German pronunciation
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for freeWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Lara R.
25.00 €/h
No free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Robert Martin S.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Jana K.
32.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Our offer
The basis of the German pronunciation is of course the German alphabet, which has a few letters more than the English one (ß, ä, ö, ü) and in which some letters are pronounced differently (w, v). This chapter introduces to you the most important rules for pronouncing German correctly
- What is a double vowel?
- What is the ß and when do you use it?
- How do you pronounce "sch" and "ch"?
- How do you pronounce "st" and "sp"?
- What is the difference in the pronunciation of J, V, and W in German to English?
- How to pronounce the German "Umlaute" Ä, Ö, Ü?
- What is the "stretching-h"?
Lesson outline
Hide1.) German double vowels
Double vowels are, like the name suggests, two vowels that come up together in a word. Some of these have special rules. For example "ei" sounds just like "ai", so like the English "I".
Additionally, the combination of "eu" sounds exactly the same as "äu". Like "Eule" (owl) and "Häuser" (houses). So when to use which? For that you just have to look at the word-stem. "Häuser" is the plural for "Haus" (house), in German the "a" always transforms to "ä" in plural, that's why you use "äu" in this case, instead of "eu"!
Here you have a table of the German double vowels, you can also listen to them to make sure you understand the pronunciation!
| Double vowel | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| au | like "ow" in "owl" | Auge (eye) |
| äu | like "oi" in "boiling" | Häuser (houses) |
| eu | same as "äu" | Eule (owl) |
| ei | like "I" in English | Eisen (iron) |
| ai | same as "ei" | Mai (may) |
| ie | a stretched "i" sound, like "ee" in "bee" | Fliege (the fly) |
Have a question?
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
- Native & verified teachers
- Free trial lesson
- Learning materials included
Anush H. 
19.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Iris S.
36.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Dr. Jade A. 
50.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Martina P.
18.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Giulia C. 
18.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Giulia N. 
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Giulia M.
30.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Alba D.
12.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Alyona K. 
13.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Helena M. 
28.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Anush H.
19.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Iris S.
36.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Dr. Jade A.
50.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Martina P.
18.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Giulia C.
18.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Giulia N.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Giulia M.
30.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Alba D.
12.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
2.) The German "ß"
The letter ß, also called "Eszett" (s + z) or "scharfes S" (sharp S), is a letter that today only exists in the German language. Its pronunciation is exactly the same as the "s" in "see".
So when is the double consonant "ss" and when is the sharp-S "ß" used? These are the rules for their uses:
| SS | ß | ß |
|---|---|---|
| follows vowels, that are pronounced shortly | follows vowels that are pronounced longer | also follows double-vowels |
| Fass (barrel), Fluss (river), Stress (stress), Pass (pass), Kuss (kiss) | Floß (float), Maß (the measure), Spaß (fun), Fuß (foot), Schoß (lap), Straße (street) | draußen (outside), weiß (white), reißen (to rip), scheußlich (horrible) |
3.) The German 'sch' and 'ch'
The German 'ch' poses often times a problem for German beginners, since there is no real equivalent in the English language. Also the pronunciation changes slightly, depending on which vowel proceeds it.
So for example in the word "Ich" (German for "I"), the pronunciation is soft, it can be compared t the 'h' in huge, or a variation of the English 'sh' sound (in fact, in some regions of Germany they actually pronounce it like 'sh').
On the other hand, if for example an 'a' proceeds the 'ch', like in the word "Bach" (brook), the pronunciation becomes much harsher. In this case you pronounce it in the back of your mouth
The German 'sch' sound is equivalent to the English 'sh' sound.
| ch | after "a,o,u,au" | harsher sound, pronounced at the back of your mouth | Bach (brook) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ch | after "e,i,eu,ei,ä,ö,ü,äu,ai", or consonant | similar to "h" in "huge", variation of 'sh' | Fichte (spruce) |
| sch | always the same | like the English 'sh' | Schachtel (case) |
4.) How to pronounce 'st' and 'sp'?
The pronunciation of 'st' and 'sp' is handled as if it was 'sch + t/', so it's a combination of 'sh' and t/p. This is always the case, if those two consonants stand in the beginning of the word. However, does this combination occur in the middle or end of the word, it is pronounced simply as 's + t/p' (so for example like the 'st' in "street).
| 'St/Sp' as 'Sht/Sht' | Normal pronounciaton of 'St/Sp' |
|---|---|
| Straße (street) | Gast (guest) |
| Stein (stone) | Liste (list) |
| Spiel (game) | Samstag (saturday) |
5.) The different pronunciation of the German 'J', 'V', and 'W'
The three letters 'J', 'V' and 'W' are pronounced a little differently in German than in English.
| Pronunciation of J | Pronunciation of V | Pronunciation of W |
|---|---|---|
| like the English 'Y', as in "yes" | always pronounced like 'F' | always pronounced like the English 'V', as in "video" |
| example: jung (young) | example: Vogel (bird) | example: Wein (wine) |
6.) How to pronounce the German "Umlaute" 'Ä', 'Ö' and 'Ü'?
