Did you know that learning German (or any other language) on YouTube is possible?
Because German and English are closely related, German is one of the easiest languages to learn. Now, you just need to visit YouTube and get started, right?
Well, you might find that learning the German language comes with unique challenges, like finding a learning style that works well for you. There are many channels to learn German with YouTube from, and many seem similar.
That’s why I've put together a list of German language learning channels with a description of each teaching style. You’ll also find what I enjoy most about each one.
By the way, if you want to learn German fast and have fun while doing it, my top recommendation is German Uncovered which teaches you through StoryLearning®.
With German Uncovered you’ll use my unique StoryLearning® method to learn German naturally through stories. It’s as fun as it is effective.
If you’re ready to get started, click here for a 7-day FREE trial.
Learn German With YouTube
First, this guide will help you discover new German teachers on YouTube and the best language school channels.
You’ll learn the German language basics from native speakers, along with valuable tidbits about Germany’s culture.
Some of the best German YouTube channels may have videos with subtitles embedded. If you don’t see the subtitles, consider turning on the automatic subtitles to help you understand.
Although the subtitles aren’t always working perfectly, they can still help you develop a better feeling for the German language in its spoken vs. written form.
Without further ado, let’s look at 15 of the best channels to learn German on YouTube.
1. GermanPod101
There are numerous playlists to pick from, including German grammar, pronunciation, and writing. Some video titles include “Top 100 Phrases Every Beginner Should Know” or “Top 10 Phrases to Use When You’re Angry in German.”
The films are well-made and current, with valid on-screen text to help you follow along. There's also a live YouTube channel that's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a range of hosts who will teach you new vocabulary and helpful phrases.
Check out GermanPod101 on YouTube
2. Easy German
Easy German is a fun YouTube channel if you want to learn German because of its informal “man-on-the-street” interviews.
In each video, the hosts talk to people about exciting or unexpected themes like “What Foods Do Germans Hate?” or “How Do Germans Spend Their Weekends?”
This YouTube channel is an excellent resource for learning German slang. Subtitles in English and German are provided for each video, making it easy to follow along.
If you’re interested in improving your German vocabulary while learning more about German culture, this is a YouTube channel you’ll want to follow. You will also practice listening to the native speakers who are interviewed in the videos.
Check out Easy German on YouTube
3. Learn German With Anja
Anja has one of the best YouTube channels and is one of the most famous German instructors on the internet and for a good reason. Her entire YouTube channel is dedicated to teaching the basics of German in a fun and engaging manner.
German With Anja is all about language learning in an un-German way, as she explains in her page description. She makes authentic German learning exciting, and you'll never get bored of her techniques to help you remember grammar and vocabulary.
If you like the way Anja teaches, you can support her on Patreon and gain access to additional tools.
Even if you aren't a fan, she has many learning German videos available for free viewing.
Check out Learn German With Anja on YouTube
4. LerneDeutsch
Steffi has a large Instagram following and on YouTube, she now has 80,000 subscribers. She teaches separable prefix verbs, animal names, pronunciation, study ideas, and much more.
Her videos are normally focused on a specific topic so you can deep dive into the vocabulary around that subject.
She offers an engaging, distinct take on German learning and offers a free beginner-level course. The videos are great if you're at a beginner or lower intermediate level. Steffi also offers more advanced lessons for intermediate learners.
Check out LerneDeutsch on YouTube
5. Deutsch mit Marija
Marija is a Latvian who now resides in Germany. Marija speaks several languages, so this channel is ideal for anyone looking to learn German from a true polyglot.
The videos on the Deutsch mit Marija channel always have the CEFR level in the title, so you can see which level you’re doing. Each item she presents is closely connected to a topic required for the test at the level depicted in the video.
Take your language learning to the next level with Marija's easy-to-follow videos!
Check out Deutsch mit Marija on YouTube
6. Learn German With Herr Antrim
Herr Antrim, a German instructor, has been in the classroom for over a decade. His YouTube channel is full of funny movies which are divided into difficulty levels so you can easily find video topics at your current level.
You can practise your German vocabulary and pronunciation with Level A1 and then to Level A2 for scripted lines.
Advanced students can participate in live online Master Classes covering German grammar topics such as the genitive case.
Check out Learn German With Herr Antrim on YouTube
7. Get Germanized
Dominik is one of the original German teachers on YouTube. He's been creating German lessons on his Get Germanized channel since 2009. Like many others on this list, he teaches a range of German-related topics. But my favourites are his cultural films.
He discusses what you should and shouldn't say in Germany and various words to use in certain situations, and he even reads German stories on occasion. You’ll find German lessons for all levels.
If you want a deep dive into German culture, then this is the YouTube channel for you!
Check out Get Germanized on YouTube
8. BibisBeautyPalace
BibisBeautyPalace is one of the most well-known German channels on YouTube. If you're already a fan of English YouTubers, you'll feel right at home with this account.
While it's not a channel specific to language learning, it's a great way to learn from native German speakers while watching videos about popular social topics. The channel is easier than watching German TV.
She has many videos on makeup instructions, pranks, life news, music videos, and even interviews with celebrities appear on the channel from time to time. If you like YouTube personalities, this is a great way to improve your German with some authentic German learning.
Check out BibisBeautyPalace on YouTube
9. Lingster Academy
Formerly called “Learn German with Julia,” Lingster Academy helps you learn to perfect your German to more fluent levels. Lingster is another channel that teaches basic German grammar.
