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Drill the list with spaced repetition, then meet the words in real German videos with dual subtitles so they stick in context.

German B2 — Upper-Intermediate Vocabulary

Less common, more abstract vocabulary for news, essays and complex topics. · 2,844 words.

Work in progress. The B2 list is curated and still growing — new words are added regularly. Because B2 and C1 have no official fixed word list, levels here are graded automatically, so a word can occasionally sit a level either way.

All topics Society & Abstract 1203 Work & Education 285 Feelings & Character 274 Communication & Media 198 Everyday Actions 157 Nature & Weather 144 Body & Health 129 Money & Shopping 92 Leisure & Sport 85 Travel & Transport 54 Family & People 52 City & Places 48 Home & Household 47 Food & Drink 29 Time & Dates 24 Clothing 23

2,844 B2 words

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German word	English meaning	Topic & example
das ist dann aber auch schon alles	but that's all	Society & Abstract
die Jacke, -n	jacket	Society & Abstract
jäh	sudden / abrupt / precipitous / sheer	Feelings & Character
das Jahr, -e	year	Society & Abstract
der Jahresabschluss	annual financial statement	Work & Education
der Jammer	misery / pity / wailing / lamentation	Feelings & Character
jed-	every	Society & Abstract
jeglich	any	Society & Abstract
jenseits	that side of	Society & Abstract
jeweilig	respective	Society & Abstract
das Jiddisch	Yiddish	Communication & Media
der Job, -s	job	Society & Abstract
das Joch	a yoke	Travel & Transport
der Jugendliche, -n	youth/young person	Society & Abstract
der Jura	law / jurisprudence	Society & Abstract
der Jurist	a jurist / lawyer / judge	Work & Education
der Kabeljau	cod	Society & Abstract
die Kabinettsitzung	cabinet meeting	Society & Abstract
die Kaffeepause	a coffee break	Society & Abstract
der Kaiser	emperor	Family & People
die Kajüte	a cabin	Travel & Transport
das Kalium	Potassium	Work & Education
der Kalmar	squid	Nature & Weather
das Kaminsims	mantel(piece)	Society & Abstract
die Kammer	chamber / house	Society & Abstract
die Kandidatur	candidacy	Society & Abstract
die Kantate	cantata	Leisure & Sport
das Kanu	a canoe	Society & Abstract
der Kanzler	chancellor	Society & Abstract
die Kapazität	capacity	Society & Abstract
das Kapital	capital	Money & Shopping
karren	to cart	Travel & Transport
die Kartoffel, -n	potato	Society & Abstract
die Kaskade	cascade / waterfall / acrobatic leap	Nature & Weather
der Kassenbestand	cash on hand	Money & Shopping
die Kastanie	chestnut	Society & Abstract
katalogisieren	to catalog	Work & Education
die Kategorien	categories / fundamental concepts	Society & Abstract
der Katzenbär	red panda	Society & Abstract
katzengleich	cat-like / feline	Feelings & Character
die Kaution	deposit / bail	Money & Shopping
die Kehrseite	the other side / downside / behind	Society & Abstract
der Kelch	cup / goblet / chalice	Society & Abstract
das Kellergeschoss	basement floor/cellar story	Home & Household
kentern	to capsize / overturn	Travel & Transport
die Kernaussage	the core message	Communication & Media
das Kerngeschäft	a core business	Work & Education
das Kernland	heartland	City & Places
die Kettenreaktion	chain reaction	Work & Education
der Ketzer	heretic	Family & People
keuchen	to gasp / pant / wheeze	Body & Health
keuchend	panting / rasping	Body & Health
die Keule	a club / mace / cudgel	Everyday Actions
die Kinderbetreuung	childcare	Society & Abstract
kitschig	kitschy / cheesy / corny	Feelings & Character
die Klage	lawsuit/legal action	Society & Abstract
der Kläger	plaintiff/claimant	Family & People
kläglich	pitiful / miserable	Feelings & Character
die Klamotten	rags	Society & Abstract
die Klärung	clarification / resolving	Communication & Media
der Klassenraum	classroom	Work & Education
die Klausur	written exam	Work & Education
der Klebstoff	adhesive / glue	Society & Abstract
kleinlich	petty / small / stingy	Feelings & Character
der Klimawandel	climate change	Nature & Weather
klimpern	to strum / jingle	Leisure & Sport
die Klinge	blade / sword	Society & Abstract
die Klippe	cliff / rock / obstacle	Nature & Weather
klobig	chunky / bulky / massive	Feelings & Character
der Klotz	block / chunk / brick	Home & Household
die Kluft	a gap / gulf / chasm	Society & Abstract
der Knall	pop / bang / slam	Society & Abstract
knallhart	badass / tough	Feelings & Character
die Knappheit	shortage / scarcity	Money & Shopping
der Knecht	servant / farmhand	Family & People
knobeln	to play dice / toss for it	Leisure & Sport
der Knöchel	ankle / knuckle	Society & Abstract
das Knochenmark	(bone) marrow	Body & Health
die Knolle	tuber / bulb	Society & Abstract
knorrig	gnarled / knotty	Nature & Weather
die Knospe	a bud	Society & Abstract
knuddeln / kuscheln	to cuddle	Society & Abstract
knuffen	to poke / prod / nudge	Everyday Actions
der Knüller	blockbuster / hit / sensation	Communication & Media
der Knüppel	cudgel / bludgeon / nightstick	Everyday Actions
die Koalition	coalition	Society & Abstract
der Koalitionsvertrag	coalition agreement	Society & Abstract
der Kobold	leprechaun / goblin	Leisure & Sport
der Köcher	quiver / golf bag	Leisure & Sport
der Koffer, –	suitcase	Society & Abstract
das Kohlenbecken	a brazier	Home & Household
der Kohlendioxid	carbon dioxide	Nature & Weather
der Kohlenstoff	carbon	Nature & Weather
die Kohlenstoffbilanz	carbon balance/carbon footprint	Society & Abstract
das Kohlenstoffdioxid	carbon dioxide	Nature & Weather
die Koje	a bunk / bed	Travel & Transport
die Kojote	a coyote	Nature & Weather
kokett	flirty / coquettish	Feelings & Character
der Kolben	piston	Work & Education
der Kollege, -n	colleague	Society & Abstract

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Frequently asked questions

How many words are in the German B2 vocabulary list?

2,844 words, each with its English translation, the article (der/die/das) and an example sentence.

Is the German B2 word list free to download?

Yes — download the whole list free as a CSV spreadsheet or an Anki flashcard deck for spaced repetition.

What topics does German B2 vocabulary cover?

Society & Abstract, Work & Education, Feelings & Character, Communication & Media, Everyday Actions, Nature & Weather, Body & Health, Money & Shopping and more — browse them above, or open a topic for its own list.

Learn B2 by watching real German videos

Watch popular German videos with dual subtitles — German on top, English beneath — and tap any word for the same meaning, synonyms and etymology you see in the list above.

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und sie haben es in dieser Maschine gezüchtet

and they grew it inside this machine

Maschine🔊

machine · in context

noun

machine · engine · device

A1 demo · Nicos Weg (DW) — tap any word

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