German–English cognates
408 German words you already know
German and English are close relatives, and it shows. Among the 5,000 most common German words, 219 are spelled exactly like an English word with the same meaning, and 189 more are a letter or two away. 70 of them are in the top 1,000 — a head start before you have learned a thing.
Watch the pronunciation: Hand, Wind and Name are spelled like English but sound German. And some words only look familiar — see the false friends.
Spelled exactly the same
German nouns start with a capital letter, which is the only difference here. Ordered by how common the word is in German.
Nouns · 189
- der Euroeuro
- das Landcountry; land; countryside
- der Fallcase; fall
- das Teamteam
- der SeptemberSeptember
- die UkraineUkraine
- die Regionregion
- der NovemberNovember
- der AprilApril
- der AugustAugust
- die Formform, shape
- die Situationsituation
- die Personperson
- das Internetinternet
- der Trainercoach, trainer
- die Websitewebsite
- das Problemproblem
- die Handhand
- Fansfans
- der Sportsport(s), exercise
- der Partnerpartner
- der Startstart; take-off
- die Chancechance, opportunity
- die Unionunion
- die Appapp
- das Videovideo
- der Filmfilm, movie
- ChinaChina
- die Basisbasis, base
- IsraelIsrael
- das Systemsystem
- die Initiativeinitiative
- das Interviewinterview
- die Bankbank, bench
- die Integrationintegration
- die Softwaresoftware
- die Generationgeneration
- der Ballball
- der Winterwinter
- das Mottomotto, theme
- der Momentmoment
- der Serviceservice
- die Bandband (music), volume
- der Dollardollar
- der Namename
- die Minuteminute
- der Jobjob
- der Testtest
- das Designdesign
- die Alternativealternative
- das Smartphonesmartphone
- der Linklink
- der Texttext
- der BundestagBundestag (German parliament)
- das Semestersemester, term
- die Postpost, mail, post office
- die Pausebreak, pause
- der Browser(web) browser
- das Museummuseum
- die Informationinformation
- die Versionversion
- die Positionposition
- der Planplan, map
- das Materialmaterial
- das Trainingtraining, practice
- die Inflationinflation
- das Managementmanagement
- die Phasephase, stage
- der Computercomputer(s)
- die Traditiontradition
- der Campuscampus
- der Newsletternewsletter
- der Downloaddownload
- die BundesligaBundesliga (German top league)
- das Coronaviruscoronavirus
- der Trendtrend
- die Tourtour, trip
- der Professorprofessor
- die Homepagehomepage, website
- das Updateupdate
- das Hotelhotel
- die Showshow
- der Clubclub
- das Goldgold
- der Busbus
- das Gasgas
- die Optionoption
- die Juryjury, panel of judges
- das Radioradio
- das Marketingmarketing
- der Parkpark
- das Festivalfestival
- der Serverserver
- der Starstar (celebrity)
- der Ministerminister
- die Migrationmigration
- der Workshopworkshop
- die Millionmillion
- das Forumforum
- der Windwind
- der Wolfwolf
- die Innovationinnovation
- das Portalportal (website); gateway
- das Restaurantrestaurant
- die Motivationmotivation
- der Podcastpodcast
- die Premierepremiere, first night
- die Reformreform
- das Businessbusiness
- der Coachcoach
- die Uniuni, university
- das Formatformat
- die Newsnews
- der Stressstress
- JapanJapan
- der Restrest, remainder
- das Virusvirus
- der Songsong
- der Centcent
- das Instrumentinstrument
- die Stationstation, stop; ward
- der IranIran
- die Transformationtransformation
- das Albumalbum
- der Standardstandard
- Championschampions (as in Champions League)
- die Cloudcloud (computing)
- der Kindergartenkindergarten, nursery school
- das Feedbackfeedback
- der Statusstatus
- das Tablettablet (computer)
- der Managermanager
- die Installationinstallation
- die Expertiseexpertise; expert opinion
- das Eventevent
- die Oppositionopposition
- das Signalsignal
- EnglandEngland
- der Patientpatient
