Logo Goethe-Institut

Max Mueller Bhavan | India

Oh so German!

Do bratwurst, beer gardens, and Lederhosen truly encapsulate Germany? Are fairy tales the country's secret obsession, and is every corner adorned with castles? Oh So German! offers glimpses of the many facets that compose the essence of Deutschland.

Oh so German! © Adobe Firefly | Edit: Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan

Sports and Games

An Insider’s Perspective

Cricket in Germany

As a cricket enthusiast, you might think you would miss your go-to sport in Germany. But with over three hundred clubs, cricket is booming, defying Germany’s reputation as a football-dominated nation. In this article, we speak with Venkatraman Ganesan, former captain of the German National Cricket Team, to gain insights into the growing cricket scene in Germany.

Cricket in Germany © International Cricket Council © International Cricket Council

  • Fitness

    5 Unusual Sports in Germany

    Who is crazy enough to try and catch a ball on a broom? Who voluntarily runs after a plastic disc? The answer: quite a few. They enjoy a sport beyond the football league – on the lawn, under water, in the air.

    People in a swimming pool playing underwater rugby Photo (detail): ©picture alliance / dpa | Lukas Schulze Photo (detail): ©picture alliance / dpa | Lukas Schulze

  • Video Games from Germany

    Typical German?

    Germans like to play games. 53 percent of people over the age of 16 regularly play video games. And with a turnover of almost six billion euros, the gaming industry is now a significant economic factor. But which games come from Germany? And what makes them “typically German”?

    A scene from the game ‘Atlas Fallen’ with a figure in the foreground and a passing caravan in the background. © Deck13 Interactive © Deck13 Interactive

  • Tabletop Games

    Let the Games Begin!

    More board and card games are sold in Germany than in any other country. They guarantee fun, variety – and sometimes even divorce: an article about good moods and bad losers.

    People still enjoy playing “human chess” today: the chess pieces are played by real people, usually in costume. The latest form is Cosplay Human Chess. Photo (detail): © Adobe Photo (detail): © Adobe

Food

  • 9 Facts About German Beer

    Let's Grab Beers

    “Go and fetch me a bottle of beer, otherwise I’ll go on strike here and won’t write another word,” once said former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. And he was by no means alone in feeling thirsty: Germans’ love of beer is world‑famous. Armed with this beer knowledge, you too will be able to join in the conversation on your next trip to the beer garden.

    A footballer from FC Bayern Munich ceremoniously pours beer over his teammate. Photo (Detail): © picture alliance / Sven Simon | FrankHoermann/SVEN SIMON Photo (Detail): © picture alliance / Sven Simon | FrankHoermann/SVEN SIMON

  • From farm to plate

    Germany’s white gold

    Spring in Germany is almost synonymous with blooming fields of white asparagus. But what is the fascination with this “white gold”? Our author explores this intrigue through a farm visit in Cologne and discovers a heartwarming love story from the 16th century.

    White asparagus in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia Photo (detail): Saurabh Narang Photo (detail): Saurabh Narang

  • 9 stories about Germany’s favorite food staple

    Our Daily Bread

    Sweet, salty, sour – German bread comes in many forms. Some varieties are so iconic, they even star in their own TV shows!

    You can see a bread shelf with various breads and rolls Picture (Detail): picture-alliance / Chad Ehlers | Chad Ehlers Picture (Detail): picture-alliance / Chad Ehlers | Chad Ehlers

  • Dishes Named After Animals

    Ten Animal-ish Delicacies from Germany

    Have you ever wondered what a "falscher Hase" might be? A rabbit in disguise, perhaps? And how does "Bärendreck," meaning "bear dirt," relate to snacks? Here’s the ultimate list of German dishes that bear animal names. 

    Animal-ish Delicacies from Germany © Getty Images © Getty Images

  • German coffee culture

    Fancy coffee and cake?

    There's nothing like a coffee in good company with a delicious piece of cake. The Germans even have their own word for it: Kaffeeklatsch. Get your cups out, we present five specialities of German coffee culture.

    Coffee and cake Photo (Detail): © toa-heftiba-W6sqUYIJRiw-unsplash Photo (Detail): © toa-heftiba-W6sqUYIJRiw-unsplash

  • The 10 most popular German street foods

    Urban Bites: From Heritage to Hipster

    Germany has never enjoyed the best reputation when it comes to cuisine. However today, the country has a lot more to offer than just sauerkraut and pork knuckle. Strongly influenced by migration in recent decades, the German street food scene now boasts an array of delicious dishes.

    Ex-Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel probiert ein Stück Dönerfleisch Foto (detail): picture alliance / abaca | AA/ABACA Foto (detail): picture alliance / abaca | AA/ABACA

Stereotypes

  • Five typical German habits

    That's how it's done here

    No sense of humour, always overly punctual, taciturn and a little reserved – one nationality immediately pops into your head when you hear these descriptions: the Germans. The list could go on and on – here we look at five habits that are seen as “typically German”.

    Celebrating at the Oktoberfest 2024 in Munich Photo (detail): © picture alliance/dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand Photo (detail): © picture alliance/dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

  • Stereotypes

    Germany For Experts

    So Germans are punctual, humourless, drink beer and are world champion travellers? We’ve subjected seven stereotypes about Germany to close scrutiny, and made some surprising discoveries.
     

    Germany, that’ll be beer and of course the Oktoberfest. However, when it comes to beer consumption per person, the Czechs are way ahead, while the Germans only make seventh place in the international rankings. Photo (detail): © Adobe Photo (detail): © Adobe

That's so German!

