Goethe A2 Word List (Wortliste): How Many Words and How to Study
Last updated: July 2026 · 5 min read
The Goethe-Institut publishes an official Wortliste (vocabulary list) for level A2. It contains roughly 1,300 words and defines the core vocabulary an A2 learner is expected to know. The same list is valid for both the adult exam and Fit in Deutsch.
What Does the List Contain?
The official Wortliste presents words alphabetically with example sentences, and also includes lists organised by topic (Themen) at the end. The document can be downloaded for free from the Goethe-Institut website (goethe.de). Typical A2 topic areas include:
- Personal information (Person, persönliche Daten)
- Housing and environment (Wohnen)
- Food and drink (Essen und Trinken)
- Shopping (Einkaufen)
- Work and profession (Arbeit und Beruf)
- Travel and transport (Reisen und Verkehr)
- Health (Gesundheit)
- Free time (Freizeit)
Effective Ways to Memorise It
- Learn nouns with their article: "der Tisch", "die Wohnung", "das Auto" — without the article, the word is only half learned.
- Study topic by topic: Grouping words in context improves retention.
- Use spaced repetition: Review words you know less often and difficult ones more often.
- Use them in sentences: Building a short example sentence for each new word feeds directly into the speaking and writing parts.
- Note plurals and verb forms: Watch out for irregular forms such as "das Buch – die Bücher" and "fahren – fährt – ist gefahren".
Study A2 Words with Zertifly
With Zertifly's A2 vocabulary practice (Wortschatz), you can learn words topic by topic with example sentences and a review system that makes them stick.
Conclusion
The ~1,300-word A2 vocabulary can be acquired in a few weeks with regular, systematic study. Learning words with their context and articles directly raises your score across all four parts.
For the full exam, see our Goethe A2 guide.