Basic Nouns

1. das Wasser

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   Neuter noun; sparkling is "mit Kohlensäure", still is "ohne Kohlensäure"

2. das Essen

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

   Grammar Note

   Neuter noun formed from the verb "essen"

3. das Geld

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   Neuter noun; small change is "das Kleingeld"

4. die Toilette

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun, plural "die Toiletten"; signs usually say "WC"

5. das Taschentuch

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

   Grammar Note

   Neuter compound of "Tasche" (pocket) and "Tuch" (cloth); plural "Taschentücher"

6. das Medikament

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

   Grammar Note

   Neuter noun; a pharmacy is "die Apotheke" (feminine)

7. das Gepäck

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

   Grammar Note

   Neuter and uncountable; one suitcase is "der Koffer" (masculine)

8. der Schlüssel

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; singular and plural look the same

9. die Fahrkarte

   Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport and admission tickets

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; an admission ticket is "die Eintrittskarte"

10. der Reisepass

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

    Grammar Note

    Masculine compound of "Reise" (journey) and "Pass"; often shortened to "Pass"

11. das Telefon

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    Neuter noun; a mobile phone is "das Handy"

12. das Ladegerät

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

    Grammar Note

    Neuter compound of "laden" (to charge) and "Gerät" (device)

13. der Bahnhof

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun for a railway station; a metro stop is "die Station" (feminine)

14. das Krankenhaus

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    Neuter compound of "krank" (ill) and "Haus" (house)

15. die Polizei

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun for the force; an officer is "der Polizist / die Polizistin"

16. das Geschäft

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    Neuter noun; it also means "business". "Der Laden" is a synonym

17. das Zimmer

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

    Grammar Note

    Neuter noun for any room, hotel included; singular and plural are identical

18. die Straße

    Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun for a street; "ß" is pronounced like "ss"

19. die Familie

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; the "-ie" ending sounds like "ee-uh"

20. der Name

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; surname is "der Nachname", first name "der Vorname"

21. der Kopf

    Head

    Usage

    Point to this for a headache or a head injury

22. die Augen

    Eyes

    Usage

    Point to this for eye pain or trouble seeing

    Grammar Note

    Plural; a single eye is "das Auge"

23. die Zähne

    Teeth

    Usage

    Point to this for toothache; a dentist is "der Zahnarzt"

    Grammar Note

    Plural; a single tooth is "der Zahn"

24. der Hals

    Throat

    Usage

    Point to this for a sore throat; the complaint itself is "Halsschmerzen"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; German "Hals" covers both the throat and the front of the neck, while the nape is a separate word ("der Nacken") — point at the spot on your body

25. der Bauch

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    Point to this for belly pain; the stomach organ itself is "der Magen"

26. der Rücken

    Back

    Usage

    Point to this for back pain

27. der untere Rücken

    Lower back

    Usage

    Point to this for lower-back pain; the complaint is also called "Kreuzschmerzen"

    Grammar Note

    German has no single word matching Japanese "koshi"; this is the closest phrasing

28. der Fuß

    Foot

    Usage

    Point to this for pain or injury in the foot; the leg above the ankle is "das Bein"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; German strictly separates "der Fuß" (foot) from "das Bein" (leg)

29. die Hand

    Hand

    Usage

    Point to this for pain or injury in the hand; the arm is "der Arm"

30. die Brust

    Chest

    Usage

    Point to this for chest pain; the clinical term is "der Brustkorb"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; it can also mean the breast, so show it while talking about pain, or use "der Brustkorb" to be explicit

31. das Feuerwehrfahrzeug

    Fire engine

    Usage

    For asking that a fire engine be sent, or describing what is happening at a fire

    Grammar Note

    Neuter compound of "Feuerwehr" (fire service) and "Fahrzeug" (vehicle). Everyday speech says "das Feuerwehrauto"; the fire-fighting truck itself is "das Löschfahrzeug"

32. das Konsulat

    Consulate

    Usage

    Where to head after losing a passport or after an incident; an embassy is "die Botschaft"

    Grammar Note

    Neuter noun glossed as a country's administrative representation abroad, and as the office and seat of a consul

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