German is not only spoken in Germany but is also the official language in Austria, Switzerland and many other regions, opening up attractive study and work opportunities. To start learning this language, you need to have German learning roadmap be clear from the start, and grasp German alphabet and standard pronunciation. If you want to learn German by yourself but don't know where to start, then let's SHD Academy Learn more about the German alphabet, how to read it, and effective learning methods in the article below!
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Learn about the German alphabet
The German alphabet has 30 characters, including 26 Latin letters similar to the English alphabet and 4 special characters: ä, ü, ö, ß. Below is the German alphabet and how to pronounce them:
| Alphabet | Pronounce | For example |
| A | [a:], pronounced like the letter a in Vietnamese | Apfel (apple) |
| B | [be:], read similar to the word for calf in Vietnamese | Buch (book) |
| C | [tse:], Don't read it as cê but pronounce the t and s very quickly, then add the ê sound. | Cafe |
| D | [de:], pronounced as dike | Dorf (village) |
| E | [e:], read as ê | Essen (food and drink) |
| F | [ɛf], pronounced almost like pressed, but to pronounce it correctly you have to bite your upper teeth against your lower lip and exhale | Freund (friends) |
| G | [ge:], pronounced similarly to the word "ghe" in Vietnamese | Garden |
| H | [ha:], pronounced ha | Haus (house) |
| I | [i:], pronounced like a long i sound | I |
| J | [jɔt], pronounced similar to the Vietnamese word "giot", but you have to clench your teeth and make the t sound at the end | Junge (boy) |
| K | [ka:], pronounced almost like the letter c in Vietnamese, but the k sound in German is a sound emitted from the throat and is aspirated | Katze (cat) |
| L | [ɛl], when pronouncing this sound, you must curl the tip of your tongue to touch your upper teeth | Lampe (lamp) |
| M | [ɛm], pronounced similar to the letter em, when pronouncing it you should close both lips | Mutter (mother) |
| N | [ɛn], pronounced similar to the Vietnamese letter Ün | Night |
| O | [o:], pronounced as ô | Obst (fruit) |
| P | [pe:], pronounced as pe | Pizza |
| Q | [ku:], read as ku | Qualität (quality) |
| R | [ɛʁ], pronounced almost like the letter r in Vietnamese, but when pronouncing it, you have to curl your tongue and vibrate your throat | Regen (rain) |
| S | [ɛs], pronounced similar to the letter s in Vietnamese | Sonne (sun) |
| T | [te:], pronounced almost like the letter t in Vietnamese, but when pronouncing it you have to clench your teeth and make the sound out loudly | Table |
| U | [u:], pronounced u | Uhr (clock) |
| V | [faʊ], pronounced fao | Vogel (bird) |
| W | [veː], pronounced as ve | Water |
| X | [ɪks], pronounced íksờ | Xylophon (xylophone) |
| Y | ['ʏpsilɔn], pronounced as úpsilon | Yoga |
| Z | [t͡sɛt], pronounced like the sound "thế" in Vietnamese, but you have to pronounce the t and s sounds together very quickly | Zeit (time) |
Source: SHD Academy
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How to pronounce the German alphabet
Is the German alphabet and pronunciation the same as English? Is learning German difficult?? These are common questions for many people when they first start learning this language. In fact, like English and Vietnamese, the German alphabet is also divided into vowels and consonants with different pronunciations. Here are the standard German alphabet pronunciation rules for beginners that you need to know.
For vowels – Vokal
German has five main single vowels: u, e, o, a, i and the way to pronounce these vowels is similar to when we pronounce Vietnamese, without needing to combine with other syllables. Specifically as follows:
| Single vowels | Pronunciation |
| a | a |
| e | hallo |
| i | i |
| o | Umbrella |
| u | u |
However, with the three changed vowels ö, ä and ü, you need to pay attention to the correct pronunciation as follows:
| Single vowels | Pronunciation |
| ä | Pronounced as a-e |
| ö | Pronounced as o-e |
| ü | Pronounced as uy |
Besides single vowels, the German alphabet also has double vowels (Diphthong). When these vowels are placed next to each other, they create a new sound, so you need to pay attention to help you learn the German alphabet and read better.
| Diphthongs | Pronunciation |
| er | Hey |
| ei/ai/ay | Who |
| au | au |
| eu/au | oh |
| a/aa/ah | a long |
| e/ee/eh | prolonged numbness |
| i/ih/ie | i prolong |
| o/oo/oh | extended umbrella |
| u/uh | you prolong |
| ä/äh | Read like “ä” but the sound needs to be longer. |
| ö/öh | Read like “ö”, but the sound needs to be longer. |
| ü/üh | Read like “ü”, but the sound needs to be longer. |
For consonants – Konsonant
Apart from the above vowels, all the remaining characters in the German alphabet are consonants. The consonants are also pronounced quite similar to Vietnamese, however there are 3 consonants that have different pronunciations such as:
- The consonant "g" is pronounced similar to the letter "ghe" in Vietnamese and is read with a slightly longer letter "ê".
- The consonant “h” will be read as “ha”.
- The consonant "t" is read as "the" and when pronounced, the "ê" sound must be lengthened.
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Some special characters in German
In addition to the 26 Latin letters, the German alphabet also has 4 special characters as follows:
| Characters | Pronunciation | For example |
| ä | [ɛ:], pronounced like a long e | Mädchen (girl) |
| ö | [ø], pronounced like a combination of ô – ê | Schön (beautiful) |
| ü | [y], pronounced like a combination of u – y | Tür (door) |
| ß | [ɛs't͡sɛt], pronounced as es-tsét | Fußball (soccer) |
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Method to learn German alphabet quickly and easily
To pronounce German correctly, you will need to build a clear, reasonable learning method combined with regular and persistent practice. Below are ways to help you memorize the German alphabet quickly and effectively:
1. Comparison with English and Vietnamese
Some letters in the German alphabet such as A, B, C, D have similar pronunciations to English and Vietnamese. However, the letters J (jott) and V (fau) have different pronunciations. In addition, the German alphabet also adds 4 special characters including ä, ü, ö, ß. Accordingly, ä, ü, ö are vowels called Umlaut, affecting the pronunciation and meaning of words.
For example, schön (beautiful) is completely different from schon (already). And “ß” is called “Eszett” or “scharfes S” instead of “ss” in some words, such as Straße (street).
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2. Contact with familiar words
Once you have mastered the German alphabet, the next step is to start learning common vocabulary related to everyday life such as greetings, family, food, numbers, colors and household objects. For example, A – Apfel (Apple), B – Buch (Book), U- Uhr (clock), K – Katze (cat),… This will help you remember the German alphabet more easily and permanently.
3. Learn pronunciation through music and videos
Scientific research has proven that music helps foreign language learners improve their vocabulary, grammar and spelling much better than other methods. To learn German effectively, you should regularly listen to youthful songs like ABC-Lied or watch videos on YouTube.
Exposing yourself to German through rhythm and melody will help you mimic more natural pronunciation, while improving your listening and speaking skills.
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4. Practice writing combined with reading aloud
One of the best ways to memorize the German alphabet effectively is to spend at least a few minutes every day practicing writing the letters. At the same time, pronounce each letter aloud, this will not only help you memorize faster but also keep your passion and interest in learning.
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Mastering German alphabet not only help you pronounce correctly but also create a solid foundation for conquering this language. Besides, applying the right learning method, perseverance and regular practice will help you progress quickly and be more confident when using German in daily communication. If you are looking for German language center Prestige and quality for vocational study in Germany, do not hesitate to contact us immediately. Shd Education Call hotline 02862 760 276 for detailed advice.