Past Events: German Words & Phrases
10 essential German words and expressions for "Past Events". Each entry includes phonetic pronunciation, English translation, and example sentences. Suitable for CEFR B1 level and relevant for "storytelling about past events".
"Past Events" — word table
| German | Pronunciation | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| es war einmal | /ehs vahr EYNE-mahl/ | once upon a time | Es war einmal ein König.Once upon a time there was a king. |
| damals | /DAH-mahls/ | back then | Damals war alles anders.Back then everything was different. |
| plötzlich | /PLUETS-likh/ | suddenly | Plötzlich klingelte das Telefon.Previously, I lived in Samarkand. |
| sich erinnern | /zikh er-IN-nern/ | to remember | Ich erinnere mich gut daran.What happened? |
| passieren | /pahs-SEE-ren/ | to happen | Was ist passiert?I experienced a lot. |
| erzählen | /air-TSAY-len/ | to tell (a story) | Erzähl mir, was passiert ist.I remember that day. |
| während | /VEH-rent/ | while/during | Während der Reise haben wir viel gesehen.In my childhood, I played a lot. |
| schließlich | /SHLEES-likh/ | finally | Schließlich haben wir es geschafft.Last year I was in Germany. |
| die Erinnerung | /dee er-IN-neh-roong/ | memory | Das ist eine schöne Erinnerung.It happened suddenly. |
| das Ereignis | /dahs er-EYG-nis/ | event | Das war ein wichtiges Ereignis.I'll tell you a story. |
How to memorise these words fast
Listen to the audio pronunciation of each word three times, then repeat the example aloud. 8–10 words per session is enough — overloading reduces retention.
Review them the next day, then complete the linked lesson exercises: flashcards, pair matching and quizzes lock the vocabulary in.
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Frequently asked questions
Which German words relate to "Past Events"?
Most useful: es war einmal, damals, plötzlich and more — 10 in total, each with pronunciation below.
How do I memorise these words?
Listen to the audio, repeat the examples and do the linked lesson exercises — all free.