# German/English English/German dictionary recommendations needed **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 8, 2002, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957 "2002-08-08T14:03:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/1 "2002-08-08T14:03:17Z")
I’m starting German 1 in the fall, and quite honestly I can’t wait. I love languages (in general, I love learning about completely different languages, how they fit together, what the roots are, etc), and I’ve wanted to speak German since I was about 3 or 4 years old. The only book officially required is the textbook. But I always like to have a dictionary too. I was wondering if any Dopers have suggestions for good dictionaries? I don’t want a huge desktop model, but I don’t want a microscopic “pocket” model either. I’m looking for a decently sizeable edition that can be put in my backpack when I go to class. I’d like one that has entries for formal, casual, even colloquial phrases if possible. It was frustrating in French class trying to look something up, and it was a sort-of slang phrase, and being completely confused… until I looked in my friend’s dictionary that had an entry for it (and unfortunately I can’t remember the publisher of it! :smack: ). So is anyone here who could be ever so helpful and gain my appreciation for years to come? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/2 "2002-08-08T23:09:59Z")
The one I use is an Oxford-Duden second edition. Small enough that I don’t overbalance and fall over when I carry it around, but large enough to fit in explanations and a rather generous, bilingual pronunciation key. It also has a section on how to properly write letters, résumés and other things of that sort in both languages, conversions from the US system to the German metric system and a guide to the holidays. Average in the slang/colloquialisms department. Very handy. ---
**Author:** ![tsarina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@tsarina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsarina)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/3 "2002-08-09T02:47:08Z")
Cassell’s German-English/ English-German rocks my world. Admittedly, it’s not small enough to tote to class, but it’s a great desk reference. Buy another cheap one to carry with you and bask in the glories of Cassell’s at home. Alles Gute! ---
**Author:** ![Aurora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Aurora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aurora)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/4 "2002-08-09T11:51:30Z")
Not really what you’re looking for, but there’s an online dictionary I frequently use: [http://dict.leo.org/](http://dict.leo.org/) (_I_ of course use it to translate from German to English 😉 but it works both ways and you can even find whole phrases and colloquialisms.) This of course won’t help you in class but it may still be useful when you quickly need a word or phrase and don’t want to leaf through a book… . If you like you can e-mail me if you need help (or just want to test your new language skills). 🙂 Good luck and viel Spaß with learning German!!! 🙂 Aurora ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/5 "2002-08-09T12:03:40Z")
The one I like is the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary. It sounds similar to what Lodrian mentioned (if it’s not in fact the same one.) It’s not as extensive as other German dictionaries, but it’s the perfect dictionary for a German 1 student. It also goes over basic points of grammar, common pitfalls, how to write letters, etc… Best dictionary for a beginning student of a language that I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/6 "2002-08-09T12:08:49Z")
Sorry…maybe it’s not Oxford. I’ll check when I get home today. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/7 "2002-08-09T14:29:30Z")
Yay, thanks for the recommendations so far! I’m planning on going to a bookstore today or tomorrow to get one, but I’m going to at least wait until **pulykamell** checks his dictionary. I know that really the only way to _learn_ a language is to practise a LOT. I might just take you up on your offer, **Aurora**. 🙂 I also have a friend (sort-of boyfriend, weird story), not even attending university, who’s going to take German at a local U so we can (eventually) converse in _only_ German, since I really REALLY want to be fluent. Heh, I bought my books for two classes yesterday (German 1 and my Social Science Seminar). I’ve already been reading the first chapter of the German book and I might read (completely) one of the Seminar books before the class even starts, since it looks fascinating. \<---- nerd 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Aurora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Aurora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aurora)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/8 "2002-08-11T19:00:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zweisamkeit \* > \*\* > I know that really the only way to _learn_ a language is to practise a LOT. I might just take you up on your offer, **Aurora**. 🙂 I also have a friend (sort-of boyfriend, weird story), not even attending university, who’s going to take German at a local U so we can (eventually) converse in _only_ German, since I really REALLY want to be fluent. > \*\* I’d be happy to hear from you **Zweisamkeit**!!! (What a beautiful user name!!! :)) Aurora ---
**Author:** ![\_LX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/67e7ee/32.png) [@\_LX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_LX)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2002, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/9 "2002-08-11T21:12:36Z")
I’m using two Langenscheidt dictionaries (on for English -\> German and one vice versa). Those also contain some colloquial phrases and conversion tables. However they are only dictionaries, so no tips for beginners and stuff. And if you have questions I’d also be glad to help you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tsarina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@tsarina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsarina)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/10 "2002-08-12T02:50:37Z")
A few tips to help you improve your fluency: - find a few copies of the Nordamerikanische Wochenpost and plow throught hem with the aid of a dictionary; it’s published in Detroit, so you may be able to pick it up at local German stores/ restaurants. - start watching German movies to get the rhythm and feel of the language down, and dowload some songs by German artists. - get your ass to Germany as soon as you can to converse with the locals! See if your college/ university has any study abroad options, or check MSU’s page at www.studyabroad.msu.edu, and tell 'em I sent ya. 😉 Learning German grammar is easy; it’s the vocabulary that kills students. Since the bigger words aren’t derived from Latin or Greek like in English, they can be difficult to decipher without the familiar roots. Viel Glueck, and e-mail me if you ever want to _quatsch auf Deutsch_. ---
**Author:** ![Timchik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@Timchik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timchik)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/11 "2002-08-12T03:04:34Z")
I’ve used my little [Langenscheidt’s Compact](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/088729071X/qid%3D1029121077/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-9261137-2939912) for almost twenty years now, and it’s still impressive. German-English and English-German, small enough to carry around in your bag, and has all the text of the Langenscheidt’s Standard. German efficiency at its best:) . ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/12 "2002-08-12T03:57:47Z")
The best thing about the Langenscheidt dictionaries is you can use them to light your room at night – gotta love that bright yellow! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/13 "2002-08-12T12:22:08Z")
Hi…sorry if you’ve already bought your dictionary. It’s called Oxford Starter German Dictionary. It’s not as expansive as most of your other dictionaries, but like I said it’s perfect for a learner. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-english-english-german-dictionary-recommendations-needed/122957/14 "2002-08-12T15:38:45Z")
Thanks again for all the replies! **tsarina** , I already do some of the things you’ve suggested. 🙂 The Wochenpost is available at _many_ stores around here. I’m going to start picking it up at the meat market I go to (I love that place, I can get decent chocolate there, in addition to meat and good bread!). I already have German movies that I watch fairly often. And I’ve been listening to German music for years now. I would love to go abroad for a bit if I can afford it. I’d also love to get into a job where I could use my language skills fairly regularly if possible. And I’m always willing to have more than one dictionary, heh. I have 5 or 6 just for English, and 2 for French (I’m going to let my dork-factor rise exponentially by saying that I would KILL for a complete and unabridged Oxford’s Dictionary). I went to a bookstore on Saturday and sadly, they didn’t have too much for German dictionaries. I got the Webster’s New World one though, with 100,000 entries. It has good reviews on Amazon. They didn’t have Oxford, Oxford-Duden, Langenscheidt, _or_ Cassell’s (Cassell’s French-English dictionary is one of my favourites). I’m going to go to a larger bookstore and (I think my funds will hold ;)) pick up one or two more.