Chapter 1
Introduction
to German

German is one of the Germanic languages of Europe and a close relative to English. German and English are brother and sister languages that were separated by time and geography during the migrations of the Anglo-Saxons. This means you can find many similarities of vocabulary and structure in the two languages. That’s important: It makes learning German just a little bit easier. Some important facts about German will be introduced here, which will give you a basis for understanding the nature of the German language and what it will entail to learn to use it effectively.

Reading German

Just like English, German uses the twenty-six-letter alphabet designed by the Romans. Although most of the letters are the same visually, some have a distinctly unique pronunciation in German. Learning the German sounds of the alphabet is not a difficult task and will allow you to read words with ease.

Fact

In addition to the letters that are identical in both German and English, there are four letters that occur in German that do not in English. Three require the addition of an umlaut over a vowel: ä, ö, and ü. The fourth letter is a special compound of s and z and looks like this in the modern language: ß.

Once you are familiar with the characteristics of German pronunciation, you will find that you can pronounce nearly all words upon seeing them for the first time, because German is, for the most part, a phonetic language. Any variances from standard pronunciation will be pointed out and explained. In the Pronunciation Key you will find examples of how to pronounce individual letters, letter combinations, and special letters. The comparable English pronunciation of the letters and letter combinations is only a guide. To be absolutely precise about pronunciation, ask a German-speaking friend to say the sounds for you. However, the key will provide you with a close facsimile of German that will be understood by any German speaker.

PRONOUNCIATION KEY

German	English Representation Letter(s)	Comparable English Pronunciation
A.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	a.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“a” in father
Ä.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	ay.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ai” in pain
AA.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	a.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“a” in father
AI.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	i.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“i” in like
AH.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	a.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“a” in father
AU.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	ow.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ow” in how
ÄU.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	oy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“oy” in boy
B.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	b.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“b” in baby
C.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	ts.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ts” in its
CH.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	h.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ch” in Scottish loch
CK.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	k.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ck” in sick
D.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	d.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“d” in dad
DT.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	t.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“t” in tot
E.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	ay.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ai” in pain
EH.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	ay.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ai” in pain
EI.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	i.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“i” in like
EU.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	oy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“oy” in boy
F.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	f.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“f” in fife
G.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	g.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“g” in go
H.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	h.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“h” in how
I.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	ee.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ee” in sleep
IE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	ee.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ee” in sleep
J.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	y.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“y” in yolk
K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	k.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“k” in kick
L.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	l.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“l” in lull
M.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	m.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“m” in mom
N.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	n.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“n” in nun
O.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	o.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“o” in open
OH.. . . . . . . . . . . .	o.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“o” in open
OO.. . . . . . . . . . . .	o.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“o” in open
Ö.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	er.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“e” in her
P.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	p.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“p” in pup
PF.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	pf.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“pf” in carp food
PH.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	f.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ph” in photo
QU.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	kv.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“kv” in sick vet
R.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“r” in red (guttural)
ER.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	er.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“er” in father (British)
S.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	z.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“z” in zoo
S.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	s.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	(final) “s” in kiss
SS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	s.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ss” in kiss
ß.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	s.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ss” in kiss
SCH.. . . . . . . . . . .	sh.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“sh” in shush
T.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	t.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“t” in tot
TSCH.. . . . . . . . . .	ch.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ch” in church
TZ.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	ts.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ts” in its
U.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	oo.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“oo” in moon
UH.. . . . . . . . . . . . .	oo.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“oo” in moon
Ü.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	(ue). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	(“oo” while saying “ee”)
V.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	f.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“f” in fife
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	v.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“v” in very
W.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	v.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“v” in very
X.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	x.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“x” six
Y.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	(ue). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	(“oo” while saying “ee”)
Z.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	ts.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	“ts” in its

Essential

Certain consonants that end a word and sometimes a syllable become voiceless. When a consonant is voiced there is resonation in the throat (b, g, z, and so on). When it is voiceless, there is no resonation in the throat. The German voiced consonants are d, g, w, and z. Their voiceless counterparts are p, t, k, f, and s.

Vowels

Pronouncing German vowels typically does not come easy to people who are used to speaking English. A few simple rules and some practice will make it easier.

Umlaut Vowels

Only three vowels can add an umlaut: a, o, and u. The umlaut is a signal that the sound of the vowel has been altered. In the case of a (“a” in father), the vowel ä is pronounced similar to the German letter e (“ai” in pain). When o adds an umlaut, it signals a new sound that does not exist entirely in English. The vowel ö is much like the e in the English word her. In making this sound, omit the h and the r and retain the sound of the vowel e. When you add an umlaut to u, you have a sound that does not occur in English. The vowel sound ü can be produced by pursing the lips to say the English sound oo (as in moon) but simultaneously pronouncing the English sound ee (as in seen).