Part 1: Intriguingly Untranslatable

5 German Words You Should Know

The German language excels in capturing entire concepts in just one word. Here, we present 5 German words that defy easy translation.

Five German Words You Should Know: Part 1 © Canva © Canva

  • Part 2: Intriguingly Untranslatable

    5 More German Words You Should Know

    The German language excels in capturing entire concepts in just one word. Here, we present 5 German words that defy easy translation.

    Five German Words You Should Know: Part 2 © Canva © Canva

  • Six Unique German Place Names

    “Your village is really ugly? Tear it down, that hell!” Oha – the Germans are real killers when it comes to bellyaching. Concealed within these two sentences are six intriguing place names, each carrying its own unique tale waiting to be unravelled.

    German Town Signboard - Killer © Juergen Lehle, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons © Juergen Lehle, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

  • 7 popular clubs in Germany

    Legendary dancefloors

    Pulsing beats and packed dancefloors – Germany has some clubs that manage to draw visitors from other countries. From techno to house to pop, these venues are the beating heart of the party scene.

    Guests dance at Bossy, a club in Munich. Photo (detail): © picture alliance/dpa | Felix Hörhager Photo (detail): © picture alliance/dpa | Felix Hörhager

  • 10 things you should try at Christmas markets

    Year after year

    It's dark when you get up and it's dark when you get home. It's dreary and you need two pairs of socks. Just some of the reasons why many people long for the end of winter. But: it's the only time of year with Christmas markets! You shouldn't miss out on these ten things at one of the 2500 markets in Germany!

    Christmas market in Frankfurt am Main, night scene Photo (Detail): © mauritius images / Michael Abid Photo (Detail): © mauritius images / Michael Abid

  • Five inventions from Germany

    Milestones

    Germany, the land of poets and thinkers – and inventors. Many groundbreaking ideas that still shape our everyday lives today come from Germany. Here are five pioneering inventions made in Germany.

    Paraglider in the sunset Photo (detail): © mauritius images / Konstantin Yolshin / Alamy / Alamy Stock Photos Photo (detail): © mauritius images / Konstantin Yolshin / Alamy / Alamy Stock Photos

  • Alternative fashion scenes in major German cities

    Styled with pleasure

    Style and fashion awareness in Germany? For a long time, this topic was met with little more than a pitying smile. But the picture has now changed – here are four stylish trends seen in major German cities.

    Black Birkenstocks, yellow socks Photo (detail): © Unsplash No revisions mlpZ452L6Zs Photo (detail): © Unsplash No revisions mlpZ452L6Zs

Detours

A selfie at the Brandenburg Gate, a tour of Neuschwanstein Castle – all great. But which cities, landscapes and special places in Germany are also worth seeing? Once a month, we take you to a place in Germany that you absolutely must discover!

  • Germany from all sides

    The name alone is puzzling: what on earth is meant by the word “Zipfelbund”? And what might a Zipfel Passport, Zipfel Prize and Zipfel Pact refer to? But be warned: you will need quite a bit of time if you want to see everything.

    Where in Germany will you get to if you want to visit the Zipfelbund? Photo (detail): © Adobe Photo (detail): © Adobe

  • The Siren Song of Lorelei

    Anyone who comes here – whether by mountain bike or on foot – will quickly fall in love with this region of culture, nature and wine on the River Rhine: it’s a very easy place to spend time.

    A beautiful water sprite distracted sailors, causing vessels to capsize – according to the legend of Lorelei. Photo (detail): © Adobe Photo (detail): © Adobe

This might interest you too!

  • German City Portraits

    German cities are as diverse as the landscape that surrounds them. In a series of city portraits, we embark on a journey through Goethe's homeland. Our authors have taken a close look at things small and large which make their cities so unique and lovable.

    City Contours © Tobias Schrank © Tobias Schrank

  • Detours

    A selfie at the Brandenburg Gate, a tour of Neuschwanstein Castle – all great. But which cities, landscapes and special places in Germany are also worth seeing? Once a month, we take you to a place in Germany that you absolutely must discover!

    Detours © Goethe-Institut e. V., Tobias Schrank © Goethe-Institut e. V., Tobias Schrank

  • The German Language Column

    Our column delves into navigating German language rules, tracing the origins of new words, and highlighting significant language usage shifts, offering insights into these engaging linguistic discussions.

    Word! The language column © Goethe-Institut e. V./Illustration: Tobias Schrank © Goethe-Institut e. V./Illustration: Tobias Schrank

  • German Series in India

    Binge Fever!

    Television “Made in Germany” is having a golden moment with the rise of international streaming services. In this dossier, we highlight binge-worthy German serials and fill you in on where to watch them in India.

    Binge Fever Title Remote © Colourbox / Image editing Goethe-Institut Los Angeles © Colourbox / Image editing Goethe-Institut Los Angeles

  • Current Music from Germany

    Popcast

    Rock, pop, hip-hop, electro: Together with Zündfunk, the Bavarian Radio's scene magazine, we showcase quality pop made in Germany.

    Popcast © Goethe-Institut | Illustration: DOON 東 © Goethe-Institut | Illustration: DOON 東

  • Germany #Nofilter

    The magazine for German learners, German teachers and everyone interested in Germany: Stories about everyday life, career and studies, information about German cities, tips and trends.

    NoFilter © Goethe-Institut © Goethe-Institut