# data[].attributes.body
Six German speaking countries in Europe:

Germany – with more than 80 million speakers

Austria – 8 million

Switzerland – 4.6 million

Belgium – 75.000 people

Luxembourg – 390.000people

Liechtenstein – 35,000 people

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A List Of German Speaking Countries

Which Countries Speak German?

German is not only spoken in Germany. On the contrary, surveys have shown that German is one of the world's top ten most commonly spoken languages, along with English, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, French, and Russian. It is estimated that worldwide there are 105 million people who are native German speakers. In addition, German is spoken as a second language by an additional 80 million people who don't live in German speaking countries.

Officially, there are six German speaking countries in Europe:

Germany - with more than 80 million speakers

Austria - 8 million

Switzerland - 4.6 million

Belgium - 75.000 people

Luxembourg - 390.000people

Liechtenstein - 35,000 people

In addition, German has official status and is a recognised minority language in the following countries:

Italy (Bolzano/Südtirol)

France (Alsatian)

Czech Republic

Hungary

Denmark

Poland (Silesia)

Russia

Romania

Slovakia

Vatican City

Approximately 16 per cent of the European Union's population speak German.

Outside of Europe, there are many other countries where German is spoken, such as Kazakhstan, Namibia, and South Africa. There are other parts of the world where German is also spoken by a small percentage of the population. The German diaspora (German communities that emigrated during the first half of the 20th century) has also brought the German language to areas of The United States, Chile, Norway, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Facts About the German Language

The German language has had significant influence over other cultures and languages. During the 19th century, German literature enjoyed a prestigious phase, and many German words were exported to other languages. These 'loan words' include "kindergarten", "delicatessen", "rucksack", "poltergeist", and "wanderlust".

Today, Germany's leading position in the global economy gives us another important reason to learn German. The German economy is the largest in Europe, and Germany has the world's fourth largest economy, behind the United States, China, and Japan. This also means that German is a very important language for people working in the automotive, manufacturing, and engineering sectors, as these industries support the German economy and employ large numbers of people. German is also considered "the language of science", and is the second most spoken language by scientists from all over the world.

German is one of the top three most used languages on the Internet, as approximately 6 per cent of all live websites are in German. There is also a large percentage of books written in German or translated into this European language. It is believed that 10 per cent of all printed books are in German.

The Goethe Institute is considered the world's most important cultural organization for German speakers and learners. This institution was founded in 1951 and now has more than 150 branches all over the world, and not just in German speaking countries. The Goethe Institute promotes German culture and language and has a varied educational program.

Some interesting facts about the German language:

German is known for having a large number of extremely long words. It is not uncommon to find words that have 40 or even 60 letters.

Dutch and English are the closest languages to German.

During the 18th century, German was very close to becoming the official language of the United States. This went to the polls and English won by only one vote.

An Introduction to Life in Germany

Many people choose to learn German online with the intention of moving to a German-speaking country to live, work, or study. Moving to a country with a different language and culture is not always easy, and getting used to a new way of life requires time, patience, and a good sense of humour. Here you will find some useful information about life in Germany:

Germans give importance to titles and make a difference between formal and informal speech, so remember to use the correct pronoun in your interactions with German speakers: Sie (formal "you"; use to a person in authority or to a stranger) or du (informal "you"; use to people you know well).

Thousands of people move to Germany every year. If you want to make the transition easier, learn about life in Germany, make friends from other countries and sign up for an integration course.

The German authorities require that you register with them within 7 days of moving to Germany. You can do this at your local registry office.

Respect for personal space and privacy are very important in Germany. Excessive noise is strictly prohibited between 10pm and 6am, on Sundays, and during official holidays.

Germans take their recycling seriously, so do your best to become familiar with those green, yellow, blue, and black containers.

Make sure your name is on your mailbox, otherwise the post will not be delivered.

You will need to get a license and pay a registration fee if you want to use TV, radio, or Internet at home.

To find more information on banking, healthcare, and other important aspects of life in Germany, check the 'Guide to Living in Germany', published by the German Department for Work and Social Affairs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
German Speaking Countries List | Lingoda Online German Language School

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A List Of German Speaking Countries German is not only spoken in Germany. On the contrary, surveys have shown that German is one of the world's top ten most commonly spoken languages, along with English, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, French, and Russian. It is estimated that worldwide there are 105 million people who are native German speakers.

# data[].attributes.body
Mount Zugspitze:
Is Germanys highest peak and is located on the border of Austria/Germany, in the districts of Tyrol and Bavaria.

https://hikingmadness.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/10-facts-about-zugspitze-germanys-highest-peak/

# data[].attributes.body
Sanssouci Palace:
The opulent Grotto Hall was built in the 18th century. It is plastered with shells, marble and semi-precious stones, as well as an extensive art collection and an enormous rococo theater.