The "Umlaute" (or "altered sound") are letters in the German language, that are marked by the two dots on top of them. Their pronunciation is somewhat similar to their origin vowels (A, O, U), yet you need to learn their pronunciation separately. Being able to pronounce these words is very important, since their are used very frequently, for example of the plural: Haus - Häuser (house - houses).
This table provides you with an explanation of how to pronounce the altered sounds and gives you also examples to listen to:
| Ä | pronounced similar to the 'a' in apple or 'ai' in "air" | Ärmel (sleeve) Äpfel (apples) |
|---|---|---|
| Ö | pronounced similar to the 'i' in "girl" | König (king) Öfter (more often) |
| Ü | no English equivalent | Übung (exercise) Müde (tired) |
If you don't know how to write these letters, it is also common In German to express the "Umlaute" like this: ae = ä ; oe = ö ; ue = ü
7.) The German stretching-h
The stretching-h indicates that a vowel in a word needs to be pronounced longer. It usually occurs in the middle of the word. However there are a few exceptions. Here is a good way to remember when to use the stretching-h and when not to.
| Stretching-h | No Stretching-h |
|---|---|
| Before the consonants l, m, n, r | Words that begin with q, sch, sp or t |
| Examples: das Mehl (the flour), die Wahl (the election), die Bahn (the track), die Bühne (the stage) | Examples: die Schule (the school), sparen (to save), quälen (to torture), der Ton (the tone) |
Normally there is no stretching-h following au, äu, ai, eu and ei. Except for these exceptions: verzeihen (to forgive), Weihnachten (christmas)
Now that you know the most important rules for the German translation, practice your knowledge with the following free exercises!
Exercises
Exercise: S, SS or ẞ?
Solution
Gestern habe ich auf der _____ eine Frau getroffen. (Yesterday I met a woman on the street)
Straße
Das Kind spielt _____. (The kid is playing outside)
draußen
Heute ist es sehr _____. (Today it is very hot)
heiß
Ich _____ gerne Bücher. (I like to read books)
lese
Die Wiese ist noch _____. (The field is still wet)
nass
Meine Lieblingsfarbe ist _____. (My favorite colour is white)
weiß
Wir hatten viel _____. (We had lots of fun)
Spaß
Wir bauen ein _____ zusammen. (We built a float together)
Floß
_____ deine Schwester von mir. (Greet your sister for me)
Grüße
Ich bin genauso _____ wie du. (I'm just as tall as you)
groß
Exercises
Exercise: S, SS or ẞ?
Solution
Gestern habe ich auf der _____ eine Frau getroffen. (Yesterday I met a woman on the street)
Straße
Das Kind spielt _____. (The kid is playing outside)
draußen
Heute ist es sehr _____. (Today it is very hot)
heiß
Ich _____ gerne Bücher. (I like to read books)
lese
Die Wiese ist noch _____. (The field is still wet)
nass
Meine Lieblingsfarbe ist _____. (My favorite colour is white)
weiß
Wir hatten viel _____. (We had lots of fun)
Spaß
Wir bauen ein _____ zusammen. (We built a float together)
Floß
_____ deine Schwester von mir. (Greet your sister for me)
Grüße
Ich bin genauso _____ wie du. (I'm just as tall as you)
groß
What our students say
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
Italian teacher
A. S.
This teacher has experience, a great variety of learning materials for different objectives and speaks spanish fluently.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
DENIS B.
Hi, I am Christin!
After training as a pastry chef and studying business administration, I traveled a lot and discovered my interest in languages. To find out more about teaching languages, I decided on further training at the Goethe Institute and completed it. During the Goethe Institute "Learn to teach German" course I was able to give individual language lessons and actively support the examination preparation for the Goethe certificate.
My lessons are needs-oriented. That means that learning goals are discussed with you and based on your level of knowledge. Whether grammar, sentence structure, pronunciation, expression or the practice of communication situations: German as a foreign and second language classes are flexible and take place in a group or one-to-one lessons with individual support and are based on your wishes and requirements. The teaching of content and topics takes place according to the respective language level. Building vocabulary, grammar and means of speaking are structured and conveyed logically building on each other. Let's get to know each other in a free trial class. I am looking forward to meeting you!
