Your first words.
Your first German story.
Learn German for absolute beginners
You don’t need to know a single word of German. Meet a few words with pictures and audio, practice them with guidance, then see them come together in a story.
Module 1 needs no account. Create a free account to save progress and unlock module 2.
Learn German nouns with their context
Meet useful German words in illustrated scenes before reading longer passages. Pay attention to the short words that accompany a noun and the position of the verb. Repeated listening helps you recognize the whole expression instead of translating every piece separately.
Begin with recognition
Meet a manageable set of words with visual and listening support. You can repeat before moving on.
Practice in small steps
Follow the module’s guided activities, check your understanding and revisit unfamiliar words.
Grow into stories
Milestone stories bring earlier vocabulary together, so your practice has a clear destination.
Your German beginner course
Start at the beginning and build on familiar words. Explore any module below to see its goal and vocabulary before opening the course.
- 1TRY WITHOUT SIGNUP
Going into the House
Understand and use basic words for people, movement, being, and entering a house.
ich · kommen · du - 2FREE WITH YOUR ACCOUNT
The Man Comes Home
Recognize people, connect ideas, and understand short statements about seeing and speaking.
der Mann · die Frau · er - 3CONTINUE IN THE APP
The Small Old House
Understand simple descriptions of a house, including its size, age, possession, and a negative description.
ein / eine · klein · groß - MILESTONE STORY
The Little House
Read a short story about people seeing, approaching, and entering a small house.
- 4CONTINUE IN THE APP
What Is His Name?
Understand and use simple words for asking, names, yes, and thinking.
der Herr · der Name · mein / meine - 5CONTINUE IN THE APP
The Key by the Door
Understand and use simple words for a door, a key, opening, standing, and basic positions or states.
die Tür · der Schlüssel · stehen - 6CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Key for the Neighbor
Understand and use words for acting together, taking and giving an object, and referring to a man or object.
die Hand · wir · ihn - MILESTONE STORY
The Key in Hand
Read a complete story about people finding the right key for a closed door.
- 7CONTINUE IN THE APP
A New Photo
Recognize and use words for looking at, showing, and describing a photo.
das Foto · rot · blau - 8CONTINUE IN THE APP
The Book on the Table
Recognize and use words for a table, a book, sitting, lying in place, being at something, and an unspecified thing.
der Tisch · das Buch · an - 9CONTINUE IN THE APP
Where Is the Bag?
Understand and use simple words for looking for a missing object, saying where it is, and noticing that it is gone.
die Tasche · hier · weg - MILESTONE STORY
The Key in the Book
Follow a complete story about looking for a missing key and finding it in an unexpected place.
- 10CONTINUE IN THE APP
The Gate Before Home
Understand simple descriptions of where people and objects are, and follow travel toward home.
das Tor · vor · da - 11CONTINUE IN THE APP
Waiting Until One
Understand and use simple German words for waiting, minutes, clock time, now, and still.
die Uhr · warten · die Minute - 12CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Full Day
Understand and use common words for time, repeated events, quantities, and everyday actions.
der Morgen · der Tag · das Jahr - MILESTONE STORY
The Key in His Hand
Follow a short story about looking for a missing object and discovering where it is.
- 13CONTINUE IN THE APP
The Missing Key
Understand and use simple words for smiling, happiness, emphasis, addition, and contrast in an everyday search.
lächeln · glücklich · gut - 14CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Quiet Sound at the Window
Understand words for light, a window, hearing, quietness, laughter, and everyone in a simple home scene.
das Licht · das Fenster · hören - 15CONTINUE IN THE APP
The Number on the Photo
Understand words for a boy, a person, a number, holding something, origin, limitation, and silence in a short everyday scene.
der Junge · der Mensch · die Nummer - MILESTONE STORY
The Missing Key
Follow a complete story about looking for a missing key, finding it, and leaving the house.
Your progress comes with you.
Try module 1 here without signing up. Create a free account to save your progress and complete module 2 on the web. Then continue in the Inklingo app.
Already have an account? Sign in to that same account in the app. Use the same sign-in method as on the website. You don’t need a new account or to start again.
The free app includes the first 3 modules and the first milestone story. Premium learners can continue through the full course.
Open Foundations
Before you start
What does A0 mean?
Inklingo uses A0 for the starting point before A1: absolute beginners who are building their first vocabulary. You don’t need a placement test or previous lessons to start Foundations.
Do I need an account for the first module?
No. You can try module 1 as a guest. Create an account when you are ready to continue so your completion is saved and available across the web and app.
Can I use the course on a computer?
Yes. The first two modules are available to free learners on the web; module 2 requires an account. Continue free starter access in the app, or use your existing Premium access for the full web course.
What should I practice after Foundations?
Try beginner German stories. Keep using audio and word meanings while you build reading confidence. You can also explore the German vocabulary library.