If you’ve come to this article, it’s because you’re considering learning German, but you’re not sure if it will be an easy language to learn. German is a gender-sensitive language, with sometimes very long words, and the grammar isn’t always intuitive. But don’t worry, in this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about this Germanic language.
Among the points we will address are:
Is German a difficult language to learn for Spanish speakers?
Basics of German: vocabulary, cases and declensions, word order, pronunciation and grammar
Which language is harder to learn: French or German?
So let’s find out if German is a difficult language.
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Is it difficult for Spaniards to learn German?
German is a language that has a reputation for being difficult, especially for those of us who don’t speak Germanic languages. However, that’s no reason not to learn it. Besides, if you speak German, you ‘ll find it easier . The vocabulary between these languages has many similarities, and you’ll be surprised by the things you’ll learn without even trying.
Obviously, learning the language will be a slow process, and not everyone learns in the same way; but little by little, we all come to understand its subtleties. In the end, it turns out that it’s not as difficult as most people make it out to be; it can also be quick enough to learn everyday German .
Below we’ll present some of the characteristics of German so you can get an idea of what you’ll encounter if you decide to learn it.
German vocabulary
Most German words are of Germanic origin, but some closely resemble English . Furthermore, educated German words often come from Latin.
With every new word you learn in German, you must also learn which preposition should precede it. This may be confusing at first because sometimes a biological gender may not match its grammatical gender. However, there are some rules that determine which noun receives which article, with exceptions. Don’t stress too much about this part. Even if you have to memorize them all mechanically, much of this fundamental grammar will soon start to make more sense to you.
Cases and declensions of German
In the German language there are four cases:
Nominative: subject case
Accusative: direct object case of the verb
Dative: indirect object of the verb (to whom the action is addressed)
Genitive: case of the complement of the noun
The function of a word determines the case, which in turn determines the article used. In German, there are different grammatical functions of words within a sentence, which are reflected in declensions.
In addition, German has neuter, masculine and feminine genders, and there are 5 different plural endings in the German language.
But don’t worry if you don’t always get the cases right. People will still understand you, and that’s the main goal in the beginning, right?
German word order
In German, word order is quite important and differs greatly from Spanish. In this language, you always have to wait until the end of a sentence to understand it.
Sentences are made up of a subject, verbs, and different complements, but each of them has a different order depending on the type of sentence.
In affirmative sentences , the conjugated verb always occupies the second position, while the subject always occupies the first position.
In interrogative sentences without a pronoun and imperative sentences, the verb is in the first position, that is, it begins the sentence.
At this stage, it may take a while to learn German , but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be up to speed.
The pronunciation of German
German offers the convenience that, unlike English or French, all syllables are pronounced.
The key to good pronunciation lies in learning the sounds of vowels, consonants, and diphthongs. So all you have to do is practice the different sounds.
If learning German online is more affordable for you, don’t hesitate.
German grammar
Verb conjugation will be easier than in Spanish, since it has fewer tenses and irregular verbs are also easier.
The subject is never omitted, and the simplest sentences generally consist of a subject and an intransitive verb. When a transitive verb that requires a complement is used, the sentence structure becomes more complicated.
If there is more than one complement, they are listed in order of importance.
What is easier to learn: French or German?
The ease of learning one language compared to another depends on several factors.
To begin with, French and German come from different language families, so depending on which language you speak, it’s easier to learn one or the other. For example, Spanish and French come from the same language family.
Also, someone who has already studied a language other than their native language has a much better chance of adapting to a new language. Therefore, if you, as a Spanish speaker, have learned English, it will be easier for you to learn German.
But if we compare French and German separately in terms of difficulty, each has its own subtleties. In German, all syllables are pronounced, while French isn’t. In German, timing sequences are very easy, but in French, differentiating between the passé composé and the imparfait is a headache.
So it’s up to you to judge which of the two languages is easier for you to learn.
Improve your German with the Global General
Perhaps after reading this article you’ll conclude that German is quite difficult, but once you understand the logic of this language, everything becomes easier. With Global General, you can start practicing your German from scratch and immerse yourself in German culture right away.
With each activity, you’ll learn new vocabulary and grammar points . You can also review specific topics with the help of our vocabulary sheets . Not to mention that each of our audios and texts will transport you directly to Germany. And don’t forget that each exercise has its own correction and explanation in your language.