C. R.
Christin is a great teacher. We are talking about very interesting and different topics. Lots of material to learn. She is also very flexible. I'm very satisfied.
Christin E.
Hello =)
My name is Karolin and since the beginning of 2017, while I was still living in Chile, I've been giving online classes. I really enjoy my work and it gives me the privilage to get to know people from all around the world, which is amazing.
Both in English and in German, I teach classes for beginners and advanced students. I speak Spanish fluently, but as I lived in Chile for around 5 years, both my pronounciation and my choice of words are influenced by that. I learned and teach the european Spanish but only for beginners (A1/A2). But if you don't mind the chilenean influence, I do teach to a higher level as well.
If you'd like to get to know me and my teaching methods, just contact me and we will do a free trial lesson (please do NOT by a lesson before the trial lesson, not every teacher is good for every student).
See you soon!
G. B.
Karolin has been an awesome teacher. She has been very flexible with our scheduling, while the lessons have been a great combination of being structured and fun. I would highly recommend Karolin to anyone looking to learn a new language or improve their language ability. Thanks again Karolin.
Karolin G.
The language collector
G. B.
Bianka is friendly and very patient. She is from Germany so I can learn the German pronunciations very well with her. I recommend Bianka if you are looking for a German teacher.
Bianka B.
I happen to be a safety and security specialist for a major oil and gas exploration company and have also done my one year TEFL Diploma. I have been teaching English to students online as well as in classrooms primarily out of passion and love for teaching English and helping the students overcome their difficulties and lack of confidence/ motivation towards using English in their every day lives. My average rating happens to be 4.99/5 with 5 star reviews on English teaching websites such as www.engoo.com and https://eikaiwa.dmm.com/.
Despite being a non native English speaker; I happen to have native level proficiency in aspects of English language and am very passionate about helping students achieve their goals and aspirations in life via use of exclusive and result orientated lesson that have allowed me to achieve my level of skills in English Language. Lastly, owing to my diversified professional back ground, I also provide consultation services with regards to motivation and self improvement and help individuals gain self confidence and to think objectively.
A. S.
Shahbaz is an English teacher from Pakistan who has had a lot of experience with adult audiences mainly and with beginners. He has learning materials to work both your comprehension and English verbal skills. He is a very concise and well-recommended teacher.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Shahbaz J.
Hello,
my name is Nina, I'm from Austria and I also lived for one year and a half in Canada. I worked there as a German Teacher for adults, so I speak German, English and French.
I also teach English for beginners and advanced beginners.
My teaching methodes are totally based on the level of my student. If somebody is already advanced, I focus on communication and pronunciation. We will arrange on a topic and talk and discuss in the lesson about it.
If my student is a beginner, I'm gonna start with the basics of the German language. (the articles, the verb "to be", the pronouns...)
The learning material is all made by myself, because I'm a German teacher, so that means, I already got lots of working sheets for many topics. I send these to my student via e-mail or put it directly on the coLanguage homepage.
I'm available from Monday to Thursday between 5pm and 08:00 pm. For the weekend it's the best to just send me a request.
Of course is a free trial lesson (it's about 20 minutes) possible.
I'm happy to teach you :-)
See you soon! Nina
R. G.
Today Nina helped me to fill out a couple of papers. Thank you Nina for your help and patience :)
Nina V.
I am a German native speaker who loves languages and am passionate about teaching others. I work as language teacher in a school, teach adults at the German Culture Center and prepare my students for all types of official language exams. I love my job and always seek to make it as much fun as possible.
P. M.
My experience with Melanie has been very positive, Melanie is a very qualified teacher and you can tell that from the beginning: very professional, very good methodology, diversity in material, etc. A real one on one experience as she focused together with learning of language in identification and correction of student weaknesses. My kid is engaged with her classes as he says are useful and fun, his progress in learning German has been noticed by all. I also like her flexibility to have classes during the weekends, that is a great emergency door. I am happy !! Highly recommended!!!
Melanie A.
I have 3 years of teaching experience and a 120 hours of advanced practical TEFL and TESOL. I am a dedicated teacher who cares about her students. I am an amazing listener, attentive, and very passionate. I enjoy traveling, for it allows me to meet new people of different cultures and backgrounds. Teaching has always been a passion of mine, for I get to make an impact in people's lives as much as they make an impact in mine. I cannot wait to make your English learning journey enjoyable and impactful.
A. S.
Paradise is a southafrican teacher with particular experience with younger students. She has a lot of fun learning materials that ensure an interactive lesson and seems to have great confidence in front of the camera.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Paradise N.
