Your step-by-step roadmap to mastering the official A2 German vocabulary.
If you’re preparing for the Goethe-Zertifikat A2 exam, vocabulary is half the battle.
Good news: the Goethe-Institut publishes an official A2 word list containing the essential words you must understand for reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
This guide gives you:
-
✔ the **official A2 word list (download links)
** -
✔ a **breakdown of what’s inside
** -
✔ a study method to master the list efficiently
-
✔ a sample mini-list to get started today
Let’s dive in.
1. What Is the Goethe A2 Word List?
The Goethe A2 Wortliste is the vocabulary catalog used for:
-
Goethe-Zertifikat A2
-
A2 adult and youth exams
-
A2 course planning
-
Textbook curriculum alignment
It contains the words required to understand basic German across everyday topics, including:
-
shopping
-
work
-
family
-
free time
-
health
-
travel
-
communication
-
simple opinions and emotions
2. Official Download Links
You can download the official A2 word list (PDF) here:
➡️ Adult A2 Word List (Goethe-Institut, PDF)
https://www.goethe.de/pro/relaunch/prf/de/Goethe-Zertifikat_A2_Wortliste.pdf
➡️ Youth A2 Word List (Fit in Deutsch 2, PDF)
https://www.goethe.de/resources/files/pdf204/goethe-zertifikat-fit-in-deutsch-2-wortliste.pdf
Both lists include:
-
nouns
-
verbs (with prefix variations)
-
adjectives
-
adverbs
-
fixed expressions
-
important grammar markers (pronouns, prepositions, connectors)
3. What’s Inside the List? (Structure Overview)
The official list contains roughly 800-1,000 words, depending on how you count prefixed forms.
Key Vocabulary Types
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Everyday nouns | der Termin, die Fahrkarte, die Apotheke |
| --- | --- |
| Core verbs | mitkommen, einkaufen, aufstehen |
| --- | --- |
| Adjectives | nervös, gesund, teuer, einfach |
| --- | --- |
| Adverbs | gestern, sofort, leider |
| --- | --- |
| Fixed expressions | Wie geht’s? Kein Problem. Alles klar. |
| --- | --- |
| Grammar words | obwohl, weil, dass |
| --- | --- |
4. How to Study the A2 Word List Efficiently
The list is long - learning it from top to bottom is inefficient.
Use the method below to master all words faster and with better retention.
Step 1: Learn in Themes (not alphabetically)
Instead of learning Apotheke and Antwort together just because both start with A, learn words in meaningful groups:
-
House & Home
-
Jobs & Work
-
Travel & Transport
-
Health
-
Hobbies
-
Food
-
Communication
-
Time expressions
Your brain remembers themes better than random order.
Step 2: Learn Words in Chunks
Example:
- _einen Termin machen
_ - _eine Frage stellen
_ - _Hunger haben
_ - _Geld ausgeben
_
Each chunk = grammar + vocabulary at the same time.
Step 3: Use Word Families
Example:
- _gehen → ausgehen, zurückgehen, losgehen, hingehen
_ - _kommen → ankommen, mitkommen, zurückkommen
_ - _machen → aufmachen, ausmachen, mitmachen, zumachen
_
1 base verb = 5-7 bonus words.
Step 4: Focus on High-Frequency Words First
The top 200 A2 words give you 60% comprehension of exam texts.
Start with:
- _sein, haben, werden
_ - _machen, gehen, kommen
_ - _sagen, sprechen, fragen
_ - _essen, trinken
_ - _müssen, können, wollen
_
Step 5: Practice With Real A2 Exam Tasks
Learn vocabulary the way it appears in the exam:
-
appointment cards
-
ads and announcements
-
short emails
-
online forms
-
simple dialogues
Your retention doubles when you learn from “authentic exam input.”
Step 6: Use Spaced Repetition (SRS)
Spacing schedule:
-
Day 1
-
Day 2
-
Day 4
-
Day 8
-
Day 16
Anki, Quizlet, or your own app deck works perfectly.
5. Sample Mini Goethe A2 Word List (Starter Pack)
Below is a mini selection of words you’ll find in the official list.
Daily Life & Routine
-
aufstehen - get up
-
einkaufen - go shopping
-
ausgehen - go out
-
der Termin - appointment
-
die Nachricht - message
Travel & Transport
-
der Bahnhof - train station
-
die Fahrkarte - ticket
-
umsteigen - change trains
-
abfahren - depart
-
ankommen - arrive
Food & Shopping
-
das Angebot - offer
-
die Rechnung - bill
-
bestellen - order
-
bezahlen - pay
Work & School
-
der Chef - boss
-
die Aufgabe - task
-
das Praktikum - internship
-
die Prüfung - exam
Health
-
der Schmerz - pain
-
die Tablette - tablet
-
das Rezept - prescription
Communication
-
anrufen - call
-
sprechen - speak
-
erzählen - tell
-
wie geht’s? - how are you?
6. A2 Vocabulary Quiz
A. Match the word to the meaning
-
die Fahrkarte
-
bezahlen
-
die Nachricht
-
die Prüfung
a) exam
b) ticket
c) pay
d) message
Answers: 1-b, 2-c, 3-d, 4-a
B. Fill in the blanks
-
Ich muss einen Termin ____.
-
Die Fahrt ____ um 8 Uhr ab.
-
Kannst du mich später ____?
Answers:
-
machen
-
fährt
-
anrufen
C. Translate into German
-
The appointment is tomorrow.
-
She buys a ticket.
-
We are changing trains.
-
He tells a story.
Answers:
- _Der Termin ist morgen.
_ - _Sie kauft eine Fahrkarte.
_ - _Wir steigen um.
_ - _Er erzählt eine Geschichte.
_
