FAQ Vocabulary Trainer

Here you can see all the questions and answers that our users – and possibly also you yourself – have asked (and had answered) about the Vocabulary Trainer. Not found what you are looking for? No problem! Just get in touch directly with our customer service department at software-support@pons.de.

PONS Vocabulary Trainer in general

What are the features of PONS Vocabulary trainer?

Free practice with our basic version - always completely free of ads.
Supports over 20 languages from Bulgarian to Czech - German, French, Spanish and Italian too!
Practice anytime and anywhere on different devices - whether on your smartphone or computer.
Clearly organized vocabulary by lessons that you can either buy or create yourself.
Import vocabulary easily from the online dictionary or an Excel file.
Good bye boring vocabulary tests! Practice playfully with our varied exercises such as scratch card, matchmaker, hangman and alphabet soup.
Learn effectively and sustainably with our 7-step plan.
Prepare for a vocabulary test at school with our separate learning mode.
Share your vocabulary with others via study groups.
Get rewarded for your practice! Collect points and compare yourself with other users - this makes learning even more fun!
Let your app remind you to study and track your progress - so you can get there faster.

Can I take my vocabulary with me to the new version?

Yes, of course, just sign in to the new version of the app with your PONS user name. This triggers the migration of your vocabulary into the new database, which will take up to 15 minutes. Once this data migration has been completed you are good to go. Unfortunately, we cannot take over your learning progress, as it is not compatible with our new concept of the 7-stage plan.

I have signed in, my vocabulary is there, but where is my learning progress?

With the new concept of the new 7-stage plan, we were unfortunately unable to adopt the old learning status of your vocabulary. Please see it as an incentive to review the vocabulary again and really get it into long-term memory!

I have logged in, but my previous vocabulary are not there!

In this case, we would need to clarify a few things:

Did you sync the old app version before the migration, as it was described?
Did the data migration go through in the new version?
Did you try logging out once and logging in again?
Did you set the language direction correctly and check the lessons under "Learn"?

If the vocabulary does not appear, please contact trainer@pons.com.

What is the difference between the app and the web version?

Basically, there are more functions and features available in the app. For example, there is the vocabulary store to buy vocabulary packs the oral query mode and a separate section for Ponsi to equip him to be the Frog King.

These functions are missing in the web version, but you can import vocabulary files. You usually have them stored on your PC anyway. It is also possible to print out all vocabulary of a lesson as flash cards (PDF) or to export a lesson as an Excel file.

How can I practice other languages besides English-German?

Please set the languages accordingly via the flags at the top. Then go to Learn and directly to one of the lessons to start your training.

The free trial lesson is currently only available for German. If you tap on "Start training" on the start page, you always end up in the trial lesson "Hobbies" in English-German.

How can I type in special symbols (accents, …)?

In the app: Activate the keyboard of the required languages via the device settings of your smartphone. When entering vocabulary or solutions, simply select the appropriate keyboard. The accents and most common special characters are also available in the standard keyboard if you long press or pull down the most similar letter (e.g. for "e" there are also "é" and "ê").

On the computer: Accents are available on the standard keyboard. For other characters, it's best to open the Character Map (for Windows in the Start menu under Windows Accessories). Otherwise, you can also remember the Alt codes, e.g. ALT+135 for ç or ALT+164 for ñ

What does ‘language direction’ mean?

The PONS Vocabulary Trainer knows which half of the dictionary you are using – whether you are looking up words in your native language or in a foreign language. The words are then saved in the respective language direction (e.g. English-German or German-English) and the lessons are strictly divided in both these directions. This helps you to structure your words. You can train them in both directions, and it is also possible to swap source and target language of a lesson.

Registering in the PONS Vocabulary Trainer

How do I register myself in the PONS Vocabulary Trainer?

Just use your PONS user account. If you don’t have a user account yet, you can register using a username and password selected by yourself. Please use a valid email address in order that your password can be sent to you if you forget it at a later date. You can get started as soon as you have activated your user account, then its practise, practise, practise …!

I have forgotten my password. What can I do?

Under Sign in on pons.com, just tap on the link ‘Forgotten password?’, then enter the email address from your user account on the next page. Instructions as to how to change your password will then be sent to this address.

How can I change my password?

Just click on the pencil at the top right of the "Account" page of the vocabulary trainer. There you can edit your personal data and change your password.

Using the PONS Vocabulary Trainer

How can I add new words?

