Phrase book for Germany - pronunciation
Ich is not actually pronounced ikh, unless you are speaking a northern dialect of German. If you are speaking a southern dialect, then it is more like ish. There is no equivalent sound in English. In standard German, It is somewhere between ish and ikh and somewhat like a soft hiss of a cat. Technically it is a voiceless palatal fricative and its voiced counterpart is the y sound in yes.
Note: ß isn't said when reciting the alphabet. It's actually a double s. Some people will write it ss instead of ß.
|
German letter |
English sound |
|
a |
ah,
as in father |
|
ä |
ahh, as in fat |
|
e |
eh |
|
i |
ee or ih |
|
o |
oh |
|
ö |
eh,
but with rounded lips |
|
u |
oo |
|
ü |
ee, but with rounded lips |
|
b |
b,
but p at end of syllable |
|
d |
d,
but t at end of syllable |
|
g |
g, but
k at end of syllable |
|
ch |
guttural,
doesn't exist in English |
|
au |
ow, as in "cow" |
|
ei |
eye |
|
eu, äu |
oy |
|
ie |
ee |
|
j |
y |
|
qu |
kv |
|
s |
z
or ss at end of word |
|
ß |
ss |
|
sp |
shp (at beginning of word) |
|
st |
sht |
|
sch |
sh |
|
th |
t |
|
v |
f |
|
w |
v |
|
z |
ts |
