Learn the 26 letters of the German alphabet with examples like Apfel (apple), Katze (cat), and Uhr (clock). Discover special characters like the Umlaute Ä, Ö, Ü and the ß used after long vowels.
A (A)Apfel (Apple)J (J)Junge (Boy)S (S)Sonne (Sun)
B (B)Baum (Tree)K (K)Katze (Cat)T (T)Tisch (Table)
C (C)Café (Café)L (L)Lampe (Lamp)U (U)Uhr (O'clock)
D (D)Dach (Roof)M (M)Maus (Mouse)V (V)Vogel (Bird)
E (E)Ente (Duck)N (N)Nase (Nose)W (W)Wasser (Water)
F (F)Fisch (Fish)O (O)Ohr (Ear)X (X)Xylofon (Xylophone)
G (G)Garten (Garden)P (P)Pferd (Horse)Y (Y)Yoga (Yoga)
H (H)Haus (House)Q (Q)Quelle (Quail)Z (Z)Zeit (Zime)
I (I)Insel (Island)R (R)Rose (Rose)  

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.)

The German Alphabet Explained

This lesson introduces the German alphabet, which consists of 26 letters similar to the English alphabet. Knowing these letters is essential for reading, writing, and pronunciation in German. Here, you will explore each letter paired with example words to get familiar with their typical sounds.

Alphabet and Example Words

The alphabet includes letters like A as in Apfel (apple), B as in Baum (tree), C as in Café (café), and many others up to Z as in Zeit (time). This variety helps learners associate letters with common vocabulary right from the start.

Special German Characters

Besides the 26 standard letters, German features Umlauts: Ä, Ö, and Ü. These are modified vowels producing a new sound, for example, Äpfel (apples), Öl (oil), and Über (over, above). They function as independent vowels in the language.

Another unique character is the Eszett (ß), used only after long vowels or diphthongs, for example in Straße (street). It represents a sharp s sound and is an important part of standard spelling.

Pronunciation Tips

Learning the alphabet includes understanding how each letter sounds within words. For example, J in Junge (boy) is pronounced like the English 'y' in 'yes', while W in Wasser (water) sounds like a 'v'. These differences are key to speaking German clearly.

Differences Between English and German Alphabet Usage

Even though German shares the same 26 letters with English, the presence of Umlauts and ß introduces pronunciation and spelling distinctions. Unlike in English, German often uses the Eszett only after long vowels or diphthongs, which affects writing and reading. Also, German pronunciation of certain letters like W and J differs notably from English.

Useful Phrases for Practice

  • Mein Name beginnt mit dem Buchstaben „F“. – My name starts with the letter “F”.
  • Das deutsche Alphabet hat 26 Buchstaben. – The German alphabet has 26 letters.
  • Ich buchstabiere meinen Namen: M – A – U – S. – I spell my name: M – A – U – S.
  • Der Buchstabe „ß“ steht nach langen Vokalen oder Doppellauten. – The letter “ß” follows long vowels or diphthongs.
  • Die Umlaute ä, ö und ü sind eigenständige Vokale mit verändertem Klang. – The umlauts ä, ö, and ü are independent vowels with a changed sound.
  • Ich sage meinen Namen und bitte Sie, Ihren Namen zu buchstabieren. – I say my name and ask you to spell your name.

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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:

Saturday, 04/10/2025 00:05