German Conjunctions: Complete Chart With Examples

Conjunctions are the glue that holds German sentences together. Whether you are connecting two simple ideas with und (and) or building complex sentences with weil (because), understanding German conjunctions is essential for sounding natural and moving beyond basic phrases.

The tricky part? Different types of conjunctions follow different word order rules. A coordinating conjunction keeps the verb in place, while a subordinating conjunction sends it to the end of the clause. Get these rules wrong and your sentence falls apart.

This guide breaks every major German conjunction into three clear groups, each with a chart, examples, and word order explanations. By the end, you will know exactly which conjunction to use and where the verb goes.

The Three Types of German Conjunctions

German conjunctions fall into three categories, and each one affects word order differently:

1. Coordinating conjunctions (Nebenordnende Konjunktionen) — no word order change
2. Subordinating conjunctions (Unterordnende Konjunktionen) — verb goes to the end
3. Adverbial conjunctions (Konjunktionaladverbien) — verb-second inversion

Let us look at each group in detail.

Coordinating Conjunctions: No Word Order Change

Coordinating conjunctions connect two main clauses (Hauptsätze) of equal importance. The word order in both clauses stays exactly the same — the verb remains in position two. Think of these as simple bridges between two complete thoughts.

Coordinating Conjunctions Chart

Word Order Rule

With coordinating conjunctions, both clauses keep standard word order: Subject + Verb + Rest.

[Main Clause 1] + conjunction + [Main Clause 2]
Ich trinke Kaffee  +  und  +  sie trinkt Tee.

The conjunction itself does not count as a position in the sentence. It sits between the two clauses like a comma would.

When to Use "aber" vs. "sondern"

This is one of the most common questions learners ask. The difference is straightforward:

• Aber (but) introduces a contrast: Das Buch ist klein, aber interessant. (The book is small but interesting.)
• Sondern (but rather) corrects a negative statement: Er ist nicht dumm, sondern faul. (He is not stupid, but rather lazy.)

Use sondern only after a negation (nicht, kein). If there is no negation in the first clause, use aber.

Subordinating Conjunctions: Verb Goes to the End

Subordinating conjunctions create a dependent clause (Nebensatz) that cannot stand on its own. The most important rule here: the conjugated verb moves to the very end of the subordinate clause.

This is the single biggest word order change in German and the rule that trips up most learners.

Subordinating Conjunctions Chart

Word Order Rule

In the subordinate clause, the conjugated verb moves to the final position:

Main clause + conjunction + Subject + ... + VERB (end)
Ich bleibe zu Hause,  weil  ich  krank  bin.

When the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause starts with the verb (verb-second rule still applies to the overall sentence):

Conjunction + Subject + ... + VERB,  VERB + Subject + Rest
Weil ich krank bin,  bleibe ich zu Hause.

Notice the comma-verb pattern: after the subordinate clause ends with a comma, the main clause verb comes immediately.

"weil" vs. "denn" — Same Meaning, Different Word Order

Both weil and denn mean "because," but they belong to different groups:

• Denn (coordinating): Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn ich bin krank. — verb stays in position 2
• Weil (subordinating): Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin. — verb goes to the end

The meaning is identical. The only difference is the word order. Beginners often find denn easier because the word order does not change, but weil is far more common in everyday speech.

Adverbial Conjunctions: Verb-Second Inversion

Adverbial conjunctions (also called conjunctive adverbs) connect two main clauses, but unlike coordinating conjunctions, they count as position one in the second clause. This triggers inversion — the verb jumps to position two, directly after the conjunction.

Adverbial Conjunctions Chart

Word Order Rule

The adverbial conjunction takes position one, pushing the verb to position two and the subject to position three:

[Clause 1], adverbial conjunction + VERB + Subject + Rest
Ich bin müde,  deshalb  gehe  ich  ins Bett.
                pos.1   pos.2  pos.3

This is different from coordinating conjunctions, which sit outside the clause structure entirely.

What Are the Main German Conjunctions?

The most important German conjunctions to learn first are the five coordinating conjunctions (und, aber, oder, denn, sondern) and the most common subordinating conjunctions (weil, dass, wenn, ob, obwohl). These ten conjunctions cover the vast majority of everyday German communication.

Once you are comfortable with these, add adverbial conjunctions like deshalb, trotzdem, and außerdem to make your speech more sophisticated.

A helpful memory trick for the coordinating conjunctions: think of ADUSO — aber, denn, und, sondern, oder.

What Is the Difference Between und, aber, and oder?

These three are the most basic German conjunctions and work almost identically to their English counterparts:

• Und (and) adds information: Ich spreche Deutsch und Englisch. — I speak German and English.
• Aber (but) shows contrast: Ich spreche Deutsch, aber nicht perfekt. — I speak German, but not perfectly.
• Oder (or) offers alternatives: Möchtest du Kaffee oder Tee? — Would you like coffee or tea?

All three are coordinating conjunctions, so none of them change the word order. They are the easiest conjunctions to use because they work just like in English.

Do German Conjunctions Change Word Order?

Yes — and this is the most critical thing to understand about German conjunctions. The word order effect depends entirely on which type of conjunction you use:

This three-way distinction is unique to German and does not exist in English. Mastering it is one of the biggest leaps you can make toward fluent German. For a deeper dive into how German word order works across all sentence types, read our guide on German word order explained.

Quick Reference: Complete German Conjunctions Chart

Practice German Conjunctions

The best way to internalize conjunction rules is through active practice. Here are some ways to build your skills:

• Type Rush: Practice typing full German sentences that use conjunctions under time pressure. Speed builds automaticity. Play Type Rush now.
• Word Scramble: Unscramble German words including common conjunctions to reinforce spelling and recognition. Try Word Scramble.
• Grammar Quizzes: Test your understanding of conjunction word order rules with our grammar quizzes.

If you are still building your foundation in German grammar, our German grammar for beginners guide covers all the essentials, and our German grammar exercises give you free practice for every level.

Understanding conjunctions also ties directly into sentence structure. If you want to see how conjunctions fit into the bigger picture of German syntax, check out our guide on German sentence structure for beginners.

Key Takeaways

1. Coordinating conjunctions (und, aber, oder, denn, sondern) do not change word order. Remember ADUSO.
2. Subordinating conjunctions (weil, dass, wenn, ob, obwohl, damit, bevor, nachdem) send the verb to the end of the clause.
3. Adverbial conjunctions (deshalb, trotzdem, außerdem) trigger verb-second inversion.
4. Weil and denn both mean "because" but follow different word order rules.
5. Sondern replaces aber only after a negation.

Mastering these three groups unlocks a huge part of German grammar. You will be able to build longer, more natural sentences and understand spoken German much more easily.

Ready to put your conjunction knowledge to the test? Take a grammar quiz and see how well you know your word order rules. Or download the Deutschwunder app to practice German grammar, vocabulary, and more on the go.

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Keep learning: German word order explained · German sentence structure for beginners · German grammar for beginners · Free German grammar exercises