# data[].attributes.body
Lake Constance:
is also one of the largest drinking water reservoirs in the region.

https://www.bavaria.by/experiences/nature-outdoors/excursions/bavarian-lakes-rivers/lake-constance-bodensee/

# data[].attributes.body
Here is a map of Germany! The capitol of Germany is Berlin.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Berlin

# data[].attributes.body
This painting is called The Head of Christ painted in1648 by renowned Dutch artist, Rembrandt, during the baroque period. What is so special about this painting is that it is based on a Jewish model, ultimatley a turning point in the artists work.

http://www.rembrandt-van-rijn.com/head-of-christ/

# data[].attributes.body
Germany is divided into two groups, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Reformation initiated by Martin Luther in 1517 divided German Christians between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. The Peace of Augsburg (1555) introduced the principle that (with some exceptions) the inhabitants of each of Germany's numerous territories should follow the religion of the ruler; thus, the south and west became mainly Roman Catholic, the north and east Protestant. Religious affiliation had great effect not only on subjective factors such as culture and personal attitudes but also on social and economic developments. For example, the willingness of Berlin to receive Calvinist religious refugees ( Huguenots) from Louis XIV's France meant that by the end of the 17th century one-fifth of the city's inhabitants were of French extraction. The Huguenots introduced numerous new branches of manufacture to the city and strongly influenced administration, the army, the advancement of science, education, and fashion. The Berlin dialect still employs many terms of French derivation.

Germany: Religious affiliation Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Population movements during and after World War II brought many Protestants into western Germany, evening the numbers of adherents of the two religions. In the former West Germany most people, whether or not they attended church, agreed to pay the church tax levied with their income tax; the revenue from this tax has been used to support community centres, hospitals, senior citizens' centres and group homes, and the construction of church buildings in the former East Germany. The centrality of religion in Germany has meant that religious leaders, especially the Roman Catholic hierarchy, sometimes exercise considerable influence on political decisions on social issues such as abortion.

Cologne, Germany: cathedral© Goodshoot/Jupiterimages

In East Germany Protestants outnumbered Roman Catholics about seven to one. Although the constitution nominally guaranteed religious freedom, religious affiliation was discouraged. Church membership, especially for individuals who were not members of the ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED), was a barrier to career advancement. Similarly, youth who on religious grounds did not join the Free German Youth (Freie Deutsche Jugend) lost access to recreational facilities and organized holidays and found it difficult, if not impossible, to secure admission to universities. Not surprisingly, formal church affiliation was relatively low, amounting to only about half the population, compared with nearly seven-eighths in West Germany. However, Protestant (Lutheran) churches did act as rallying points for supporters of unofficial protest groups, leading ultimately to the demonstrations that toppled the communist government in 1989.

Lutherans and Roman Catholics in Germany now are about equal in number. Small percentages of Germans belong to what are known as the free churches, such as Evangelical Methodists, Calvinists, Old Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, and (by far the largest) Eastern Orthodox. The number of people professing no religion ( Konfessionslose) has sharply increased and now represents about one-fifth of all Germans. Because of large-scale immigration from Turkey, the Middle East, and North Africa, Muslims now account for some 5 percent of the total population. Only a few thousand German Jews survived the Holocaust. During the 1990s, however, Germany's Jewish population quadrupled, the result of significant immigration from eastern Europe (especially Russia). There are now some 100,000 Jews in the country, and Berlin, with Germany's largest concentration of Jews, has experienced a modest rebirth of its once thriving Jewish community.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Germany - Germany - Religion: The Reformation initiated by Martin Luther in 1517 divided German Christians between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. The Peace of Augsburg (1555) introduced the principle that (with some exceptions) the inhabitants of each of Germany's numerous territories should follow the religion of the ruler; thus, the south and west became mainly Roman Catholic, the north and east Protestant.

# data[].attributes.body
Sauderbraten: oven-roasted or pot-roasted beef marinated before cooking in vinegar with peppercorns, garlic, onions, and bay leaves.

The recipe includes:

3 pounds beef rump roast

2 large onions, chopped

1 cup red wine vinegar, or to taste

1 cup water

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon white sugar

10 whole cloves, or more to taste

2 bay leaves, or more to taste

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

salt and ground black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

10 gingersnap cookies, crumbled

# data[].attributes.body
Hallo, ich heiße Samantha. Wie geht es dir heute?

The Enlgish translation is:
Hi, my name is Samantha. How are you today

# data[].attributes.body
German and Dutch are considered SVO. This means when writing the language it is Subject Verb Object.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
40 MOST COMMON PHRASES IN GERMAN LANGUAGE

# data[].attributes.body
The name of the German alphabet is called "Das Alphabet." Depending on if one considers the umlauts and the ß as letters, the alphabet could be considered 26, 29, or 30 letters.

In this video shows how to pronounce the alphabet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-e4cXgmEy4

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In this lesson you can listen to the German alphabet.

