German Umlauts

Umlauts are modified vowels in German that change the sound of the base letter. The three umlauts are ä, ö, and ü.

Mastering umlauts is crucial for correct German pronunciation, as they appear frequently in common words.

Explanation

Umlauts are diacritical marks (two dots) placed over the vowels a, o, and u to create new sounds:

• ä (a-umlaut) - pronounced like the 'e' in 'bed' or 'a' in 'cat'

• ö (o-umlaut) - pronounced like the 'i' in 'bird' but with rounded lips, or like 'eu' in French 'feu'

• ü (u-umlaut) - pronounced like the 'ee' in 'see' but with rounded lips, or like 'u' in French 'tu'

The key to pronouncing ö and ü correctly is to round your lips while making the sound. This is different from English pronunciation patterns.

Umlaut Pronunciation Guide

Umlaut	IPA Symbol	Pronunciation Guide	Example Word	English Translation
ä	/ɛ/ or /ɛː/	Like 'e' in 'bed' or 'a' in 'cat'	Mädchen	girl
ä	/ɛː/	Long version (like 'a' in 'care')	Bär	bear
ö	/ø/ or /øː/	Like 'i' in 'bird' with rounded lips	schön	beautiful
ö	/œ/	Short version (like 'u' in 'hurt' with rounded lips)	Öffnung	opening
ü	/y/ or /yː/	Like 'ee' in 'see' with rounded lips	über	over
ü	/ʏ/	Short version (like 'i' in 'bit' with rounded lips)	Glück	luck/happiness

Examples

Mädchen

[/ˈmɛːtçən/]

girl

Bär

[/bɛːr/]

bear

schön

[/ʃøːn/]

beautiful

Öffnung

[/ˈœfnʊŋ/]

opening

über

[/ˈyːbər/]

over

Glück

[/ɡlʏk/]

luck/happiness

Häuser

[/ˈhɔɪzər/]

houses

Möbel

[/ˈmøːbəl/]

furniture

Tips

For ö: Round your lips as if saying 'o', but make the sound of 'i' in 'bird'.
For ü: Round your lips as if saying 'u', but make the sound of 'ee' in 'see'.
Practice by saying the base vowel (a, o, u) and then transitioning to the umlaut sound.
Listen to native speakers and try to mimic their mouth position.
Common words with umlauts: Mädchen (girl), schön (beautiful), über (over), können (can).
Umlauts can change word meaning: schon (already) vs. schön (beautiful).

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: Pronouncing 'ä' like regular 'a'

✅ Correct: Pronounce 'ä' like 'e' in 'bed'

The umlaut changes the sound completely. 'Mädchen' does not sound like 'Madchen'.

❌ Incorrect: Not rounding lips for ö and ü

✅ Correct: Always round your lips when pronouncing ö and ü

The rounded lips are essential for the correct sound. Without them, ö and ü sound wrong.

❌ Incorrect: Confusing ü with 'u'

✅ Correct: ü sounds like 'ee' with rounded lips, not like 'u'

The ü sound is closer to 'ee' than to 'u'. Practice with 'über' (over).

Alphabet CH Sound

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pronounce German Umlauts correctly?

Umlauts are diacritical marks (two dots) placed over the vowels a, o, and u to create new sounds:

What are common mistakes when pronouncing German Umlauts?

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

How can I practice German Umlauts pronunciation?

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