Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say German in Spanish
Alemán · adjective · ah-leh-MAHN
Alemán is the Spanish word for German, functioning as both a noun (a German person or the German language) and an adjective (German-made, German culture). The feminine form is alemana. Germany is called Alemania.
ah-leh-MAHN
Mi vecino es alemán y habla tres idiomas.
My neighbor is German and speaks three languages.
German in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for german, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| alemán | german | ah-leh-MAHN | Default, widely understood |
| alemana | german | feminine form | |
| germano/a | german | literary or historical usage |
How Native Speakers Use Alemán
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Describing nationality
Ella es alemana y vive en Madrid desde hace cinco años.
She is German and has lived in Madrid for five years.
Use the feminine form alemana when the subject is feminine.
Talking about the language
Estoy aprendiendo alemán porque quiero estudiar en Berlín.
I am learning German because I want to study in Berlin.
When referring to the language, alemán is always masculine and lowercase.
Describing origin
Esta cerveza alemana es una de las mejores del mundo.
This German beer is one of the best in the world.
As an adjective, alemán/alemana follows the noun and agrees in gender and number.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Alemán
Capitalizing the adjective
Incorrect: La cultura Alemana es fascinante.
Correct: La cultura alemana es fascinante.
In Spanish, nationality adjectives are not capitalized. Write alemana in lowercase.
Confusing germano and hermano
Incorrect: Mi germano vive en Alemania.
Correct: Mi hermano vive en Alemania.
Germano means Germanic (literary). Hermano means brother. They look similar but have completely different meanings.
Why German Matters in Spanish-Speaking Cultures
Lock in German Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Alemán used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using alemán in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi vecino es alemán y habla tres idiomas. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About German in Spanish
- How do I say 'Germany' in Spanish?
- Germany is Alemania in Spanish, e.g., Viajé a Alemania el verano pasado (I traveled to Germany last summer).
- Do I capitalize alemán in Spanish?
- Capitalize Alemán only when it starts a sentence. As a nationality adjective or language name mid-sentence, it remains lowercase: Habla alemán.
- What is the plural of alemán?
- The plural is alemanes (masculine or mixed group) and alemanas (all-feminine group), e.g., Los alemanes ganaron el partido.