Hallo :) I'm a German language teacher with a Bachelor and Master degree in German and with many years of teaching experience.
I was born and lived in Switzerland for many years and grew up in a bilingual family, because of that I speak German, Swiss German, Croatian and English :)
- ABOUT THE CLASS -
I offer German language lessons for A1, A2, B1, B2 level and they include everything you need: grammar, speaking, listening audio, reading, writing and for some fun: games and role plays :)
This is ideal for students who want actively participate and speak more, learn new words and exercise the grammar.
All learning materials and exercises are included and will be provided during the lesson.
The learning material is from various books: Schritte International, Menschen, Sicher im Alltag und Beruf, Begegnungen, ....
If you wish to have only conversational lessons, I can arrange this also for you (only available for B1 and B2 level).
* IMPORTANT: coLanguage shows only my general availability, if you want to book a lesson, please sent me a message with your availability and language level, and I will contact you as soon as possible with more informations :)
S. M.
Mihaela has helped me along with improving my german language skills over the past nine months with great success. She has a clear structured approach but constantly adapts the lessons to your needs and interests to keep you motivated. During the lessons, she consistently adds vocabulary to the discussion, meaning that you are always learning more without the feeling of being overwhelmed with information. She is also very flexible with bookings. I can positively recommend learning german with Mihaela.
Mihaela S.
I am a German native speaker who loves languages and am passionate about teaching others. I work as language teacher in a school, teach adults at the German Culture Center and prepare my students for all types of official language exams. I love my job and always seek to make it as much fun as possible.
D. .
I recommend Her; My teacher Melanie is a dynamic and friendly teacher, very knowledgeable, flexible and open to discussions on any subject. available to check my exercises and flexible regarding class time slots. Very nice experience! She immediately understood my goals and was able to help me improve my skills. I recommend her to anyone who wants to take and pass their exams and improve their German skills.
Hello Douaa, thank you. I am happy that I could help you and I had fun. I wish you all the best.
I am a tutor in French as a foreign language. I specialize in conversation and communication from B1 level upwards, but I also have A2 students with whom I follow a more traditional method.
With me, you can express yourself freely and make mistakes without fear, I'll take note of them without interrupting. Essential is that the conversation flows and that we understand each other.
I am Belgian and my mother tongue is French. I have always loved literature, culture, and languages. I studied in Flanders for 10 years, lived in France and Switzerland for 4 years, and I currently live in Valencia, Spain.
I followed the DAEFLE training (teaching French as a foreign language) in 2017.
My practice: - online conversation / support for self-taught students
- coaching / correction of speeches, lectures and documents
Method: - interests and culture
- videos, images, music, reports, poems
- asking questions and seeking answers online (with guidance)
- I encourage listening to podcasts and the use of applications such as Duolingo outside of class for vocabulary and repetition
---------------------
Basic rate 18€/hour
Children under 16: 20€/hour
Cancellation :
- If you cancel / postpone more than 24 hours before the lesson, it will not be charged.
- In case of cancellation / postponing less than 24 hours before the lesson, it will be charged at half price.
A. .
Lessons with Elodie are less like traditional teacher-student lessons, and more like having a conversation with your French-speaking friend. Having no practical necessity to improve my French now, but wishing to do so nevertheless (and not to forget what I already knew), this is exactly the format I was looking for. Elodie usually defines a topic for the lesson (according to my preferences) and sends some materials in advance to prepare (e.g. a YouTube video to watch), which will be discussed then. She corrects persistent mistakes and explains new words but makes sure it does not interrupt the flow of conversation. It is a good language practice, but also a great way to learn new things about francophone culture (and not only!), so I definitely recommend!
Elodie O.
Spanish Lessons For Native German Speakers, Learn GERMAN Easily
N. A.
For me, learning German was a nightmare and I was certain that I will never learn the language. Sara sure did prove me wrong. With her, learning German became fun. I always wait with excitement for our next session. She drastically imporved my skills in a few months and most importantly, I made a good friend along the way. Ich kann mit Sicherheit sagen, dass Sara die Beste ist
Sara K.
Hello, my name is Alyona. I'm from Ukraine, currently I'm living in Bulgaria.
I speak Ukrainian, Russian, Turkish, English and German.
I'm an English and German teacher I've been teaching for more than 8 years. I've talked to all levels and ages of students from children to adults and from beginner levels to upper intermediate language level. I teach General English and German and Spoken English.
My lessons are informative and lively.
During the lesson we train the four basic language skills: such as Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing.
