Consonants unlike English
Most German consonants sound as in English. A handful do not, and they are the ones that give an English accent away. Learn these ten and you will sound German from the first day.
W, V and Z
w = "v"
like English v
A few words borrowed from other languages keep an English-like v: Vase, Klavier (piano).
J and S
j = "y"
like English y
The end of a word
-b -d -g
said p, t, k
The German R
r
from the throat
H and TH
h
after a vowel: silent, the vowel long
All ten at a glance
| Letters | Sound | Words |
|---|---|---|
| w | English v | Wasser water · wie how |
| v | English f | Vater father · vier four |
| z, tz | ts | Zeit time · Katze cat |
| j | English y | ja yes · Jahr year |
| s before a vowel | a buzzing z | Sonne sun · sieben seven |
| b, d, g at the end | p, t, k | gelb yellow · Hund dog · Tag day |
| r at the start | in the throat | rot red · Rose |
| -r, -er at the end | a soft ah | hier here · Mutter mother |
| h after a vowel | silent: the vowel is long | Sohn son · gehen to go |
| th | just t | Theater |
Practice
Listen: question 1
Press Play and listen.
How does the z sound in the word Daniel said?
Hint
Solution
z is ts: Zug (train) is tsook.
Listen: question 2
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What sound is at the end of the word Vicki said?
Hint
Solution
At the end of a word d hardens to t: Hund is hoont.
Listen: question 3
Press Play and listen.
The word Daniel said means four. How does its first letter sound?
Hint
Solution
v is usually f: vier is feer.
How do you say Wasser (water)?
Hint
Solution
German w is English v: VAH-sah.
How does Mutter (mother) end?
Hint
Solution
-er at the end is a soft ah: MOO-tah.
Next: writing German: capital letters for every noun, ß or ss, and how to type ä, ö, ü and ß.