BASIC GERMAN PRONUNCIATION

German uses an alphabet similar to our own. Many of the letters are pronounced the same, but some are different. The following is a brief list of some of the major differences. You will also see the following marks in German: ä, ö, ü, ß

Consonants

1. 'J' is always pronounced like 'y' in the English word 'yes'.

2. 'S' by itself (unless it is at the end of a word), is always pronounced like 'z' in the English word 'zoo'. Two 's' or a single 's' at the end of a word, sound like 's' in the English word 'sister'.

3. 'V' is always pronounced like 'f' in the English word 'father'.

4. 'W' is always pronounced like 'v' in the English word 'vest'.

5. 'Z' is always pronounced like 'ts' in the English word 'cats'.

6. 'ß' sounds is pronounced like 's' in the English word 'sun'. Nowadays people write this sound with two 's'.

Consonant combinations

1. 'Sch' is always pronounced like 'sh' in the English word 'shine'.

2. 'St' and 'Sp' at the beginning of words are pronounced like 'sht' and 'shp' in English.

3. 'Th' is always pronounced like 't' in the English word 'today'.

Vowels

1. 'Ä' is always pronounced like 'ay' in the English words 'bay', 'say', and 'day'.

2. 'Ö' is pronounced similar to 'oo' in the English words 'book', 'look', and 'took'. Your lips are a little bit tighter though in German when you make this sound.

3. 'Ü' is pronounced similar to 'ue' in the English words 'blue', 'glue', and 'true'. Your lips are a little bit tighter though in German when you make this sound.

Vowel combinations

1. 'Au' is always pronounced like 'ow' in the English words 'now', 'cow', and 'wow'.

2. 'Ei' is always pronounced like 'igh' in the English words 'sight', 'night', and 'light'.

3. 'Ie' is always pronounced like 'ea' in the English words 'ear', 'fear', and 'eat'.