English typists switching to German usually discover one thing fast: their WPM falls off a cliff. German throws umlauts, the ß character, and a completely different keyboard layout at you, so a German typing test measures skills you simply never train in English. This guide covers every special character, the QWERTZ layout, and how to type it all without changing your hardware — plus a one-week plan to rebuild your speed. Before you read on, take a run on the German typing test to get your baseline, or warm up with a monkey typing test in English so you can compare the two.
Why German typing is harder than it looks
Three things make German uniquely demanding. First, the language is longer: German words average more characters than English ones, so you type more keystrokes for the same meaning — compounds like "Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung" are sentences in English. Second, the umlauts (ä, ö, ü) and the ß are not optional decorations; "schon" and "schön" are different words, and typing "fur" instead of "für" is a real spelling error. Third, German-speaking countries use QWERTZ, not QWERTY — two of your most-used keys have moved. Together, these differences explain why even an 80 WPM English typist often scores in the 50s on their first German test.
The special characters you need to master
The full German set is smaller than most learners expect:
- ä ö ü — the three umlauts, extremely common (für, können, schön)
- ß — the "Eszett", used after long vowels (Straße, groß, weiß)
- Capital umlauts (Ä Ö Ü) — required at the start of nouns, since all German nouns are capitalized
That is the whole list. Everything else is the standard alphabet, so your touch typing foundation transfers directly — you only need to train four new keys, not relearn the board. If you have not built that foundation yet, learning touch typing from zero first will make everything below much easier.
The QWERTZ layout, explained
On a German keyboard, the top letter row reads QWERTZ: the Z and Y are swapped compared to the English QWERTY layout you are used to. The umlauts get their own dedicated keys to the right of the home row (ä, ö) and the top row (ü), and the ß sits where the minus key lives on a US keyboard. The practical consequence: your muscle memory for Z and Y is suddenly wrong. Z is one of the most common letters in German (zu, Zeit, zurück), so this swap hits you constantly, not occasionally.
Should you switch layouts? If you type German daily, a physical German keyboard is worth it — every character is one keystroke. For occasional German practice, a software layout switch is enough: enable the German layout in your operating system settings and toggle between layouts with a keyboard shortcut. Just pick one setup and stick with it for at least a month; alternating layouts daily keeps your fingers permanently confused.
How to type umlauts without a German keyboard
On Windows with a US keyboard: enable the US-International layout in language settings. Then press " (quote) and release, then the vowel — " + u gives ü. For ß, press Alt + s with US-International, or hold Alt and type 0223 on the number pad.
On a Mac: press Option + u, release, then the vowel for ü (and ä, ö the same way). For ß, press Option + s.
On a German software layout: dedicated keys handle ä, ö, ü and ß directly — one press each. This is also the layout used in our Spanish typing guide for the ñ key, so the concept is the same.
The keystrokes are easy to memorize; making them automatic is the actual work. That only comes from practice, so schedule short daily sessions on the German typing test and watch the special characters stop slowing you down.
The mistakes that slow every learner down
Hunting for Z. On QWERTZ it sits where Y used to be. Drill "zu, zum, Zeit" until your left pinky finds it blind.
Skipping umlauts to go faster. This is the accuracy killer. Umlauts are part of the words, and dropping them trains a habit you will have to unlearn — the same discipline that works for English applies here, so review our guide on improving typing accuracy before chasing speed.
Forgetting noun capitalization. Every German noun is capitalized, so your Shift key gets far more work than in English. Practice sentences with multiple nouns, not just word lists.
Typing ß as "ss" everywhere. In Switzerland ß is written as ss, but in Germany and Austria it is a distinct character. Train the real keystroke.
A one-week German typing practice plan
- Days 1–2: umlauts only. Type word lists like "für, schön, können, grüßen" until " + vowel feels automatic.
- Days 3–4: add ß and the Z/Y swap. Practice sentences that force all of them — "Zurück zur Straße, grüße sie."
- Days 5–6: full timed runs in German, one minute each. Benchmark against your English score on the English typing test to see the gap close.
- Day 7: a relaxed 3-minute run to lock it in. Compare your German WPM to day 1.
Fifteen minutes a day is enough. And if you want another non-Latin keyboard challenge once German feels easy, the Russian typing test uses the Cyrillic alphabet for a completely different kind of practice. For more on Romance languages, our French typing guide covers accents and the AZERTY layout.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between QWERTY and QWERTZ?
The Y and Z keys are swapped, and the umlauts plus ß get dedicated keys. The swap exists because Z is far more common in German than Y.
How do I type ä, ö, ü on an English keyboard?
Enable the US-International layout on Windows (press " then the vowel) or use Option + u then the vowel on a Mac.
Why is my German WPM lower than my English WPM?
Longer words, umlauts that need two keystrokes on a US keyboard, and the QWERTZ swap all cost time. Most typists start 15–25 WPM lower and close the gap within a few weeks.
What counts as a good German typing speed?
The same scale as English: 40 WPM is average, 60 WPM is good, 80+ is excellent. Professional German typists often exceed 90 WPM because the language rewards fluency.
Do I need a German keyboard to practice?
No. A software layout switch works on any standard keyboard, and the free German typing test runs in your browser with no setup.