Learn German

Learn German online: a complete beginner’s guide

German is one of the most influential languages in Europe, known for its logical grammar, precise structure, and rich cultural history. Despite its reputation, German is highly systematic and becomes clear when learned through real usage rather than abstract theory.

This Loecsen German course is a free online course for complete beginners. It is designed to help learners understand, speak, read, and use German naturally from the very first lessons, through everyday expressions exactly as they are used in real life.

The German language: history, origins, and family

German belongs to the West Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family. It is closely related to English and Dutch, sharing many roots, structures, and core vocabulary.

Historically, German developed from Old High German and Middle High German, and became a standardized written language relatively late, through literature, administration, and printing.

Today, German is spoken as a native or official language in:

• Germany
• Austria
• Switzerland
• Liechtenstein
• Parts of Belgium, Italy (South Tyrol), and Luxembourg

German has many regional varieties, but Loecsen teaches Standard German (Hochdeutsch), which is understood and accepted everywhere.

The German alphabet and pronunciation

German uses the Latin alphabet, with a few additional letters:

• Ä ä, Ö ö, Ü ü (umlauts)
• ß (Eszett)

German pronunciation is consistent and predictable:

• Most letters are pronounced the same way every time
• Words are pronounced as written
• Stress is usually on the first syllable

Lower on this page, Loecsen provides a sound-based alphabet table allowing you to see each letter, hear its pronunciation, and repeat it until recognition becomes automatic.

German grammar on Loecsen: clear patterns, real sentences, fast progress

German has a reputation for being “hard”, mostly because learners see long grammar lists too early. On Loecsen, you discover German grammar the way your brain likes it: through repeated, meaningful sentences taken from everyday life.

Below, you’ll see that German is not “chaos”: it is a small set of reusable building blocks. Once you recognize them, you can understand and produce dozens of sentences with confidence.

If you want to go deeper at any moment, Loecsen lets you click a word or sentence and access its information sheet: you can see the word-by-word breakdown, understand how each piece works, and review the exact pattern again later with spaced repetition.

German cases: understanding the logic without overloading yourself

One of the distinctive features of German grammar is the case system. At first glance, this may sound intimidating — but at A1 level, you do not need to learn cases as abstract grammar tables.

On Loecsen, cases are introduced implicitly, through real sentences you already understand. The goal at the beginning is recognition, not memorization.

Here are the main German cases, explained in a concrete and beginner-friendly way:

• Nominative – the subject (who is doing the action)
• Accusative – the direct object (what / whom the action affects)
• Dative – the indirect object (to whom / for whom)
• Genitive – possession (rare at A1, not a priority)

Nominative: the base form you start with

Here, ein Tisch is in the nominative. This is the form you see first and most often at beginner level.

Accusative: when something receives the action

dein Land is what is being liked. You don’t need to label it “accusative” — you learn the sentence as it is, then later notice recurring changes in similar contexts.

Dative: often after certain verbs or prepositions

mir means “to me”. This form appears naturally in useful expressions and is absorbed through repetition.

As you progress, Loecsen helps you:

• recognize recurring forms (mir / mich / mein)
• understand why they appear in specific sentences
• build intuition before formal explanations

A practical learning routine with Loecsen

Learning German sustainably relies on simple, regular actions supported by intelligent repetition.

• Practice every day, even just 5 minutes.
• Listen first, then repeat aloud.
• Replay the same expressions until they feel familiar.
• Notice patterns instead of memorizing rules.
• Use listening mode on low-energy days.
• Practice with AI dialogues to simulate real situations.
• Rely on the Spaced Repetition System (SRS) and Super Memory.

Staying motivated while learning German

• Lower your daily goal instead of stopping.
• Return to expressions you already understand.
• Accept approximation — communication comes first.
• Trust repetition more than explanations.

How the Loecsen “First Contact” course helps beginners

The Loecsen “First Contact” German course is a free online course designed specifically for complete beginners.

It focuses on essential everyday situations, reinforced through listening, repetition, and contextual explanations.

With its structured progression and Spaced Repetition System, learners progressively reach a functional CEFR A1 level.

Frequently asked questions about learning German

Is German really difficult for beginners?

German looks complex at first, but its grammar is highly structured. When learned through real usage and repetition, it becomes predictable and manageable.

Do I need to master all grammar rules to speak German?

No. Grammar supports communication. You learn what you need, when you need it, through real examples.

Can I really learn German on my own?

For basic and intermediate foundations, yes. For advanced fluency, working with a teacher later can help — but Loecsen gives you a strong autonomous base.

How long before I understand basic German?

With regular practice, many learners begin understanding everyday expressions within a few weeks.