Pearson Edexcel · IGCSE · 4GN1
German — Keywords & Key Terms — Definitions Glossary (2026)
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE German (4GN1)
Topic-by-topic keywords, key terms and definitions for precise exam language—separate from our revision checklists (topic coverage) and formula sheets (equations).
Keywords & Key Terms — definitions
Examiner-style keywords and definitions organised by syllabus topic. Terms are tagged Essential (start here), Core (typical exam standard), and Advanced for harder distinctions — tick each row when you can recall it. Your progress is saved in this browser for this list.
Pearson Edexcel IGCSE German (4GN1)
Pearson Edexcel IGCSE German (4GN1)
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE German (4GN1)
Aligned to Pearson Edexcel International GCSE German (4GN1) for 2026 across Pearson's five themes — Identity & Culture, Local Area/Holiday/Travel, School, Future Aspirations/Study/Work, International & Global Dimension — assessed via four papers: Paper 1 Listening, Paper 2 Reading + Translation into English, Paper 3 Speaking (role play, picture-based discussion, general conversation), Paper 4 Writing + Translation into German.
Mark schemes: Pearson rewards linked reasoning with weil/da/obwohl and accurate case endings — examiner reports repeatedly cite lost marks for wrong dative/accusative after prepositions. Capitalise all nouns. Translations: respect German V2 word order and send the conjugated verb to the end after subordinating conjunctions.
Active recall: 0 / 20 terms ticked
| Recalled | Topic | Level | Keyword | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theme 1 — Identity & Culture / Theme 2 — Local Area, Holiday & Travel | Essential | Four cases overview | Nominativ (subject), Akkusativ (direct object), Dativ (indirect object), Genitiv (possession) — drive every article and adjective ending. | |
| Theme 1 — Identity & Culture / Theme 2 — Local Area, Holiday & Travel | Core | Definite & indefinite article tables | der/die/das/die; den/die/das/die; dem/der/dem/den; des/der/des/der — memorise full grid for accuracy. | |
| Theme 1 — Identity & Culture / Theme 2 — Local Area, Holiday & Travel | Core | Prepositions by case | Accusative-only (für, gegen, ohne, um, durch); dative-only (aus, bei, mit, nach, seit, von, zu); two-way (an, auf, in, hinter, neben, über, unter, vor, zwischen — accusative for movement, dative for location). | |
| Theme 1 — Identity & Culture / Theme 2 — Local Area, Holiday & Travel | Core | Perfekt tense haben vs sein | Most verbs take haben; verbs of motion (gehen, fahren, kommen) and change of state (werden, sterben) take sein — past participle to the end. | |
| Theme 1 — Identity & Culture / Theme 2 — Local Area, Holiday & Travel | Advanced | Adjective declension (3 patterns) | Strong (no article: guter Wein), weak (after der/die/das: der gute Wein), mixed (after ein/kein/possessives: ein guter Wein) — Pearson examiners flag this as a top discriminator. | |
| Theme 3 — School (subjects, routine, opinions, pressures) | Essential | School vocabulary core | Das Gymnasium, der Stundenplan, die Pause, die Note, der Klassenkamerad — anchor terms for Paper 3 general conversation. | |
| Theme 3 — School (subjects, routine, opinions, pressures) | Core | V2 word order (main clauses) | Conjugated verb is always the second idea: Heute gehe ich in die Schule — time–manner–place follows. | |
| Theme 3 — School (subjects, routine, opinions, pressures) | Core | Subordinating conjunctions | Weil, dass, obwohl, wenn, als — send conjugated verb to the end (…, weil ich Mathe schwierig finde). | |
| Theme 3 — School (subjects, routine, opinions, pressures) | Core | Modal verbs | Müssen, können, dürfen, sollen, wollen, mögen + infinitive at end of clause; irregular present forms (ich muss, ich kann). | |
| Theme 3 — School (subjects, routine, opinions, pressures) | Advanced | Konjunktiv II for politeness/hypothesis | Ich würde … lernen, ich hätte, ich wäre, ich könnte — recognised by examiners as evidence of higher-level command. | |