- das Detaildetail
- der Westwest
- die Missionmission
- das Webweb
- das Babybaby
- die Religionreligion
- das Seminarseminar, course
- AfghanistanAfghanistan
- das Highlighthighlight
- das Budgetbudget
- die Markmark (former German currency)
- die Visionvision
- die Offensiveoffensive, attack
- die Performanceperformance
- der Armarm
- Games(video) games
- der Codecode
- der Useruser
- das Elementelement
- das Ticketticket
- die Operationoperation, surgery
- die Partyparty
- die Notegrade, mark; (musical) note
- das Logologo
- der Transfertransfer
- der Transporttransport
- das Studiostudio
- der Protestprotest
- die Evaluationevaluation
- die Communitycommunity (esp. online)
- die Storystory
- die Frontfront, facade
- das Originaloriginal
- die Agendaagenda
- die Arenaarena
- die Revolutionrevolution
- BelarusBelarus
- das Tooltool (software)
- der Motorengine, motor
- der Passpassport; pass (sport, mountain)
- das Ensembleensemble, company (theatre)
- das Chaoschaos
- der Awardaward
- das Cookiecookie (web; biscuit)
- das Symbolsymbol, icon
- das Casinocasino
- das Comebackcomeback
- der Ringring
- der Dealdeal
- der Sexsex
Adjectives and adverbs · 25
- soso, like this, such
- onlineonline
- internationalinternational(ly)
- digitaldigital(ly)
- livelive
- innovativeinnovative
- supergreat, super
- parallelparallel; at the same time
- optimaloptimal, ideal
- fitfit
- minusminus
- Toptop, excellent
- normalnormal, usual
- extraextra, specially, separately
- globalglobal
- Smartsmart (in Smart Home, Smart TV)
- fairfair
- idealideal
- realreal
- regionalregional, locally
- relevantrelevant
- transparenttransparent
- wildwild
- warmwarm
- nationalnational
Verbs and other words · 5
Almost the same
A letter or two apart, usually in a regular way: k for c (Musik, Produkt), z for c (Prozess), -tät for -ty (Qualität), -ie for -y (Therapie), -isch for -ic (automatisch).
Nouns · 153
- das Projektproject
- die Universitätuniversity
- der OktoberOctober
- der JuniJune
- die Rollerole, part; roll
- der Grundreason; ground
- der JuliJuly
- der JanuarJanuary
- das Programmprogramme; program
- der DezemberDecember
- das Studiumstudies, university course
- EuropaEurope
- der FebruarFebruary
- die Politikpolitics, policy
- der Sommersummer
- die Musikmusic
- das Interesseinterest
- der Präsidentpresident
- der Marktmarket
- die Qualitätquality
- der Fokusfocus
- die Naturnature
- die Webseiteweb page, website
- die Ideeidea
- die Pandemiepandemic
- die Organisationorganization
- die Aktioncampaign, action; special offer
- der Kilometerkilometre
- der Prozessprocess, trial
- die Firmacompany, firm
- die Plattformplatform
- das Wortword
- das Netzwerknetwork
- die Funktionfunction, role
- die Produktionproduction
- die Listelist
- die Linieline, route
- die Planungplanning
- die Nummernumber
- die Industrieindustry
- die Serieseries
- das Institutinstitute
- das Modellmodel
- die Infrastrukturinfrastructure
- das Lichtlight
- der Gartengarden
- die Analyseanalysis
- die Diskussiondiscussion
- die Intelligenzintelligence
- das Feldfield
- das Werkwork, factory
- die TürkeiTurkey
- das Theatertheatre
- das Finalefinal
- die Debattedebate
- das Produktproduct
- das Quartalquarter (of a year)
- die Atmosphäreatmosphere
- das Parlamentparliament
- die Mobilitätmobility
- die Therapietherapy, treatment
- die Technologietechnology
- die Szenescene
- die Strategiestrategy
- EnglischEnglish (language)
- die Hallehall
- die Medizinmedicine
- das Potenzialpotential
- das Papierpaper
- der Autorauthor, writer
- die Adresseaddress
- die Mathematikmathematics
- der Rangrank, place
- die Reaktionreaction
- die Perspektiveperspective; prospects
- der Alkoholalcohol
- die Inklusioninclusion
- der Bordboard (an Bord = on board)
- die Variantevariant, version
- die Identitätidentity