Lingster offers charts and other images to help you grasp complex German grammar concepts. There’s an informative video about the Konjunktiv 1 and fundamental German sentence structure.
Check out Lingster Academy on YouTube
10. Lingoni German
This channel was once known as “Learn German with Jenny”, a native German speaker. But when she extended her company to include French and English courses, she rebranded it as Lingoni.
While she offers some listening comprehension lessons, most of her videos are about grammar topics and how to utilize specific words. She does a thorough job of breaking down lessons into manageable chunks.
Check out Lingoni German on YouTube
11. Don’t Trust the Rabbit
Native German speaker Trixie hosts this channel, which is ideal for learning about the different German dialects and the variety in German pronunciation depending on the region. Short and entertaining German lessons also talk about daily life in Germany and how to use words in sentences correctly.
They may not have official lectures, but Trixie breaks down and explains the differences between dialects in different locations, such as Standard German vs. the Saxon dialect. Listening to her videos will help you with your listening comprehension skills and prepare you to speak with any native speaker from across the country.
Check out Don’t Trust the Rabbit on YouTube
12. Kurzgesagt
For more advanced German learners, I strongly advise you to check out Kurzgesagt. Kurzgesagt is a YouTube channel focused on teaching science topics in German.
Even though the channel isn't designed for learning the German language, it's a great channel for learning the nuances of the language. Their concise explanations and engaging animations make the material easy to understand. And German subtitles are available if you want more help.
Check out Kurzgesagt on YouTube
13. Deutsch mit Benjamin
Deutsch mit Benjamin is for more advanced learners, but the courses he provides are not available anywhere else. All the videos are entirely in German and are geared for ordinary language usage and understanding real German.
There is something for everyone, from slang to little particle words found in German phrases. The small details that Benjamin points out to you improve your fluency. For example, certain words, such as warten, omit, or soften the letter T. You'll sound like a native German speaker in no time.
Check out Deutsch mit Benjamin on YouTube
14. Slow German
Each session of Slow German consists of a listening comprehension exercise on a specific topic of interest. The channel presently has around 300 videos, so you'll have plenty to keep you entertained for a while.
You can watch lessons on German history, colonies, and politics, and you’ll find lessons on a wide range of themes, including popular German holiday locations, employment, travel, studying, and much more.
Annik also hosts a podcast so you can keep learning German when you're on the go.
This is a great channel if you want to learn German in context and discuss current affairs.
Check out Slow German on YouTube
15. My German Short Stories
My German Short Stories posts an animated narrative in German every month for German learners. The basic stories help you learn the everyday language, and the illustrations are fantastic.
Each lesson is marked with a level so you can choose the stories most appropriate to your skills. That's also a piece of advice (among 10 others) that I give to anyone who wants to learn languages through StoryLearning®.
Most videos are suitable for beginner and intermediate learners.
Check out My German Short Stories on YouTube
16. Deutsch Happen
If you want to brush up on your German grammar, then Deutsch Happen is one of the best German channels for you to check out.
The detailed explanations by Kirsten are clear and well structured, you will improve your listening skills and will be understanding German quicker than you can say Grammatik.
Check out Deutsch Happen on YouTube
17. German With Laura
While Laura isn't one of the many native speakers on this list, she has gone through the process of learning German herself. This puts her in a great position to point out common pitfalls German learners fall into.
She knows language learning isn't always a linear process and can help guide you to get it right.
Check out her tips for language students on her channel German With Laura.
18. SmarterGerman
Michael is not just a YouTuber but an actual German teacher with many years of teaching experience. In his YouTube videos, he will walk you through the most important things you need to learn if you want to improve your German fluency.
His videos are for all different levels and are worth checking out if you want a more formal way to learn.
Check out SmarterGerman on YouTube
19. Deutsch Mit Julia
Julia started her channel for advanced learners but has now also created a German beginner course.
All the videos come with scripts that offer a great way for you to practice listening and reading at the same time.
Julia is a native German, she has a science teaching background and has been living in Ireland for many years.
Check out Deutsch Mit Julia on YouTube
20. Deutsch Für Euch
This channel is aimed at giving access to easy online German for everyone. From listening exercises and simple explanations of complex grammar topics, it's worth checking out.
The language lessons on the Deutsch Für Euch channel are detailed and easy to follow which makes a fantastic resource for anyone who is just starting out, or a little more advanced in their learning journey.
Check out Deutsch Für Euch on YouTube
Final Thoughts: Learning German On YouTube
There you go! Now you have all the YouTube channels you'll ever need to learn German.
All you must decide is if you want to start with a structured, slow-paced lesson, explore more about German culture, or dive into the details of advanced German. The videos on this list provide all you need to begin authentic German learning at home for free.
Watching educational YouTube videos is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the German language (or any foreign language) without getting hung up on vocabulary or frustrated with grammar.
That’s precisely what I did when I learned Italian from home in 3 months. Before I started speaking, I just immersed myself in interesting Italian content. And you can do the same with German.
This routine helped me acquire Italian grammar and vocabulary in a way that felt natural to me. I didn’t have to spend hours reading through textbooks or drilling grammar exercises into my head. My StoryLearning® method works in the same way by focusing on organic learning.
Are you ready to try the immersion method for yourself and learn German with YouTube? If so, I hope you enjoy these channels.
Olly Richards
Creator of the StoryLearning® Method
Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearning® method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.
Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.
When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preaches—he speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.
