How to learn German · YouTube
The Best YouTube Channels to Learn German, by Level
If you choose videos at your level, YouTube is the cheapest German teacher you can find. If videos are too hard, you will understand nothing. If they are too easy, you will learn nothing new. Here is a list of channels that learners actually use, arranged from your first words in German to real German for native speakers, and how to get the most from each one.
For beginners (A1–A2)
Nicos Weg — Deutsche Welle
Here is a course that follows Nico, who arrives in Germany and must find his way. It is a complete, free video course from DW. It goes from A1 to B1 in short episodes. Each episode has vocabulary and exercises on the DW website. This course is on YouTube, and it starts at zero and builds step by step.
Easy German
On screen, German and English subtitles appear with interviews of real people in Germany. They talk about everyday topics. The German is natural and spoken at a normal speed, and many different voices and accents can be heard. This is a good way to bridge the gap between textbook German and real German. The team also has a podcast.
Learn German with Anja
Friendly, energetic lessons in English for beginners: pronunciation, everyday phrases and the grammar you meet first.
Lingoni German
Structured lessons sorted by level from A1 upwards, explained clearly in English — good as a review of a course.
For grammar
Deutsch für Euch
Detailed grammar explanations — the cases, adjective endings, word order — taught in English with plenty of examples. Ideal when a grammar point in your course does not click.
Get Germanized
German grammar and German culture, explained with humour — useful for understanding how Germans really speak and live.
For intermediate learners (B1 and up)
Once you follow Easy German without the English line, switch to German made for Germans. This is where your listening really grows.
- Tagesschau — German TV news; the short tagesschau in 100 Sekunden is a daily summary in clear, standard German.
- logo! — ZDF news for children: real topics in simpler language, a great step before adult news.
- Dinge Erklärt – Kurzgesagt — the German version of the animated science explainers, with clear narration.
- MrWissen2go — history and politics explained in everyday German.
- Vlogs, cooking, football, travel — any German channel about something you already love. Interest keeps you watching.
Overview by level
| Your level | Watch | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Nicos Weg, Learn German with Anja | A structured start in small steps |
| A2 | Easy German, Lingoni German | Real voices, still with English help |
| Grammar gaps | Deutsch für Euch, Get Germanized | One topic explained properly |
| B1 | logo!, tagesschau in 100 Sekunden | Real news, short and clear |
| B2+ | Kurzgesagt (German), MrWissen2go, any hobby channel | Normal German for native speakers |
How to learn German from YouTube (not just watch it)
- Pick videos where you understand most of what you hear. If you are lost after a minute, go one level down.
- Use German and English subtitles together. German alone is too hard early on; English alone teaches you nothing. With both on screen you see what is said and what it means.
- Collect words, then review them. A word you met once in a video is gone in a few days unless it comes back.
- Re-watch short clips. A 3-minute video watched three times beats a 30-minute video watched once.
Need the grammar in order first? Our free A1 German course has 45 short video lessons — then these channels become much easier to follow.
FAQ
What is the best YouTube channel to learn German?
For B1, switch to real German: news, explainers and vlogs made for native speakers. Beginners, though, usually start with Nicos Weg by Deutsche Welle, a complete A1–B1 video course with a story, and Easy German, which films street interviews with German and English subtitles.
Is Nicos Weg good for beginners?
Yes. Nicos Weg is a free video course from Deutsche Welle (DW) that follows one character through everyday situations, from A1 to B1. Each episode is short and comes with exercises on the DW website, so it works as a first structured course.
Is Easy German good for learning German?
Yes — Easy German interviews real people on the street about everyday topics and shows German and English subtitles on screen. You hear natural, normal-speed German from different speakers, which is exactly what textbooks lack.
Can you learn German just by watching YouTube?
You can watch and learn more when you understand a good part of what you hear. Because you need a structured course for grammar and a way to review new words, pair watching with a course. Dual subtitles — German and English at the same time — let you watch real videos much earlier.
How do I watch German YouTube videos with English subtitles?
Learner channels often add English subtitles to the video. The 3minGerman Chrome extension is free, and it shows German and English subtitles together on any YouTube video. You can tap a word to see its meaning.