Pop quiz: what’s a “Rechner“? If your brain went directly to “computer,” congratulations! You’ve already dipped your toes into the basics of German computer vocabulary. In today’s digital age, computers have become as ubiquitous as air, shaping every corner of our lives. Thus, grasping the correct tech terms isn’t just essential, it’s non-negotiable – especially when you’re hopping across language barriers! Let’s get to know more about this in today’s post!
Are you a hardcore tech aficionado? If you are, then I bet we’ll be the best of friends! One of the reasons why many of us are fascinated with these advanced pieces is because they are part of our history. We’ve witnessed the humble computer evolve from a room-sized enigma to an essential part of our everyday lives. Today, they’re not just chunks of metal anymore! They’re our personal assistants, ala Jarvis, our gateways to the world, and a canvas for our digital creativity. We order food, stream music, host virtual meetings, play video games, and even learn new languages, all thanks to these remarkable machines.
But it’s not just about convenience or entertainment – computers have revolutionized education, healthcare, and business, breaking down geographical barriers and transforming how we interact with the world. So if you are interested in connecting with the locals on an entirely new level, then you’ve got to try and make this a topic when you speak with Germans!
You see, Germany is actually one of the countries with the best tech sector, so there’s no doubt that the locals will enjoy talking with you about this stuff. In fact, it’s the home to the one and only Z3, the world’s first fully automatic digital computer! It was even the first-ever country to have 6 GHz WIFI! If those things aren’t that surprising, then I bet you’ll end up spitting your drink when you learn that the WWW that we love today is actually based on the model first researched by German scientists!
Ready to dive right in? Let’s begin with the fancy tech terms in German!
Basic German Computer Vocabulary
We’re going to start with some basic terms – the kind of words you’ll use pretty much every time you turn on a computer or surf the internet. Don’t worry, we’re not going into the hardcore tech stuff just yet. For now, let’s stick with the essentials that will give you a good foundation.
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Central Processing Unit (CPU) | die CPU (Zentraleinheit) |
| Computer | der Computer |
| Desktop | der Desktop |
| Graphics Card | die Grafikkarte |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) | die GPU (Grafikprozessoreinheit) |
| Hard Drive | die Festplatte |
| Input Unit | die Eingabeeinheit |
| Laptop | der Laptop |
| Motherboard | das Motherboard (Hauptplatine) |
| Network Card | die Netzwerkkarte |
| Output Unit | die Ausgabeeinheit |
| Random Access Memory (RAM) | der RAM (Zugriffsspeicher) |
| Server | der Server |
| Sound Card | die Soundkarte |
| Storage Unit | die Speichereinheit |
Want to use these words in a sentence? When you’re shopping for these parts, then you’ve got to use this basic sentence pattern: Ich suche eine/einen + Basic computer vocabulary in German. Check out the example sentences below to see how you can use this pattern!
- I’m looking for a CPU (Central Processing Unit). = Ich suche eine CPU (Zentraleinheit).
- I’m looking for a computer. = Ich suche einen Computer.
- I’m looking for a desktop. = Ich suche einen Desktop.
- I’m looking for a graphics card. = Ich suche eine Grafikkarte.
- I’m looking for a graphics processing unit (GPU). = Ich suche eine GPU (Grafikprozessoreinheit).
See how easy that is? Let’s now expand your vocab by learning more advanced words below!
Computer Peripherals In German
Alright, now that we’ve got the basic hardware terms under our belts, let’s stretch out a bit and tackle some peripheral equipment. When we say “peripheral equipment” or “Peripheriegeräte,” we’re talking about devices that you connect to your computer – things like your mouse, keyboard, printer, and more. Not only are these peripherals vital to our everyday computer use, but understanding how to talk about them in German can make your tech conversations even richer. Ready to up the ante? Let’s dive in!
| English | German |
|---|---|
| CD Drive | das CD-Laufwerk |
| External Hard Drive | die externe Festplatte |
| Headphones | die Kopfhörer |
| Joystick | der Joystick |
| Keyboard | die Tastatur |
| Microphone | das Mikrofon |
| Monitor | der Monitor |
| Mouse | die Maus |
| Printer | der Drucker |
| Projector | der Projektor |
| Scanner | der Scanner |
| Speakers | die Lautsprecher |
| USB Flash Drive | der USB-Stick |
| Webcam | die Webcam |
| Wireless Network Adapter | der WLAN-Adapter |
So you’ve mastered the peripheral equipment vocabulary in German. Great job! But let’s not stop there – it’s time to get these new words off the page and into your everyday conversations. It’s all well and good to know the names of different computer peripherals, but to truly understand and remember them, you need to use them in context. To make it easy for you, you can follow this basic pattern: Ich brauche eine neue/neues + Computer peripherals in German.
- I need new headphones. = Ich brauche neue Kopfhörer.
- I need a new joystick. = Ich brauche einen neuen Joystick.
- I need a new keyboard. = Ich brauche eine neue Tastatur.
- I need a new microphone. = Ich brauche ein neues Mikrofon.
- I need a new monitor. = Ich brauche einen neuen Monitor.
Try using these sentences in conversations or writing to help integrate this new vocabulary into your German language skills. Enjoy your language journey!
Computer-Related Buzzwords In German
Ready to sound like a true digital native in German? Well, there’s no better way than to sprinkle your conversations with some internet buzzwords. These words are the backbone of any tech-savvy conversation, and they’ve even found their way into everyday chats. From “streaming” to “podcasting,” these words are essential for anyone looking to chat about the online world in German. Let’s explore the exciting world of internet buzzwords in German!
| English | German |
|---|---|
| App | die App |
| Blog | der/das Blog |
| Browser | der Browser |
| Cloud | die Cloud |
| E-commerce | das E-Commerce |
| Emoji | das Emoji |
| Hashtag | der Hashtag |
| Meme | das Meme |
| Podcast | der Podcast |
| Selfie | das Selfie |
| Social Media | die Sozialen Medien |
| Spam | der Spam |
| Streaming | das Streaming |
| Vlog | der Vlog |
| VPN (Virtual Private Network) | das VPN (Virtuelles Privates Netzwerk) |
| WiFi | das WLAN |
Congratulations on expanding your German vocabulary with these computer and internet terms! These words will surely come in handy whether you’re conversing with a tech-savvy friend, working in a German-speaking environment, or simply looking to keep up with the ever-evolving digital world. Remember, language learning is a journey, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t get everything right away. Remember, practice makes perfect, and each word you learn is another step closer to fluency!
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