https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Austria in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Summer in Austria is when people go outdoors to enjoy public pools, swim in rivers and lakes and complain about the weather. Here are a key few words and expressions to have at hand. https://www.thelocal.at/20220615/the-german-language-you-need-for-summer-in-austria Wed, 15 Jun 2022 09:52:16 +0200 the-german-language-you-need-for-summer-in-austria There are several ways to greet people in Austria – all with different meanings. So stop saying “Hallo” and learn how to sound like a local instead. https://www.thelocal.at/20221206/how-to-greet-people-like-a-local-in-austria Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:32:11 +0100 how-to-greet-people-like-a-local-in-austria Watching German-language movies and series can be one of the most fun and entertaining ways to improve your language skills. Here are a few to check out. https://www.thelocal.at/20230503/10-must-see-films-and-series-to-help-you-improve-your-german Wed, 03 May 2023 17:14:12 +0200 10-must-see-films-and-series-to-help-you-improve-your-german If a friend or family member is doing something brave like performing on stage, you will need this German expression. https://www.thelocal.at/20260316/german-expression-of-the-day-toi-toi-toi Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:30:25 +0100 german-expression-of-the-day-toi-toi-toi Did you know Austrians have words for every kind of snow? Here's your vocabulary of winter and what to expect during Austria’s snowy season. https://www.thelocal.at/20241209/austrias-many-many-many-words-for-snow Mon, 09 Dec 2024 12:09:36 +0100 austrias-many-many-many-words-for-snow Want to feel more festive while also improving your German? Writer Sarah Magill digs out some of the most beautiful (and fun) German-language Christmas carols. https://www.thelocal.at/20211220/five-christmas-songs-to-improve-your-german-language-skills Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:32:51 +0100 five-christmas-songs-to-improve-your-german-language-skills Listening to podcasts is one of the easiest ways to immerse yourself in another language. Here are some of the best podcasts to help you improve your German skills. https://www.thelocal.at/20251106/ten-of-the-best-podcasts-to-learn-german-2 Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:22:52 +0100 ten-of-the-best-podcasts-to-learn-german-2 Sleep is a hugely important part of our daily lives, so if you struggle to sort your 'ausschlafen' from your 'einschlafen', this guide to German sleep vocabulary could come in handy. https://www.thelocal.at/20230603/explained-the-german-expressions-you-need-to-talk-about-sleep Sat, 03 Jun 2023 10:36:48 +0200 explained-the-german-expressions-you-need-to-talk-about-sleep Germany and Austria may share a common language - but often with a very different vocabulary. Here are eight of the most common terms which sound completely different if you're in Vienna versus Berlin. https://www.thelocal.at/20210326/eight-words-with-very-different-names-in-germany-and-austria Fri, 26 Mar 2021 12:38:51 +0100 eight-words-with-very-different-names-in-germany-and-austria When it comes to talking about time, German can be a lot more straightforward than English. Here’s how you can talk about the past, present and future with just two tenses. https://www.thelocal.at/20250917/german-grammar-tips-talk-about-the-past-present-and-future-with-just-two-tenses-2 Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:57:00 +0200 german-grammar-tips-talk-about-the-past-present-and-future-with-just-two-tenses-2 The German language is renowned for its creativity with animal phrases- especially ones about pigs. But there are more creatures to look out for. https://www.thelocal.at/20200120/the-complete-guide-to-german-animal-themed-phrases-2 Mon, 20 Jan 2020 13:13:51 +0100 the-complete-guide-to-german-animal-themed-phrases-2 If you’ve ever tried to ask a question in German and felt like you came across a bit too blunt, you’re not alone. German sentence structure can make even well-meant questions sound overly direct, especially when translated word-for-word from English. https://www.thelocal.at/20250504/german-grammar-tips-how-to-ask-polite-questions-in-german-without-sounding-too-blunt Sun, 04 May 2025 09:36:54 +0200 german-grammar-tips-how-to-ask-polite-questions-in-german-without-sounding-too-blunt Starting this autumn, Austria will more than double the number of teachers helping children with limited German skills. https://www.thelocal.at/20250411/more-german-help-at-school-austria-scraps-cap-on-language-support-for-children Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:38:01 +0200 more-german-help-at-school-austria-scraps-cap-on-language-support-for-children Many fitness studios in Austria embrace English, but you can't always rely on translations. Here's some useful vocab to know, whether you're looking for the weights or trying to sign up for a membership. https://www.thelocal.at/20231027/the-vocab-you-need-for-going-to-the-gym-in-austria Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:22:52 +0200 the-vocab-you-need-for-going-to-the-gym-in-austria From shipping packages to applying for passports, here are the essential phrases for handling your post office needs in Austria. https://www.thelocal.at/20241115/key-german-phrases-to-know-for-a-visit-to-austrian-post-offices Fri, 15 Nov 2024 13:01:53 +0100 key-german-phrases-to-know-for-a-visit-to-austrian-post-offices Getting to grips with German grammar is not easy—which is why we're running this series offering tips and tricks for German learners. This week, we’re looking at one of the most mysterious little words in the German language: doch. https://www.thelocal.at/20250316/german-grammar-tips-whats-the-deal-with-doch Sun, 16 Mar 2025 09:22:18 +0100 german-grammar-tips-whats-the-deal-with-doch Knowing some essential vocabulary while visiting the doctor can help you get the care you need more easily. Here are some useful words and phrases. https://www.thelocal.at/20241031/german-words-and-expressions-useful-at-the-doctors Thu, 31 Oct 2024 16:53:56 +0100 german-words-and-expressions-useful-at-the-doctors Does your personality really change when speaking another language? Are people more comfortable expressing emotions in certain languages and can understanding the emotional shift actually help with language learning? Language professors Mari Mar Boillos Pereira and Ana Blanco Canales explore the latest research. https://www.thelocal.at/20241206/opinion-your-personality-changes-when-you-speak-another-language-but-thats-not-always-a-bad-thing Fri, 06 Dec 2024 11:38:45 +0100 opinion-your-personality-changes-when-you-speak-another-language-but-thats-not-always-a-bad-thing The six different categories in the European Framework for Languages set out what a German learner should be able to say and do at each level of language learning. Here's what each of them mean and how you can get there. https://www.thelocal.at/20231130/a1-to-c2-what-are-the-different-levels-in-german-and-how-do-i-reach-them-2 Thu, 30 Nov 2023 09:33:17 +0100 a1-to-c2-what-are-the-different-levels-in-german-and-how-do-i-reach-them-2 Anyone that has tried to learn German in Austria will say it’s a challenge. But why is that? And what can international residents do to make the process easier? https://www.thelocal.at/20220810/brutal-what-its-really-like-to-learn-german-in-austria Wed, 10 Aug 2022 15:55:31 +0200 brutal-what-its-really-like-to-learn-german-in-austria