Der, die, das
German has three genders: der Tisch, die Tür, das Fenster. Learn every noun with its article, because the article changes the endings around it.
German course · 27 languages in one app
Learn German by speaking it
German rewards the people who just start talking. Talvo writes your lessons around what you care about (one learner's first unit was set in a chess club) and gives you a tutor to practice with until the word order feels normal.
First lesson free · iPhone and Mac, one subscription
Your first German phrases
Twelve phrases for your first week, with the same pronunciation guide you'll see in the app.
| German | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hallo! / Guten Tag! | HAH-loh / GOO-ten TAHK | Hello / Good day |
| Wie geht's? | vee GAYTS | How are you? |
| Ich heiße Sam. | ikh HY-suh sam | My name is Sam. |
| Freut mich! | FROYT mikh | Nice to meet you! |
| Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee. | ikh HET-uh gehrn EYE-nen KAF-ay | I'd like a coffee. |
| Was kostet das? | vahs KOS-tet dahs | How much is it? |
| Die Rechnung, bitte. | dee REKH-noong, BIT-uh | The check, please. |
| Wo ist die Toilette? | voh ist dee toy-LET-uh | Where is the restroom? |
| Ich verstehe das nicht. | ikh fehr-SHTAY-uh dahs nikht | I don't understand. |
| Sprechen Sie Englisch? | SHPREKH-en zee ENG-lish | Do you speak English? |
| Entschuldigung! | ent-SHOOL-dee-goong | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Danke schön! Tschüss! | DAHN-kuh shurn! CHOOSS | Thanks a lot! Bye! |
The kh in this guide is the soft German ch, a breathy sound like the h in huge said with more air.
A conversation you'll practice
Talvo's lessons follow your interests. If you're into chess, your first German conversation might happen at a chess club.
Club memberHallo! Bist du neu hier?Hi! Are you new here?
YouJa, ich bin zum ersten Mal hier. Ich heiße Sam.Yes, it's my first time here. My name is Sam.
Club memberFreut mich, Sam! Spielst du gern Schach?Nice to meet you, Sam! Do you like playing chess?
YouJa, sehr gern! Spielen wir eine Partie?Yes, very much! Shall we play a game?
Club memberGern. Du hast Weiß.Sure. You're white.
Mistakes Talvo helps you fix
The verb goes second
In a normal sentence the verb sits in second place: Heute spiele ich Schach, not “Heute ich spiele Schach”. Talvo corrects the order and explains the rule.
Du or Sie
Use Sie (always with a capital S) with strangers and at work, and du with friends, family and kids. Verb forms change with it: Wie heißt du? or Wie heißen Sie?
Two ways to say ch
After e or i it's soft, as in ich. After a, o or u it comes from the throat, like the ch in Scottish loch, as in acht.
How Talvo teaches German
- Lessons explain grammar in plain English when it comes up, like question word order in your first unit
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning German
Does Talvo teach German from Germany?
Talvo teaches standard German (Hochdeutsch), which is understood in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Can I learn German with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
How is Talvo different from Duolingo?
Duolingo is built around short tap-and-match exercises and daily streaks. Talvo is built around speaking: lessons written around your interests, a tutor you talk to out loud, and a live interpreter for real conversations. Plenty of learners use both.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
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Say your first German sentence today.
The first lesson is free. It takes about five minutes.