Sproochentest speaking (A2): topics, picture description and how to prepare

Ten minutes, two parts, five everyday topics and one picture: what the speaking part of the Sproochentest asks, how it is marked, and model sentences for every topic — real Luxembourgish from the LOD dictionary, read by native speakers.

Updated · 5 min read

The Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg, where the nationality law is voted
Photo: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 3.0, resized.

For most people applying for Luxembourg nationality, the Sproochentest is the language step. It is organised by the Institut national des langues Luxembourg (INL) and has two parts on the same half-day: speaking at level A2 and listening at level B1. This guide covers the speaking part — the one most candidates worry about, and the one where preparation pays off fastest. The listening part has its own guide, and the whole procedure is explained in our Sproochentest guide (in French).

In short: about 10 minutes, in two parts of about five minutes — a conversation on one of two proposed topics, then the description of a picture chosen from three. A2 means simple, clear sentences about everyday life: nobody expects perfect grammar (INL).

How the speaking part works

  1. Conversation (about 5 minutes). The examiner proposes two topics and you choose one — family, housing, work, leisure or life in Luxembourg. They ask questions; you answer and keep the conversation going.
  2. Picture description (about 5 minutes). You choose one of three pictures, describe it, and talk with the examiner about what it shows and what it reminds you of.

According to the INL, the examiner looks at the range of your vocabulary, fluency, clarity, grammar, coherence and your ability to interact. The INL publishes a free mock exam — sample interviews, sample picture descriptions and the assessment grid — on its Sproochentest page. Start there.

How you pass

The rule is in Article 15 of the nationality law: you need at least half the points in speaking. If you fall short, listening can make up for it — you pass when the average of the two parts, rounded up, reaches half the points. A strong listening result can rescue a nervous speaking test.

Topic 1 — family

Who is in your family, where they live, what they do. You need sinn and hunn, the possessives and pronouns, and jobs without an article (*hatt ass Infirmière*).

Eis zwee Meedercher sinn Zwillingen.

Literally: Our two girls are twins.

Meng Niess ass Infirmière.

Literally: My niece is a nurse.

Ech hu Famill an der Schwäiz.

Literally: I have family in Switzerland.

Meaning: hu — hunn before F, by the n-rule.

Mäi Monni schwätzt fléissend véier Sproochen.

Literally: My uncle speaks four languages fluently.

Meaning: schwätzen — the verb for which languages you speak.

Topic 2 — where you live

Your flat or house, your commune, how long you have lived there, your neighbours. Use wunnen (to live somewhere) and *zënter* or *scho … Joer* for how long.

Mir wunne scho sechs Joer an dëser Gemeng.

Literally: We've been living in this commune for six years.

Meaning: Present tense + *scho* for something still going on — no perfect needed.

Meng Wunneng ass um drëtte Stack.

Literally: My flat is on the third floor.

Mir hunn eng Wunneng mat zwou Schlofkummeren.

Literally: We have a flat with two bedrooms.

Wéinst den héije Präisser ass et haut schwéier, eng Wunneng ze fannen.

Literally: Because of the high prices it is hard to find a flat these days.

Meaning: A sentence that shows opinion and reason — examiners like that. fannen = to find.

Topic 3 — work

What you do, where, how you get there, what you like about it. schaffen (to work), fueren (to go by vehicle), huelen (to take: the bus, the train).

Ech huelen den Zuch fir op d'Aarbecht.

Literally: I take the train to work.

Ech kommen haut mam Auto op d'Aarbecht.

Literally: I'm coming to work by car today.

Hien huet vill Freed u senger Aarbecht.

Literally: He really enjoys his work.

Vill Leit wunnen um Land a fueren all Dag an d'Stad schaffen.

Literally: Many people live in the country and go into town to work every day.

Topic 4 — leisure

Sport, music, reading, what you did last weekend. Prepare a few sentences in the past tense — *ech sinn …gaangen, ech hunn …gemaach*.

Mäi Bouf spillt Tennis a mäi Meedche Fussball.

Literally: My son plays tennis and my daughter football.

Meaning: spillen.

