Do they speak English in Germany?

Answer 1

Yes, and some of them speak German too. =)

Answer 2

Not as a first language, they speak German. However in keeping with a lot of European countries Germans learn English as a second language and often speak it better than the English. Since WWII lots of English terminology has crept into continental countries, including Germany, so now they say 'Football' instead of 'Fussball' as an example. In the current World Cup that is being hosted by Germany most of the adverts surrounding the grounds are in English since that's the most widely accepted universal language. They even have the word 'Germany' on the merchandise instead of 'Deutschland', which is what the Germans call their country.

Answer 3

Jawohl, meistens Deutsche Englisch koennen ....

Even when I worked in a machinery factory in (then) West Berlin in 1966, the majority of Germans I dealt with spoke some English. That was only 20 years after the end of the war, and the city was mainly populated by either older people, or younger folk who went there to escape the draft or work (they got fairly decent pay and a 20% tax break for going to the city).

In West Germany, and today across a unified Germany, as other posters have written, younger people are relatively fluent in English, thanks to mandatory education. Those who grew up in the East under Communist rule are less likely to speak English, but it is still common for Germans - and most Europeans - to be multi-lingual.

However ... if you go to France, and cannot speak French, don't try German in most of the country. Brush up on your Spanish, instead!

Answer 4

English is mandatory in German schools as a second language. French, or other languages are optional. So at a minimum, everyone has had 4-5 years of English (British English, that is). Those who don't have a chance to practice it will probably not speak it so well, but they'll have a rudimentary knowledge. The younger people are generally pretty fluent.

Answer 5

Oh yes and very well indeed. As English is the main international language, Germans are encouraged to learn how to speak, read and write English from an early age. Subsequently their English ability is of a rather high standard. Suffice to say a percentage of them will be able to speak better English than some of the folk living here (UK) hands-down. FACT.

Answer 6

Yes, european people learn English as a second language at school. About 70% are very fluent in it. English is considered to be an international language in Europe. If they speak English fluently, they have a great chance of getting higher paying job.

Answer 7

i am an american who has been living in germany now for 3 years. many of them speak english as a second language. all my neighbors speak at least a little if not pretty decent english. i think us americans are the only ones in the world who don't seem to know a 2nd langage.

Answer 8

in germany every teenager knows english but the older generations don't speak much english

Answer 9

For an englishman learning and speaking in german may be an achievement but for a german as a native of any one of the many states ranging from southern plateaus to northern low lands speaking german in local dielects but communicating in the official version learning or speaking in english is may not be a difficult task nor any such thing related to national character. The german spoken by people of lowland plains known as platdeutsch is closely similar to dutch and english in expression. In my opinion as an indian the bulk of british population consisting of germanic anglo-saxon descent speaking in english is more closely related to the continent than to the island aborigines. The first english grammer was written by Erasmus of Rotterdam. Indeed as G.B Shaw said if england and america are separated by a common language english motherland and german fatherland are seperated by a common ethnic heritage and given the german diversity english may pass off as a form platdeutsch dielect which many germans speak as necessary although german is widely spoken in central european heartland as hindi is in central india.

Answer 10

A lot of German do speak English.. but obviously the official language is German, and everyone speaks that! But a lot of people do speak English.

Answer 11

Many germans speak english.