studieren

You usually pair studieren with your major. You don't need an article for the subject. Just say Ich studiere Physik or Ich studiere Kunst. If you want to mention your location, use in for the city. Say Ich studiere in Hamburg. If you want to name the specific school, use the preposition an. For example, Ich studiere an der Universität Köln. It is a regular verb, so it follows standard conjugation rules. You will use it most often in the present tense to describe what you are doing with your life right now.

Use this phrase when you meet someone new at a party. It is the ultimate icebreaker for young adults in Germany. Use it during job interviews to describe your background. It is perfect for catching up with relatives who want to know what you're doing. You can also use it when applying for a student visa or a student discount. If someone asks Was machst du beruflich? and you are a student, this is your go-to answer. It sounds professional and clear.

Do not use studieren for short-term learning. If you are learning how to cook, use lernen. If you are practicing German on an app, use lernen. If you are sitting in a library preparing for tomorrow's exam, you are lernen. Using studieren here sounds like you are analyzing the very concept of the exam. Also, avoid using it for vocational training. If you are training to be a baker or a mechanic, that is eine Ausbildung machen. Using studieren for a trade might confuse people.

Germany has a very deep respect for the "Studentenleben" (student life). University education is mostly free, so many people studieren for a long time. There is even a funny term, Langzeitstudent, for someone who stays at university for many years. Being a "Student" is a distinct social class in Germany. It comes with perks like cheap transit tickets and discounted meals at the Mensa (university cafeteria). When you say you studieren, you are part of this specific cultural group.

You might hear zu Ende studieren, which means to finish your degree. There is also dual studieren, which is a popular German system. This is where you work at a company and study at a university at the same time. If you want to say you are "pre-med" or "pre-law," you just say the subject. Germans don't really have "pre-" tracks. You just start with Medizin or Jura right away. Another fun one is die Speisekarte studieren. This is a rare case where you can use it outside of university. It means you are looking at the menu very, very carefully.