If you are learning German language, having a good dictionary handy can make the difference between finishing a sentence or fumbling for words on the tip of your tongue–but never quite finding them. Learner dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, picture dictionaries, and other references for German language all have specific uses for different learners.
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There are many types of dictionaries, include the following:
- Picture dictionaries: Used by students of all ages, visual learners, young children who can’t yet read fluently in their native languages, as well as adults whose native language is spoken but not written (meaning, no existing bilingual written dictionaries) or adults who are unable to read in their native languages due to prior gaps in education (often from war-torn regions, but sometimes rural or developing regions of the world).
- Learner dictionaries: Learner dictionaries are for students who are new to German, regardless of age. These dictionaries give essentials about German words that more advanced speakers might not need.
- Pocket dictionaries: Pocket dictionaries are primarily to literally carry in one’s pocket while traveling. These are not the best dictionaries for a new learner of German language to use, as definitions are often so short that they are hard to decipher, plus many words are left out of these versions for the sake of brevity. It is recommended to own pocket dictionaries, but also to own a standard-sized bilingual dictionary.
- Bilingual dictionaries: A bilingual dictionary of German language will list words in German, and the equivalent in another language. A unidirectional bilingual dictionary translates words from one language to another (so German to English, for example), while a bidirectional bilingual dictionary translates words from both languages into the other (so German to English, as well as English to German).
For beginners learning German for the first time, or resuming the language after a long gap, it is generally recommended to purchase a bilingual English-German and German-English dictionary all in one. As you study, practice conversation, and do written exercises and activities, you will often need to look up words in your native language (to find the German), as well as look up words in German (to figure out what the word means in your native language). The prices of English-German only dictionaries are lower, but you will probably end up needing to buy a German-English dictionary soon after.
For the first time learner of German, we recommend getting a bidirectional bilingual dictionary to use for lessons. It is also a good idea to get a pocket dictionary; however, there are now excellent mobile apps that can be used more quickly to find words in German and other languages. As you shop, be sure to read what other buyers said in the reviews to guide you in choosing the right dictionaries.