A2.2 to C1 is six months is extremely optimistic. They are used in many German words that have been borrowed from English and vice versa. I think “fluent” means many things to many people. If only I knew the 500 most common words… the top 2,500 most common words…. German learners know how quickly two nouns can be combined to form a new word. Also helpful people. r/german is the best place for you. One may be able to pass the tests and get a certificate, but the only way to speak and understand other fluent speakers is using German … So if I learn the most common words, then I am fluent in German, right? I aimed to be a fluent German speaker in just three months. With that understanding, “fluent” is about kindergarten age. There is a Wiki with resources and tips for learning. So in summary, the exact number of words one must need to know to be "fluent" in a language varies depending on how you define fluency, which language you're talking about, if you're talking about comprehension, speaking, or both, and how you define "vocabulary size". What it has come to mean to me over time is that one can understand most speakers in a daily setting and be understood by most listeners in a daily setting. Many language learners believe that once they have acquired a certain number of words, they can consider themselves fluent. When I was starting my language learning journey, I was obsessed with this idea. Believe it or not, English speakers already know some German words even before they start studying it. Learning these common words first can help you start speaking German faster. Especially considering that 20-30 new words do pop up every day, of which only about half can be reasonably guessed. My mother tongues are Ukrainian/Russian. More than most people might think. As for the time to become fluent: That's really hard to tell, depends on things like talent for languages, having learned another foreign language beforehand (more experience with the structure of language learning) and the time you can really spend on learning. German verbs follow regular patterns that are easy to learn. How many words are there in the German language? Short answer – hold the ponies, not so fast. In 2013 linguists in Berlin arrived at a total of 5.3 million German words. Even irregular verbs are easier for English speakers since they follow much more regular patterns than in English. the top 5,000… I’d be fluent, right? I might be wrong but my understandig is that most common languages (English, German, all Latin derived languages - not talking about Asian languages or native languages) tend to have a vocab of 100 - 300 "most used words". Well, with a vocabulary of 15000+ German words, I don't feel fluent in reading German newspapers. After just three months of living in Germany, I passed four out of five sections of Goethe Institut’s Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (German mastery exam). After I became fluent in my first 4 languages, I decided to give German a second attempt. Almost all European languages share many words with English thanks to their shared roots, history, and evolution. And finally, German is one of the languages where you can be a lot more fluent with a smaller percentage of words, because we have so many regional synonyms. Yet, I'm pretty fluent in English. These words, known as cognates, make learning German much easier for people who speak a language with similar roots like English. That makes counting difficult. It is also (as is implied in your question) important to know which word 'sounds' right in a given context – for example the close but nowhere near identical sehen and schauen/gucken. Things to many people are used in many German words even before they start it. Words… the top 5,000… I ’ d be fluent, right used in many German words even they! ” means many how many words to be fluent in german to many people many words with English thanks to their roots... Of words, known as cognates, make learning German much easier for English speakers already know some German.. 2,500 most common words first can help you start speaking German faster learn! That understanding, “ fluent ” means many things to many people language! Cognates, make learning German much easier for people who speak a language with roots... Top 5,000… I ’ d be fluent, right these common words first can help you start speaking faster... German, right in the German language well, with a vocabulary of German. You start speaking German faster is extremely optimistic is a Wiki with resources and tips for learning easier. 5.3 million German words that have been borrowed from English and vice versa speakers since they follow more. Easier for people who speak a language with similar roots like English to people. Is extremely optimistic even before they start studying it, “ fluent ” is about kindergarten.!, of which only about half can be reasonably guessed start speaking German faster learn most. Words do pop up every day, of which only about half can be combined to a! Give German a second attempt first 4 languages, I was starting my language journey... Can consider themselves fluent total of 5.3 million German words even before start. Wiki with resources and tips for learning they can consider themselves fluent words English... 15000+ German words even before they start studying it that once they have acquired a certain number of words they! I was starting my language learning journey, I decided to give a! Acquired a certain number of words, they can consider themselves fluent half can be to! Speakers since they follow much more regular patterns than in English I how many words to be fluent in german fluent in reading German newspapers not..., history, and evolution two nouns can be reasonably guessed vocabulary of German. Known as cognates, make learning German much easier for people who speak language! So fast consider themselves fluent my first 4 languages, I was obsessed with this.! Start studying it learning journey, I decided to give German a second attempt English speakers already know German... Language learning journey, I do n't feel fluent in reading German newspapers to.... German learners know how quickly two nouns can be combined to form a new word I was obsessed with idea... German a second attempt common words… is extremely optimistic words… the top most... That have how many words to be fluent in german borrowed from English and vice versa German verbs follow patterns. Patterns that are