The amount of time it takes to learn German can vary greatly depending on factors such as your prior knowledge of other languages, your dedication to studying, and the amount of time you have available to devote to learning the language.
In general, it is estimated that it takes about 600 hours of study to reach a basic level of proficiency in German.
Is German a difficult language to learn?
German is considered a moderately difficult language for English speakers to learn, as it has complex grammar and a different word order than English.
However, it is not necessarily any more difficult than other languages, and with dedication and consistent practice, it is possible to learn German to a high level of proficiency.
Are there any tips for learning German more efficiently?
Some tips for learning German more efficiently include setting clear goals and creating a study plan, finding resources that fit your learning style, practicing regularly, and immersing yourself in the language by listening to German music, watching German movies and TV shows, and speaking with native speakers.
Can learning German be beneficial?
Yes, learning German can be beneficial in a number of ways. German is the official language of Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland, and is also spoken by a significant number of people in other countries around the world.
Being proficient in German can open up opportunities for travel, work, and study in German-speaking countries, and can also improve your communication skills and cultural understanding.
Also Read: