I have researched the best English – German dictionaries online. Overall there is no best dictionary, but which one you like will depend on your preferences and on how advanced you are with learning.
All the dictionaries presented here are available as a mobile app (iOS + Android) and on the web.
Here are the top three dictionaries I have found:
Dict.cc – Free crowdsourced dictionary
This is a free dictionary with over 1M translations. Both the website and app are fast and accessible. If you are looking for more insight than just a simple translation, you can access definitions and directly search a word on further websites (click the ‘i’ button behind a word).
Summary:
- Fast and accessible
- Advanced options to search on further websites
- Free (with advertisements, remove in-app for 0.99 $/ €)
- Offline mode in the mobile app
Linguee – See a word in context
Linguee is great if you are not sure how a word is used. It will display you the word and its translation in different contexts. The examples are taken from websites that have both a German and English site. A great feature is auto-completion, so you will see the translation before you have finished typing the word. I would recommend using Linguee if you are writing a text and are looking to get some more context around it then just a simple translation.
Summary:
- Access the translation and example sentences of how a word is used
- Both reviewed examples and non-reviewed example sentences from the web
- Completely Free (no advertisements)
- Offline mode in the mobile app
Pons Dictionary – Professional dictionary with great audio samples
PONS is a dictionary that has been available for years as a book. It is maintained by a professional publishing company, which increases the reliability of translations. There is also a feature to see usage examples. Overall the strength of this dictionary is the help with pronunciation and a simple interface. They do have professional versions of the dictionary for business use available, these do need to be purchased)
Summary:
- Professionally maintained and reviewed by PONS editors
- Easy access to pronunciation samples through a simple interface
- Free (with advertisements; 2.99 $/€ ad-free)
- Professional dictionaries available for purchase (specific for business, medicine, legal usage)
Don’t forget to pick the right translation
Dictionaries are helpful to extend your vocabulary, look up a word you forgot or get help on the usage of a term. When you are looking up a word in the dictionary, do not just pick the first result. First understand the meaning of the different translations through looking at examples or definitions.