In Germany the alphabet has 26 letters, 3 German umlauts (Ä,Ö,Ü) and one ligature (ß). Some letters are pronounced very similar to the English pronunciation, but some others are a little different.

Just listen many times to the German letters and the sounds will become familiar. Also, don't get confused by our special letters ä, ö, ü and ß.

1. How to pronounce the German alphabet?

The pronunciation is not that difficult. Some letters sound very similar in German and English. Click the play button and listen to the alphabet in German.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, Ä, Ö, Ü, ß

2. How many letters does the alphabet have?

Many say it has 26 letters, others say it has 29 or even 30 letters.

What is true now?

Well, it depends on whether you consider the umlauts and the ß as letters.

It is 26 if you don't count ä, ö, ü and the ß.

29 it is in Liechtenstein and the Switzerland, with umlauts (the ß doesn't exist there)

30 we have if we include both the ß and the umlauts

3. Which article do we use for the German ABC?

All letters of the German alphabet have the same article: das.

das A

das B

das C

das D and so on

4.1 In which countries do we use the German alphabet?

Maybe you think that it is only used in states of Germany, but that is not true. It is also used in Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.

However, the ß is no longer used in Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Instead of the ß, an ss is written there.

4.2 What are the vowels of the German alphabet?

The five letters A, E, I, O and U of the German alphabet are called Vokale (vowels), the other letters are called Konsonanten (consonants) - for example: B, C, D, F, G, ... and so on.

4.3 Special features of the German alphabet

In the German alphabet there is a special feature, namely the ß. It has many colloquial names and often causes difficulties and amazement.

Often the spelling with "ss" is chosen in Germany, but it is actually not correct just to replace it.

The German alphabet has 26 letters, a ligature (ß) and 3 umlauts Ä, Ö, Ü. We use the German alphabet not only in Germany but also in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and in Luxembourg.

The five letters A, E, I, O and U of the German alphabet are called Vokale (vowels). All letters of the German alphabet have the same article: das (das A, das B etc.)

In the next lesson I cover the word is in German which is a form of to be. We usually use it with singular nouns or with the personal pronouns er, sie, es.

But I have much more basic lessons like how to determine the German Articles: der die das for example.

If you want to learn German online, then you should also visit the other pages of my website. You will definitely find something.

Always remember:

Learn German with fun!
Learning must be fun, otherwise, it is just a waste of time!

If you want to dig deeper into the topic, you can find more information on Wiki

Success rate after 6-8 months

Share the knowledge ...

... with your friends and classmates!

Use the social media buttons! 👍

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
German Alphabet ABC | Learn German Easily

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In this lesson you can listen to the German alphabet. In Germany the alphabet has 26 letters, 3 German umlauts (Ä,Ö,Ü) and one ligature (ß). Some letters are pronounced very similar to the English pronunciation, but some others are a little different. Just listen many times to the German letters and the sounds will become familiar.

# data[].attributes.body
Around 130 million people speak German as their first language.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
How many people speak German as their mother language?

Around 130 million people speak German as their mother language or as a second language. German is the most widely spoken mother language in the European Union and an official language in seven countries. In 42 countries there are more than 7.5 million people who belong to a German-speaking minority.

How many people have learned German as a foreign language?

289 million people. According to calculations by Ulrich Ammon, an expert on German language, this is how many people around the globe have learned German at some time in their lives. How well they speak it is another matter entirely. At the moment, 15.4 million people around the world are currently learning German as a foreign language: 90 percent of them are school students and 10 per cent are adults.

How many words are there in the German language?

More than most people might think. German learners know how quickly two nouns can be combined to form a new word. That makes counting difficult. In 2013 linguists in Berlin arrived at a total of 5.3 million German words. In 2017 the editors of the Duden dictionary of the German language arrived at a total of almost 23 million words (in the basic form only). The basis for the calculations is a huge databank collecte from a pool of factual and literary texts in the equivalent of 40,000 books. But the latest edition of Duden gets along with 145,000 keywords. And the average speaker uses only 12,000 to 16,000 words in their vocabulary.

Which words occur most frequently?

'Der, die, das'. The definite article, which every learner of German knows well, takes first place, followed by 'in' and 'und'.

Which word has the most letters?

In Duden it is: 'Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-Hyperaktivitätsstörung' with 44 letters.

Why is there an International Mother Language Day?

The United Nations chose 21 February as International Mother Language Day, because almost half of the 6,000 languages around the world are threatened with extinction. German is not one of them, because it is one of the ten most widely spoken languages. But in Germany there are regional languages that are spoken by less and less people: North Frisian and Satar Frisian are particularly at risk according to the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Around 130 million people speak German as their mother language or as a second language. German is the most widely spoken mother language in the European Union and an official language in seven countries. In 42 countries there are more than 7.5 million people who belong to a German-speaking minority.

# data[].attributes.body
University is free for everyone (even non-Germans)