Starting your journey with the German language with the alphabet and pronunciation is a wise choice: until you hear how words sound and understand the reading rules, even familiar vocabulary can seem nonsensical. The good news is that German pronunciation is mostly predictable, and there are only a few basic rules.
German Alphabet and Letters
The German alphabet consists of the same twenty-six Latin letters as in English, so learning them from scratch isn’t difficult — the key is to remember their German names so you can spell words aloud. Below is the complete German alphabet along with the pronunciation of each letter’s name, including umlauts ä ö ü and ß. Click on any letter to hear how it sounds in German:
This is a convenient starting point for beginners: the alphabet provides a foundation for reading transcription and for all further studies, which are detailed in the guide Learn German from Scratch. After mastering the letters, you can begin to read simple words slowly.
Umlauts, ß, and Complex Sounds
What sets German script apart from English is the umlauts ä, ö, ü and the letter ß (Eszett). Umlauts modify the sound of the vowel and cannot be ignored: “schon” and “schön” are different words. The Eszett ß is pronounced like a voiceless “s” and appears after long vowels. Certain letter combinations with their distinctive sounds also require special attention — “sch” is pronounced like “sh,” “ch” after certain vowels gives a characteristic “kh” sound, “ei” is pronounced like “eye,” “eu” and “äu” sound like “oy,” and “ie” is pronounced as a long “ee.” These combinations cover most of the seemingly “confusing” words at first glance and should be studied first.
Reading Rules and Transcription
The main advantage of German is that it is mostly pronounced as it is written — by learning the rules for letter combinations and getting used to the stress (which usually falls on the first syllable of the root), you will be able to pronounce even unfamiliar words correctly. Transcription is needed less than in English, but it is still helpful at the beginning: in Memofluent, each word has transcription and context, so pronunciation and meaning are reinforced together. Give it a try:
Frequently Asked Questions
How many letters are in the German alphabet?
Twenty-six basic Latin letters plus three umlauts — ä, ö, ü — and the letter ß. Umlauts and ß are generally considered special symbols rather than separate letters.
Do I need to learn transcription?
It’s not strictly necessary — German is read according to rules. However, at the beginning, transcription helps prevent the establishment of incorrect pronunciation.
How are the umlauts ä, ö, ü pronounced?
They change the sound of the vowel and are important for meaning: “schon” and “schön” are different words. ä is close to “e,” while ö and ü are sounds without exact analogs in English, so they are based on listening.
How is the letter ß pronounced?
As a voiceless “s.” It occurs after long vowels and diphthongs, such as in the word “Straße” (street).
Where does the stress fall in German words?
Usually on the first syllable of the root. There are exceptions in borrowed words and some prefixed words, but the basic rule applies in most cases.
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