10K+ students - 4.8/5
Learn with a teacher Learning materials included Practise conversation

Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

This lesson covers the German alphabet with 26 letters, highlighting key vocabulary such as Apfel (apple), Junge (boy), and Katze (cat). It explains the special vowels Ä, Ö, Ü and the use of ß after long vowels or diphthongs, enriching your foundational German pronunciation and spelling skills.
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.)

The German Alphabet – An Introduction

This lesson covers the basics of the German alphabet, which consists of 26 letters similar to the English alphabet, plus some special characters. Understanding these letters and their pronunciations is foundational for reading, writing, and speaking German correctly.

Alphabet Overview with Examples

The German alphabet includes all letters from A to Z. Here are some example words for each letter, demonstrating common vocabulary:

AApfelJJungeSSonne
BBaumKKatzeTTisch
CCaféLLampeUUhr
DDachMMausVVogel
EEnteNNaseWWasser
FFischOOhrXXylofon
GGartenPPferdYYoga
HHausQQuelleZZeit
IInselRRose  

Special German Letters and Sounds

In addition to the standard alphabet, German includes special characters:

  • Umlauts: Ä, Ö, Ü – these are modified vowels with a changed pronunciation and are treated as distinct letters, not just accented versions. For example: Äpfel, Öl, Über.
  • Eszett (ß): This letter appears only after long vowels or diphthongs and sounds like a double 's'. For example: Straße.

Key Points for Learners

  • The German alphabet letters correspond mostly to those in English, but pronunciation can vary.
  • The umlauts produce different vowel sounds that do not exist in English.
  • The letter ß has no English equivalent but is important for spelling and pronunciation.

Comparing German and English Alphabet Use

While both alphabets have 26 letters, German uses additional characters like the umlauts (Ä, Ö, Ü) and ß that have specific pronunciation rules. English speakers might notice these sounds are new and require practice. Also, pronunciations of shared letters often differ; for example, the letter 'J' in German is pronounced like the English 'Y' in "yes."

Useful Phrases and Vocabulary Related to the Alphabet

  • Mein Name beginnt mit dem Buchstaben „F“. (My name begins with the letter “F.”)
  • 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” appears after 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 changed sounds.)
  • Ich sage meinen Namen und bitte Sie, Ihren Namen zu buchstabieren. (I say my name and ask you to spell your name.)

Written by

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

Profile Picture

Sophie Schmidt

International Administration Management

Würzburger Dolmetscherschule

University_Logo

Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 01:21