https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Going to the gym in Germany can test your language skills as much as your fitness. Here’s our guide to the phrases you need to work up a sweat, talk reps and explain injuries – without accidentally ending up back at school. https://www.thelocal.de/20260505/how-to-talk-about-working-out-like-a-german Tue, 05 May 2026 14:24:00 +0200 how-to-talk-about-working-out-like-a-german People who are dating love to talk about their hopes and fears and people who aren't love to hear about them. Here’s our guide to the German phrases you need to know to get in on the dating conversation. https://www.thelocal.de/20250708/liebeskummer-how-to-talk-about-dating-like-a-german Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:35:24 +0200 liebeskummer-how-to-talk-about-dating-like-a-german Saying 'bitte' in response to 'danke' can become a reflex, especially for early language learners, but there are plenty of other expressions to use. Here are some more interesting ways to acknowledge thanks in German. https://www.thelocal.de/20250303/5-things-to-say-instead-of-bitte-when-someone-thanks-you-in-german Mon, 03 Mar 2025 11:24:35 +0100 5-things-to-say-instead-of-bitte-when-someone-thanks-you-in-german Looking to learn German without spending a cent? From flashcard apps to online courses and video series, here are the best free online resources to help you build up your language skills. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/listed-the-best-free-websites-and-apps-for-german-language-learners Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:26:53 +0200 listed-the-best-free-websites-and-apps-for-german-language-learners Have you ever made a phone call and frozen when the other person’s voicemail picked up? You’re not alone. This guide will help you feel more confident when leaving voicemail messages in German. https://www.thelocal.de/20260416/how-to-leave-phone-voicemail-messages-in-german Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:54:47 +0200 how-to-leave-phone-voicemail-messages-in-german If hay fever is already making you miserable, the last thing you need is confusion at the pharmacy counter. Here’s a practical guide to allergy medication in Germany – and some helpful phrases for asking for it. https://www.thelocal.de/20260326/allergy-season-what-to-ask-for-in-german-pharmacies Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:13:51 +0100 allergy-season-what-to-ask-for-in-german-pharmacies Buying a property is always a major undertaking – and even more so when you’re attempting to do it in a foreign country. We look at the key phrases you need to know in Germany, and what you can expect. https://www.thelocal.de/20250822/the-german-words-you-need-to-know-when-buying-property Fri, 22 Aug 2025 17:01:58 +0200 the-german-words-you-need-to-know-when-buying-property When someone dies, it’s hard enough to find the words in English – let alone in German. If you’re learning the language, these simple phrases can help you express your condolences with confidence. https://www.thelocal.de/20260325/beileid-how-to-express-condolences-in-german Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:25:35 +0100 beileid-how-to-express-condolences-in-german 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.de/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 German is renowned for its lengthy words. As you might expect, the most unwieldy ones can be found in the worlds of law and finance. We've trawled around to put together the most useful ones for you here (and we've included some just for fun). https://www.thelocal.de/20240806/the-long-german-words-you-need-to-know-and-some-you-dont Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:50:56 +0200 the-long-german-words-you-need-to-know-and-some-you-dont Small as they are, those two little dots carry centuries of linguistic history. Mastering them is more than just a technical detail; it’s an important step towards speaking German with greater clarity and confidence. https://www.thelocal.de/20260304/the-history-of-the-german-umlaut Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:02:12 +0100 the-history-of-the-german-umlaut As Germany restricts access to state‑funded integration courses, we spoke to one non‑profit organisation which says it is ready to step in with free language lessons for migrants looking for work in the country. https://www.thelocal.de/20260225/helping-people-succeed-the-german-non-profit-offering-free-language-lessons Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:56:59 +0100 helping-people-succeed-the-german-non-profit-offering-free-language-lessons After Germany quietly decided to restrict access to integration courses, an expert explains who will be affected and why that's a problem for the whole country, not just immigrants and refugees. https://www.thelocal.de/20260218/short-sighted-cutting-access-to-integration-courses-in-germany-doesnt-make-sense Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:23:13 +0100 short-sighted-cutting-access-to-integration-courses-in-germany-doesnt-make-sense Germany may have a reputation as a monoglot country, but step inside people's homes and a different picture emerges. New figures show that bilingual and multilingual life is an everyday reality for millions of families in the country. https://www.thelocal.de/20260220/majority-of-bilingual-people-in-germany-mostly-speak-another-language-at-home Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:06:08 +0100 majority-of-bilingual-people-in-germany-mostly-speak-another-language-at-home "Helau!" "Alaaf!" "Narri-Narro!" These are some of the different 'fools' calls' from across Germany. Wherever people celebrate Carnival (or Fasching, or Fastnet), you hear the shouts. But where do they come from, and what do they mean? https://www.thelocal.de/20170221/why-youll-hear-these-strange-calls-at-carnival-and-what-they-mean-cologne-karneval-guide Tue, 21 Feb 2017 12:14:07 +0100 why-youll-hear-these-strange-calls-at-carnival-and-what-they-mean-cologne-karneval-guide Germany has confirmed plans to restrict access to integration courses, citing rising costs and a desire to focus spending on migrants likely to stay long term. Around 130,000 people could be affected – and the consequences could go much further. https://www.thelocal.de/20260212/catastrophic-effects-why-germany-is-cutting-integration-courses-for-foreigners Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:48:52 +0100 catastrophic-effects-why-germany-is-cutting-integration-courses-for-foreigners Having gained a strong command of the German language in his seventeen years in the country, columnist Tom Pugh suggests there are still words he struggles to pronounce and sounds he can't differentiate between. https://www.thelocal.de/20260202/will-i-ever-pronounce-german-words-like-a-native-speaker Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:00:16 +0100 will-i-ever-pronounce-german-words-like-a-native-speaker 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.de/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 Formal and often replaced in everyday conversation, the German genitive case can seem like a relic from a bygone era for many English speakers. Yet understanding it remains a key step towards speaking with more fluency and sophistication. https://www.thelocal.de/20251211/german-grammar-tips-the-slippery-case-of-the-genitive Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:04:21 +0100 german-grammar-tips-the-slippery-case-of-the-genitive Putting up a Christmas tree is one of the better known traditions among people who celebrate the holiday. Find out how Germans carry out this tradition. https://www.thelocal.de/20191217/german-advent-word-of-the-day-der-weihnachtsbaum Tue, 17 Dec 2019 09:50:56 +0100 german-advent-word-of-the-day-der-weihnachtsbaum