English-German Cognates

Similarities between the German language and the English language

Did you know that there are similarities between the English language and the German language? There are a lot of German words derived from English or vice versa. We call them English-German Cognates.

As a matter of fact these two languages are linguistic siblings. They have a lot in common because they have the same roots.

OK – let’s start with some common German-English Cognates that are very similar in both languages to give you a first impression.

Try this: 

Klick den Playbutton!

es ist = it is

gut = good

es ist gut = it is good

guten Morgen = good morning

willkommen = welcome

guten Morgen und willkommen
= good morning and welcome

See, I told you. –
The German language is not that difficult

Let’s check out some other similar words.

Practice with the phrases several times because they are similar and that could confuse you a little in the beginning.

wollen = want

Sie = you

Wollen Sie? = Do you want?
(It means literally: Want you?)

was = what

Was wollen Sie? = What do you want?
(literally: What want you?)

Wasser = water

Wollen Sie Wasser? = Do you want water?
(literally: Want you water?)

essen = to eat

trinken = to drink

Was wollen Sie essen?
= What do you want to eat?
(literally: What want you eat?)

Was wollen Sie* trinken?
= What do you want to drink?
(literally: What want you drink?)

More examples of common German words derived from English or vice versa

Let’s use what we have learned so far and build some sentences with some similar verbs.

Wollen Sie … ? = Do you want to … ?
(literally: Want you … ?)

Wollen Sie trinken? = (drink)
= Do you want to drink?
(literally: Want you drink?)

Wollen Sie essen? = (eat)
= Do you want to eat?
(literally: Want you eat?)

Wollen Sie schwimmen? (swim)
= Do you want to swim?

Wollen Sie lernen? = (learn)

Wollen Sie studieren? = (study)

Wollen Sie kommen? = (come)

Wollen Sie parken? = (park)

Wollen Sie gehen? = (go)

Wollen Sie starten? = (start)

Wollen Sie tanzen? = (dance)

mit mir? = with me?

Wollen Sie mit mir* tanzen?
= Do you want to dance with me?

Let’s add one more word to those sentences

wann = when 

Wann wollen Sie … ?
= When do you want to … ?
(literally: When want you … ?)

Wann wollen Sie trinken?
= When do you want to drink?
(literally: When want you drink?)

Wann wollen Sie essen?

Wann wollen Sie schwimmen?

Wann wollen Sie lernen?

Wann wollen Sie studieren?

Wann wollen Sie kommen?

Wann wollen Sie gehen?

Wann wollen Sie starten?

Wann wollen Sie tanzen?

Wann wollen Sie mit mir tanzen?
= When do you want to dance with me?

I, can, have and must are also similar in German

Ich kann = I can 

Ich habe = I have 

Ich bin = I am 

Ich muss = I must

Ich kann … = I can …

Ich kann nicht. = I cannot.

Ich kann singen. = I can sing.

Ich kann nicht singen. = I cannot sing.

Ich kann schwimmen. = I can swim.

Ich kann nicht schwimmen.
= I cannot swim.

Ich kann surfen. = I can surf.

Ich kann nicht surfen. = I cannot surf.

Still on track?

Ja? – Super, das ist wundervoll. ?

= Yes? – Super, that is wonderful.

Let’s use what we have learned so far and build some sentences with some important German English cognates.

Do you understand the meaning?

Ich habe … = I have …

Ich habe einen Traum. = I have a dream.

Ich habe ein Baby. = I have a baby.

Ich habe einen Computer. = I have a computer.

Ich habe einen Laptop. = I have a laptop.

Ich habe einen Hamster. = I have a hamster.

Ich habe einen* Ring. = I have a ring.

Ich habe ein* T-Shirt. = I have a T-shirt.

*Don’t worry about the different words (ein, einen) for „a“ in German. I’m going to explain this in upcoming lessons.

There is more English-German Cognates!

See how easy it is to get started if you use similar words.

Try this: Try to guess what the following German sentences mean.

Ich muss … = I must (have to) …

Ich muss gehen. = I must go.

Ich muss Sie finden. = I must find you.

Ich muss warten. = I must wait.

Ich muss meine Haare waschen.
= I must wash my hair.

Ich muss heute Nacht schlafen.
= I must sleep tonight.

Would you have thought that the German language and the English language are so similar?

If we continue at this pace you will be able to speak German fluently by the end of the day.

I’m just kidding!

My students learn the German language very fast but not that fast.

In my learning packages I use the storytelling method and a special Question and Answer Technique.

This technique will enable your brain to think in German step by step and you will develop a natural feeling for the German language.

Students who practice with my lessons daily need only about 6 to 8 months until they speak German fluently!

OK – let’s go on and have a look at some other German English cognates.

Ich bin … = I am …

Ich bin ein Idiot. = I am an idiot.

Ich bin ein Manager. = I am a manager.

Ich bin ein Monster. = I am a monster.

Ich bin blond. = I am blond.

Ich bin cool. = I am cool.

Ich bin super cool. = I am super cool.

Ich bin fair. = I am fair.

Ich bin impotent. = I am impotent.

Ich bin intelligent. = I am intelligent.

Ich bin sexy. = I am sexy.

Ich bin unfair. = I am unfair.

Ich bin wild. = I am wild.

Adjectives with the same meaning in German and English

Finally, I would like to introduce you to a few adjectives that are very similar in both languages German and English.

If you know the meaning in English you automatically know the meaning in German – isn’t this great?

Wörter mit G und H

global
horizontal

Wörter mit M 

maximal
mild
minimal
multilateral

Wörter mit P 

parallel
paranoid
pink
prominent
prompt
proportional

Wörter mit T 

tolerant
total
transparent
triumphal
trivial
turbulent

Wörter mit U, V und W 

unfair
universal
verbal
warm
wild

Nichts ist besonders hart, wenn…

… man es in kleine Einheiten aufteilt. Mach(e) jede Lektion sorgfältig und wenn du dich wohlfühlst geh(e) über zur nächsten Lektion.

Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small portions. Do every lesson carefully and when you feel comfortable go on to the next lesson.