SP and ST at the Beginning of Words

In German, when the letter combinations SP and ST appear at the beginning of a word or syllable, they are pronounced like "shp" and "sht" — the S is pronounced like English "sh" (/ʃ/) before P and T.

This is one of the most consistent pronunciation rules in German and will make your accent sound much more natural.

Explanation

At the start of a word or stressed syllable, S before P is pronounced /ʃp/ (like "shp"): Sport, spielen, Sprache.

At the start of a word or stressed syllable, S before T is pronounced /ʃt/ (like "sht"): Stadt, stehen, Student.

When SP or ST appear in the middle or end of a word (e.g. after a consonant or in a different syllable), the normal S sound is often used. But at word beginning, the rule is very reliable.

The same "sh"-like sound applies when S is followed by T or P at the beginning: think "Shtadt" for Stadt and "Shport" for Sport.

SP and ST at Word Beginning

Spelling	Pronunciation	Example	IPA	Note
SP (word start)	shp	Sport	/ʃpɔʁt/	S = /ʃ/ before P
ST (word start)	sht	Stadt	/ʃtat/	S = /ʃ/ before T
spielen	shp	spielen	/ˈʃpiːlən/	Same rule
stehen	sht	stehen	/ˈʃteːən/	Same rule

Examples

Sport

[/ʃpɔʁt/]

sport

spielen

[/ˈʃpiːlən/]

to play

Sprache

[/ˈʃpʁaːxə/]

language

Stadt

[/ʃtat/]

city

stehen

[/ˈʃteːən/]

to stand

Student

[/ʃtuˈdɛnt/]

student

Strasse

[/ˈʃtʁasə/]

street

Tips

At the start of a word, always use "shp" for SP and "sht" for ST.
Practice with a few key words: Sport, Stadt, spielen, stehen.
Avoid saying "Sport" with a plain S; it should sound like "Shport".
Listening to native speakers will reinforce this pattern quickly.

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: Pronouncing SP/ST with plain S at word start

✅ Correct: Use /ʃ/ (sh) before P and T: Shport, Shtadt

In standard German, S before P or T at the beginning is always the "sh" sound.

❌ Incorrect: Using the same rule in the middle of words

✅ Correct: Rule applies at word/syllable beginning; elsewhere S may be different

E.g. in "Wespe" the SP is in the middle and pronunciation can vary; the strong rule is for word-initial SP/ST.

S, ß, and Z Sounds CH Sound Alphabet V and W in German

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pronounce SP and ST at the Beginning of Words correctly?

At the start of a word or stressed syllable, S before P is pronounced /ʃp/ (like "shp"): Sport, spielen, Sprache.

What are common mistakes when pronouncing SP and ST at the Beginning of Words?

See the Common Mistakes section above for detailed examples of errors to avoid.

How can I practice SP and ST at the Beginning of Words pronunciation?

Practice by repeating the examples above, listening to native German speakers, and recording yourself to compare your pronunciation.