# Learn German with NativePal > Learn German with NativePal: levelled reading, vocabulary with spaced repetition, and pronunciation coaching. Free app for iOS and Android. ## Quick facts - Native name: Deutsch - Speakers: 100+ million speakers worldwide - Spoken in: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein - Writing system: Latin alphabet, 26 letters plus ä, ö, ü and ß - FSI difficulty category: II - Estimated study to professional working proficiency: 900 hours (about 36 weeks full-time, per the US Foreign Service Institute) - Proficiency framework: CEFR (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) ## What English speakers find hardest about German - **Four cases**: Nominative, accusative, dative and genitive change the articles and adjective endings around a noun. "Der" can become den, dem or des depending on the noun's job in the sentence. - **Three genders you cannot guess**: Der, die and das are mostly unpredictable from the meaning of the word, and getting the gender wrong cascades into wrong case endings. - **Verb goes to the end**: In subordinate clauses the conjugated verb moves to the very end, so you have to hold the whole clause in mind before you learn what happened. - **Separable prefix verbs**: Verbs like "aufstehen" split apart, with the prefix flying to the end of the sentence. The meaning is not fixed until the last word. - **Compound nouns**: German glues nouns into single long words, so reading often means breaking one word into its parts before it makes sense. ## How you practise German in NativePal - [Reading Lessons](https://nativepal.app/features/reading-lessons/): German stories generated for your level, every word tappable for a translation, comprehension quiz at the end. - [Vocabulary & Dictionary](https://nativepal.app/features/vocabulary-and-dictionary/): themed German vocabulary lessons plus a personal dictionary feeding spaced-repetition flashcards. - [Speaking Practice](https://nativepal.app/features/speaking-practice/): read German aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual sounds, prosody, fluency, and connected speech. - [Daily Challenges](https://nativepal.app/features/daily-challenges/): 60 seconds of freeform German every day, analysed for grammar, vocabulary, and phrasing. - [Learning Scenarios](https://nativepal.app/features/learning-scenarios/): structured German lessons from the alphabet for absolute beginners. ## FAQ ### How long does it take to learn German? The US Foreign Service Institute puts German at roughly 900 hours of instruction — about 36 weeks full-time — to reach professional working proficiency. Holding a simple conversation comes much sooner: most learners manage it inside the first few months. NativePal shortens the part you control: reading at your level every day, vocabulary that returns before you forget it, and speaking practice that scores your pronunciation instead of just ticking a box. ### What is hardest about German grammar? Four cases: Nominative, accusative, dative and genitive change the articles and adjective endings around a noun. "Der" can become den, dem or des depending on the noun's job in the sentence. Three genders you cannot guess: Der, die and das are mostly unpredictable from the meaning of the word, and getting the gender wrong cascades into wrong case endings. Verb goes to the end: In subordinate clauses the conjugated verb moves to the very end, so you have to hold the whole clause in mind before you learn what happened. Separable prefix verbs: Verbs like "aufstehen" split apart, with the prefix flying to the end of the sentence. The meaning is not fixed until the last word. Compound nouns: German glues nouns into single long words, so reading often means breaking one word into its parts before it makes sense. ### Is German hard for English speakers? Moderate — familiar vocabulary, demanding grammar. Immediately readable. The only additions are three umlauted vowels and the ß, which is just a sharp s. ### What proficiency levels does NativePal use for German? NativePal levels your German practice with CEFR, so reading lessons, vocabulary, and speaking prompts are generated for the level you select rather than a generic average. The ladder runs A1 through to C2. ### Where is German spoken? German is spoken in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, with 100+ million speakers worldwide. ### Can I learn German as a complete beginner? Yes. NativePal's Learning Scenarios start from the alphabet, numbers, greetings, and how to introduce yourself, with no prior German assumed. Once those land, reading lessons and vocabulary packs pick up from wherever you are. ### Does NativePal correct my German pronunciation? Yes. You read German aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual vowels and consonants, stress, rhythm and intonation, fluency, and connected speech — not just a pass or fail. The 60-second daily speaking challenge adds freeform practice on top. ### Can I practise speaking German, not just reading it? Yes, and it is the most-used part of the app. Speaking Practice is a teleprompter you read aloud for scored pronunciation feedback, the daily challenge gives you 60 seconds of freeform talk, and you can reply with your voice in any chat or roleplay scenario. ### Is NativePal free for learning German? NativePal is free to start, with a daily allowance across reading, vocabulary, speaking practice, and chats. A premium subscription removes the daily limits and unlocks the longer formats. Prices are set in the App Store and Google Play and vary by region. ### Do I need an account to start learning German? No. NativePal uses anonymous sign-in, so you can start practising German without an email address or social login. ## More - [All supported languages](https://nativepal.app/languages.html) - [All features](https://nativepal.app/features/) - [Compare NativePal with other apps](https://nativepal.app/compare/) - [llms.txt](https://nativepal.app/llms.txt)