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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn the full 26-letter German alphabet with example words like Apfel, Junge, and Sonne. Understand special characters such as the umlauts Ä, Ö, Ü and the ß (Eszett). This lesson covers pronunciation tips, spelling practices, and highlights key differences between German and English that will help beginners speak and spell German words more confidently.
AApfelJJungeSSonne
BBaumKKatzeTTisch
CCaféLLampeUUhr
DDachMMausVVogel
EEnteNNaseWWasser
FFischOOhrXXylofon
GGartenPPferdYYoga
HHausQQuelleZZeit
IInselRRose  

Exceptions!

  1. Ä, Ö, Ü → modified vowels with an additional "e" sound. (For example: Äpfel, Öl, Über)
  2. ß → only comes after long vowels or diphthongs (for example: Straße)

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Mein Name beginnt mit dem Buchstaben „__“.

(My name begins with the letter "__".)

2. Das deutsche Alphabet hat __ Buchstaben.

(The German alphabet has __ letters.)

3. Ich buchstabiere meinen Namen: __ – A – U – S.

(I spell my name: __ – A – U – S.)

4. Der Buchstabe „__“ steht nach langen Vokalen oder Doppellauten.

(The letter "__" comes after long vowels or diphthongs.)

5. Die Umlaute __, __ und __ sind eigenständige Vokale mit verändertem Klang.

(The umlauts __, __ and __ are independent vowels with a changed sound.)

6. Ich sage meinen Namen und bitte Sie, Ihren Namen zu __.

(I say my name and ask you to __ your name.)

Introduction to the German Alphabet

The German alphabet consists of 26 letters, each with its own unique sound and usage. In this lesson, you'll learn all the letters from A to Z, along with useful example words such as Apfel (apple), Katze (cat), and Sonne (sun) to help you familiarize yourself with common vocabulary.

Special Letters in German

Besides the standard 26 letters, German also uses modified vowels called "Umlaute" – Ä, Ö, Ü. These represent vowel sounds that are not found in English and are often pronounced with an added "e" sound, as in Äpfel (apples), Öl (oil), and Über (over). Another unique character is the ß, called the "Eszett" or "sharp S," which appears only after long vowels or diphthongs, for example in Straße (street).

Pronunciation and Spelling Practice

Understanding and practicing these letters is key to improving your German reading and speaking skills. For example, you might spell your name aloud as M – A – U – S to help others understand. Recognizing and pronouncing each letter correctly will build a strong foundation for all future German learning.

Cultural and Linguistic Differences

Unlike English, German capitalizes all nouns, which is important for correct spelling and understanding sentence structure. The pronunciation of letters can also differ; for instance, the German W sounds like the English V, and the letter V often sounds like an English F. Common phrases include "Ich buchstabiere meinen Namen" (I spell my name) which you use when introducing yourself and clarifying how to write your name.

Summary

  • Learn all 26 letters of the German alphabet with example words
  • Understand the use of umlauts Ä, Ö, Ü and the special letter ß
  • Practice spelling names and vocabulary aloud to improve pronunciation
  • Notice differences between German and English letter sounds and capitalization rules

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Sophie Schmidt

International Administration Management

Würzburger Dolmetscherschule

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Last Updated:

Tuesday, 15/07/2025 03:24