1/22/2024 0 Comments German grammar rules cheat sheet![]() When you first encounter a long word in German, draw lines through each of the syllables to divide it into smaller chunks then work on pronouncing each chunk alone. When ch doesn’t follow one of those letters in German, it creates a much softer sound, almost like an English ‘h' but with a little more friction. Pronouncing The German “ch” Soundįollowing an a, o, u or au the ch sound in German is pronounced like the ch in the phrase ‘Loch Ness monster'. Now that you've got a handle on the German alphabet and some of the common vowel combinations, let's look at some of the sounds which tend to cause the most difficulty for English-speaking learners. Again, listen to the examples and follow along using the table below: Common Difficulties With German Pronunciation Here are some examples of those paired letters and how they are used in common German words. This means that learning to recognise and pronounce these combinations can go a long way to helping you sound more natural. When certain letters are paired in German, they always produce the same sound. Just remember that that pronunciation changes a bit when any of these letters are paired! Start by listening to each of the letters and following along with the table below: German Vowel Combinations When you know how each letter is pronounced, things get a lot easier. The easiest and best place to start mastering German pronunciation is with the German alphabet. The Basics Of German Pronunciation The German Alphabet Sounding out a word phonetically in German actually works much more often than it does in English, where letters change their sounds constantly without any clear logic. Once you learn how certain letters and letter combinations sound, you can almost always rely on them sounding the same regardless of the word or context they’re used in. In my opinion, German is actually one of the languages that makes the most sense. While that’s true, you could say the same thing about English or just about any other language. But then countless exceptions to those rules. There's a perception that there are endless rules about how to pronounce things. One of the most common myths, that scares people away from learning German is that it doesn’t make sense. People talk about how difficult and ugly it is, and how different it is from languages like English.īut many people don't realise that English is actually a Germanic language! That’s why so many words and sounds are similar – our languages evolved from the same ancestor language as theirs. There are a lot of myths about the German language. German Pronunciation Is Easier Than It Seems If you’re ready to get started, click here for a 7-day FREE trial. The course features in-depth German pronunciation lessons from native German speaker, Kerstin. This guide will walk you through some of the most common (and hardest) sounds in German and provide you with some tips and tricks that will bring you one step closer to sounding like a native.īy the end of the post, you'll have a clear understanding of the fundamental sounds of German and pronouncing them will seem a lot less intimidating.īy the way, if you're determined to master German pronunciation, I recommend German Uncovered, my in-depth online German course for beginners that teaches you through the power of story. And even the most tricky German words will become easy to pronounce once you’re used to them. The only difference between these words and most difficult German words is that you’re used to them! With a little time and practice, you'll soon become familiar with the sounds of German too. ![]() Think about some of the words in English that can be hard to pronounce: Once you learn the rules and patterns, pronouncing German words correctly is easier than you imagine. While German is definitely very different from English, it’s not that much harder. ![]() ![]() And words that have the same meaning and spelling as English can sound entirely different. When you first start learning about German pronunciation, it can be intimidating.
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