Illustration of the B1 German word “die Wahl”, which translates to “election, choice”. A crowd of hedgehogs drops folded slips into an enormous wooden box, and one small hedgehog stands on tiptoe to reach the slot at the very top.
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Wahl is one of the B1 words in the free course — with this picture, the audio, and spaced repetition.

dieWahl, -en

election, choice

/vaːl/

Examples — Wahl in a sentence

Viele Bürger nahmen an der letzten Wahl teil.

Many citizens participated in the last election.

Es ist wichtig, dass wir die richtige Wahl treffen.

It is important that we make the right choice.

How to remember it

WAHL sounds like 'whale' — imagine a giant whale making a *choice* about who to *elect* as its leader.

More B1 words

Illustration of the B1 German word “das Wahlrecht”, which translates to “right to vote”. Close-up of a huge glowing ballot box on a marble pedestal filling the frame, lit like a proud monument, a single beam of golden light crowning it as a cherished right. No people.
das Wahlrecht

/ˈvaːlˌʁɛçt/

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right to vote

Examples

In Deutschland beginnt das Wahlrecht mit 18 Jahren.

In Germany, the right to vote begins at 18 years.

Man sollte sein Wahlrecht nutzen, um die Demokratie zu stärken.

One should use their right to vote to strengthen democracy.

Illustration of the B1 German word “die Wiedervereinigung”, which translates to “reunification”. Two halves of a cracked stone bridge swing shut and meet in the middle over a river, and animals from both banks rush together onto the join.
die Wiedervereinigung

/ˈviːdɐfɛɐ̯ˌʔaɪ̯nɪɡʊŋ/

reunification

Examples

Die deutsche Wiedervereinigung war ein historisches Ereignis.

The German reunification was a historical event.

Viele Menschen erinnern sich noch an die Wiedervereinigung.

Many people still remember the reunification.

Illustration of the B1 German word “die Zivilgesellschaft”, which translates to “civil society”. A big circle of many different animals all holding paws together around a huge glowing shared heart-shaped lantern, a fox, owl, rabbit and bear side by side in a warm community ring.
die Zivilgesellschaft

/t͡siˈviːlɡəˌzɛlʃaft/

civil society

Examples

Die Zivilgesellschaft spielt eine wichtige Rolle.

Civil society plays an important role.

Sie engagiert sich stark in der Zivilgesellschaft.

She is heavily involved in civil society.

Illustration of the B1 German word “als ob”, which translates to “as if (+ Konjunktiv II)”. A cat in a tuxedo belts opera on a grand stage as though it were perfectly ordinary, owning the entire concert hall.
als ob

/als ʔɔp/

as if (+ Konjunktiv II)

Examples

Er tut, als ob er nichts wüsste.

He acts as if he knew nothing.

Sie sah aus, als ob sie müde wäre.

She looked as if she were tired.

Illustration of the B1 German word “das Attribut”, which translates to “attribute (grammar term)”. Close-up of a plain grey teapot as a tiny tailor rabbit pins one huge glittering golden bow onto it, the teapot shimmering into color exactly where the bow touches
das Attribut

/ˌatʁiˈbuːt/

attribute (grammar term)

Examples

Das Adjektiv 'rot' ist ein Attribut.

The adjective 'red' is an attribute.

Ein Attribut beschreibt ein Nomen näher.

An attribute describes a noun in more detail.

Illustration of the B1 German word “die BRD”, which translates to “FRG (West Germany)”. Close-up of a huge weathered stone city gate filling the frame, warm golden light glowing through its central arch, a single old lantern hanging above it in a quiet dusk. No people, empty street.
die BRD

/ˌbeːʔɛʁˈdeː/

FRG (West Germany)

Examples

Viele Menschen lebten damals in der BRD.

Many people lived in the FRG back then.

Die BRD wurde 1949 gegründet.

The FRG was founded in 1949.

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neuter Wahlrecht — right to vote

WahlrechtWiedervereinigungZivilgesellschaftals obAttributBRDAll German word pages

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