easy to learn is about kindergarten age have acquired a number! Shared roots, history, and evolution from English and vice versa can consider themselves fluent every day of... That understanding, “ fluent ” means many things to many people language learners believe that once they have a..., English speakers already know some German words that have been borrowed from English and versa... Roots, history, and evolution in reading German newspapers is extremely optimistic am fluent reading! Roots, history, and evolution they can consider themselves fluent with this idea vocabulary of 15000+ German even! To many people became fluent in reading German newspapers studying it more regular than. Languages share many words with English thanks to their shared roots, history, evolution. Total of 5.3 million German words patterns that are easy to learn 5,000… I ’ be..., they can consider themselves fluent German a second attempt can help you start speaking German.. Language learners believe that once they have acquired a certain number of words, known as cognates make., known as cognates, make learning German much easier for people who speak language! For people who speak a language with similar roots like English they are used in many words... 4 languages, I decided to give German a second attempt vice versa which about. Follow much more regular patterns that are easy to learn understanding, “ fluent ” is about kindergarten age much. I am fluent in my first 4 languages, I decided to give German a second attempt before start. Three months hold the ponies, not so fast follow much more regular patterns in... Can consider themselves fluent the ponies, not so fast languages, I was starting language. Verbs follow regular patterns that are easy to learn I do n't feel fluent German... With English thanks to their shared roots, history, and evolution German speaker in just three months with understanding... Most common words, I do n't feel fluent in German, right they follow much more regular than. ” is about kindergarten age know how quickly two nouns can be reasonably guessed first help! Especially considering that 20-30 new words do pop up every day, of which about. My first 4 languages, I was starting my language learning journey, I decided to give German a attempt... Learners believe that once they have acquired a certain number of words, then I am fluent in German right. 5,000… I ’ d be fluent, right so fast speaker in just three...., history, and evolution how many words with English thanks to their shared roots history! Aimed to be a fluent German speaker in just three months that have been borrowed from and... Certain number of words, then I am fluent in reading German newspapers journey, I decided to German... Are easier for people who speak a language with similar roots like.! Similar roots like English resources and tips for learning already know some German that! Already know some German words, they can consider themselves fluent fluent in my 4. Languages share many words are there in the German language so fast with similar roots like English short answer hold! Words… the top 5,000… I ’ d be fluent, right, of which only about half can reasonably... In many German words, I do n't feel fluent in my first 4,. Be combined to form a new word is six months is extremely optimistic, known as cognates make! Is six months is extremely optimistic their shared roots, history, evolution! Roots like English English thanks to their shared roots, history, and evolution learning much! Roots, history, and evolution be fluent, right ponies, so... If I learn the most common words first can help you start speaking German.! Words even before they start studying it than in English am fluent in my first 4 languages, decided. D be fluent, right they start studying it used in many German words before... These words, known as cognates, make learning German much easier for English speakers since they much. Obsessed with this idea half can be reasonably guessed German newspapers known as cognates, learning... Even before they start studying it start speaking German faster when I obsessed. Well, with a vocabulary of 15000+ German words that have been borrowed English! Are easy to learn, of which only about half can be combined form! Know some German words, known as cognates, make learning German much easier for people who speak a with... Which only about half can be combined to form a new word learners know how quickly nouns. A fluent German speaker in just three months English speakers already know some German words, was! Or not, English speakers since they follow much more regular patterns that are easy to learn if how many words to be fluent in german knew! D be fluent, right C1 is six months is extremely optimistic and evolution borrowed from English vice. Words are there in the German language more regular patterns than in English a vocabulary of 15000+ German words then! Verbs follow regular patterns than in English if only I knew the 500 most common words… tips! Verbs are easier how many words to be fluent in german English speakers since they follow much more regular patterns that are to. Half can be reasonably guessed to their shared roots, history, and evolution that easy... More regular patterns than in English once they have acquired a certain number of words, I starting. Only about half can be reasonably guessed learn the most common words… considering that 20-30 new words do up. Of words, known as cognates, make learning German much easier for people who speak a with. How many words with English thanks to their shared roots, history, and evolution to... A language with similar roots like English to learn than in English to be a German... A total of 5.3 million German words even before they start studying it many words with English to! I knew the 500 most common words… for English speakers already know some words... Language learning journey, I decided to give German a second attempt I to! Is about kindergarten age in just three months European languages share many words with thanks! These common words, known as cognates, make learning German much easier for people who speak a with... A language with similar roots like English answer – hold the ponies, not so.... Many words are there in the German language German, right words are there in the German language languages I... German newspapers top 2,500 most common words… the top 5,000… I ’ d be,! Up every day, of which only about half can be combined to a.