There are countless tools available to you when you start to learn German. You can find TV shows, podcasts, YouTube videos and, of course, apps, all of which will give you various resources on mastering the language. One of the more overlooked, however, is also a classic: a good online dictionary. In the age of Google Translate and ChatGPT, you may think you can get by with a search engine, but learning which ones to use — and when — will come in handy.
The real appeal of the dictionary over a translator is that they give you not just the English translation, but also a lot of context. You may also find conjugations, usage notes and other helpful information. Here are our recommendations that will come in most handy, each of which serves a slightly different purpose.
The Best German Dictionaries For Learners
Best Overall For Learners: Collins German Dictionary
The Collins German Dictionary is one of many language-to-language variations that Collins has to offer for language learners. Even though German to English is not the company’s primary focus, it is the work of many efforts, especially thanks to Collins’ collaboration with Langenscheidt, a German publishing company that puts out resources for second language learning. In addition to what you’d expect — definitions, pronunciations, etc. — the site also provides many learning tools for the language, with guides to grammar, quizzes and more.
Best App: Linguee
When you’re out and about, you need a lot of good information available at your fingertips and presented clearly. The best option for that is Linguee. While it also has a website, Linguee’s app is simple but filled with useful stuff. It shows results that include both the possible translations of a word as well as the translations in context. That way, you can quickly figure out if the translation fits your particular need. While it can be tempting to defer to Google Translate on your phone — and there are certainly situations where it will be correct — a dictionary app is a more complete learning tool for everyday situations.
The Best Dictionary Community: LEO
Sometimes, you’ll have a specific English-to-German translation question that you can’t simply look up the answer to. In those cases, forums for German online dictionaries come in handy. You can ask learners and native speakers from all around the world any question you want. For that, we’d recommend LEO, a dictionary website that has an active forum section where people can discuss the intricacies of German-English translations. The more traditional functions are useful as well, though the website isn’t the easiest to navigate.
Best German-German Dictionary: DWDS
When you’ve got a decent grasp of German, you may want to switch from a German-English dictionary to a German-German one. That way, you’re not constantly switching between two languages in your head, but you’re still able to look up German words you’re unfamiliar with. When you do, you might as well go with the gold standard of German dictionaries: Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache. It’s the most authoritative resource for the German language, tracking changes in usage from the 17th century through today. It provides as much information as any language nerd could want.
Best German Slang Dictionary: MundMische
You probably know that even the most comprehensive official dictionary is going to leave out colloquial speech. If you’re looking for a German version of Urban Dictionary, look no further than MundMische, which is set up in very much the same way. Built with entries submitted by users, it’s the most up-to-date resource on what German speakers are saying in casual conversations. Be warned, though, many entries describe adult topics. If you’d like a slightly safer-for-work alternative, try BBC’s Cool German. It’s not quite as hip, but it’ll teach you some useful terms.
How to Use a Dictionary for Foreign Language Learning
Choosing the right German dictionary is just the first step. Follow these tips to get the most of whichever one you choose.
Look Up Unmodified Words
If you see an unfamiliar verb while you’re reading, look up the infinitive, not the conjugated form that you see. This will get you to the word you’re looking for faster, and you can usually look up the conjugations at the same time.
Check The Part of Speech, Pronunciation, and Example Sentence
The definitions and/or English to German translations are just the beginning of what you can access with these tools. Most foreign language dictionaries don’t just teach you new words; they also show you how to use them. That makes them easier to integrate into your vocabulary.
Practice Looking Up Words
When you get a new dictionary, especially if you just got a monolingual one, it’s always a good idea to practice before you need to look up an unfamiliar word. To do this, start by looking up words you know, but sometimes stop on the tip of your tongue in the moment. This way, you’ll gain confidence to quickly consult it in your daily life.
Create Your Own Word Log
To help commit the words you look up to memory, keep a list of them. Not only does this make it easier to refer back to the words you’re learning, but the act of writing them down is a proven method to help vocabulary stick. If you want to add an extra challenge, don’t just write down the equivalent English word, but the monolingual definition.
Use the Phrases Section
Vocabulary on its own is just the beginning. Many bilingual dictionaries have a section for learning phrases. Not only do established idioms change words’ usage in context, but you can also consult this section to look up phrases by topic. For example, if you’re going on a trip to Berlin and want to make sure you can navigate from the airport to your hotel, peruse the “navigation” section and practice saying them.