Practice saying the following pairs of words.

Bar	Bär
schon	schön
fuhr	für

Note: Because there is no English equivalent of the sounds ö and ü, they will be represented in the chapters that follow by “er” and “ue” when the phonetic pronunciation is shown. In addition, the stressed syllable in a word will appear in capital letters: Vater (FAH tuh).

Short and Long Vowels

The vowels can be pronounced as either “short” vowels or “long” vowels. Short vowels tend to precede a double consonant, and long vowels tend to precede a single consonant. Look at the following examples and their pronunciation.

Short Vowels	Long Vowels
Gasse (“a” in what)	Gas (“a” in father)
fällen (“e” in get)	Käse (“ai” in pain)
Kette (“e” in get)	geben (“ai” in pain)
Ross (“o” in toss)	los (“o” in open)
können (“er” short e in her)	schön (“er𔄢 long e in her)
Butter (“oo” in look)	tun (“oo” in moon)
müssen (“eu” short oo with e-sound)	spülen (“eu” long oo with e-sound)

Consonants

German uses pronunciations and consonant combinations that are unfamiliar to native English speakers.

The Consonant Combination Ch

This consonant combination is often imitated by English speakers by the sounds k or sh. But it is really neither of those. To form the German ch, pronounce the sound k but open the throat slightly to permit a raspy rush of air to be exhaled. This requires considerable practice for English speakers—except for the Scottish, who have a similar sound in Scottish words such as loch, which means lake.

Practice saying the following words.

ich

ach

hoch

such

The Letter R

The German letter r is pronounced in two different ways, depending upon the geographical region. The German language is used not only in Germany, but also in Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. In some areas, particularly in the south, the sound r is a rolled r as heard in Italian or Russian. This sound is made by “flapping” a d on the palate of the mouth with the tongue.

The second r is often more difficult for English speakers. This sound is made at the back of the throat where the German ch sound is made. Pronounce the ch sound and hold the final aspiration (a raspy rush of exhaled air). The point where that sound is made is where the German r is made. Without moving the jaw, change the sound ch to r by saying “ra.” This can be done by slowly saying “ach ra.” To become proficient using this sound will require regular practice, but in time you will find that you are using both the ch and the German r comfortably.

Many German words end in er. This combination of letters is similar to the final er in an English word as it is pronounced in Britain, for example, “father” is pronounced more like fath-uh. This British er is similar to the German final er.

Practice saying the following words.

rot	Ring
dort	Karl
Mutter	Bruder

The Letter Z

English has the sound of the German z at the end of words or syllables, but in English it is most often written as ts or tz. In German the final z is pronounced in the same way. The German word for “felt” is Filz and is pronounced “filts.” This sound can also occur in the middle of a word, for example: heizen, pronounced “hytsen,” which means “to heat.” Unlike English, German also uses this sound to begin words. For example, Zelt is pronounced “tselt” and means “tent.” The combination tz also exists in German, but it is found only at the end of words or between syllables, for example: Fritz, a name, and blitzen, “to flash lightning.”

Practice saying the following words.

Zeit	Zoo
Harz	Hitze

The Letters Sp and St

The letter combinations sp and st have a unique pronunciation, especially when they begin a word or syllable. They are pronounced as if they begin with sh. Therefore, Sport is pronounced as “shport.” Stein is pronounced as “shtine.”

Practice saying the following words.

Spende	sprich
Stil	Stadt

German Dialects

Just like English, German has regional differences not only of pronunciation but also of vocabulary. In English, for example, whether you will say “corn on the cob” or “roasting ears” depends upon where you live. The same occurs in German vocabulary as well as in pronunciation. In the north of Germany near Hamburg, for example, it is common to hear the letter combinations sp and st pronounced differently from the rest of Germany: The sh sound is not used, therefore, Sport is pronounced “sport” and Stein is pronounced “stine.”

Contractions

German contractions occur when combining a preposition and a definite article. However, an apostrophe is not used in contractions, for example, in das (in the) becomes ins, zu der (to the) becomes zur, and von dem (from the) becomes vom.

