German Pronunciation Guide

German Pronunciation Guide

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A a, Ä ä, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g,
H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, Ö ö P p,
Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, Ü ü, V v,
W w, X x, Y y, Z z

The German alphabet consists of the same 26 characters as in English. There is also the addition of a diacritical mark, the "umlaut." The Gothic or German script (Fraktur) slowly gave way to the Latin script (Antiqua) after Gutenberg invented movable type. After World War II, the use of Fraktur was given up almost entirely.
German words are generally accented on the first syllable. Exceptions include words of foreign derivation (Changier, Quadrille) and certain unaccented prefixes: "be-," "ent-," ver-," "ge-," are the most typical.
German uses a guttural "r," similar to that used by French; not a growling "r" as in English.
Letters not listed are pronounced approximately as in English.
--Dick Oakes

A, a - a as in father

A, a - (short a) a as in about (followed by a long consonant, two consonants, or a doubled consonant)

E, e - e as in grey; e as in let

I, i - i as in machine; i as in pin

O, o - o as in note

O, o - (short o) o as in north (followed by a long consonant, two consonants, or a doubled consonant)

U, u - u as in duke

U, u - (short u) u as in put (followed by a long consonant, two consonants, or a doubled consonant)

b - p as in tap when in final position

C, c - c ("ts") as in dance

d - t as in pat when in final position

g - k as in black when in final position (except -ig is pronounced -ich)

J, j - y as in yes (the sound of j in jack is not found in German)

S, s - z as in zip before vowels; s as in sit in all other positions

V, v - f as in far (as English v in foreign words only: television)

W, w - v as in vim

Y, y - oo as in foot; also ue as in gruel (as English y in foreign words only: gymnasium)

Z, z - ts as in bits

OTHER SYMBOLS AND DIFFERENCES:

Ä, ä - a as in bake

Ö ö - ur as in burn (approximate - protrude the lips as if to whistle)

Ü, ü - e as in let (approximate - protrude the lips as if to whistle)

Ch, ch - ch as in loch (gutteral kh)

Chs - x as in box when part of the word stem

Ck - ck s in block

Ei, ei - i as in mine

Ie, ie - ie as in belief

Ss, ss - ss as in lesson

Sch, sch - sch as in schottische (always pronounced with rounded lips)

Sp, sp - shp when in initial position

St, st - sht when in initial pos

tion - pronounced tsion

Tz, tz - tz as in quartz

Gn, gn - gn as in egnogg

Kn, kn - kn as in acknowledge

Pf, pf - pf as in helpful

Ps, ps - ps as in lopsided

h - after a consonant is not pronounced; there is no th sound

Copyright © 2007 by Dick Oakes

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A, a	- a as in father
A, a	- (short a) a as in about (followed by a long consonant, two consonants, or a doubled consonant)
E, e	- e as in grey; e as in let
I, i	- i as in machine; i as in pin
O, o	- o as in note
O, o	- (short o) o as in north (followed by a long consonant, two consonants, or a doubled consonant)
U, u	- u as in duke
U, u	- (short u) u as in put (followed by a long consonant, two consonants, or a doubled consonant)

b	- p as in tap when in final position
C, c	- c ("ts") as in dance
d	- t as in pat when in final position
g	- k as in black when in final position (except -ig is pronounced -ich)
J, j	- y as in yes (the sound of j in jack is not found in German)
S, s	- z as in zip before vowels; s as in sit in all other positions
V, v	- f as in far (as English v in foreign words only: television)
W, w	- v as in vim
Y, y	- oo as in foot; also ue as in gruel (as English y in foreign words only: gymnasium)
Z, z	- ts as in bits

OTHER SYMBOLS AND DIFFERENCES:

Ä, ä	- a as in bake
Ö ö	- ur as in burn (approximate - protrude the lips as if to whistle)
Ü, ü	- e as in let (approximate - protrude the lips as if to whistle)
Ch, ch	- ch as in loch (gutteral kh)
Chs	- x as in box when part of the word stem
Ck	- ck s in block
Ei, ei	- i as in mine
Ie, ie	- ie as in belief
Ss, ss	- ss as in lesson
Sch, sch	- sch as in schottische (always pronounced with rounded lips)
Sp, sp	- shp when in initial position
St, st	- sht when in initial pos
tion	- pronounced tsion
Tz, tz	- tz as in quartz
Gn, gn	- gn as in egnogg
Kn, kn	- kn as in acknowledge
Pf, pf	- pf as in helpful
Ps, ps	- ps as in lopsided

h	- after a consonant is not pronounced; there is no th sound