Chapter 4: Vowel Sounds
The German a
This vowel is everywhere, popping up in everyday exclamations from ach was! (no way) to na klar! (of course). Its pronunciation differs from English, but we can use familiar reference words to produce this sound.
Pronunciation of German a
Short like English Mother
Long like English Father
Say the English word mother and notice how the vowel sound ends abruptly due to the following t. Now, compare this to the word father, where the vowel sound is more sustained. This contrast closely mirrors the distinction between the short and long German a.
The German i
You will encounter the German i when talking (a bit too much) about yourself, as in ich (I), mich (me), and mir (me, dative). English speakers often get confused over it because it sounds closer to an English e than an i. The next rule addresses this with sounds that closely resemble the correct pronunciation.
Pronunciation of German i
Short like English Ill
Long like English Eel
The vowel in the English word ill sounds nearly identical to the short German i. By contrast, the long German i sounds similar to eel, but be careful not to glide into a diphthong, which is a combined vowel sound. Standard German vowels are never pronounced in this way.