Whether you’re sitting in a classroom or looking back on something life taught you the hard way, knowing how to say lesson in German will serve you again and again. From literal learning units to moral takeaways, this is a word that carries educational weight and emotional depth.
The word is die Lektion. It’s feminine, and the plural is die Lektionen. If you’re working on mastering article use, my gender video lesson gives you a fast and clear explanation.
Lektion is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it's perfect for talking about both structured education and real-world insight.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Die Lektion war sehr hilfreich.
The lesson was very helpful.
Accusative:
Ich habe die Lektion schon gemacht.
I’ve already done the lesson.
Dative:
Mit der Lektion hatte ich keine Probleme.
I had no problems with the lesson.
Genitive:
Die Struktur der Lektion ist logisch.
The structure of the lesson is logical.
Real-World Tips for Learners
Lektion typically refers to a defined instructional unit — one part of a textbook, online course, or classroom plan. For example:
eine Lektion lernen – to learn a lesson
eine Lektion vorbereiten – to prepare a lesson
die erste Lektion – the first lesson
die Lektion ist vorbei – the lesson is over
You’ll also see it in moral or emotional contexts:
eine harte Lektion – a hard lesson
jemandem eine Lektion erteilen – to teach someone a lesson
aus einer Lektion lernen – to learn from a lesson
Learners sometimes confuse Lektion with Unterricht — which is broader and means "instruction" or "class" in general. Lektion is more specific: it's the unit or chapter you’re working on. It’s also frequently used in language courses (including this one!).
Beginner dialogue using Lektion:
A: Welche Lektion fandest du am schwersten?
B: Die mit den Dativpräpositionen!
A: Which lesson did you find hardest?
B: The one with the dative prepositions!
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Lektion.
“Welche Lektion hast du nie vergessen — aus der Schule oder dem Leben?”
What’s one lesson you never forgot — from school or from life?
Pause, think, then speak your answer in German using the word Lektion.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say lesson in German — and how die Lektion helps you talk about learning in every sense of the word.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German to keep building your vocabulary — one lesson at a time.
Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Lösung — and see how to express answers and breakthroughs.
Or revisit Luft — and learn the word for breath, tension, and more.