Essential German Vocabulary for Intermediate Learners191

Introduction

Expanding your vocabulary is crucial for progressing in any foreign language, and German is no exception. As you advance from beginner to intermediate level, your need for more sophisticated and nuanced vocabulary grows. This article aims to provide you with a comprehensive list of essential German words and phrases at the B2 level (intermediate high) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), along with examples of their usage.

Intermediate Vocabulary
abwägen - to weigh, to consider - "Ich muss die Vor- und Nachteile abwägen, bevor ich eine Entscheidung treffe." (I have to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.)
aufwendig - elaborate, time-consuming - "Die Renovierung unseres Hauses war sehr aufwendig." (The renovation of our house was very elaborate.)
behaupten - to assert, to claim - "Er behauptet, dass er unschuldig ist." (He claims that he is innocent.)
dahingestellt - open, undecided - "Ob er tatsächlich lügt, ist noch dahingestellt." (Whether he is actually lying is still undecided.)
durchsetzen - to enforce, to push through - "Sie konnte sich mit ihrer Meinung nicht durchsetzen." (She couldn't enforce her opinion.)
empfinden - to feel, to sense, to perceive - "Ich empfinde große Freude, wenn ich mit meinen Freunden zusammen bin." (I feel great joy when I'm with my friends.)
erstreben - to strive for, to aim for - "Er erstrebt ein hohes Ziel." (He aims for a high goal.)
folglich - consequently, as a result - "Folglich müssen wir eine andere Lösung finden." (Consequently, we have to find another solution.)
hinterfragen - to question, to scrutinize, to challenge - "Ich hinterfrage seine Aussagen kritisch." (I critically question his statements.)
in Betracht ziehen - to take into consideration, to contemplate - "Wir ziehen in Betracht, die Reise zu stornieren." (We are considering canceling the trip.)
ineinandergreifen - to interlock, to mesh - "Die einzelnen Teile des Puzzles greifen perfekt ineinander." (The individual pieces of the puzzle fit perfectly together.)
mitunter - sometimes, occasionally - "Ich gehe mitunter ins Kino." (I occasionally go to the cinema.)
nachvollziehbar - understandable, comprehensible - "Ihre Argumente sind sehr nachvollziehbar." (Her arguments are very understandable.)
paradox - a paradox - "Die Situation ist ein Paradox: Wir brauchen das Geld, aber wir wollen es nicht ausgeben." (The situation is a paradox: We need the money, but we don't want to spend it.)
selbstverständlich - of course, naturally - "Natürlich helfe ich dir dabei!" (Of course I'll help you with that!)
tendenziell - tending, inclined - "Die Tendenz geht dahin, dass die Preise steigen werden." (The tendency is that prices will rise.)
umstritten - controversial, disputed - "Die neue Reform ist umstritten." (The new reform is controversial.)
verfassen - to write, to compose - "Ich habe einen Aufsatz verfasst." (I wrote an essay.)
voraussetzen - to presuppose, to assume - "Vorausgesetzt, dass das Wetter gut wird, machen wir einen Ausflug." (Assuming the weather will be good, we'll go on a trip.)
zukunftsorientiert - future-oriented - "Wir sollten zukunftsorientierte Entscheidungen treffen." (We should make future-oriented decisions.)

Conclusion

Mastering these German words and phrases will significantly enhance your ability to express yourself more clearly, understand complex texts, and engage in deeper conversations. While vocabulary expansion is an ongoing process, incorporating these essential terms into your active vocabulary will provide a solid foundation for further language development and success at the intermediate level.

2024-10-30

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