As a student of German, you certainly know what Germany is called in English? But did you know that Germany has a different name in each language? Let’s find out with My Career through this article!

What is Germany in English?

Germany in English is called Germany and Germans in English are German . Depending on the country, it could be Germany or it could be Deutschland, Allemagne, Saksa, Niemcy or Iyášiča Makȟóčhe. And obviously, this is not just a matter of translating the same root word into different languages. Each of these names refers to something completely different about the German people. If you were to ask “Why is Germany called Germany in English?”, you might as well ask why the country is called by any other name.

Overview of Germany

• OFFICIAL NAME: Federal Republic of Germany
• FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal republic
• CAPITAL: Berlin
• POPULATION: 80,457,737
• OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: German
• Euro
• AREA: 134,838 square miles (349,223 square kilometers)
• MAIN RIVERS: Rhine, Elbe, Main, Danube

Why is Germany called all those other names?

In many cases, the names that other languages ​​give to Germany are a direct indicator of the specific German people with whom speakers of those languages ​​first came into contact. 

For example, the Romans called the area Germania, which is thought to have come from the name the nearby Gauls gave to the Germanic tribe across the river: the Germans. The name is thought to mean “neighbor” or “forest dweller.”

This does not explain why some languages ​​derived from Latin, such as Spanish and French, refer to Germany as Alemania and Allemagne, respectively. The names come from the Alemanni, another Germanic tribe that lived near present-day Switzerland.

In Northern Europe, Germany’s neighbors came into contact with the Saxons, so they named the area Saksa (or some variation of it? Saksa is the Finnish name for Germany).

Some German names are a bit more humorous. For example, most Slavic languages ​​have German names derived from the Slavic name Nemets, which comes from the Proto-Slavic word němьcь  . This has some meaning to the tone of “silent people”, “unclear” or “difficult to understand”, but it is thought to be just a way of saying “people who don’t speak like us”.

Meanwhile, many Native American tribes encountered the Germans at a very different stage in history, and their names reflect this. The Navajo name for Germany is Béésh Bich?ahii Bikéyah, or “Land of the Metal Helmets.” The Plains Cree named it Pîwâpiskwastotininâhk (“Among the Steel Helmets”), and the Lakota named it Iyášiča Makȟóčhe, or “Land of Bad Speech” (so, not so different from the Slavs).

Do Germans speak English?

Yes, Germans speak English! However, most foreigners face a high language barrier created around them due to limited German language skills.

For expats, Germany acts as a platform to boost their careers. After all, Germany’s high salaries and the fact that the 39.9-hour work week is below the European average are attractive. In other words, you’ll find a healthy work-life balance at its best.

But let’s be honest: How good are Germans at speaking English? Is it even possible to live in Germany without knowing German and if so, how can you as a foreigner break down these language barriers? 

The truth is, Germans speak English. From the age of 5, it is an integral part of school and British or American television programmes accompany the daily lives of teenagers or adults. So, in principle, every German should know at least a basic level of English and be able to make themselves understood in English. While older people have little access to English courses at school, young people under 40 should be fluent in English.

Geography of Germany

The central and southern regions of Germany are covered with hills and mountains by the valleys of the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers. In the north, the landscape extends into a wide plain that extends to the North Sea. Between these extremes, Germany is a country of incredible diversity.

Germany’s location in the heart of Europe has shaped its history for good and ill. It borders nine neighbouring countries, more than any other European country.

Germany’s largest and most famous forest is in the southwest near the Swiss border. This is the Black Forest, a mountainous region filled with pine and fir trees. This forest is the source of the Danube River, one of the longest rivers in Europe.

People and culture

Today, almost one in ten Germans comes from a foreign country. That’s more than at any other time in history. The largest minority is Turks, who began coming here to work in the 1950s. About two-thirds of Germans are Catholic.

Germany has been called the ?Land of Poets and Thinkers?. Germans are famous for all forms of art, but especially classical music. Famous German composers include Bach, Brahms, Schumann, Wagner and Beethoven.

Nature

The German government works hard to protect the country’s wildlife. There are 97 nature reserves in Germany, the largest of which is the Black Forest. However, despite these efforts, many species are at risk of extinction, including several species of whales, beavers, and mink.

Germany’s main wildlife habitats are located in two main areas. The flat northern coast is home to marine life and wading birds, while the forested hills and mountains in the south are the best place to spot wildcats, boars, chamois and other large mammals.

The lakes and wetlands along Germany’s coast are important stopovers for many migratory birds. The government has established reserves to protect the birds.

Government and economy 

After its defeat in World War II, Germany was left in ruins. West Germany recovered to become the richest country in Europe, but East Germany, under communist control, fell behind. After reunification in 1989, Germany spent billions of dollars modernizing the East.

History

Humans settled in Northern Europe about 10,000 years ago, after the end of the last Ice Age. The first people to speak a language similar to modern German probably lived in the area about 5,000 years ago. However, it was still thousands of years before Germany was created.

Early Germany was a patchwork of small states ruled by dukes and kings. But in 1871 the country was united, through force and alliance, by a politician named Otto von Bismarck.

In the late 19th century, Germany began competing with other European countries to establish colonies in Africa and Asia. These tensions led to World War I in 1914, the worst conflict the world had ever seen. Germany and its allies lost the war to Britain , France , the Soviet Union (now called Russia ), and the United States .

Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party came to power in 1933 promising to make Germany great again. In 1939, Hitler invaded Poland , starting World War II. During the war, Hitler created camps in Germany where millions of Jews and others were murdered. The war ended in 1945 with the defeat of the German army and Hitler’s suicide.

After World War II, Germany was divided into West and East. The country became the center of the confrontation between the Soviet Union and the Western powers. This confrontation lasted 44 years and became known as the Cold War. In 1989, East Germany opened its borders and the Cold War ended.

So, Germany in English is a fairly common name in Vietnam but does not mean it is common in all other countries. Hopefully through this article, you have a better understanding of Germany with My Career!