Introduction:
Subconsciously mastering your German pronunciation is one of the best ways to perfect your accent. It feels more like fun than like work (hint: because it is) and it actually pushes your accent closer and closer to sounding native than almost anything else (if you go about it the right way).
Ways to learn German phonetics:
1. Introduction to German Pronunciation
German might sound like a difficult language to learn when you hear a fluent native speaker, but it really is not too difficult. The German pronunciation of the words is actually one of the simpler parts of the language to learn.
- Sounds and Syllables
When you learn to write German, you will see that they have 8 different vowels – a, e, i, o, u as well as those with umlauts ä, ö, and ü. The language also has 22 consonants – b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z, and Eszett ß. They have 30 letters, but they have far more sounds than letters. They have blocks of letters that form syllables.
2. The Three Best ways to practice your German accent
Below are some of the absolute best ways to practice your German accent without even thinking about it.
- Listen to Audiobooks
Audiobooks are not only one of the absolute best resources for practicing your pronunciation; they’re also one of the easiest resources to find. Almost any book you can think of has been recorded and published as an audiobook, so all you have to do is search for it and listen to it!
- Listen to Music
German music is rich and varied and is also a great way to practice your pronunciation. All you have to do is find the music you like and listen to it!
There are plenty of different genres of German music, so it’s very easy to find something that you like. Just like with audiobooks, there’s a bonus if you read the lyrics at the same time!
It’s difficult, if not impossible, to find artists that will be universally appealing, but here are some artists that I have enjoyed or that are popular or famous
- Listen to Native German Conversations
Listening to native German speakers talking is one of the best ways to improve your accent because it surrounds you with the real sounds of the language.
Even though it makes so much sense, there are many learners who don’t take advantage of this fantastic learning method for one reason or another.
3. German Pronunciation Guide
- How to Pronounce German Letters
The German alphabet is very similar to the English one, but there are some key differences in pronunciation. Here’s a guide to each letter’s pronunciation and some additional resources to help you master each sound.
A – Pronounced “Ah”
B – “Bay”
C – “Tsay”
D – “Day”
E – “Ay”
F – “Eff”
G – “Gay”
H – “Haa”
I – “Eeh”
J – “Yot”
K – “Kah”
L – “Ell”
M – “Em”
N – “En”
O – “Oh”
P – “Pay”
Q – “Koo”
R – “Er” (approximate to the uvular German pronunciation)
S – “Es”
T – “Tay”
U – “Ooh”
V – “Fow”
W – “Vay”
X – “Ix”
Y – “Uep-si-lohn”
Z – “Tset”
Ü – Pronounce the German I with your lips rounded like a U
Ö – Similar to the “I” in “Girl.”
Ä – Sounds like an “Eh”
ß – Double “s” sound. Called an Esszet.
3- How to Pronounce German Numbers
Numbers are an essential part of every language, so it’s important that all German learners know how to pronounce them well.
Rather than write out every number in German and explain its pronunciation (which would be a massive waste of time for everyone involved), I’m going to briefly explain the number system and then link resources that help with the concept and the pronunciation.
4- How to Pronounce German Letter Combinations
One of the most difficult parts of mastering any language’s pronunciation is learning its letter combinations. Letter combinations are the sounds that certain letters make when they’re next to one or more other specific letters.
German has quite a few distinct letter combinations, but they are consistent and none of them are too difficult to pronounce:
Tsch – This is a common combination and can be seen in the word Deutsch. It’s pronounced exactly like the English “ch” like in “couch.”
Sch – Without the “t,” this combination is simply pronounced like the English “sh” like in “shoe.”
Ch – This is by far the hardest for English speakers, and it’s pronounced almost like a cat hissing but not nearly as angry.
Sp – This is pronounced like an English “sh” plus “p.” It is very simple.
St – Similar to “sp,” this is like the English “sh” plus “t.” This combination and the combination of “sp” only apply when they are at the beginning of the syllable. There are other scenarios when these words are pronounced differently. Otherwise, they are pronounced as follows.
St – For the middle or end of a syllable, this is pronounced as the “st” in “straight.”
Eu – This diphthong is pronounced exactly like “Oi” in English.
Ei – This diphthong is pronounced like the English word “eye.”
Ie – Another diphthong, but pronounced like the English long “e.”
Pf – This interesting combination is produced by pronouncing a “p” and “f” sound as close together as possible.
Conclusion:
Secrets to Learning
German offers a unique challenge to all who study it, but it is a rewarding and valuable language to study.
No matter how many times you’ve heard that German is difficult to pronounce or understand, you can still learn to pronounce German with the simple steps above.
German pronunciation is well within your grasp.
The only way to end up not learning it is to give up right away or to never start.
