Das Alphabet

The Alphabet

Like most European languages, the German alphabet is based on Latin letters with minor

exceptions.Each letter or letter-combination in a word is

pronounced separately.

Go to http://www.languageguide.org/im/alpha/de/

to listen to the pronunciation of each letter.

aa [like a in claa [like a in claass]ss]

Ampel (f.), die [traffic light]Ampel (f.), die [traffic light]

beh [like b in beh [like b in bbus]us]

Baum (m.), der [tree]Baum (m.), der [tree]

tseh [ts]tseh [ts]

Celsius (no article) [degree Celsius] Celsius (no article) [degree Celsius]

deh [like d in deh [like d in ddance]ance]

Daum (m.), der [thumb]Daum (m.), der [thumb]

eh [like e in eh [like e in eelephant]lephant]

Esel (m.), der [donkey]Esel (m.), der [donkey]

ef [like f in ef [like f in ffriend]riend]

Freund/in (m./ f.) der/ die [friend]Freund/in (m./ f.) der/ die [friend]

geh [like g in geh [like g in ggo] o]

Grund (m.), der [reason, ground]Grund (m.), der [reason, ground]

haa [like h in haa [like h in hhotel] otel]

Haus (n.), das [house]Haus (n.), das [house]

ee [like i in ee [like i in IIndia]ndia]

immer [always]immer [always]

yott [like y in yott [like y in YYork]ork]

jeder [everyone]jeder [everyone]

kaa [like c in kaa [like c in ccar]ar]

Kino (n.), das [cinema]Kino (n.), das [cinema]

el [like l in el [like l in llike]ike]

Lust (f.), die [enjoyment]Lust (f.), die [enjoyment]

em [like m in em [like m in mmother]other]

Mutter (f.), die [mother]Mutter (f.), die [mother]

en [like n in en [like n in nno] o]

November (m.), der [November]November (m.), der [November]

o [like o in o [like o in ooven]ven]

Opa (m.), der [granddad]Opa (m.), der [granddad]

peh [like p in peh [like p in ppencil] encil]

Pause (f.), die [break]Pause (f.), die [break]

kuh [cw as in kuh [cw as in ccar ar ++ wwool]ool]

Quark (m.), der [curd/ curd cheese]Quark (m.), der [curd/ curd cheese]

er [rolling or Scottish er [rolling or Scottish rr]]

Raum (m.), der [room, space]Raum (m.), der [room, space]

ess [soft s like ess [soft s like English zEnglish z]]

Sonne (f.), die [sun]Sonne (f.), die [sun]

teh [like t in teh [like t in ttea]ea]

Tee (m.), der [tea]Tee (m.), der [tea]

uh [like oo in balluh [like oo in balloooon]n]

Uhr (f.), die [clock]Uhr (f.), die [clock]

not wow butnot wow but fow [like f in fow [like f in ffriend]riend]

Vogel, Vater (m.), der [bird, father]Vogel, Vater (m.), der [bird, father]

veh [like v in veh [like v in vvessel]essel]

Wort (n.), das [word]Wort (n.), das [word]

ix [like x in ix [like x in xxylophone]ylophone]

Xylophon (n.), das [xylophone]Xylophon (n.), das [xylophone]

upsilon [like i in upsilon [like i in IIndia]ndia]

Yoga (n.), das [yoga]Yoga (n.), das [yoga]

set [like s in set [like s in ssnake]nake]

Zitrone (f.), die [lemon]Zitrone (f.), die [lemon]

Umlauts – Umlaute

an Umlaut is a composition of vowels that has, over time, evolved into a separate letter; the

composition is still widely used in international communication and can often be found in

anglicised German surnames such as: Schröder – Schroeder, Müller – Mueller

Ä, ä {ae} aeh Ärmel {Aermel} (m.), der [sleeve] Ä, ä {ae} aeh Ärmel {Aermel} (m.), der [sleeve]

Ö, ö {oe} Ö, ö {oe} pronounce o and pull lower lip back to form oeepronounce o and pull lower lip back to form oee Löffel {Loeffel} (m.), der [spoon]Löffel {Loeffel} (m.), der [spoon]

Ü, ü {ue} Ü, ü {ue} pronounce u and pull upper lip back to form ueepronounce u and pull upper lip back to form uee über {ueber} [above, over] über {ueber} [above, over]

ß {ss} eszet Straße {Strasse}, (f.), die [street]ß {ss} eszet Straße {Strasse}, (f.), die [street]

A composition of vowels and lettersA composition of vowels and letters ie ie eeee example: sexample: sieiegen [to win]gen [to win]

ei ei ii example: Ei [egg]example: Ei [egg]

ai ai ii example: Rainer [a name]example: Rainer [a name]

eu eu oioi example: Leute [people]example: Leute [people]

au wau wowow example: Haus [house]example: Haus [house]

ch (soft) Loch (soft) Lochch Ness Ness example: Iexample: Ichch [I] [I]

ch (hard) ch (hard) example: maexample: machchen [to make, to do]en [to make, to do]

sch shoe sch shoe example: Schuh [shoe]example: Schuh [shoe]

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