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Lesson's Index Level A1

Diphthongs and consonant combinations

This lesson contains topics:

1. Diphthongs in German language
2. Consonant combinations in German

The goal of this lesson is to learn the pronunciations of diphthongs and constant combinations in the German language. At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Correctly pronounce the combinations of letters EI, IE, AU and EU in German words.
2. Correctly pronounce the combinations of tsch, sch, ch, sp and st in German words.

Also in this lesson, vocabulary is not important to learn. Just memorize these combinations and their pronunciation.

Diphthongs in German language

Diphthongs is a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable. In German language diphthongs are:

EI, IE, AU and EU.

EI

Combination of German letters e and i always produces sound similar to English word “eye”. For example,

Ei (egg),

Ein (one),

Eingang (entrance),

Arbeit (work).

IE

Combination of German letters i and e produces sound similar to English letter “e” in the word ske. For example,

Dieb (thief),

Viel (many),

Sieben (seven).

AU

Combination of German letters a and u produces sound similar to “ow” in English word cow or now. For example,

Bau (construction/structure),

Grau (gray),

Blau (blue),

Schau (show).

EU

Combination of German letters e and u produces sound similar to “oy” in English word boy or joy.

Euro (Euro)

Europa (Europe)

Neu (new)

Treu (faithful)

ÄU

Same is the case for äu because a with umlaut produces sound similar to German word e.

Geräusch (noise)

Fräulein (young lady)

Räuber (robber)

Video summery of the topic German diphthongs

Consonant combinations in German

There are also some consonant combinations in German language. For English speakers these combinations are not difficult to learn. These combinations are:

tsch, sch, ch, sp and st.

tsch

The combination of words Tsch always produces sound similar to “ch” in English word which or switch. For example,

Sketsch (sketch),

Deutsch (German),

Deutschland (Germany),

Dolmetscher (interpreter).

sch

The combination of word sch gives sound of “sh” in English word show. For example,

Schraube (screw),

Schraubendreher (screwdriver),

Schnee (snow),

Tisch (table),

Tischler (carpenter).

Sp

When the letter S comes before P in beginning of a word or a syllable, it gives sould similar to above discussed German combination sch. For example,

Sport (sport),

Spanien (spain),

Spät (late),

Spaß (fun).

St

Similarly when S comes before t in the beginning of a word or a syllable, it gives sound of combination “sch”.

Start (start),

Stadt (city),

Student (student),

Straße (steet / road).

ch

In normal conditions combination of c and h produces same sound as combination of “sch”. For example:

Ich (I), Ich bin Doktor Robert (I am Doctor Robert),

Chemie (chemistry).

Combination of ch after a vowel

When combination of c and h comes after a vowel it produces some what similar sound of “ck” in English word sick. Vowels in German are same letters as in English i.e. a, e, i, o, and u. For example:

Bauch (belly),

Rauch (smoke),

Buch (book),

Hoch (high).

ch+s

Combination of ch before s gives the sound of x. For example:

Fuchs (fox),

Wuchs (growth),

Wachs (wax).

ion

The combination of ion is not a consonant, but it gives a special sound that's why it's included in this chapter.

The combination of ion give sound of “eon” in the English word Neon. Meanings of the following words are same as their English counterparts.

Addition

Aggression

Definition

Demonstration

Depression

Emotion

Evolution

Explosion

Generation

Illusion

Information

For more clarity on the topic please watch the following video.