You can add new words either by hand or take words over directly from the PONS Online Dictionary - just tap the "+" in the vocabulary view of a lesson.

If you use the dictionary, it works like this: tap on the plus icon (+) in your dictionary following the translation and then on ‘Reserve for the Vocabulary Trainer’. The word is then saved in a list with other words from the dictionary that have already been collected. The words can then all be imported at once into the Vocabulary Trainer, you have to select the language and the target unit. If you have not yet set up any units in the language, the entries will be saved in the standard unit ‘My words’.

You can also import words in an Excel format. You can find this option "Import lesson" in the web version under "Learn" and the + button. On the next page you can choose a title for the new lesson and the language direction. A sample file and the description on the right shows you the required table format.

How can I change or edit words?

Select the lesson for the words you want to edit and tap on the word.

How can I delete words?

To delete vocabulary, select a lesson. Now swipe the vocabulary to be deleted to the left and then click on "Delete". Attention: the deletion cannot be reversed!

I have added words in one language direction. Can I also save them in the other direction?

Select the option ‘Swap source and target language’ to swap a lesson from one language direction to another.

Important: This is in order to help you manage your words. You can always practise your words in both directions, it doesn’t matter where they are saved.

Can I print my words out or export a lesson?

If you like holding paper in your hands or prefer to get someone else to check you know your words, you can print out all the words on flash cards (in PDF format). To do this, go to the options of a lesson in the web version (the three dots at the top right).

For custom lessons, it is also possible to export them as a table (Excel).

Can I also use words from other users?

For the time being, the vocabulary trainer no longer offers the possibility to publish your lessons to others or to select one of the public lessons for yourself. Lessons can only be shared within study groups.

All those who have previously used a public lesson will still find it in their account (as one of your own lessons).

PONS Vocabulary Trainer exercises

Which exercises are there in the PONS Vocabulary Trainer?

We have divided the vocabulary training into 3 steps.

1. Memorize - here you memorize new vocabulary using flashcards or scratch cards.

2. Practice - here you practice your vocabulary with various exercises that become more and more difficult.

Multiple choice: choose the right answer from three options
Matchmaker: match the vocabulary to the correct translation
Listen!: listen to the vocabulary and write down the translation.
Hangman: type the correct letters in the correct order. Warning: you can only make 5 mistakes!
Alphabet soup: type in the translation using all the letters of the word to help you.

3. Test - here you test your knowledge using flashcards or the writing test.

Do I have to do all the exercises, or can I choose which exercises to do and leave some exercises out?

There is the possibility in the PONS Vocabulary Trainer to choose which exercise you want to practise your words with.

What happens when I don’t know a word yet and make a mistake in the exercise?

If you don’t know the right answer, you can have the answer shown. You then continue practising with the next word. In the following exercise of the same training session, all words will be asked for, it doesn’t matter if you knew them or not.

I would also like to learn the words in the other direction. How does that work?

You can choose the language direction you are asked for before each training session starts.

Where is the "flash card mode"?

This mode from the old version of the app is now integrated into the entire training process, but can also be activated directly via the lesson individually (in the selection under Test - flashcards). There you’ll find the two buttons.

Knowing it, the vocabulary item moves one learning level further, unknown vocabulary items are practiced again afterwards (with a randomly selected exercise type) and can then be tested again. Unrecognized vocabulary items remain in the same learning level.

Learning targets & training sessions

How does the new 7-stage plan work?

Each vocabulary goes through 6 stages before it reaches stage 7 and thus your long-term memory. So you repeat your vocabulary systematically over a longer period of time. Whenever you were able to translate the vocabulary correctly in a test (not in the exercises), it goes to the next higher stage and then waits for the next test for a few days. The time interval increases at each stage according to a special, scientifically based formula. The app will let you know as soon as vocabulary for the next level is available. On the home screen you get a clear display of how much vocabulary you have at which level and can then train it in a targeted manner.

Here are the time intervals:

Vocabulary is at level 1 and can be taken to level 2 on the same day by testing.

Vocabulary is at level 2 and can be taken to level 3 after 1 day by testing.

Vocabulary is at level 3 and can be taken to level 4 after 3 days by testing.

Vocabulary is at level 4 and can be taken to level 5 after 8 days by testing.

Vocabulary is at level 5 and can be taken to level 6 after 1 month by testing.

Vocabulary is at level 6 and can be taken to level 7 after 3 months by testing.

What is the target?

