Vowel
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Most vowels in German have both a short and a long variant. Clearly distinguishing between the two is very important. a is pronounced short in words like Hand, Mann and statt – compare the vowel in ‘but’. |
e is pronounced short in words like Bett, Henne and Sekt – compare the vowel in ‘bed’. It is identical to German short ä.
e is pronounced even shorter in words like Beruf, Tante and zahlen where it is unstressed – compare the vowel in the i rst syllable of ‘believe’ or the last syllable of ‘wooden’. In all words ending in e like Schule and Kassette the e must be pronounced and not merely dropped as in ‘cassette’. It is similar to the second syllable in ‘rubber’ as it is pronounced in British English.
e is pronounced long in words like lesen, Planet and Tee – compare the vowel in ‘tray’, but keep it pure, i.e. do not diphthongize it at all. i is pronounced short in words like bitter, ich and Pilz – compare the vowel in ‘pit’. In very few words such as Liga and wider i is pronounced long – compare the vowel in ‘read’.
ie is always pronounced long, e.g. liegen, lieh and sie – compare the vowel in ‘fee’.
o is pronounced short in words like Loch, Schloss and Stollen – compare the vowel in ‘lot’.
o is pronounced long in words like Floh, rot and Ton – compare the vowel in ‘post’, but keep it pure, i.e. do not diphthongize it at all.
ö is pronounced short in words like Löcher, Töchter and zwölf – compare the vowel in ‘bird’, but keep it short.
ö is pronounced long in words like Flöte, Löhne and schön – compare the vowel in ‘bird’ but with the lips as rounded as you can make them.
u is pronounced short in words like Butt, Truppe and Zunge – compare the vowel in ‘put’.
u is pronounced long in words like Buch, Fuß and gut – compare the vowel in ‘food’ but with less lip rounding. Make sure you clearly distinguish between this sound and long . This sound is commonly pronounced too short by English speakers.
ü is pronounced short in words like fünf, Flüsse and Pfütze – compare the vowel in ‘too’ but make it shorter and with the lips as rounded and tightened as you can make them, as if trying to whistle.
ü is pronounced long in words like fühlen, Füße and trübe – compare the vowel in ‘food’ but make it longer and with more lip rounding and tightening, as if trying to whistle.