COMMON CONTRACTIONS

an das................. ans....................... at the, or to the

an dem............... am........................ at the

auf das................ aufs...................... on the

in dem................. im......................... in the

zu dem................ zum...................... to the

bei dem............... beim..................... by the

für das................. fürs....................... for the

um das................ ums...................... around the

Apostrophes are used in German to show that a letter has been left out of a word. A common expression that illustrates this is wie geht’s, which asks “how are you?” In this expression the letter e has been dropped from the word es and replaced by an apostrophe.

Capitalization

German and English differ somewhat in how they capitalize nouns and adjectives. In German, all nouns are capitalized whether they are proper or common. The adjectives of proper nouns are not capitalized unless they are in an official name or title. Let’s look at some examples:

Common Noun	English
Land	country
Schwester	sister
Haus	house

Proper Noun	Adjective	English
Amerika	amerikanisch	America/American
Deutschland	deutsch	Germany/German
England	englisch	England/English

Cognates

Cognates are words that are identical in both German and English (and often in other languages). Sometimes they are identical except for a letter change that is characteristic of the language. For example, korrekt is the German version of correct and uses the letter k where in English a c is used. If the German used c, the word would be pronounced radically differently. Look at the following list of cognates and take note of the German words that have a change of a letter to conform to German pronunciation.

Noun	Adjective
Automobil	abstrakt
Akzent	aktiv
Artist	blind
Baby	effektiv
Chance	fair
Diplomat	innovativ
Elefant	historisch

Hardware	kommunistisch
Kapitalist	kritisch
Konferenz	lyrisch
Manager	mechanisch
Name	national
Optimist	negativ
Party	offensiv
Pessimist	politisch
Pilot	positiv
Präsident	relativ
Problem	rhythmisch
Professor	romantisch
Restaurant	solid
Service	sozialistisch
Statistik	strikt
System	total

Can you guess the English meaning of the following words?

Familie	Gitarre
Natur	perfekt
attraktiv	nervös
Kaffee	populär

Patterns of Cognates

Certain cognates occur in groups that conform to patterns. Two large groups of such English words are nouns that end in –ion and –y. Another large category is a group of English adjectives that end in –ic or –ical. In German, the endings for these cognates are –ion, –ie, and –isch.

Nouns Ending in –ion	Nouns Ending in –ie	Adjectives Ending in –isch
Position	Philosophie	philosophisch
Situation	Psychologie	psychologisch
Spekulation	Therapie	therapeutisch
Tradition	Melodie	melodisch
Aversion	Astronomie	astronomisch
Dekoration	Harmonie	harmonisch
Formation	Anatomie	anatomisch
Information	Psychiatrie	psychiatrisch
Inspektion	Kolonie	bibliographisch
Koalition	Fotografie	fotografisch
Konstitution	Epidemie	epidemisch
Reservation	Biologie	biologisch
Revolution	Geographie	geographisch
Ventilation	Geologie	geologisch
Vibration	Archäologie	archäologisch

Question?

How do I know whether I’m pronouncing German words correctly?

By using this guide, you can pronounce German words in such a way that German speakers will understand you. To develop a good accent, you should take a class, purchase some audio tools, or work with a native speaker.

Words Common to German and English

Since German and English are languages in the same Germanic group, they have many words in common. Some are almost identical and have an identical meaning in both languages. Others have a slight spelling difference, and still others are used for completely different meanings in the two languages and often are similar only in the smallest of degrees. Let’s look at some examples.

PEOPLE

German	Comparable English	Modern English
Bruder	brother	brother
Gärtner	gardener	gardener
Knabe	knave	boy, lad
Mann	man	man, husband
Mutter	mother	mother
Onkel	uncle	uncle
Schwester	sister	sister
Sohn	son	son
Tochter	daughter	daughter
Vater	father	father

ANIMALS

German	Comparable English	Modern English
Affe	ape	ape, monkey
Frosch	frog	frog
Kalb	calf	calf
Kuh	cow	cow
Lamm	lamb	lamb
Maus	mouse	mouse
Schaf	sheep	sheep
Schwein	swine	swine, pig
Spinne	spinner	spider
Ratte	rat	rat
Tier	deer	animal

COLORS

German	Modern English
blau	blue
braun	brown
grau	gray
grün	green
rot	red
weiß	white

MISCELL ANEOUS

German	Modern English
alt	old
Arm	arm
beginn	begin
bei	by
Brot	bread
Feld	field
fett	fat
Finger	finger
frisch	fresh
Fuß	foot
Grab	grave
gut	good
halt	hold
hart	hard
Haus	house
ist	is
jung	young
kalt	cold
komm	come
mach	make
Milch	milk
Mond	moon
sing	sing
Sonne	sun
wann	when
warm	warm
Wetter	weather
Wolle	wool