Whether you wanna learn English or German - I'm happy to help you. During the lessons you will get the knowledge and confidence to communicate freely with native speakers. So, I'm ready to start, are you with me? Hope to see you soon
S. N.
Alena is very kind and patient. She creates a friendly atmosphere in the lesson and explains all the material in an accessible and interesting way.
Alyona K.
My name is Tim Grundl and I have been teaching languages professionally for over 15 years. By using modern methods and a personal approach, the lessons become sustainable and motivating. The fun of learning should not be neglected, because learning is only possible in a relaxed atmosphere.
Book a free trial lesson and form your own opinion.
Whatever your goals are, conversation training, writing letters or emails, etc., together we will create a goal-oriented, individual plan to achieve these goals as stress-free as possible.
I would be happy to work with you.
M. R.
My husband has really enjoyed the lessons he's had with Tim. The material is rigorous and in-depth. Even after previous lessons, Tim has been able to push my husband and keep his confidence up.
Tim G.
Hello everyone and a big warm welcome to all the fellow language learners,
My name is Katerina, I’m a native Russian speaker and a foreign language teacher from St Petersburg, Russia. I’ve always been addicted to learning foreign languages, be it English, German, Spanish, Turkish or Arabic, so turning my passion into my job was just a matter of time. I have a Master’s degree in linguistics which taught me to understand the way the mechanism of a language works and thus to help my students see the logics behind the grammar rules. Being a constant language learner enables me to see the process from both sides and to predict the difficulties my students might face. The fact that I’m not a native speaker of English or German means I’ve been through exactly the same language-learning journey you’re about to take, and thanks to my personal experience as a student, I can make this road smooth for you.
I've had students of all ages, from pre-school kids to senior generation, and I feel comfortable working with both beginners and those who are eager to take their learning process to a new level. In my classes I encourage you to talk in the language we’re studying as much as possible, putting every single bit of knowledge into practice right away. If you’re a Russian-learner, I’d be glad to prove it to you that you can absolutely nail my mother-tongue - and yes, you’ll be able to make a small talk in Russian by the end of the first class even if you’re an absolute beginner! We’ll be focusing on the topics that are most relevant to your goals, while discovering the language and getting to know more about the culture of people who speak it.
I offer a short free trial class, for us to give each other a smile and discuss our teaching pattern, in order to ajust it to your goals and make our lessons the bee's knees :) See you soon!
A. V.
Katerina is a very flexible teacher makes the effort of adapting the contents of the lessons to my needs
Ekaterina V.
Italian teacher
A. S.
This teacher has experience, a great variety of learning materials for different objectives and speaks spanish fluently.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
DENIS B.
Hi, I am Christin!
After training as a pastry chef and studying business administration, I traveled a lot and discovered my interest in languages. To find out more about teaching languages, I decided on further training at the Goethe Institute and completed it. During the Goethe Institute "Learn to teach German" course I was able to give individual language lessons and actively support the examination preparation for the Goethe certificate.
My lessons are needs-oriented. That means that learning goals are discussed with you and based on your level of knowledge. Whether grammar, sentence structure, pronunciation, expression or the practice of communication situations: German as a foreign and second language classes are flexible and take place in a group or one-to-one lessons with individual support and are based on your wishes and requirements. The teaching of content and topics takes place according to the respective language level. Building vocabulary, grammar and means of speaking are structured and conveyed logically building on each other. Let's get to know each other in a free trial class. I am looking forward to meeting you!
C. R.
Christin is a great teacher. We are talking about very interesting and different topics. Lots of material to learn. She is also very flexible. I'm very satisfied.
Christin E.
Hello =)
My name is Karolin and since the beginning of 2017, while I was still living in Chile, I've been giving online classes. I really enjoy my work and it gives me the privilage to get to know people from all around the world, which is amazing.
Both in English and in German, I teach classes for beginners and advanced students. I speak Spanish fluently, but as I lived in Chile for around 5 years, both my pronounciation and my choice of words are influenced by that. I learned and teach the european Spanish but only for beginners (A1/A2). But if you don't mind the chilenean influence, I do teach to a higher level as well.
If you'd like to get to know me and my teaching methods, just contact me and we will do a free trial lesson (please do NOT by a lesson before the trial lesson, not every teacher is good for every student).
See you soon!
G. B.
Karolin has been an awesome teacher. She has been very flexible with our scheduling, while the lessons have been a great combination of being structured and fun. I would highly recommend Karolin to anyone looking to learn a new language or improve their language ability. Thanks again Karolin.
Karolin G.
The language collector
G. B.
Bianka is friendly and very patient. She is from Germany so I can learn the German pronunciations very well with her. I recommend Bianka if you are looking for a German teacher.
Bianka B.