What's the best way to learn German B2 vocabulary?

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

Download CSV Download Anki Flashcards

German word	English meaning	Topic & example
langersehnt	long-awaited	Feelings & Character
langfristig	long-term	Society & Abstract
langlebig	long lasting / durable	Home & Household
Längs / Längsache	lengthwise	Society & Abstract
die Languste	crawfish	Food & Drink
der Langzeitschäden	long-term damage	Body & Health
lasten	to burden / weigh / oppress	Society & Abstract
lau / lauwarm	lukewarm / tepid	Society & Abstract
das Lauffeuer	wildfire	Nature & Weather
die Läuse	lice	Society & Abstract
Laut ______	according to _____	Society & Abstract
der Lebensabschnitt	the stage of life	Society & Abstract
die Lebenserwartung	life expectancy	Society & Abstract
die Lebenslektion	a life lesson	Society & Abstract
die Lebenslinie	a lifeline	Body & Health
die Lebensspanne	a lifespan	Society & Abstract
lebenswichtig	vital	Body & Health
der Leerlauf	neutral / idle	Society & Abstract
die Legislaturperiode	legislative term	Time & Dates
das Lehrbuch	textbook	Work & Education
der Lehrer, –	teacher	Society & Abstract
der Lehrplan	curriculum/syllabus	Work & Education
die Lehrveranstaltung	course/teaching event	Work & Education
der Leib	body / flesh	Society & Abstract
die Leichtigkeit	ease / lightness	Society & Abstract
der Leidtragende	sufferer	Family & People
die Leinwand	canvas / screen / fabric	Leisure & Sport
die Leiste	the groin / bar / strip	Body & Health
die Leistungspunkte	credit points / ECTS	Work & Education
der Leistungssportler	a competitive athlete	Society & Abstract
das Leistungsverzeichnis	transcript of records	Work & Education
der Leitartikel	editorial / leading article	Communication & Media
die Lernschwäche	a learning disability	Society & Abstract
die Lernziele	learning objectives	Work & Education
der Leserbrief	letter to the editor	Communication & Media
die Leuchtstoffröhre	fluorescent tube / lights	Home & Household
der Leutnant	a lieutenant	Society & Abstract
die Libelle	dragonfly	Society & Abstract
das Libretto	libretto	Leisure & Sport
das Lichtjahr	light year	Nature & Weather
lieb-	dear	Society & Abstract
das Liebesspiel	lovemaking	Feelings & Character
die Liebessprache	a love language	Family & People
das Lied, -er	song	Society & Abstract
das liegt daran	that's because...	Society & Abstract
lila Deutsch	purple	Society & Abstract
lindern	to alleviate / relieve / ease	Body & Health
die Linderung	alleviation	Body & Health
das Lineal	a ruler	Society & Abstract
links German	left	Society & Abstract
der Lippenstift	lipstick	Society & Abstract
die Liquidität	liquidity	Money & Shopping
die List	cunning / ruse / trick	Feelings & Character
die Liturgie	liturgy	Work & Education
liturgisch	liturgical	Society & Abstract
die Lizensierung	licensing	Money & Shopping
die Lizenz	a license	Society & Abstract
das Loche	hole / pit	Society & Abstract
locker Deutsch	relaxed / slack	Society & Abstract
die Loge	a box / lodge	City & Places
logischerweise	logically	Society & Abstract
lokalisieren	to locate	Work & Education
lösbar	solvable / soluble	Society & Abstract
lose German	loose / free / slack	Society & Abstract
das Lösegeld	ransom (money)	Money & Shopping
die Lösung, -en	solution	Society & Abstract
das Löt	solder	Work & Education
der Lotse	pilot / guide / navigator	Travel & Transport
die Loyalität	loyalty	Society & Abstract
der Luftangriff	an air strike	Society & Abstract
der Luftdruck	air pressure	Nature & Weather
der Luftschutzbunker	an air raid shelter / bomb shelter	City & Places
die Luftverschmutzung	air pollution	Nature & Weather
die Luftwaffe	the air force	Travel & Transport
der Luftwiderstand	wind resistance	Travel & Transport
die Lungenentzündung	pneumonia	Body & Health
die Lupe	magnifying glass	Society & Abstract
lustlos	sluggish / dull / unenthusiastic	Feelings & Character
der Lyriker	poet	Work & Education
die Machart	a style / design / make	Society & Abstract
machtlos	powerless	Feelings & Character
das Mädchen, –	girl	Society & Abstract
die Made	a grub / maggot	Society & Abstract
die Magenschmerzen	stomach pain	Body & Health
die Magersucht	anorexia	Body & Health
der Mähdrescher	a combine harvester	Society & Abstract
die Mahnwache	a vigil	Society & Abstract
der Mais	corn	Society & Abstract
die Malerei	painting / the art of painting	Leisure & Sport
das Mandat	mandate / term of office	Society & Abstract
mangelernährt	malnourished	Body & Health
mängeln	to lack / mangle	Society & Abstract
das Manuskript	manuscript	Communication & Media
der Marienkäfer	ladybug	Society & Abstract
die Maschine, -n	machine	Society & Abstract
das Maschinengewehr	a machine gun	Society & Abstract
die Maßanfertigung	a custom made piece	Money & Shopping
massenhaft	en masse / plenty	Everyday Actions
maßgeschneidert	custom-made / tailored	Clothing
der Maßstab	benchmark / scale / standard	Society & Abstract

Quiz yourself on B2 words

Turn this list into a spaced-repetition quiz — multiple choice or flashcards, with the same tap-to-translate meanings, synonyms and etymology you see here. Free to start; sign up to save your progress and pick up where you left off.

Take the B2 quiz →Learn with YouTube videos

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.

youtube.com/watch

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

Vocabulary quiz

generated from this clip

„Wie heißt du?" — what is being asked?

Question 1 of 5 · after every video you watch

What is your German level?

Free to start · no credit card

Words fade fast — spaced reviews make them stick.

Based on Dr. Hermann Ebbinghaus · memory science, proven since 1885