German for Study Habits: Talk About Your Learning Routine
Learn to say how you study in German: make flashcards, study in the morning, and share tips using present-tense verbs and time expressions.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn to talk about your study habits in German. You will use common verbs like lernen (to learn), machen (to make/do), and wiederholen (to repeat/review), along with time phrases such as morgens (in the morning) and abends (in the evening). You will also learn to give simple study tips using sollte (should). By the end, you can describe your routine and ask others about theirs.
By the end, you can…
- say when and how I study using simple present-tense sentences.
- name common study tools like flashcards and notes in German.
- give a basic study tip using sollte.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ich lerne am besten morgens.
I study best in the morning.
ikh LER-nuh ahm BES-tuhn MOR-guhns
Use am besten to say 'best' when talking about your preferred time or way of studying.
Ich mache Karteikarten.
I make flashcards.
ikh MAH-khuh kar-TY-kar-tuhn
Karteikarten are index cards used for vocabulary or facts. The verb machen means 'to make/do'.
Ich wiederhole den Stoff abends.
I review the material in the evening.
ikh vee-der-HOH-luh dehn SHTAHF AH-buhnts
der Stoff means 'the material' or 'subject matter'. wiederholen means 'to repeat/review'.
Du solltest eine Pause machen.
You should take a break.
doo ZOL-test EYE-nuh POW-zuh MAH-khuhn
solltest is the informal 'you should'. Use sollten for formal 'you should'.
Ich schreibe Zusammenfassungen.
I write summaries.
ikh SHRY-buh tsoo-ZAH-muhn-fas-oong-uhn
Zusammenfassungen are summaries. This is a common study technique.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To say when you study, put the time expression at the beginning or end of a sentence. The verb stays in second position. For example: 'Morgens lerne ich.' (In the morning, I study.) or 'Ich lerne morgens.' (I study in the morning.) To say how you study, use the verb machen with a noun: 'Ich mache Karteikarten.' (I make flashcards.) You can also use adverbs like am besten: 'Ich lerne am besten morgens.'
When to use it
Use these phrases when talking about your daily or weekly study routine. For example, when a classmate asks 'Wie lernst du?' (How do you study?), you can answer 'Ich mache Karteikarten und wiederhole sie abends.' (I make flashcards and review them in the evening.) To give advice, use sollte: 'Du solltest morgens lernen.' (You should study in the morning.) This is polite and common.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Wie lernst du für die Prüfung?
How do you study for the exam?vee LERNS doo fewr dee PRUE-foongIch mache Karteikarten und lerne am besten morgens.
I make flashcards and study best in the morning.ikh MAH-khuh kar-TY-kar-tuhn oont LER-nuh ahm BES-tuhn MOR-guhnsDas ist eine gute Idee. Ich schreibe lieber Zusammenfassungen.
That's a good idea. I prefer writing summaries.dahs ist EYE-nuh GOO-tuh ee-DAY. ikh SHRY-buh LEE-ber tsoo-ZAH-muhn-fas-oong-uhnAuch gut. Du solltest aber auch Pausen machen.
Also good. But you should also take breaks.owkh goot. doo ZOL-test AH-ber owkh POW-zuhn MAH-khuhnA little context goes a long way
In German-speaking countries, university students often use Karteikarten for vocabulary and exam preparation. Study groups (Lerngruppen) are common, and students may ask 'Lernst du allein oder in der Gruppe?' (Do you study alone or in a group?). Politeness matters: use du with friends and classmates, but Sie with teachers or older adults. For example, 'Wie lernen Sie?' is formal.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Ich lerne in Morgen' to mean 'I study in the morning.'
Try this instead: Use morgens (adverb) or am Morgen (prepositional phrase). Correct: 'Ich lerne morgens.' or 'Ich lerne am Morgen.' Do not use 'in' with times of day.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I make flashcards' in German?
Show a sample answer
Ich mache Karteikarten.
This uses the verb machen (to make/do) with the noun Karteikarten (flashcards). The subject ich takes the ending -e: mache.
2Translate: 'You should study in the morning.' (informal)
Show a sample answer
Du solltest morgens lernen.
solltest is the informal 'should' for du. The time expression morgens goes before the infinitive lernen. You could also say 'Du solltest am Morgen lernen.'
3What is the German word for 'summaries'?
Show a sample answer
Zusammenfassungen
Zusammenfassungen is the plural of Zusammenfassung. It is a common study tool. You can say 'Ich schreibe Zusammenfassungen.'
Use time expressions like morgens or abends with present-tense verbs to describe your study routine. Practice saying what you do and give tips with sollte.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s German into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr