German Mistakes to Avoid Just because you're a native speake | Learn German with Leo🦁

German Mistakes to Avoid

Just because you're a native speaker doesn't mean you speak perfectly without mistakes! In this post, we'll analyze some popular mistakes Germans make in their speech. Here are some tips to help you speak correctly:

Als vs Wie
Germans often make mistakes with the conjunctions ALS/WIE when comparing. "Ich bin größer WIE du" (I am taller than HOW you are) should be "Ich bin größer ALS du". Use WIE for sentences like "Ich bin genauso groß WIE du" (I am as tall as HOW you are).

Dasselbe vs Das Gleiche
This is the second most common mistake. DASSELBE means physically the same item, while DAS GLEICHE means "the same" with regards to its qualities. Don't end up in awkward situations like saying "Ich will dasselbe Eis!" (I want the same ice cream), when in fact you just want your own ice cream.

Word Order in a Sentence
While word order is important, in colloquial speech, it often doesn't matter where the verb stands. In unprepared speech, it's okay to put the verb closer to the meaning of the sentence rather than at the very end. Check out our article for more tips.

Gehen vs Laufen
Laufen is not only "to run" but also "to go" and is used in colloquial speech much more often than gehen. Learn how to use these verbs correctly and use important constructions like "Ich bin heute bei ihr vorbeigegangen" (I stopped by her house today).

Don't make these mistakes and speak like a native German! For more tips, check out our full article - click the button below.