| Theme 4 — Future Aspirations, Study & Work | Essential | Future with werden | Ich werde studieren — werden conjugated + infinitive at the end; the present tense + time marker is also acceptable for plans. | |
| Theme 4 — Future Aspirations, Study & Work | Core | Separable & inseparable verbs | Aufstehen, einkaufen, fernsehen split in main clauses (ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf); be-, ge-, ver-, er-, ent- prefixes never separate. | |
| Theme 4 — Future Aspirations, Study & Work | Core | Reflexive verbs accusative & dative | Sich freuen (acc.), sich vorstellen (dat. — ich stelle mir vor) — choice of pronoun changes meaning. | |
| Theme 4 — Future Aspirations, Study & Work | Core | Genitive & dative possession | Das Auto meines Vaters / das Auto von meinem Vater — Pearson accepts the von + dative substitute in informal registers. | |
| Theme 4 — Future Aspirations, Study & Work | Advanced | Passive voice (recognition) | Werden + past participle (Das Formular wird ausgefüllt); sein + past participle for resultant state — recognise in reading and translation. | |
| Theme 5 — International & Global Dimension (environment, festivals, global issues) | Essential | Environment & society lexis | Der Klimawandel, die Umweltverschmutzung, die öffentlichen Verkehrsmittel, die Armut — high-frequency global-issue vocabulary. | |
| Theme 5 — International & Global Dimension (environment, festivals, global issues) | Core | Impersonal expressions | Man sollte, es ist wichtig, dass …, es lohnt sich + zu + infinitive — flexible opener for Paper 4 essays. | |
| Theme 5 — International & Global Dimension (environment, festivals, global issues) | Core | Connectives for argument | Jedoch, trotzdem, deshalb, andererseits, zwar … aber — signal contrast and consequence; trigger inversion when at the start of a clause. | |
| Theme 5 — International & Global Dimension (environment, festivals, global issues) | Core | Comparatives & superlatives | -er and am -sten (schneller, am schnellsten); irregular gut → besser → am besten — used to weigh global issues. | |
| Theme 5 — International & Global Dimension (environment, festivals, global issues) | Advanced | Konjunktiv II in reasoned argument | Wenn alle Menschen Fahrrad fahren würden, wäre die Luft sauberer — combines Konjunktiv II with wenn-clauses for top-band writing. |
Pair this with our revision checklists, formula sheets hub and past paper finder.
German (4GN1) — Keywords & Key Terms FAQ
- What is on this Pearson Edexcel IGCSE German keywords and key terms list?
- It is a topic-organised glossary of important german terms with short, exam-style definitions aligned to Pearson Edexcel International GCSE German (4GN1) (4GN1). It is designed for “define”, “state”, “outline” and “explain” questions where precise vocabulary earns marks.
- How should I use this German glossary alongside past papers?
- Tick terms when you can recall them without reading the answer, then check your wording against mark schemes. Pair vocabulary practice with past papers for IGCSE German (4GN1) so you apply terms in context.
- Is this the same as a revision checklist or a formula sheet?
- No. Revision checklists help you track which syllabus topics you have covered and your confidence—separate pages on Tutopiya. Formula sheets summarise equations and quantitative relationships. This page is only a definitions and key-terms glossary for German.
- Can I download this German keywords and key terms list for free?
- Yes. After a quick free sign-up you can download a UTF-8 CSV (opens in Excel or Google Sheets) or open a print-friendly page and save as PDF. Browsing the list on the page is free.
- Is this German list aligned to the 4GN1 specification?
- Topic groupings and wording follow Pearson Edexcel International GCSE German (4GN1) for Pearson Edexcel IGCSE. Always confirm final learning objectives and any regional options in your official specification and recent examiner reports for your exam session.
- Why focus on definitions instead of full notes?
- Mark schemes reward correct technical terms and clear links between ideas. A compact glossary lets you drill the exact language examiners expect for German at IGCSE, separate from longer notes or topic trackers.