Elevate Your German: Stop Using the Same Filler Words

When you first learn German, words like und, aber, and weil are your best friends. They help you build sentences and express your thoughts clearly. But as you advance from A2 to B1 and beyond, relying on these same connectors can make your speech sound repetitive and basic.

To sound more fluent, sophisticated, and precise—like an advanced learner or native speaker—you need to vary your vocabulary. Below is a complete guide to upgrading your most common filler words.

1. The "Contrast" Upgrades (But / However)

We use "but" constantly. In German, aber is the standard translation. Try these alternatives to sound more academic or formal.

Basic Word Advanced Upgrade Nuance & Examples
But
(Aber)		 Jedoch / Allerdings More elegant than "aber". "Allerdings" often implies a restriction.
  • Der Plan war gut, jedoch scheiterte er an den Kosten.
    (The plan was good, however it failed due to costs.)
  • Ich mag Tee, allerdings lieber ohne Zucker.
    (I like tea, though/admittedly rather without sugar.)
However
(Aber)		 Trotzdem / Dennoch Used when something happens despite expectations (Nevertheless).
  • Es regnete stark, trotzdem gingen wir spazieren.
    (It rained heavily, nevertheless we went for a walk.)
  • Er war müde, dennoch arbeitete er weiter.
    (He was tired, nevertheless he kept working.)

2. The "Addition" Upgrades (And / Also)

Avoid stringing sentences together with endless "unds". Use these to add information smoothly.

Basic Word Advanced Upgrade Nuance & Examples
And
(Und)		 Sowie / Außerdem "Sowie" replaces "und" in lists. "Außerdem" starts a new thought.
  • Wir brauchen Äpfel sowie Birnen für den Kuchen.
    (We need apples as well as pears for the cake.)
  • Der Film war langweilig, außerdem war er zu teuer.
    (The film was boring, furthermore it was too expensive.)
Also / Too
(Auch)		 Außerdem / Zudem Excellent for starting a new sentence to add a strong point.
  • Sie ist klug. Außerdem ist sie sehr nett.
    (She is smart. Furthermore, she is very nice.)
  • Das Haus ist groß, zudem liegt es sehr zentral.
    (The house is big, in addition it is located centrally.)

3. The "Reasoning" Upgrades (Because / So)

Explaining "why" and "therefore" is crucial for complex conversation. Move beyond the basic weil structure.

Basic Word Advanced Upgrade Nuance & Examples
Because
(Weil)		 Denn / Da "Denn" does NOT push the verb to the end. "Da" is for known reasons.
  • Ich gehe ins Bett, denn ich bin müde.
    (I go to bed, for I am tired.)
  • Da wir kein Auto haben, fahren wir mit dem Bus.
    (Since we have no car, we are taking the bus.)
So / Therefore
(Also, So)		 Deshalb / Daher Stronger connectors indicating a direct consequence.
  • Er ist krank, deshalb fehlt er heute.
    (He is sick, therefore he is absent today.)
  • Der Zug hatte Verspätung, daher kamen wir zu spät.
    (The train was delayed, that's why we arrived late.)

4. Elaboration & Opinion (Or, Like, Examples)

Finally, vary how you present options, comparisons, and your own thoughts to sound more professional.

Basic Word Advanced Upgrade Nuance & Examples
Or
(Oder)		 Ansonsten / Alternativ Used to propose a different option or warning.
  • Sei ruhig, ansonsten musst du gehen.
    (Be quiet, otherwise you must go.)
  • Wir können kochen. Alternativ bestellen wir Pizza.
    (We can cook. Alternatively, we order pizza.)
For Example
(Zum Beispiel)		 Beispielsweise More fluid and formal for written texts or speeches.
  • Viele Tiere, beispielsweise Löwen, essen Fleisch.
    (Many animals, for instance lions, eat meat.)
  • Man kann viele Sportarten treiben, beispielsweise Tennis.
    (One can play many sports, for instance tennis.)
Like / Similar to
(Wie)		 Ähnlich wie Used for making precise comparisons.
  • Das schmeckt ähnlich wie Hühnchen.
    (That tastes similar to chicken.)
  • Deine Jacke sieht ähnlich wie meine aus.
    (Your jacket looks similar to mine.)
In my opinion
(Ich denke)		 Meiner Meinung nach The standard phrase for expressing opinion.
  • Meiner Meinung nach ist Deutsch logisch.
    (In my opinion, German is logical.)
  • Das ist meiner Meinung nach die beste Lösung.
    (That is, in my opinion, the best solution.)

Practice Advanced Connectors on the LMS

Ready to put these new words into practice? Log in to the portal and try the vocabulary builder exercises.

Kindly check the B1 Vocabulary Section: Connectors & Particles.

LMS Exercise

Test Your Vocabulary

Can you choose the right synonym for the context? Try our advanced vocabulary quiz.

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Conclusion

Expanding your vocabulary with words like dennoch, außerdem, and beispielsweise is a quick win for your German fluency. It makes you sound more intelligent and helps you structure complex arguments. Start swapping out one basic word a day!

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