The aim of your training is to get all the vocabulary into stage 7, i.e. to really anchor it in the long-term memory.

How many words can be practised in each training session (maximum)?

It's up to you to decide whether you want to train in packs of 10 or 50, or whether you want to go through all the vocabulary at once.

Can I reset my progress?

In each lesson, there is the option "Reset progress" which sets all vocabulary items within that lesson to stage 1. So you can start over!

Study groups

What are study groups?

Study groups consist of several trainer users and share at least one vocabulary section. This way, for example, a teacher can share vocabulary with the class or you can learn together with your friends on the same vocabulary, which only needs to be saved once and not by everyone separately.

Please note that only lessons you have created yourself may be shared and not purchased ones.

How can I start a study group?

You can start a group using the ‘Study group’ link. You can select the members of your group using their username or their email address and invite them to join your group. You can also generate a code that you simply give to everyone who should/can join the study group.

In the options of each self-created lesson you will find the item "Share lesson with study group". Click here and you will get to a new page where you can make all the settings you want. Before you can do this, however, you must belong to at least one learning group or have created one.

Technical questions concerning the PONS Vocabulary Trainer

The audio pronunciation does not work. What can I do?

Can't hear anything? Please check the volume settings for media playback.

A certain language does not work? The audio language packs are downloaded in the background if they are not already present. Please just start the audio function again or restart the app completely, then the audio pronunciation will work.

If that doesn't help, you have to install the language data manually.

This is how you download a new language on your iPhone:
Settings - Accessibility - Spoken content - Voices - Select and download language.
Then please restart the Trainer app.

To download a new language on your Android phone:
Settings - General - Text-to-speech - Settings of the selected service (in this case Speech Services by Google) - Install voice data - Select and download language.
Please then restart the Trainer app.

What can I do if I forget my password?

Under Sign in on pons.com, just tap on the link ‘Forgotten password?’, then enter the email address from your user account on the next page. Instructions as to how to change your password will then be sent to this address.

I have a new tablet or smartphone. Can I still use my app?

If you have a new tablet or smartphone, you can download the PONS Vocabulary Trainer again. Sign in to your PONS account and you can continue practicing with your current learning level. Changing from Android to iOS is also no problem.

Does the Vocabulary Trainer also work on tablets or iPads?

The vocabulary trainer app is designed for smartphones. If you have a tablet, you can use the browser version. Just go to www.pons.com, sign in and tap on "Vocabulary trainer".

Which operating system has my smartphone got?

The PONS Vocabulary Trainer app is available for smartphones for two operating systems:

iOS: is used by Apple smartphones and tablets. For example, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch.
Android: is used by smartphone companies such as Samsung, LG, Xiaomi or Sony.

Questions about PONS Vocabulary Trainer Premium

How do I register on pons.com? How do I log in?

In order to use PONS Vocabulary Trainer Premium, you must first register on pons.com under "Sign in". Enter a username, your email address and a password. You will then be sent an activating email. Click on the activation link in the mail to complete your registration. Once you have registered you can enter your codes for our premium products.

Why doesn’t my code for PONS Vocabulary Trainer Premium work?

Please check if you have entered the code correctly. A code is normally a combination of 8 letters and numbers. The code unlocks the PONS Vocabulary Trainer Premium for iOS, Android and online variations. It can be used four times. If the code is not accepted please send an email to kundenservice@pons.de .

Why do I get the message that the code I typed in is invalid?

The code is either out of date or it has been used by too many users. If the product you bought was not sealed, please contact the bookshop where you bought the product. If the product was sealed and the code was still not accepted, please send an email to kundenservice@pons.de .

Can I use the code directly in the app?

No. Activation of the PONS Vocabulary Trainer Premium only works via:

What does PONS do with my account information?

Asking for user information within the PONS Vocabulary Trainer is purely to match a customer with their personal premium package. Here you can find the PONS privacy policy. Here you can find details of the terms and conditions use.

How do I find the PONS Vocabulary Trainer app in the app store?

Open the Apple app store on your iPhone or iPad and go to ‘search’. Enter ‘PONS Vocabulary Trainer’ in the search box. The app is found immediately on an iPhone. On an iPad with iOS above 11.x go on ‘filter’ in the top left, then type ‘supported’ and select ‘only iPhone’. The app is then shown in the app store and can be downloaded. On an iPad with iOS 10.3.3 or earlier go on ‘only iPad’ in the top left and change to ‘only iPhone’. The app is then shown in the app store and can be downloaded.