The sounds of German
German pronunciation is more consistent than English. Once you learn the rules, you can pronounce almost any word correctly — even words you've never seen before. This is one of German's hidden advantages: unlike English with its chaotic spelling, German rewards learners who master its sound system.
The alphabet
German uses the Latin alphabet plus four special characters. If you already know the English alphabet, you're most of the way there. The key differences are in how certain letters are pronounced — particularly the vowels and a few consonants like "w" (which sounds like English "v") and "v" (which sounds like English "f"). Master these differences and you'll sound noticeably more authentic:
| Letter | Name | Approximate sound |
|---|---|---|
| A | ah | like "a" in "father" |
| B | beh | like English "b" |
| C | tseh | usually "ts" before e/i, "k" elsewhere |
| D | deh | like English "d" |
| E | eh | like "e" in "bed" |
| F | eff | like English "f" |
| G | geh | like "g" in "go" |
| H | hah | like English "h" |
| I | ee | like "ee" in "see" |
| J | yot | like "y" in "yes" |
| K | kah | like English "k" |
| L | ell | like English "l" |
| M | emm | like English "m" |
| N | enn | like English "n" |
| O | oh | like "o" in "or" |
| P | peh | like English "p" |
| Q | koo | like English "k" (always with "u") |
| R | err | guttural, from the throat |
| S | ess | like "z" before vowels, "s" elsewhere |
| T | teh | like English "t" |
| U | oo | like "oo" in "moon" |
| V | fow | like "f" in "father" |
| W | veh | like "v" in "very" |
| X | iks | like English "x" |
| Y | üpsilon | like German "ü" |
| Z | tsett | like "ts" in "cats" |
Special characters
German has four additional characters that don't exist in English. The three umlauts (a, o, u with two dots above) change the vowel sound, while the eszett (ß) represents a double "s" sound. You'll encounter these constantly, so learning them now will pay dividends throughout your German journey:
| Letter | Name | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Ä ä | a-umlaut | like "e" in "bed" |
| Ö ö | o-umlaut | round your lips for "o", say "e" |
| Ü ü | u-umlaut | round your lips for "u", say "ee" |
| ß | eszett / sharp S | like "ss" |
Vowel sounds
German distinguishes between short and long vowels, and this distinction changes word meanings. Unlike English, where vowel length is often inconsistent, German has clear rules. Short vowels are typically followed by double consonants or consonant clusters; long vowels are followed by single consonants or the letter "h". Getting this right is essential for being understood.
Short vowels
Short vowels are clipped and quick. You can usually spot them because they're followed by double consonants or consonant clusters. Keep these vowels tight and brief:
| Vowel | Example | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| a | Mann (man) | like "u" in "cup" |
| e | Bett (bed) | like "e" in "bet" |
| i | mit (with) | like "i" in "bit" |
| o | Gott (God) | like "o" in "lot" |
| u | Mutter (mother) | like "oo" in "foot" |
Long vowels
Long vowels are held for approximately twice as long as short vowels. They're often marked by a following "h" (which is silent) or by being followed by just a single consonant. When you see "ah", "eh", "oh", or "uh", the "h" is your signal to stretch the vowel:
| Vowel | Example | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| a, ah, aa | Vater (father) | like "a" in "father" |
| e, eh, ee | Meer (sea) | like "ay" in "say" |
| i, ih, ie | Liebe (love) | like "ee" in "see" |
| o, oh, oo | Sohn (son) | like "o" in "go" |
| u, uh | Schuh (shoe) | like "oo" in "moon" |
Umlauts
Umlauts are vowels with two dots above them (a, o, u). They're not decorative — they represent completely different sounds from their unmodified counterparts. The umlaut "shifts" the vowel forward in your mouth. Many English speakers struggle with these at first, but with practice they become natural. The key is to think of them as entirely separate vowels, not variations:
| Umlaut | Example | How to produce it |
|---|---|---|
| ä | Männer (men) | like "e" in "bed" |
| ö | schön (beautiful) | say "e" with rounded lips |
| ü | grün (green) | say "ee" with rounded lips |
Diphthongs
Diphthongs are vowel combinations that glide from one sound to another within a single syllable. German has three main diphthongs, and they're completely consistent — unlike English, where "ough" can be pronounced five different ways. Learn these three patterns and you'll never be surprised:
| Combination | Example | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| ei, ai | mein (my) | like "eye" |
| au | Haus (house) | like "ow" in "cow" |
| eu, äu | neu (new) | like "oy" in "boy" |
Consonant sounds
Most German consonants sound similar to their English counterparts, which is good news for English speakers. However, a few key consonants differ significantly, and these differences are immediately noticeable to German ears. The German "r", the two "ch" sounds, and the "w/v" swap are the main hurdles. Master these and your German will sound dramatically more authentic:
The German "R"
The German "r" is one of the most distinctive sounds in the language. Unlike the English "r" (made with the tongue), the standard German "r" is pronounced in the throat, similar to a soft gargle. This is called the "uvular r" and is used in standard German (Hochdeutsch). At the end of words or syllables, the "r" often softens to an "uh" sound — so "Vater" (father) sounds more like "fah-tuh" than "fah-ter":
- rot (red) — guttural "r" at the start
- Vater (father) — sounds like "fah-tuh"
CH sounds
The "ch" combination is perhaps the trickiest sound for English speakers because it has no equivalent in English and comes in two varieties. Which one you use depends on the vowel that comes before it. This rule is absolute — once you learn it, you'll always know which "ch" to use:
After a, o, u, au — A harsh, throaty sound (like clearing your throat)
- Buch (book), noch (still), auch (also)
After e, i, ä, ö, ü, consonants — A soft, hissing sound (like a cat)
- ich (I), nicht (not), möchte (would like)
Other consonant patterns
Beyond the "r" and "ch", several other consonant patterns differ from English. These are consistent rules, so once you learn them, you can apply them to any new word you encounter. Pay particular attention to "sp" and "st" at the beginning of words — they sound like "shp" and "sht", which often surprises English speakers:
| Pattern | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| sch | "sh" | Schule (school) |
| sp- | "shp" | spielen (to play) |
| st- | "sht" | Straße (street) |
| -ig | "ish" | wichtig (important) |
| qu | "kv" | Quelle (source) |
| v | "f" | Vater (father) |
| w | "v" | Wasser (water) |
| z | "ts" | Zeit (time) |
Stress patterns
Word stress in German is more predictable than in English. The general rule is simple: stress the first syllable. This applies to most native German words and makes pronunciation much easier once you internalise the pattern. There are exceptions — mainly words with certain prefixes and foreign loanwords — but the first-syllable rule will serve you well in the vast majority of cases:
- Ar·beit (work)
- Frei·heit (freedom)
- Lie·be (love)
Exceptions include:
- Words with inseparable prefixes: bekom·men (to receive), erzäh·len (to tell)
- Foreign loanwords: Student, Hotel, Musik
Practice words
Now that you understand the sound system, practice with these essential words. These are among the most common words you'll use in German, so getting their pronunciation right from the start will build good habits. Say each word aloud multiple times, paying attention to the vowel lengths, the consonant sounds you've learned, and the stress patterns:
| German | English | Phonetic hint |
|---|---|---|
| Guten Tag | Good day | GOO-ten tahk |
| Danke | Thank you | DAHN-kuh |
| Bitte | Please/You're welcome | BIT-tuh |
| Ja | Yes | yah |
| Nein | No | nine |
| Entschuldigung | Excuse me | ent-SHOOL-dee-goong |
| Auf Wiedersehen | Goodbye | owf VEE-der-zay-en |