Chapter 2: Alphabets
German Alphabets – Das deutsche Alphabet
The German alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet and contains 26 standard letters, just like English. In addition, it includes four extra characters: Ä, Ö, Ü (Umlauts) and ß (Eszett or sharp S).
Learning the alphabet with correct pronunciation is essential for spelling names, understanding spoken German, and building vocabulary.
🔤 German Alphabet Table with Pronunciation
| Letter | Name in German | Pronunciation (EN) | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Example Word |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | ah | like "car" | आ जैसा (aa) | Apfel (apple) |
| B | beh | like "bay" | बे जैसा | Banane (banana) |
| C | tseh | like "tsay" | त्से जैसा | Café (café) |
| D | deh | like "day" | डे जैसा | Deutschland (Germany) |
| E | eh | like "say" (soft e) | ए जैसा | Essen (food) |
| F | eff | like "f" | एफ जैसा | Fisch (fish) |
| G | geh | like "gay" (hard g) | गे जैसा | Guten (good) |
| H | hah | like "ha" (breathy) | हा जैसा | Haus (house) |
| I | ee | like "ee" in “see” | ई जैसा | Ich (I) |
| J | yot | like "y" in “yes” | योत/य जैसा | Ja (yes) |
| K | kah | like "ka" | का जैसा | Katze (cat) |
| L | ell | like "l" | एल जैसा | Liebe (love) |
| M | emm | like "m" | एम जैसा | Mutter (mother) |
| N | enn | like "n" | एन जैसा | Name (name) |
| O | oh | like "o" in “go” | ओ जैसा | Obst (fruit) |
| P | peh | like "pay" | पे जैसा | Papier (paper) |
| Q | kuh | like "koo" | क्यू जैसा | Quiz |
| R | err | rolled or guttural "r" | र्र जैसा (गले से उच्चारित) | Rot (red) |
| S | ess | like "z" before vowels | स / ज़ जैसा | Sonne (sun) |
| T | teh | like "tay" | टे जैसा | Tisch (table) |
| U | oo | like "oo" in “boot” | ऊ जैसा | Uhr (clock) |
| V | fau | pronounced like "f" | फा जैसा | Vogel (bird) |
| W | veh | pronounced like "v" | वे जैसा | Wasser (water) |
| X | iks | like "ks" | इक्स जैसा | Xylofon (xylophone) |
| Y | ypsilon | like "ü" or "i" sound | इप्सीलोन / यू जैसा | Yoga (yoga) |
| Z | tsett | like "ts" in “cats” | त्सेट जैसा | Zeitung (newspaper) |
✨ Special Characters in German
| Character | Name | Pronunciation (EN) | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ä | Ä (Umlaut-A) | Like "eh" in “air” | एअ जैसा | Mädchen (girl) |
| Ö | Ö (Umlaut-O) | Like "ir" in “bird” | ओअ जैसा | Öl (oil) |
| Ü | Ü (Umlaut-U) | Like French "u" | यूअ जैसा (tight lips) | Über (over) |
| ß | Eszett | Like sharp "s" | स्स जैसा | Straße (street) |
📝 Note: ß only appears in lowercase and is often replaced by ss in uppercase text.
🎧 Audio & Video Resources
| Platform | Resource | Link |
|---|---|---|
| 📺 YouTube | German Alphabet + Pronunciation | Watch here |
| 📘 LingQ Blog | Learn the German Alphabet | Read here |
| 💡 Quizlet | German Alphabet Flashcards | Practice here |
| 🎧 Audio Practice | Alphabet Pronunciation (PDF + MP3) | Goethe Alphabet Trainer |
| 📚 Duolingo | German Alphabet (Start Here) | Try Duolingo |
📘 Tips to Practice
- 🎤 Spell your name in German (e.g., "S-H-U-B-H-A-M" → Ess-Hah-Uh-Beh-Hah-Ah-Em)
- 🧠 Memorize using flashcards or apps (Quizlet, Memrise)
- 🎧 Practice aloud with YouTube videos daily
- 📝 Write the alphabet multiple times in cursive and print
🧠 Memory Aids
- Umlauts (Ä, Ö, Ü) = Add a small "e" sound after the base vowel
(e.g., ä = ae, ö = oe, ü = ue in older texts or when umlauts are not available) - ß = used after long vowels and diphthongs (never begins a word)
Happy Learning! 🎉🇩🇪
Keep revising the alphabet until you can recognize, spell, and pronounce every letter confidently.