The 3 main words in German language for the word ‘people’ is
1. Leute
Informal term for people. This is the word that exists only in plural.
die Leute
Viele Leute warten auf den Bus.
2. Menschen
Formal term for people. This words refers to ‘human beings’.
der Mensch / die Menschen
Sie hat wenig Geduld mit unhöflichen Menschen.
3. Volk
This is not used quite often and its rather rare. Sometimes refers to nation.
das Volk / die Völker
Dem Deutschen Volke ( -e ending is exception same way as zu Hause)
alle Völker der Welt
When addressing a nationality like german people or american people we won’t use Leute or Menschen.
die Deutschen or das Deutsche Volk
die Amerikaner
Sometimes ‘man’ which literally means they, one, you is used in terms of people.
man sagt, dass…