- die Realitätreality
- das Profilprofile
- die Dokumentationdocumentary; documentation
- die Präventionprevention
- die Republikrepublic
- die Strukturstructure
- der Helferhelper, volunteer
- das Stadionstadium
- die Transparenztransparency
- der Tourismustourism
- die Methodemethod
- die Literaturliterature
- der Respektrespect
- die Präsentationpresentation
- das Passwortpassword
- das Duellduel, head-to-head
- die Finanzenfinances
- die Broschürebrochure
- die Solidaritätsolidarity
- die Qualifikationqualification
- das Wundermiracle, wonder
- die Infektioninfection
- das Spektrumspectrum, range
- die Maskemask
- die Statistikstatistics
- die Architekturarchitecture
- der Senatsenate
- der Experteexpert
- der Sturmstorm; attack, forwards (sport)
- das Magazinmagazine
- der Sängersinger
- der Direktordirector, head teacher
- die Pressepress
- AustralienAustralia
- das Glasglass; jar
- der Antisemitismusantisemitism
- das Kilogrammkilogram
- die Nasenose
- das Militärmilitary, armed forces
- das Bierbeer
- der Charaktercharacter, personality
- AfrikaAfrica
- die Prognoseforecast, prognosis
- das Dokumentdocument
- die Flexibilitätflexibility
- die Temperaturtemperature
- die Ministerinminister (female)
- die Diagnosediagnosis
- das Modulmodule
- der Aspektaspect
- der Ärgertrouble, annoyance, anger
- der Faktorfactor
- die Maschinemachine
- die Stabilitätstability
- die Quarantänequarantine
- der Effekteffect
- die Prioritätpriority
- die Distanzdistance
- die Figurfigure, character, physique
- die Fraktionparliamentary group, faction
- die Allianzalliance
- das Orchesterorchestra
- die Operopera, opera house
- das Bootboat
- DänemarkDenmark
- die Toleranztolerance
- die Steuerungcontrol, steering
- das Silbersilver
- der Chorchoir
- das Grammgram
- das Motivmotive; motif, subject
- der Supermarktsupermarket
- das Objektobject; property
Adjectives and adverbs · 34
- rundround; around, about
- direktdirect; directly, right
- langlong
- freifree, vacant
- automatischautomatic(ally)
- positivpositive
- maximalat most, maximum
- individuellindividual, individually
- extremextreme(ly)
- generellgenerally, in general
- intensivintensive, intense
- perfektperfect
- interessantinteresting
- harthard, tough
- finanziellfinancial, financially
- massivmassive, severe; solid
- alternativalternatively, alternative
- flexibelflexible
- traditionelltraditional(ly)
- reichrich
- lokallocal(ly)
- privatprivate(ly)
- negativnegative
- insofernin that respect, insofar (as)
- sozialsocial, socially
- effektiveffective
- qualitativqualitative, in quality
- attraktivattractive
- präsentpresent, prominent
- mobilmobile
- optimistischoptimistic
- effizientefficient
- explizitexplicit(ly)
- professionellprofessional(ly)
Verbs and other words · 2
Found by comparing each word with its English translation in our list, so every match has the same meaning, not just the same spelling. Countries and months are included. Translations were written with AI help and await native review — how the list was made.
Questions
How many German words are the same as English?
Among the 5,000 most common German words, 219 are spelled exactly like an English word with the same meaning, and another 189 differ by a letter or two. That is 408 words you can read on sight.
Why do German and English share so many words?
Both are Germanic languages, so everyday words such as Hand, Wind and Winter go back to the same roots. Many more came later from Latin and French (Situation, Information, Religion), and modern English loans (Team, Job, online) are part of normal German today.
Are there German words that look English but mean something else?
Yes — they are called false friends. Bekommen means to get, not to become, and a Handy is a mobile phone. See the list of German false friends.