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DTZ Vocabulary and Phrases

By PreparaioEditorial team & sourcesUpdated

The DTZ tests everyday German, not exam German. The vocabulary that earns points therefore comes from a few recurring areas of life – and from a handful of phrases that fit almost every task.

Contents

The vocabulary fields that always reappear

Topics in the DTZ are based on situations from the Integrationskurs. Covering these six fields will help you understand most of the tasks.

  • Work and Profession: application, working hours, sick leave, colleagues, salary.
  • Housing: rental agreement, utility costs, neighborhood, repairs, moving.
  • Health: appointment, complaints, prescription, health insurance, emergency.
  • Authorities and Offices: application, form, notice, deadline, proof.
  • Education and Children: Kita, school, parent-teacher meeting, report card, further education.
  • Shopping and Services: complaint, exchange, invoice, making an appointment.

Phrases for the Brief

In writing, it's most important that the reason, concern, and request are clearly recognizable. These building blocks cover almost any occasion:

  • Stating the reason: “Ich schreibe Ihnen, weil …” (I am writing to you because…) / “Ich wende mich an Sie wegen …” (I am contacting you regarding…)
  • Describing the problem: “Leider ist es so, dass …” (Unfortunately, it is the case that…) / “Seit zwei Wochen funktioniert … nicht.” (… has not been working for two weeks.)
  • Making a request: “Könnten Sie bitte …?” (Could you please…?) / “Ich möchte Sie bitten, …” (I would like to ask you to…)
  • Making a suggestion: “Wäre es möglich, dass …?” (Would it be possible that…?) / “Ich schlage vor, …” (I suggest…)
  • Closing: “Vielen Dank im Voraus.” (Thank you in advance.) / “Über eine kurze Rückmeldung würde ich mich freuen.” (I would appreciate a quick response.)

Phrases for the Bildbeschreibung

When talking about a photo, simply listing things is not enough. You are assessed on whether you describe, assume, and categorize – for this, you need three types of sentences.

  • Describing: “Auf dem Foto sehe ich …” (In the photo, I see…) / “Im Vordergrund steht …” (In the foreground is…)
  • Assuming: “Ich glaube, die Personen sind …” (I believe the people are…) / “Es könnte sein, dass …” (It could be that…)
  • Evaluating and connecting: “In meinem Heimatland ist das anders, weil …” (In my home country, it is different because…) / “Persönlich finde ich, dass …” (Personally, I find that…)

Phrases for collaborative planning

In the third speaking part, you plan something with a partner. Points are awarded for interaction – for questions, reactions, and compromises, not for long monologues.

  • Suggesting: “Wie wäre es, wenn wir …?” (How about if we…?) / “Wir könnten … .” (We could…)
  • Agreeing: “Das ist eine gute Idee, dann …” (That's a good idea, then…)
  • Disagreeing and offering an alternative: “Das finde ich schwierig, weil … Vielleicht lieber …?” (I find that difficult because… Perhaps rather…?)
  • Asking for clarification: “Was meinst du dazu?” (What do you think about that?) / “Passt dir das?” (Does that suit you?)
  • Confirming the result: “Gut, dann machen wir es so: …” (Okay, then we'll do it like this:…)

How to retain this vocabulary

Individual words from lists quickly disappear. Instead, learn entire phrases in sentences and in a situation – “einen Termin absagen” (to cancel an appointment) instead of just “absagen” (to cancel) – and repeat them at increasing intervals instead of all at once in one evening.

Frequently asked questions

How many words do I need for B1?

As a guideline, around 2,400 to 2,800 actively available words are considered. More crucial than the number is that they come from the everyday fields of the Prüfung.

Are memorized sentences allowed in the Sprechen part?

Yes, Redemittel are explicitly encouraged. They just shouldn't replace the entire answer – the examiners pay attention to whether you respond to your conversation partner.

Is specialized vocabulary from a profession required?

No. General everyday and work vocabulary is required, not the technical language of a specific profession.

Sources & currency

Exam version
Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ), as of 2026
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Content version
2026-07-31

How we check: Every exam-relevant fact is compared with the exam providers' official pages (g.a.s.t./TestDaF-Institut, BAMF, ETS, IELTS Partners, telc). The check is editorial, supported by AI and automated test gates; it is not a review by certified examiners.

The hard exam facts in this article were verified against the official primary sources linked below on the date shown. This is not a review by an examination body and does not replace information from your test centre. Fees, dates and local procedures are set by the test centres themselves.

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