Beim Kaffi liesen ech gären d'Zeitung.

Literally: I like reading the paper over coffee.

Meaning: gären = gladly: the Luxembourgish way to say you *like* doing something. liesen.

Meng Hobbyen hunn all eppes mat Musek ze dinn.

Literally: My hobbies all have something to do with music.

Nom Mëttegiesse gi mer en Tour trëppelen.

Literally: After lunch we go for a walk.

Topic 5 — life in Luxembourg

Why you came, what you like, the languages you use, why you are learning Luxembourgish. This is the moment for a sentence you have prepared well.

Ech sinn an engem Cours, fir Lëtzebuergesch ze léieren.

Literally: I'm on a course to learn Luxembourgish.

Meaning: fir … ze + infinitive: the purpose clause from word order. léieren.

Ech huelen de Bus fir op d'Gare.

Literally: I take the bus to the station.

Meaning: huelen — to take: the bus, the train, a coffee.

The picture description

Describe first, then interpret. Say what you see, where it is, what people are doing (present tense), then guess — *vläicht* (maybe), *ech mengen, datt …* (I think that…, verb at the end). Finish by linking the picture to your own life: *Dat erënnert mech un …*.

Op der Spillplaz ware vill Famille mat klenge Kanner.

Literally: There were lots of families with small children at the playground.

Riets niewent der Kierch ass eng Bäckerei.

Literally: To the right of the church there's a bakery.

Meaning: riets (right), lénks (left), hannen (at the back), an der Mëtt (in the middle).

Hannen am Gaart steet en Äppelbam.

Literally: At the back of the garden there's an apple tree.

An der Mëtt vun der Stad steet e grousst Denkmal.

Literally: In the middle of the town there's a big monument.

Meaning: steet — stoen, to stand: things in a picture “stand” or “lie” (leien).

Et ware vläicht 30 Leit am Sall.

Literally: There were maybe 30 people in the hall.

When you don't understand

Asking is allowed — and it counts as interaction. Learn two or three ways to ask, politely with Dir: see excuse me and sorry and please.

Pardon? (Wat hutt Der gesot?)

Literally: Sorry? (What did you say?)

Schwätz e bësse méi haart, wannechgelift, ech verstinn dech net!

Literally: Speak a little louder, please — I can't understand you!

Meaning: This is the du form. To the examiner: *Schwätzt e bësse méi haart, wannechgelift.*

How to prepare

  1. Do the INL mock exam first, so you know the real format — INL Sproochentest page.
  2. Write ten true sentences per topic, using present and past, and say them aloud until they come without notes.
  3. Learn the core verbs: the 100 everyday verbs and the modals — *ech wëll, ech muss, ech kann*.
  4. Describe one picture a day — a photo on your phone is enough — for two minutes, timed.
  5. Speak with a real person every week. A native teacher can run the exam with you: on Edluxio you book 1-to-1 online lessons with independent teachers, among them native Luxembourgish speakers in Luxembourg — start with a trial lesson, refunded in full if the first one isn't right for you.
  6. Follow a plan: our 60-day Sproochentest preparation plan puts all of this into a calendar.

The Sproochentest vocabulary, 16 words at a time

16Word's Sproochentest path covers the exam's everyday topics with native LOD recordings and a Blocks game between answers — from any of 36 languages. Free to start.

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Questions about the Sproochentest speaking part

How long is the Sproochentest speaking part?

About 10 minutes, in two parts of about five minutes: a conversation on a topic you choose from two, then the description of a picture you choose from three.

What topics come up in the Sproochentest?

Everyday topics such as family, housing, work, leisure and life in Luxembourg. You choose one of two proposed topics for the conversation.

What level is the Sproochentest speaking part?

A2 — simple, clear sentences about everyday life. Listening is tested at B1.

How is the Sproochentest passed?

With at least half the points in speaking, or — if speaking falls short — when the average of speaking and listening, rounded up, reaches half the points (Article 15 of the nationality law).

Is there an official practice test?

Yes. The INL publishes sample interviews, sample picture descriptions, a listening sample with answer key and the assessment grid on its Sproochentest page.

Official sources

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