Every tricky German sound explained — with Australian English comparisons and live audio. Hit the speaker button to hear any word or sound.
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The umlauts — ä, ö, ü
Umlauts are the most iconic German sounds. Australians often skip them and say the base vowel — this is the most common mistake.
ä
Like the "e" in "bed" or "set". Think "eh" not "ah".
Examples: Schäfer, Käse, Mädchen
ö
No English equivalent. Say "e" (as in "bed") but round your lips into an "o" shape.
Examples: schön, Österreich, mögen
ü
No English equivalent. Say "ee" (as in "see") but round your lips.
Examples: über, grün, München
The ß (Eszett / sharp S)
The ß is just a sharp double-S sound. It appears after long vowels and diphthongs. Switzerland uses "ss" instead.
ß
A sharp "ss" sound — like the "ss" in "hiss". Never sounds like a "B".
Examples: Straße, heiß, Fuß
The German R
The German R is produced at the back of the throat — not the rolled Australian R.
r (front)
Guttural — made at the back of the throat, like a French R. Not the rolling R.
Examples: rot, Rad, reisen
r (end of word)
At the end of a syllable, R softens and almost disappears — sounds like "uh".
Examples: Bier, vier, Mutter
The CH sounds
German "ch" has two different sounds depending on the vowel before it — this trips up almost every English speaker.
ch (soft)
After e, i, ä, ö, ü — a soft hissing sound, like saying "h" while whispering "you".
Examples: ich, mich, nicht, Milch
ch (hard)
After a, o, u, au — a rough sound, like the Scottish "loch".
Examples: Bach, auch, Buch, Nacht
W and V
German W and V are backwards from English — this causes constant confusion.
w
Sounds like English V. "Wasser" sounds like "Vasser".
Examples: Wasser, Wein, wohnen
v
Usually sounds like English F. "Vater" sounds like "Fater".
Examples: Vater, Vogel, vor
Z and S
German Z and S are different from English and often mispronounced.
z
Sounds like "ts" — as in "pizza" or "cats". Never like English Z.
Examples: Zeit, Zug, zahlen
s (beginning)
At the start of a word, sounds like English "z". "Sonne" = "Zonne".
Examples: Sonne, See, sagen
Tricky letter combos
A few letter combinations that don't behave the way an English speaker expects.
ei
Sounds like English "eye" or "I". Think: EI = "eye".
Examples: mein, Wein, drei
ie
Sounds like English "ee". Think: IE = "ee".
Examples: vier, Bier, lieben
eu / äu
Sounds like "oy" — like "boy" or "toy".
Examples: neu, heute, Häuser
qu
Sounds like "kv" — not "kw" like English.
Examples: Quelle, quer
sp / st
At the start of a word, "sp" = "shp" and "st" = "sht".
Examples: spielen, Straße
Practice sentences
These sentences are loaded with tricky sounds — practice them until they feel natural.
Ich möchte ein Bier, bitte.
I'd like a beer, please.
Watch: ö, ch (soft), ie, b-i-e-r ending
Das Wetter ist schön heute.
The weather is beautiful today.
Watch: W=V sound, ö in schön, eu in heute
Wie viele Züge fahren nach München?
How many trains go to Munich?
Watch: V=F, Z=ts, ü in Züge and München
Er wohnt in der Straße neben dem Bahnhof.
He lives on the street next to the station.
Watch: W=V, St=Sht, ß, B-A-H-N-H-O-F
🎴 Practice with flashcards
Hear each word pronounced as you study — our flashcards include audio.