Common Mistakes in Learning German Vocabulary

Learning any language requires working with new vocabulary. For many learners, this becomes a real barrier. I remember how one adult student was so stressed about it that she even started taking memory-enhancing supplements. But of course, there are far less radical methods. And that's exactly what I’d like to share in this post.

From my teaching experience, I’ve seen that there are a few common reasons why new words aren’t retained well. These can vary depending on the learner’s level.

Here are the most typical mistakes:

1. Lack of a systematic approach

   Yes, you might try to learn vocabulary at random or even attempt to memorize the dictionary page by page. But this usually doesn’t work. Why? Because effective learning requires structure. Ideally, the newly learned words should appear in the very same texts you're reading and listening to—and you should practice building sentences with them. This principle is embedded in most traditional textbooks. It's especially important at beginner levels: each topic includes a clear vocabulary list that’s then actively used throughout the unit. It’s not helpful if every second word in a text you’re reading is unfamiliar. In that case, it’s better to move down one or two levels.

   The best way is when newly learned words appear in the same texts you read and listen to.

2. Ignoring word formation

   German is like a language made of building blocks. You can form a noun or adjective from a verb—and vice versa. Prefixes and suffixes help change meanings, and many compound words can be easily broken down into understandable parts. But you need to know how to do this! Otherwise, when faced with words like Auftrag, Antrag, Betrag, Beitrag, Vortrag, Vertrag, you might end up feeling overwhelmed.

   German is a construction set where words, prefixes, and suffixes combine to form new, more complex words.

3. Ignoring grammar

   It’s proven: adult learning is a conscious process. Hoping to just "start speaking" by hearing the language around you is a misconception. That’s why it’s important not to fear grammar, but to embrace and understand it. Knowing word order, how articles work, and how to conjugate verbs helps you remember vocabulary more effectively: you'll be able to confidently distinguish nouns from adjectives, and easily identify verbs in a sentence. Then German stops being a wild beast and becomes a tame companion :)

   Don't expect to start speaking just by listening to the language around you!

4. Lack of consistency

   Foreign languages fade quickly from memory. The lower your level, the faster this happens. If a year ago you had an A2 level but haven’t practiced since, chances are you’ll only remember numbers and a few isolated words now. I always say: we forget almost at the same speed as we learned. That’s why regular contact with the language is essential. Even a random German song is better than nothing. Ideally, you should study consciously—but anything is better than silence.

   We forget a language almost as fast as we learn it.

What about exams?

Exam preparation deserves special attention.
I once had a student in a TestDaF prep course who struggled with listening comprehension. To fix this, she decided to watch German-language shows on Netflix. While watching foreign-language films and series does offer some benefits, when you're preparing for a semi-academic exam, hoping that the next season of Emily in Paris will help you prepare is, at best, overly optimistic.

TestDaF requires focused preparation:

• expanding your vocabulary,
• reviewing or targeting key grammar points,
• practicing each specific task type.

You’ll find all of this in my video courses:

Remember: only a conscious and structured approach leads to real, lasting results!