Are you bilingual and looking to learn a new language—one that isn’t English or French? There are so many complex, fascinating languages that it can be difficult to choose just one. If you can master the English language, then learning German will be a breeze.

In Quebec, particularly in Montreal, English and French are two indispensable languages. When it comes to learning a new language, we sometimes shy away at the idea of launching ourselves into a completely foreign world, and one that is out of our comfort zone. Whether you are Anglophone, Francophone, or bilingual, German is a perfect and unique language to study at the Académie Linguistique Charlemagne de Montréal (ALC.)

Quick History Lesson

The similarities between English and German can be clarified with a simple historical explanation. In fact, both are Germanic languages. For the most part, English and German are both Indo-European languages, and have been spoken for over 2,000 years. From a linguistic and technical perspective, these two languages really aren’t that different.

5 Similarities Between German and English

Phonetics: In German, like in English, intonation and pronunciation are important characteristics, differentiating them from other languages. In both languages, putting a tonic accent on the right part of the word is crucial is defining meaning of the word.

Grammar: The grammatical rules of German and English also bear a striking similarity. The construction of sentences and conjugation of verbs is also similar. For example, the past tense of the verb “drink” in English is “drank.” In German, the direct translations of those words are “trinkt” and “trank.”

Vocabulary: Certain words in German and English resemble each other, and are even the same in some instances. Although they are not written the same, they are pronounced in a similar manner. Colours are a great example: in German, “brown” becomes “braun”, “winter” is used in both languages, and the German translation of “January” is “Januar.” There is even an expression to describe the mixing of both languages; it’s called Denglish.

Writing: In both languages, the same Latin alphabet is used. Apart from a few details like accents or certain symbols specific to each language, it is easy and even instinctive to read or write German once you have mastered the English language. Arabic numerals are also used in both languages.

Internationally: Although English may be recognized as an international language, German—the language most commonly spoken in the European Union—is on par with it. German is the official language of Germany, Austria, and Belgium.

At the ALC, you can learn German and discover its incredible similarities to English. With 6-hour courses offered at night or on Saturdays, our experienced teachers will help you learn this rich, nuanced language. From September to June, we offer six levels of instruction, mainly concentrated on oral expression and comprehension.