The German 'chs' sound
The German letters 'chs' are pronounced 'ks' in a similar manner to the English words 'vixen' and 'oxen'. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear a native speaker say six German words containing the letters 'chs' - including the German word for the number six itself. The words themselves are given in the box below along with their English translation:
Sounds 1: The German 'chs' sound |
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sechs
(six) |
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Sachsen
(Saxony) |
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Wachs
(wax) |
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wachsen
(to grow) |
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Büchse
(tin) |
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Achsel
(shoulder) |
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The German letters 'ck'
The German letters 'ck' are pronounced in the same way as the letter 'k'. The vowel preceding 'ck' is always short and stressed. Click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear four words containing the letters 'ck'. The words themselves are supplied in the box below along with their English translation:
Sounds 2: The German 'ck' sound |
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Scheck
(cheque) |
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Stück
(piece) |
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Glück
(happiness) |
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Stock
(stick) |
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Differentiating between the German 'ch' sounds and 'ck' is a perennial problem for native English speakers. To practise the distinction, click either here or on the sound icon on the left to listen to five pairs of words. The first word in each pair contains a 'ch' sound, while the second contains a 'ck' sound.
Sounds 3: Differentiating between 'ch' and 'ck' |
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Bach
(stream) |
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Backpulver
(baking powder) |
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Mechthild
(girl's name) |
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meckern
(to complain) |
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Buch
(book) |
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Buckel
(hunchback) |
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roch
(smelled) |
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Rock
(skirt) |
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Ernst Bloch
(philosopher) |
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Schreibblock
(writing pad) |
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Next, click either here or on the sound icon on the left to listen to the following two words which both contain a 'ch' and a 'ck' sound, and try to distinguish between them.
Sounds 4: 'ch' and 'ck' in the same word |
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glücklich
(happy) |
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schrecklich
(dreadful) |
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Finally, click either here or on the sound icon on the left to hear the following German tongue-twister which contains both 'ch' and 'ck' sounds. Then see how you cope with saying it yourself!
Sounds 5: A 'ch' and 'ck' tongue-twister |
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Mechthild und Eckhard machen schrecklich Krach.
(Mechthild and Eckhard are making a dreadful din.) |
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How to pronounce the German consonant 'd'
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