Alphabets
The German alphabet consists of 26 letters, just like English, plus four additional special characters called umlauts and the eszett (ß). Understanding these letters and their pronunciation is fundamental to learning German.
The German Alphabet
The German alphabet includes all the standard Latin letters plus the special German characters: ä, ö, ü, and ß.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, Ä, Ö, Ü, ß
Complete Alphabet Table
| Letter | German Name | English Pronunciation | Example Word (German) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A a | A | ah | Apfel | Apple |
| B b | Be | bay | Buch | Book |
| C c | Ce | tsay | Computer | Computer |
| D d | De | day | Deutsch | German |
| E e | E | ay | Elefant | Elephant |
| F f | Eff | eff | Fisch | Fish |
| G g | Ge | gay | Garten | Garden |
| H h | Ha | hah | Haus | House |
| I i | I | ee | Igel | Hedgehog |
| J j | Jot | yot | Jahr | Year |
| K k | Ka | kah | Katze | Cat |
| L l | Ell | ell | Lampe | Lamp |
| M m | Em | emm | Mutter | Mother |
| N n | En | enn | Nase | Nose |
| O o | O | oh | Orange | Orange |
| P p | Pe | pay | Papier | Paper |
| Q q | Qu | koo | Quelle | Source |
| R r | Er | err | Rot | Red |
| S s | Es | ess | Sonne | Sun |
| T t | Te | tay | Tisch | Table |
| U u | U | oo | Uhr | Clock |
| V v | Fau | fow | Vater | Father |
| W w | We | vay | Wasser | Water |
| X x | Iks | iks | Xylophon | Xylophone |
| Y y | Ypsilon | üp-si-lon | Yacht | Yacht |
| Z z | Zet | tset | Zeit | Time |
Special German Characters (Umlauts and Eszett)
Ä, Ö, Ü, ß
| Letter | German Name | English Pronunciation | Example Word (German) | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ä ä | A-Umlaut | ay-umlaut (like "air") | Bär | Bear |
| Ö ö | O-Umlaut | oh-umlaut (like "ur" in "fur") | Öl | Oil |
| Ü ü | U-Umlaut | oo-umlaut (like "ew" in "few") | Tür | Door |
| ß | Eszett | ess-tset (sharp s) | Straße | Street |
Understanding Umlauts
Umlauts are diacritical marks that change the pronunciation of vowels. They're essential in German and can completely change the meaning of words.
Pronunciation Guide
- Ä (ä): Pronounced like the "a" in "cat" or "hat" (English)
- Ö (ö): No direct English equivalent - round your lips as if saying "oh" but try to say "eh"
- Ü (ü): No direct English equivalent - round your lips as if saying "oo" but try to say "ee"
- ß (eszett): Pronounced like a double "s" - never at the beginning of a word
Important Notes
- Alphabetical Order: In German dictionaries, umlauts are typically sorted as if they were the base letter (ä=a, ö=o, ü=u), but ß is treated as "ss".
- Capitalization:
- Ä, Ö, Ü can be capitalized
- ß is traditionally only lowercase, but since 2017, there's an official capital ß (ẞ)
- Alternative Writing: If umlauts aren't available on a keyboard:
- ä = ae
- ö = oe
- ü = ue
- ß = ss
Practice Tips
- Listen Carefully: German pronunciation is quite consistent - each letter typically has one pronunciation
- Practice Umlauts: These are the most challenging for English speakers
- Use Audio: Regular listening helps with proper pronunciation
- Start Simple: Begin with basic words before moving to complex vocabulary
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't pronounce German letters like English letters
- Don't ignore umlauts - they change meaning completely
- Don't rush - German pronunciation rewards careful articulation
- Remember that 'W' sounds like English 'V' and 'V' sounds like English 'F'
Tip: Use the play button above to hear the correct pronunciation of each letter. Practice regularly to improve your German pronunciation!