Essential German Words and Phrases for Back to School

As summer winds down and a new term begins, students of all ages are gearing up to head back to school. Whether you’re a primary pupil or preparing for GCSE or A-level exams, having some essential German school vocabulary at your fingertips can make the return to class smoother. This guide introduces back-to-school German words and phrases that beginners and intermediate learners (A1–B1) will find useful. We’ve grouped the vocabulary by category – from classroom commands to school supplies – with examples and pronunciation tips for each. These German phrases for students will help you talk about school life confidently. And if you need extra help, remember that Olesen Tuition offers German lessons for kids and GCSE German tuition/A-level German tutoring to boost your skills!

German School Supplies Vocabulary

 Before the first day back, make sure you know how to name all those new pens and notebooks in German. School supply words are among the first pieces of German school vocabulary that young learners pick up, and they’re useful for everyone from primary students to GCSE German learners. Here are some common items you’ll find in a school bag, along with example sentences to see them in context:

• der Rucksack (ROOK-zahk) – backpack, schoolbag. Example: Mein Rucksack ist blau. (My backpack is blue.)

• das Heft (HEFT) – notebook. Example: Ich schreibe meine Notizen in ein Heft. (I write my notes in a notebook.)

• der Bleistift (BLY-shtift) – pencil. Example: Ich habe einen Bleistift. (I have a pencil.)

• der Kuli (KOO-lee) – pen (short for Kugelschreiber, ballpoint pen). Example: Hast du einen Kuli? (Do you have a pen?)

• das Buch (BOOCH, ch as in loch) – book. Example: Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (The book is on the table.)

• der Radiergummi (rah-DEER-goo-mee) – eraser. Example: Ich brauche einen Radiergummi. (I need an eraser.)

• das Lineal (li-NAY-al) – ruler. Example: Ich zeichne eine Linie mit dem Lineal. (I draw a line with the ruler.)

(Tip: In German, nouns like these always start with a capital letter. Don’t forget to use “der”, “die”, or “das” – the German words for “the” – as shown above, since every noun has a gender. And if you want to learn more on the latter, read our post on German gender rules.)

Useful Classroom Phrases and Commands

Knowing what to say (and what your teacher is saying) in class is key for any student. Here are some common German classroom phrases and commands you’ll likely hear or want to use. These range from greetings to asking questions – perfect for beginners getting used to a German-speaking classroom:

• Guten Morgen. (goo-ten MOR-gen) – Good morning. Example: Der Lehrer sagt jeden Tag „Guten Morgen“ zur Klasse. (The teacher says "Good morning" to the class every day.)

• Hört gut zu! (HURT goot TSOO) – Listen carefully! Example: Die Lehrerin sagt: „Hört gut zu!“, wenn der Unterricht beginnt. (The teacher says "Listen carefully!" when the lesson begins.)

• Ich habe eine Frage. (ikh HAH-buh EYE-nuh FRAH-guh) – I have a question. Example: Der Schüler meldet sich und sagt: „Ich habe eine Frage.“ (The student puts their hand up and says, "I have a question.")

• Wie sagt man ... auf Deutsch? (vee ZAHT mahn ... owf DOYTCH) – How do you say ... in German? Example: Wie sagt man "homework" auf Deutsch? (How do you say "homework" in German?)

• Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? (KER-nen zee dahs BIT-uh VEE-der-HOHL-en) – Could you repeat that, please? Example: Entschuldigung, können Sie das bitte wiederholen? (Excuse me, could you repeat that, please?)

• Ich weiß es nicht. (ikh VICE ess nikht) – I don’t know. Example: Der Lehrer fragt Anna, aber Anna sagt: „Ich weiß es nicht.“ (The teacher asks Anna, but Anna says, "I don't know.")

• Darf ich auf die Toilette gehen? (DARF ikh owf dee toy-LET-uh GAY-en) – May I go to the toilet? Example: Ein Schüler fragt: „Darf ich auf die Toilette gehen?“ (A student asks, "May I go to the toilet?")

(Notice the use of bitte (please) in questions to sound polite, especially when speaking to a teacher. And remember, Entschuldigung means "excuse me" – a handy word if you need to get someone’s attention or apologise for interrupting.)

School Subjects in German

Understanding subject names is important when talking about your timetable or favourite classes. From maths to music, here are several school subjects in German. You’ll likely encounter these terms in school reports or when discussing what classes you have. Each one includes an example so you can see how to use it in context:

• Deutsch (DOY-ch) – German (language class). Example: Wir haben Deutsch am Montag. (We have German on Monday.)

