Official Glossary

Essential German Dictionary for Newcomers

The most important terms you will encounter in Germany across bureaucracy, housing, finance, and daily life.

The Golden Rule

Any official letter containing the word Frist (Deadline) requires a mandatory response before the stated date. Ignoring it is legally considered a negative response or refusal.

Top 5 Critical Words

Termin - Appointment
Frist - Deadline
Bescheid - Official Decision
Antrag - Application
Nachweis - Proof / Evidence

Emergency Phrases

Save these to your phone or keep them handy.

Ich spreche kein Deutsch I don't speak German

Sprechen Sie Englisch? Do you speak English?

Ich brauche einen Dolmetscher I need an interpreter

Ich brauche Hilfe I need help

Ich verstehe nicht I don't understand

Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? Could you please repeat that?

Language Tips

ß is pronounced like a sharp "s".
ei is pronounced "eye".
ie is pronounced as a long "ee".
eu is pronounced "oy".
v is usually pronounced as "f".
w is pronounced as "v".

Compound Words: German connects words into long single terms. If a word looks impossible, try splitting it:
Wohnungsgeberbestätigung = Wohnung (Apartment) + Geber (Giver) + Bestätigung (Confirmation).

1. Authorities, Bureaucracy and Documents

Anmeldung

Address registration

Abmeldung

Address deregistration (when leaving)

Ummeldung

Address update (when moving)

Einwohnermeldeamt

Residents' registration office

Bürgerbüro

Citizen service office

Rathaus

City hall / Town hall

Landratsamt

District administration office

Ausländerbehörde

Immigration office / Foreigners' authority

Jobcenter

Job center (social and housing support)

Agentur für Arbeit

Employment agency

Jugendamt

Youth welfare office

Sozialamt

Social welfare office

Finanzamt

Tax office

Behörde

Authority / Government agency

Amt

Official department / Office

Termin

Appointment

Terminvereinbarung

Making an appointment

Wartezeit

Waiting time

Antrag

Official application

Antrag stellen

To submit an application

Formular

Form

ausfüllen

To fill out

unterschreiben

To sign

Unterschrift

Signature

Bescheid

Official written decision

Bewilligung

Approval / Grant

Ablehnung

Rejection

Widerspruch

Appeal / Objection

Frist

Deadline

Nachweis

Proof / Evidence

Bescheinigung

Official certificate

Meldebescheinigung

Address registration certificate

Aufenthaltstitel

Residence permit document

Aufenthaltserlaubnis

Residence permit status

Reisepass

Passport

Personalausweis

Identity card

Geburtsurkunde

Birth certificate

Heiratsurkunde

Marriage certificate

Steueridentifikationsnummer

Tax identification number

Sozialversicherungsnummer

Social security number

Übersetzung

Translation

beglaubigte Übersetzung

Certified translation

Dolmetscher

Interpreter

Vollmacht

Power of attorney

Kopie

Copy

Original

Original document

Einschreiben

Registered mail

Briefkasten

Mailbox

Sachbearbeiter

Case worker / Clerk

Aktenzeichen

File reference number

2. Housing, Rent and Household Bills

Wohnung

Apartment

Haus

House

Zimmer

Room

Wohnzimmer

Living room

Schlafzimmer

Bedroom

Küche

Kitchen

Badezimmer

Bathroom

Balkon

Balcony

Keller

Basement / Cellar

Dachgeschoss

Attic floor / Top floor

Erdgeschoss

Ground floor

Stockwerk

Floor / Level

Aufzug

Elevator

Quadratmeter

Square meters

Vermieter

Landlord

Mieter

Tenant

Mietvertrag

Lease agreement / Rental contract

Miete

Rent

Kaltmiete

Basic rent (excluding utilities)

Warmmiete

Total rent (including utilities)

Nebenkosten

Utility costs / Additional charges

Betriebskosten

Building operating costs

Kaution

Security deposit

Wohnungsgeberbestätigung

Landlord's confirmation of residence

Übergabeprotokoll

Apartment handover protocol

Wohnungsbesichtigung

Apartment viewing

Kündigung

Notice of termination / Cancellation

Kündigungsfrist

Notice period

Umzug

Moving / Relocation

möbliert

Furnished

unmöbliert

Unfurnished

Einbauküche

Fitted kitchen

Heizung

Heating

Fernwärme

District heating

Strom

Electricity

Stromanbieter

Electricity provider

Gas

Wasser

Water

Zähler

Meter

Zählerstand

Meter reading

Abrechnung

Annual statement / Billing

Nachzahlung

Additional payment due

Rückzahlung

Refund

Internetanschluss

Internet connection

Rundfunkbeitrag

Broadcasting fee (mandatory)

