German B2 — Upper-Intermediate Vocabulary
Less common, more abstract vocabulary for news, essays and complex topics. · 2,844 words.
2,844 B2 words
| German word | English meaning |
|---|---|
| der Schmatz | smootch / smack |
| der Schmaus | a feast / nosh |
| schmeichlerisch | flattering |
| schmettern | to smash / blare / belt out |
| das Schmiedeeisen | wrought iron |
| schmiegen | to nestle |
| das Schmiermittel | lubricant |
| schmirgeln | to sand / sand down / rub down |
| die Schnapsidee | a crazy idea |
| schnauben | to snort |
| das Schneegestöber | snow flurry |
| die Schnipsel | snippet / scrap / shred |
| der Schnitt | section / average |
| die Schnittstelle | interface |
| die Schnitzeljagd | scavenger hunt |
| die Schnitzerei | a carving |
| der Schnörkel | a flourish / curlicue / embellishment |
| schnorren | to scrounge |
| die Schnute | pout |
| der Schock | a shock / jolt |
| der Schockzustand | a state of shock |
| der Schokoriegel | a chocolate bar |
| schonungslos | unsparing / relentless |
| der Schorf | scab / crust / scaly skin |
| der Schrank, -ä, e | cupboard |
| die Schraubzwinge | a screw clamp |
| der Schrei | cry / scream / shout |
| der Schrittzähler | pedometer |
| die Schrotflinte | a shotgun |
| schuften | to slave away / toil / grind away |
| der Schuh, -e | shoe |
| das schulde ich dir | I owe you this |
| schuldenfrei | debt free |
| der Schuldner | debtor |
| der Schuldschein | promissory note |
| der Schüler, – | pupil |
| die Schulferien | school holidays |
| der Schulleiter | headmaster/principal |
| das Schulterblatt | a shoulder blade / scapula |
| schummrig | dim |
| schüren | to stoke / foment / fan the flames |
| die Schürze | apron |
| schürzen | to purse (knot) |
| die Schusswaffe | a firearm (wenig benutzt) |
| der Schützling | protege / client |
| der Schwall | surge / gush / flood |
| der Schwan | a swan |
| die Schwankung | fluctuation / variability |
| der Schwanz | tail |
| schwappen | to slosh / slop / splash |
| der Schwarm | swarm / flock / shoal / school |
| schwatzen | to chatter / gossip / babble |
| schweißen | to weld |
| schwelgen | to indulge oneself |
| die Schwelle | threshold / sill |
| die Schwerkraft | gravity |
| schwerlast | heavy-duty |
| die Schwester, -n | sister |
| die Schwingung | vibration / pulsation |
| schwirren | to buzz / whir / whiz |
| der Schwitzkasten | a headlock |
| der Sechstagekrieg | the 6 Day War |
| die Seebrasse / Goldbrasse | sea bream |
| die Seekuh | manatee |
| die Seele | soul |
| seelenruhig | cool as a cucumber / calmly |
| das Seepferdchen | seahorse |
| der Seewespe | box jellyfish / sea-wasp |
| der Segen | blessing / benediction |
| die Sehenswürdigkeit, -en | sights/attractions |
| die Sehne | tendon / chord |
| sehnsüchtig | longingly / yearning |
| das Sehrohr | a periscope |
| Sehschwäche | poor eyesight |
| seicht | shallow / frail |
| die Seilbahn | cable car |
| der Seitenhieb | a swipe / sideswipe / gibe |
| die Seitenleiste | a sidebar |
| seitlich | lateral / at the side |
| der Sekt | champagne / sparkling wine |
| die Sektlaune | celebratory mood lit. champagne mood |
| die Sekundärliteratur | secondary literature |
| die Sekunde, -n | second (Time) |
| der Sekundenbruchteil | a fraction of a second |
| die Selbstbeherrschung | self control |
| das Selbstgefühl | self-esteem |
| selbstkritisch | self-critical |
| das Selbstmitleid | self-pity |
| der Selbstmord | suicide |
| selig | blissful / overjoyed / blessed |
| der Senat | senate |
| die Senkung | lowering / sag / reduction |
| die Sensationslust | sensationalism / appetite for sensations |
| der Server | server |
| der Sicherheitsdienst | security service / security |
| die Sicherung | backup / securing |
| die Sichtweite | visibility |
| die Siedlung | settlement / housing |
| das Siegel | seal (on a letter) |
| das Silvester | New Year's Eve |
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.
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.
Vocabulary quiz
generated from this clip
„Wie heißt du?" — what is being asked?
Question 1 of 5 · after every video you watch
Free to start · no credit card
Words fade fast — spaced reviews make them stick.
Based on Dr. Hermann Ebbinghaus · memory science, proven since 1885