German Magazines

How to boost your German language skills while taking some time out!

German magazines

Categories of German magazines:


It's always easy to learn more about something you’re interested in. So why not try reading German magazines which cover your hobbies, passions, or pastimes?

It's a good way of getting up to date with specialized German vocabulary in a field of your choice, as well as a chance to say “I’m working” while you put your feet up and settle down with a cup of coffee in a quiet corner! ;-)

Here is a selection of some of the most popular German magazines read by German speakers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Most are available both in hard copy or online:


News & General

  • Der Spiegel, 675,000 copies sold weekly. Germany's leading news magazine, with a focus on politics and business. An English version is also available online (not necessarily one-to-one translations of the original German articles, but useful for learning how to translate German terms).
  • Stern, a weekly news magazine, 360,000 copies. Established in 1948, it is valued by journalist for its focus on photography and longer, in-depth reporting. A direct competitor to Focus and Der Spiegel.
  • Focus, 250,000 copies, started in 1993 as a competitor to Der Spiegel. Less focus on politics and economics, and more on everyday themes - family, health, finance, careers, etc.
  • Profil, around 90,000 copies, the Austrian version of German magazine Der Spiegel.

Business

  • Capital, motto "Wirtschaft ist Gesellschaft", a monthly finance and business magazine selling around 120,000 copies.
  • WirtschaftsWoche (WIWO), a weekly business magazine, selling around 100,000 copies. Includes a WiWo Green, a portal dealing with green topics started in 2013, as well as annual German university rankings, an annual best office award, and start-up award.
  • Gewinn, "Das Wirtschaftsmagazin Für Ihren Persönlichen Vorteil", an Austrian personal finance magazine, selling around 50,000 copies monthly.
  • Handelszeitung, Switzerland's largest weekly business magazine, focusing on economics, investment, politics and lifestyle, selling around 35,000 copies to German-speakers in Switzerland.

Computers & IT

  • c't, Magazin für Computer Technik, Germany's most influential computer magazine, set up in 1993, and aimed at expert readers.
  • Computer Bild, the most popular German-language computer magazine after c't, appears fortnightly.
  • PC-Welt (“PC World”), monthly, one of Germany's oldest computer magazines, for advanced and professional users.

Automotive

  • Auto Bild, a leading weekly automotive magazine, selling around 250,000 copies, and which has now developed a brand family of related magazines and digital platforms.
  • Auto, Motor und Sport, appears fortnightly, with a primary focus on test reports. A circulation of around 330,000.

Celebs & Gossip

Commonly known as ”Tratsch und Klatsch”!

  • BUNTE, Germany's best-selling gossip weekly, covering stars, royals, entertainment, etc., with a circulation of around 340,000. Frequently embroiled in court cases with the celebrities it covers!

Teen

  • Bravo, the largest teen magazine which has now become a brand in itself, with several spin-off magazines (e.g. Bravo TV - a youth TV magazine, Bravo sport, and Bravo Hits (music) and www.bravo.de, the online portal).

Home & Garden

  • Many homes and gardens magazines are still only available in hard copy, from your local newsagent or on a subscription basis, so I can't provide direct links to online versions. They include titles such as WohnIdee, Landhaus Living, Wohnen & Garten, Zuhause Wohnen – you can see a list here.

TIP! Many popular international magazines have a German version – e.g. Cosmopolitan, Homes & Gardens, Country Living, National Geographic, etc. - try looking them up online by simply swapping the ".com" for a ".de"

Sport

  • Sport Bild, insight into the world of German sport. Although there's a strong focus on football, you can also finally discover the popular German sport of handball!.

Politics

  • EMMA, Das politische Magazin für Menschen, the leading feminist magazine in Germany dealing with business and economics, published bi-monthly, and founded by Alice Schwarzer in 1977.
  • Internationale Politik, Das Magazin für globales Denken, also has a global version in English, and is the Journal of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).
  • Cicero, Magazin für politisches Kultur, monthly, with a conservative focus, intended as the German equivalent of “The New Yorker” or “The Atlantic Monthly”.

Fashion & Style

Commonly refered to as "Frauenzeitschriften"!

  • Bild der Frau, Europe's most popular German weekly women’s magazine with a circulation of over 500,000 and readership of over 4 million.
  • Brigitte, a fortnightly title which reaches more German women than any other magazine, circulation of around 800,000 and estimated readership of .
  • Elle, Elle Deutschland, the German version of Elle magazine, with a focus on fashion, beauty and lifestyle.
  • Freundin, a fortnightly women's magazine, covering fashion & beauty, diets and cooking, with a circulation of around 360,000.


German magazines – in English!

For those just looking to learn a little more about German life and culture (and have a relaxing read in English!) I can recommend:

  • German Life,  a bi-monthly magazine published in New Jersey, focusing on German culture, history and travel, and the influence of groups of German-origin on North American life.
  • Deutschland Online, bi-monthly, in English and German – the articles do seem to be direct translations, so this is also a great way of finding a free German translation for practicing your translating skills.

So I hope I've inspired you to go pick up your chosen German magazine (or laptop), and I wish you happy reading!


  Joanna

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German to English Translation

Joanna Scudamore-Trezek

I'm a German to English translator living and working in Vienna, Austria. I turn German texts into clear and accessible English, allowing clients to present their stories, ideas and information to a completely new audience. My business and marketing clients rely on me to get their message across clearly and effectively.  How can I help you today?

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