• Englisch (ENG-lish) – English. Example: Englisch ist meine Muttersprache. (English is my native language.)

• Mathematik (Mathe) (mah-tay-MAH-teek, MA-tuh for short) – Maths. Example: Mathe ist mein Lieblingsfach. (Maths is my favourite subject.)

• Biologie (Bio) (bee-oh-loh-GEE) – Biology. Example: In Biologie lernen wir über Pflanzen und Tiere. (In biology we learn about plants and animals.)

• Chemie (khe-MEE-eh) – Chemistry. Example: Chemie ist schwierig, aber interessant. (Chemistry is difficult but interesting.)

• Geschichte (guh-SHICH-tuh) – History. Example: Geschichte erzählt uns viel über die Vergangenheit. (History tells us a lot about the past.)

• Kunst (KOONST) – Art. Example: Im Kunstunterricht malen wir ein Bild. (In art class, we are painting a picture.)

• Sport (SHPORT) – Physical Education (P.E.). Example: Im Sportunterricht spielen wir Fußball. (In P.E., we play football.)

(There are many more subjects — Musik (music), Informatik (computer science), Physik (physics), and so on — but those listed above are some of the core classes. To talk about what your favourite subject is, you can use Lieblingsfach, as in Mein Lieblingsfach ist Mathe.)

Handy German Social Phrases for the New School Year

Back at school, you’ll be chatting with friends and teachers about your holidays and plans for the year. Here are some German phrases for students to use in conversation just before and after the summer break. These will help you talk about your holiday, greet classmates, and discuss the new school year:

• Wie waren deine Sommerferien? (vee VAH-ren DY-nuh ZOM-mer-FAY-ree-en) – How were your summer holidays? Example: – Wie waren deine Sommerferien? – Sie waren toll. ("How were your summer holidays?" – "They were great.")

• Schön, dich wiederzusehen. (SHERN diḵ VEE-der-zoo-zay-en) – Nice to see you again. Example: Meine Freundin sagte am ersten Schultag: „Schön, dich wiederzusehen!“ (My friend said "Nice to see you again!" on the first day of school.)

• Bist du bereit für das neue Schuljahr? (bist doo beh-RITE fuhr das NOY-eh SHOOL-yahr) – Are you ready for the new school year? Example: Meine Mutter fragt mich: „Bist du bereit für das neue Schuljahr?“ (My mum asks me, "Are you ready for the new school year?")

• Viel Erfolg im neuen Schuljahr! (feel er-FOLK im NOY-en SHOOL-yahr) – Good luck in the new school year! Example: Der Lehrer sagt: „Viel Erfolg im neuen Schuljahr!“ (The teacher says, "Good luck in the new school year!")

• In welche Klasse gehst du? (in VEL-khe KLA-sse GAYST doo) – What year are you in? (literally, "Which class do you go to?") Example: Ein neuer Schüler fragt mich: „In welche Klasse gehst du?“ (A new student asks me, "What year are you in?")

• Ich gehe in die 10. Klasse. (ikh GAY-he in dee TSEHN-tuh KLA-sse) – I’m in 10th grade. Example: Ich gehe in die 10. Klasse, (I’m in tenth grade – roughly equivalent to Year 11 in the UK.)

• Was ist dein Lieblingsfach? (VAS ist dine LEEB-lings-fakh) – What’s your favourite subject? Example: Meine Lehrerin fragt: „Was ist dein Lieblingsfach?“ (My teacher asks, "What’s your favourite subject?")

(When talking about school years, remember that German Klasse corresponds to grade or year in school. Also, Sommerferien (summer break) is plural in German – that’s why you say Wie waren deine Sommerferien (literally "How were your holidays").)

German Lessons for Kids and GCSE German Tutoring with Olesen Tuition

Olesen Tuition is here to help you go beyond just memorising vocabulary. As one of London’s top-rated German language schools, we offer personalised German lessons for kids, as well as expert-led GCSE German tutoring and A-level German support. Our experienced native-speaker tutors know exactly which words and phrases students need at school, and we make learning them fun and effective.

In fact, this very list of back-to-school terms comes courtesy of the Olesen Tuition blog – a reliable and practical resource for German learners and parents alike. We’re passionate about helping students gain confidence in German, whether they’re just starting out in primary school or aiming for top grades in GCSE and A-level exams. If you want to practice these phrases or take your German further, Olesen Tuition can provide the guidance you need. Here’s to a successful school year — Viel Erfolg im neuen Schuljahr!

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