Hausordnung

House rules

Ruhezeit

Quiet hours

Mülltrennung

Waste separation

Nachbar

Neighbor

Hausmeister

Caretaker / Janitor

3. Money, Work, Banking and Insurance

Bank

Girokonto

Checking account / Current account

Kontonummer

Account number

IBAN

International Bank Account Number

Bankkarte

Bank card

EC-Karte / Girocard

German debit card

Überweisung

Bank transfer

Dauerauftrag

Standing order

Lastschrift

Direct debit authorization

Kontoauszug

Bank statement

Bargeld

Cash

Rechnung

Invoice / Bill

Quittung

Receipt

Gebühr

Fee / Charge

Bürgergeld

Basic income allowance

Regelsatz

Standard allowance rate

Leistung

Benefit / State payment

Kindergeld

Child benefit

Wohngeld

Housing allowance

Einkommen

Income

Vermögen

Assets / Wealth

Mitwirkungspflicht

Duty to cooperate with authorities

Veränderungsmitteilung

Notification of change in circumstances

Arbeit

Work / Employment

Arbeitsvertrag

Employment contract

Arbeitgeber

Employer

Arbeitnehmer

Employee

Bewerbung

Job application

Lebenslauf

Curriculum Vitae (CV) / Resume

Vorstellungsgespräch

Job interview

Minijob

Marginal part-time job

Vollzeit

Full-time

Teilzeit

Part-time

Gehalt

Salary

Lohn

Wage

brutto

Gross (before taxes)

netto

Net (after taxes)

Steuer

Tax

Steuerklasse

Tax class / bracket

Anerkennung

Recognition (of qualifications)

Zeugnis

Certificate / Diploma

Praktikum

Internship

Ausbildung

Vocational training

Krankenkasse

Health insurance fund

Krankenversicherung

Health insurance

Versicherungskarte

Health insurance card

Haftpflichtversicherung

Third-party liability insurance

Beitrag

Contribution / Premium

Vertrag

Contract

Mahnung

Payment reminder / Warning

4. Health, Education, Emergencies and Daily Life

Notruf

Emergency call

Notaufnahme

Emergency room

Krankenwagen

Ambulance

Feuerwehr

Fire department

Polizei

Police

Notfall

Emergency

Hilfe!

Help!

Gefahr

Danger

Unfall

Accident

Arzt / Ärztin

Doctor (male / female)

Hausarzt

General practitioner (GP)

Kinderarzt

Pediatrician

Facharzt

Specialist doctor

Überweisung (Medical)

Referral to a specialist

Praxis

Doctor's office / Clinic

Krankenhaus / Klinikum

Hospital

Apotheke

Pharmacy

Notdienstapotheke

Emergency/On-call pharmacy

Rezept

Prescription

Medikament

Medication

Impfung

Vaccination

Impfpass

Vaccination record booklet

Schmerzen

Pain

Fieber

Fever

krank

Sick / Ill

Krankschreibung

Sick leave certificate

Schwangerschaft

Pregnancy

Zahnarzt

Dentist

Schule

School

Grundschule

Primary school

Kindergarten

Kita

Daycare center (abbreviation)

Schulanmeldung

School enrollment

Klasse

Class / Grade

Lehrer / Lehrerin

Teacher (male / female)

Elternabend

Parents' evening / meeting

Hausaufgaben

Homework

Ferien

School holidays

Willkommensklasse

Welcome class (for new students)

Sprachkurs

Language course

Integrationskurs

Integration course

Volkshochschule (VHS)

Adult education center

Supermarkt

Supermarket

Öffnungszeiten

Opening hours

geschlossen

Closed

Feiertag

Public holiday

Bahnhof

Train station

Fahrkarte

Ticket

Fahrplan

Timetable / Schedule

Führerschein

Driver's license

Disclaimer: This glossary is provided for general informational purposes only to help newcomers navigate everyday terminology. Official procedures and legally binding documents should always be confirmed with licensed advisors or the respective authorities.