German Alphabet

A a

Pronounced as 'ah', as in 'father'.

B b

Pronounced as 'beh', as in 'bed'.

C c

Pronounced as 'tseh', as in 'tsar' or 'cello'.

D d

Pronounced as 'deh', as in 'dog'.

E e

Pronounced as 'eh', as in 'get' or 'say'.

F f

Pronounced as 'eff', as in 'foot'.

G g

Pronounced as 'geh', as in 'goal'.

H h

Pronounced as 'hah', as in 'hat'.

I i

Pronounced as 'ee', as in 'machine'.

J j

Pronounced as 'yot', as in 'yell'.

K k

Pronounced as 'kah', as in 'king'.

L l

Pronounced as 'ell', as in 'love'.

M m

Pronounced as 'em', as in 'mother'.

N n

Pronounced as 'en', as in 'nose'.

O o

Pronounced as 'oh', as in 'open'.

P p

Pronounced as 'peh', as in 'pen'.

Q q

Always followed by 'u', pronounced as 'koo'.

R r

Pronounced with a uvular trill or fricative.

S s

Voiced as 'z' before vowels, voiceless 's' otherwise.

T t

Pronounced as 'teh', as in 'top'.

U u

Pronounced as 'oo', as in 'flute'.

V v

Usually pronounced as 'f', as in 'Vater'.

W w

Pronounced as 'veh', as in 'vow'.

X x

Pronounced as 'ix', as in 'box'.

Y y

Pronounced as 'ypsilon', as in 'myth'.

Z z

Pronounced as 'tsett', as in 'tsunami'.

Ä ä

Pronounced like 'e' in 'bed'.

Ö ö

Pronounced like 'u' in 'fur'.

Ü ü

Pronounced like 'oo' in 'moon'.

ß

Represents a voiceless 'ss' sound, pronounced 'ess-tsett'.

Diphthongs

Combination of two vowel sounds in the same syllable.

Vowel Length

A vowel is long if doubled, followed by an 'h', or at the end of a syllable.

Consonant Combination 'ch'

Pronounced 'ich-sound' (soft) after certain vowels or 'ach-sound' (hard) after others.

Consonant Combination 'sch'

Pronounced 'sh', as in 'shoe'.

Consonant Combination 'sp'

At the start of a word, pronounced 'shp'.

Consonant Combination 'st'

At the start of a word, pronounced 'sht'.

Consonant Combination 'ck'

Pronounced as a hard 'k'.

Consonant Combination 'ph'

Pronounced as 'f'.