German alphabet and umlauts

Foreign Languages

Definition

The German alphabet contains 26 standard letters plus three umlauted vowels (ä, ö, ü) and the ligature ß (Eszett or sharp S). Umlauts change the pronunciation of the base vowel and can alter the meaning of a word entirely.

Examples

  • The umlaut changes 'Mutter' (mother) to 'Mütter' (mothers), marking the plural.
  • ß is used after long vowels and diphthongs, as in 'Straße' (street).
  • 'schön' (beautiful) uses ö, which sounds like the 'u' in the French word 'du'.
Key Fact

German umlauts: ä sounds like 'eh,' ö is made by shaping lips for 'o' while saying 'eh,' and ü is made by shaping lips for 'u' while saying 'ee.'

Related Terms

Numbers and alphabet Self-introduction Modal verbs

Study This Concept

Practice German alphabet and umlauts with free review games in these units:

German 1 Unit 2: Numbers and Alphabet