About German B1
B1 is the intermediate tier in CEFR. At B1 you can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling, enter unprepared into conversation on familiar topics, and produce simple connected text on subjects within your field. The words at B1 start to include abstract and opinion words — you can describe experiences, express hopes and plans, and give reasons for your opinions. B1 is the level most employers mean when they ask for "conversational German".
B1 level outcomes
To complete this level: 9 can-do proofs · 8 real-world tasks · 75% overall mastery
- By the end of L3, the learner can 围绕熟悉与工作/学习话题持续交流、阅读和写作VocabularyGrammarListeningSpeakingReadingWritingPronunciationInteractionMediation
All 5198 words at B1
Click any word to see its full breakdown: reading, translation, and a real example word.
How to study German B1
B1 takes 3-6 months on top of A2. Continue spaced-repetition review of A1 and A2 (now 5-minute daily), and add 50-100 new B1 words per week. Start consuming native German content — TV shows with subtitles, podcasts at natural speed, news articles — and try writing short pieces (200-500 words) and getting them corrected by a tutor or language partner. By the end of B1 you should be able to hold your own in a debate about a familiar topic.
Common questions about German B1
Is B1 German considered conversational?
Yes. B1 is the threshold of independent use: you can describe experiences, give reasons, follow the main points of everyday speech and handle most situations while travelling without rehearsing first.
How is B1 different from A2 German?
A2 reproduces memorised routines; B1 creates language — opinions, stories, plans. The vocabulary shifts from concrete everyday objects towards abstract ideas, work and feelings.