From a Berlin expat who was stuck at A2
I got tired of DeepL-ing every Berlin news article, so I built this
Every morning I tried to read Tagesschau and spent 20 minutes looking up words. So I made a daily email that takes real Berlin news and rewrites it for my actual German level — with inline vocabulary, audio, and a section for the bureaucratic language that still makes me panic.
No credit card required. Cancel anytime.
What you actually get every morning
No fluff. These are the exact sections in every daily Brief.
Real Berlin news, not textbook dialogues
Every morning you get one actual news story from Berlin or Germany. It's rewritten for your CEFR level so you're not looking up every third word.
Inline vocabulary that actually matters
6–8 words per Brief with English translations right next to them. Not random vocabulary — words that appear in the actual story you're reading.
Audio you can listen to on the U-Bahn
Hochdeutsch audio for every article. At B2+ you can enable optional Berlinerisch dialect highlights so you understand your colleagues and neighbors better.
Behörden-Deutsch because that's where I panic most
A dedicated section in every Brief explaining one bureaucratic term — Anmeldung, Steuererklärung, Bußgeldbescheid — in plain language.
3 minutes with your morning coffee
The whole thing takes about three minutes. Short enough that you actually do it every day. Long enough that you learn something useful.
No gamification, no streak shaming
You don't lose progress if you skip a day. No gems, no leaderboards, no notifications begging you to come back. Just a clean email every morning.
Here's what a real B1 Brief looks like
No mockups. This is the actual format delivered every morning.
Berlin plant strengere Regeln für E-Scooter
Der Berliner Senat hat neue Vorschriften für E-Scooter vorgelegt. Ab nächstem Jahr sollen die Geräte nur noch in bestimmten Zonen parken dürfen. Wer gegen die Regeln verstößt, muss mit einem Bußgeld von bis zu 100 Euro rechnen.
Grammar tip — Separables verb: vor·legen
vorschlagen = vor (prefix) + schlagen (stem). In main clauses the prefix goes to the end: Der Senat schlägt neue Regeln vor.
Behörden-Deutsch — Bußgeldbescheid
Official notice of a fine. If you receive one, you have two weeks to object (Einspruch einlegen) or pay. Keep it — it's proof for your records.
Pricing — no surprises
7-day free trial on every plan. No credit card until you decide to stay.
Monthly
- Daily Brief email
- A1–C2 adaptive levels
- Audio playback
- Vocabulary tooltips
- Behörden-Deutsch track
- Cancel anytime
Annual
- Everything in Monthly
- Save 34% vs monthly
- Weekly Kulturinsight
- Progress dashboard
- Priority support
Lifetime
- Everything in Annual
- Pay once, keep forever
- All future features
- Berlinerisch audio at B2+
- Compound-noun deep dives
Questions you probably have
Is this just another Duolingo clone?
No. Duolingo teaches generic vocabulary with no real-world context. BerlinBrief uses actual Berlin news stories rewritten to your level, with inline explanations for the words that matter in real life — not 'the apple is red'.
Do I need a credit card for the trial?
No. The 7-day trial only needs your email. We only ask for payment if you decide to stay after the trial.
What if my German level is not B1?
You pick your CEFR level at signup (A1–C2). The same news story is rewritten for each level, so A2 readers get simpler sentences and more vocabulary help, while C1 readers get the full article with minimal hand-holding.
Is this a real product or a side project that will die in 3 months?
It's a real product. It has been running daily since May 2026. The founder is a Berlin-based expat who uses it every morning and is committed to keeping it alive because he needs it too.
Can I cancel easily?
Yes. One click from your dashboard or email footer. No retention calls, no guilt trips.
What does Behörden-Deutsch actually cover?
Every Brief includes one bureaucratic term explained in plain language — things like Anmeldung, Steuererklärung, Bußgeldbescheid, Wohngeld, Umzugsmeldung. The kind of vocabulary that makes official letters less terrifying.
If you're stuck at A2, this might be the nudge you need
7-day free trial. No credit card. Cancel anytime. If it doesn't help, just unsubscribe and move on — no hard feelings.